Just when we think we have life figured out, something comes along to knock of off our stride. The question is: Can we handle it? Can we survive this? Ezekiel found out that we can survive. We can thrive even int he most difficult of circumstances. He was not born in captivity, but at a young age, he was taken into Babylonian captivity. Here was a people who had been uprooted from their homes and who were beaten down. The spirit of the people was as low as it possibly could be. Their hope of a future and better day was gone. Something happened to Ezekiel. God began to speak to him and the spirit moved onto him. This encounter with God changed Ezekiel. When the spirit came, everything changed. Ezekiel found out that God is not dead. He is real! In the face of the reality that presented it self to Ezekiel, the move of he spirit showed a different picture. The spirt of God is the only thing that can renew hope. It is the only thing that can make us believe that we are greater than our circumstances. God knows what to do to put us on our feet and get us out of our situation. The spirit of God allows us to deal with our history and our situation. The spirit of God is more than a match for what life has in store for us. Ezekiel found out that the Spirit of God could do for us what we are unable to do on our own. The power of the Holy Ghost can place us on our feet. God is more interested in us than what we are in. God is more powerful than any situation we may be in and can deliver us from whatever may have us bound.

Just when we think we have life figured out, something comes along to knock of off our stride. The question is: Can we handle it? Can we survive this? Ezekiel found out that we can survive. We can thrive even int he most difficult of circumstances. He was not born in captivity, but at a young age, he was taken into Babylonian captivity. Here was a people who had been uprooted from their homes and who were beaten down. The spirit of the people was as low as it possibly could be. Their hope of a future and better day was gone. Something happened to Ezekiel. God began to speak to him and the spirit moved onto him. This encounter with God changed Ezekiel. When the spirit came, everything changed. Ezekiel found out that God is not dead. He is real! In the face of the reality that presented it self to Ezekiel, the move of he spirit showed a different picture. The spirt of God is the only thing that can renew hope. It is the only thing that can make us believe that we are greater than our circumstances. God knows what to do to put us on our feet and get us out of our situation. The spirit of God allows us to deal with our history and our situation. The spirit of God is more than a match for what life has in store for us. Ezekiel found out that the Spirit of God could do for us what we are unable to do on our own. The power of the Holy Ghost can place us on our feet. God is more interested in us than what we are in. God is more powerful than any situation we may be in and can deliver us from whatever may have us bound.

There is a lot of music in our world. The best songs are the ones that speak to us. The 17th chapter of Psalms is one that speaks to Bro. Hughes. There are far too many in the world who do not know where they are spiritually. This psalm was not written by such a man. Our text is written by a man who knows what he is about. He states no matter what others choice may be, his mind was made up: He would follow the Lord. There were many things that we cannot control about life, but the Psalmist knew that he could control what was inside. This man is not waiting on the world to make him happy. He is not waiting on a better time to be happy. He is not waiting on better circumstances to decide that he will be happy. He had decided that in the midst of his struggles, he will be satisfied in the Lord. So few people are satisfied in our world, in life and even in the church. We live in a world that has more, but enjoys it less. Advertising plays on that unhappiness and exploit it to make a profit on it. We have a culture were no matter what we have, we want something better. What is it like to be satisfied. What does it take to make us happy? In this psalm, David was under attack. Most believe that this was written at at time when Saul was pursuing him. In spite of fleeing for his life and living in the wilderness, David states that he is satisfied. He found the secret to happiness and contentment. What really satisfies? Bro. Hughes tells us that satisfaction comes when we keep our eyes on God, because if we concentrate on anyone or anything else, we will never find the satisfaction we desire. Only God can deliver on His promise. The reason for all the unhappiness in the world is because we are looking for earthly, flawed things to provide all in all. Happiness derives from a relationship with God. What upheld David was not the face of a friend, but the face of God. What brings happiness is not what happens to us but what happens in us. The only way to be satisfied is to get our eyes on Him no matter what else is going on.

There is a lot of music in our world. The best songs are the ones that speak to us. The 17th chapter of Psalms is one that speaks to Bro. Hughes. There are far too many in the world who do not know where they are spiritually. This psalm was not written by such a man. Our text is written by a man who knows what he is about. He states no matter what others choice may be, his mind was made up: He would follow the Lord. There were many things that we cannot control about life, but the Psalmist knew that he could control what was inside. This man is not waiting on the world to make him happy. He is not waiting on a better time to be happy. He is not waiting on better circumstances to decide that he will be happy. He had decided that in the midst of his struggles, he will be satisfied in the Lord. So few people are satisfied in our world, in life and even in the church. We live in a world that has more, but enjoys it less. Advertising plays on that unhappiness and exploit it to make a profit on it. We have a culture were no matter what we have, we want something better. What is it like to be satisfied. What does it take to make us happy? In this psalm, David was under attack. Most believe that this was written at at time when Saul was pursuing him. In spite of fleeing for his life and living in the wilderness, David states that he is satisfied. He found the secret to happiness and contentment. What really satisfies? Bro. Hughes tells us that satisfaction comes when we keep our eyes on God, because if we concentrate on anyone or anything else, we will never find the satisfaction we desire. Only God can deliver on His promise. The reason for all the unhappiness in the world is because we are looking for earthly, flawed things to provide all in all. Happiness derives from a relationship with God. What upheld David was not the face of a friend, but the face of God. What brings happiness is not what happens to us but what happens in us. The only way to be satisfied is to get our eyes on Him no matter what else is going on.

We are in a war. Not only a war, but a dirty war because the devil fights dirty. He is dirty because he is deceptive. If he would come straight at us, most of us would not have a problem dealing with his assault, but he rarely comes that way. That is why, the bible tells us to put on the full armor of all that God gives us to protect us from the assault. Paul writes to a church that was under assault. He reminds them of how the devil operates with his various devices. In the Greek, the word devices means strategy. Paul deals with a church that was liberal in their interpretation of the gospel. They embraced another gospel other than the one true gospel. Paul said that he was fearful that they did not see what was happening. Paul used the terminology of weddings of the time to illustrate his position. He reminded the church at Corinth that faithfulness was essential to the relationship with God. The only way to build a true relationship is to have faithfulness between the two parties. Paul was fearful that they were being led astray as Satan led Eve astray. We are dealing with a deceitful and cunning foe. He will come at us in a way that will be attractive and compelling. He will use what ever he can use to gain an advantage.

Paul tells us that it is Satan's goal to move us from the simplicity that is in Christ. Christ was not simple, but our relationship with Him is. The simplicity of a relationship with Christ stands in contrast with the duplicity and complexity of a relationship with Satan. When we have complexity, we have things moving in different directions. The devil wants to complicate life to the point where we cannot focus on the simplicity of the relationship with Christ. If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy. Paul describes a life that is all on one side of the page. If the page becomes folded, part of life is going a different way. Some of life is hidden. This is just what the devil wants. He wants to disrupt the flow of life by adding burden and distractions. That way we will lose sight of our true priorities.

We are in a war. Not only a war, but a dirty war because the devil fights dirty. He is dirty because he is deceptive. If he would come straight at us, most of us would not have a problem dealing with his assault, but he rarely comes that way. That is why, the bible tells us to put on the full armor of all that God gives us to protect us from the assault. Paul writes to a church that was under assault. He reminds them of how the devil operates with his various devices. In the Greek, the word devices means strategy. Paul deals with a church that was liberal in their interpretation of the gospel. They embraced another gospel other than the one true gospel. Paul said that he was fearful that they did not see what was happening. Paul used the terminology of weddings of the time to illustrate his position. He reminded the church at Corinth that faithfulness was essential to the relationship with God. The only way to build a true relationship is to have faithfulness between the two parties. Paul was fearful that they were being led astray as Satan led Eve astray. We are dealing with a deceitful and cunning foe. He will come at us in a way that will be attractive and compelling. He will use what ever he can use to gain an advantage.

Paul tells us that it is Satan's goal to move us from the simplicity that is in Christ. Christ was not simple, but our relationship with Him is. The simplicity of a relationship with Christ stands in contrast with the duplicity and complexity of a relationship with Satan. When we have complexity, we have things moving in different directions. The devil wants to complicate life to the point where we cannot focus on the simplicity of the relationship with Christ. If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy. Paul describes a life that is all on one side of the page. If the page becomes folded, part of life is going a different way. Some of life is hidden. This is just what the devil wants. He wants to disrupt the flow of life by adding burden and distractions. That way we will lose sight of our true priorities.

In Exodus, God sets the stage for Israel’s escape from Egyptian bondage. Pharoh realizes that Israel was growing and would soon outnumber his own people. Israel would soon get to the place were, if they could realize their strength, they would overtake Egypt. Pharoh decreed that all male Hebrew children would be killed to keep the population from growing. He also increased the workload. Israel's burdens became greater and they lived in fear. The story is familiar: baby Moses was laid in a basket and put in a place where Pharaoh's daughter found him and raised him as her own. God had His hand on Moses. Israel thought there was no way out, but God was working. When Moses flees after killing the Egyptian, we finds himself in Median for 40 years. There at the burning bush, he has an encounter with God. Moses doubted, but he soon learned that he could not escape the plan God had for him. Never underestimate the ability of God to provide what is necessary in us to complete His plan. Whatever may be happening in our life, God had a plan. God has a desire that we succeed. There is an answer to the question that has been lingering. God's desire for our well being is greater than even our own. God will respond to the need of one individual. God wants to speak to our heart. Just as He did with Moses, He wants to have an encounter with each one of us.

In Exodus, God sets the stage for Israel’s escape from Egyptian bondage. Pharoh realizes that Israel was growing and would soon outnumber his own people. Israel would soon get to the place were, if they could realize their strength, they would overtake Egypt. Pharoh decreed that all male Hebrew children would be killed to keep the population from growing. He also increased the workload. Israel's burdens became greater and they lived in fear. The story is familiar: baby Moses was laid in a basket and put in a place where Pharaoh's daughter found him and raised him as her own. God had His hand on Moses. Israel thought there was no way out, but God was working. When Moses flees after killing the Egyptian, we finds himself in Median for 40 years. There at the burning bush, he has an encounter with God. Moses doubted, but he soon learned that he could not escape the plan God had for him. Never underestimate the ability of God to provide what is necessary in us to complete His plan. Whatever may be happening in our life, God had a plan. God has a desire that we succeed. There is an answer to the question that has been lingering. God's desire for our well being is greater than even our own. God will respond to the need of one individual. God wants to speak to our heart. Just as He did with Moses, He wants to have an encounter with each one of us.

The Great wall of China took 2000 years to build and served to protect China from invading mongols. The Berlin wall was erected overnight and stood as a barrier between East and West for 28 years. Both of these walls stood for many years. One was built for protection the other for isolation. One took many years to build, one was erected quickly. We read about another wall in the bible in Nehemiah. The wall around Jerusalem. Walls around cities in biblical times were essential. They offered safecy and symbolized strength and peace. We need to rebuild and reestablish walls in our life that provide safety. Not only did Nehemiah rebuild the walls, but he had to establish gates. Gates allow good things to come through the walls of protection. They also allow a way to expel those things that need to be removed. Sis. Hughes ties the gates that Nehemiah repaired to our lives. We must keep our gates and walls in repair.

The Great wall of China took 2000 years to build and served to protect China from invading mongols. The Berlin wall was erected overnight and stood as a barrier between East and West for 28 years. Both of these walls stood for many years. One was built for protection the other for isolation. One took many years to build, one was erected quickly. We read about another wall in the bible in Nehemiah. The wall around Jerusalem. Walls around cities in biblical times were essential. They offered safecy and symbolized strength and peace. We need to rebuild and reestablish walls in our life that provide safety. Not only did Nehemiah rebuild the walls, but he had to establish gates. Gates allow good things to come through the walls of protection. They also allow a way to expel those things that need to be removed. Sis. Hughes ties the gates that Nehemiah repaired to our lives. We must keep our gates and walls in repair.