Harbor Rock Tabernacle

Huge crowds followed Jesus as He moved around Galilee. He showed His heart of compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. When there was no food for the crowd, Jesus tested the depth of the disciples' faith, especially Philip. But they didn't see the potential of what Jesus could do. A little boy did, and he offered Jesus five loaves of barley bread and two fish, unhesitant to believe that Jesus could do a miraculous work with something small. It's an important spiritual principle for us.

In our minds, there is a constant struggling between wondering if we're doing enough in life and wondering why we don't get more credit. This attack takes place on the playing field of everyday life, because the enemy wants to make us frustrated and discontented about simply being faithful. In 1 Chronicles 11, Eleazar was a man who initially stood alone in a barley field, fighting the Philistines when everyone fled. His defense of something seemingly unimportant teaches us the great value of being faithful in the ordinary, because that is where we spend more of our time. And his strong conviction is validated when the king shows up to fight with him and the Lord gives victory.

Zaccheus was a man carrying alot of personal stigma--he was very short, and was despised because he was wealthy and unethical toward the people around him. So when he made an intentional effort to see Jesus as He came through Jericho, no one helped him get any closer. Zaccheus climbed a tree, hoping to at least watch from a distance. But his plan was altered when Jesus stopped and called him down, because He said it was necessary for Him to stay at Zaccheus' house. Jesus' ministry to Zaccheus, and his beautiful response, give us fresh insight into how our lives are transformed by the grace of God.

2 Kings 5 has the account of a young Jewish girl who becomes a slave in Aram. She is considered "small and insignificant", but still speaks up and tells her master Naaman about the prophet Elisha, who can heal him of his leprosy. Her bold faith and confident contentment in the Lord stand in contrast to Naaman's responses when he finally meets Elisha. This study shows that even when we feel insignificant or overlooked, the Lord can still use us in mighty ways, having impact even in the small things.

No one is immune when it comes to temptation, and the increase in visual media has made us more susceptible to the danger. Thousands of years ago, King David made a series of poor decisions because he didn't turn away when confronted with temptation. Alone and bored, he allowed his heart to be corrupted, and then continued to make the problem worse while ignoring the Lord's conviction. His failures bring us to practical conclusions about how we can guard our heart and mind.

Difficult situations in life can be caused by our poor decisions or by someone's actions or by the Lord's testing. When we go through this times, we can feel very trapped, not knowing how to escape the situation. In this study, we look at 4 people in Scripture who were put in jail. The reasons they were there parallel our own situations, so we can learn how to live by understanding why the Lord blessed their responses to their restrictive circumstances.

The account of David and Goliath is always portrayed as a huge win for the underdog. But David actually had a tremendous, unbeatable advantage. He had an unshakable conviction in the power and help of the Lord, as he stood to defend Him. This conviction sharply contrasted not only with Goliath, but with the Israelite people. David's example helps identify 4 convictions that define God's people--those who love and fully trust the Lord.

In cooking, a reduction is made when a sauce simmers at a low boil. This reduces it's volume by half, intensifying it's flavor. In Judges 7, we see this principle of reduction as the Lord subtracts Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300, to fight 120,000 Midianites. He does this to teach us 4 spiritual principles which remind us of His power, and teach us to rely on His strength and sufficiency.

Throughout the Bible, there are examples of a small object or decision having a huge spiritual impact. In the first message of the new series "Small", we look at the life-changing decision Esau made in selling his birthright for a bowl of stew. His impulsive choice revealed spiritual indifference that challenges us to evaluate our appreciation for the Lord's blessings, and our discipline to desire what is essential.

Do we really want to be led by the Lord? For the believer, the question almost seems ridiculous...but why then do we struggle with doubt, uncertainty, control, and even frustration at how the Lord is leading? And why isn't prayer a massive priority? This study examines 5 spiritual principles which explain the logical rationale for seeking the Lord's leading, and closes with a call to ask Him to show those who love Him "the amazing things He has prepared for us".