Harbor Rock Tabernacle

When we are weary and exhausted, it's easy to become discouraged and to doubt that we can have victory. Judah experienced that when Assyria was threatening their existence. The Lord confronted their sin, which had caused the problem, and warns them through Isaiah of their coming destruction. But He also graciously promises to ultimatwey change their situation from spiritual wilderness to a place of restoration, refreshing and joy.Psalm 46:10 holds the key for unlocking this in our own lives.

We all face the pressures of everyday responsibilities, and when those are compounded with unexpected problems, our stress can wear us down. But because our Lord is powerful and all sufficient, as believers we should be able to have victory over stress. This study identifies its four causes, in which the Holy Spirit gives us a hidden insight into the real problem. Psalm 46:10 offers the only solution.

When Jesus returned to heaven, He left us a clear example to follow, and the Holy Spirit to give us the power and ability to live like Him. The true test of whether we are living as His disciples is how fully we mirror His life. In this study from three passages in the Gospels, we examine six distinctive attributes of Jesus which should characterize every believer's life. There will be temptations to dissuade us live differently, so we have to ask ourselves challenging questions that cause us to evaluate whether we are really willing to be His disciple.

When Israel left captivity in Egypt to go toward the Promised Land, the timing and the way they did it were spiritually significant. It was the day after Passover, and they walked out in the sight of the Egyptians as they were burying their dead. Those facts kept them humble that the Lord had been the One to deliver them and give them victory. But that didn't last, because the Jews really never left Egypt behind in their hearts. In this study of Numbers 13, we see five important steps we must take to move beyond the sins and heartaches of our past.

In an effort to "appeal" to what people want or reach a certain audience, churches often program a style of ministry for that intent. But this is not anywhere in the Bible--instead, we see believers praying and led by the Spirit, often unaware of what to say or do, but being used in profound ways. The apostle Paul wrote to Corinth, warning them against self-orientation and cleverness, showing them that the ideal is not our wisdom but a demonstration of the Spirit and His power. This short study from Prayer Meeting highlights 7 areas in which we need the Spirit to pour out His power on us.

The greatest truth the world has ever heard is that Jesus Christ defeated sin and death by rising from the grave. Every person has to make a decision whether they should believe that or not. Those surrounding the cross show the different reactions people have to what Jesus has done. His cross is empty, which means that His work of redemption is done. His grave is empty, which means that He has won the victory forever. So, on this Resurrection Sunday, what do you believe about Jesus?

When Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples right before His crucifixion, they should have been aware of what was happening, and serve Him. But instead, they were distracted by their self-centeredness. Jesus then showed why He had come, and quietly took on the posture of a servant by washing the disciples feet. Peter's objection and the silence of the others stands as the attitudes we sometimes carry, while Jesus' actions give us the example of how we should act instead.

When Jesus came to Jerusalem to offer Himself as the Sacrifice for our sins, He didn't do so in a bold, self-promoting way. Instead, He rode a young donkey, weeping over the town as He viewed it from the Mt. of Olives. Every aspect of that was significant: The fulfillment of prophecy, His humility and identification with the people, and the work that He was doing to restore relationship and peace between God and man. And when He spoke to Jerusalem itself, it served as a metaphor for the lostness of mankind, and the different reactions we have to His call to repentance and salvation through Him Alone.

In cultural and in art, Jesus is often depicted as soft and tolerant of sin. But in Mark 10, we see Jesus as resolved and determined to fulfill His purpose, even knowing that the religious and political leaders of Israel had decided to put Him to death. So He leads the way to Jerusalem, shocking and scaring the disciples, who finally understood that He was going to the cross to redeem man from sin. This powerful example of Jesus' courage and commitment stirs us to stand strong for the Lord and our convictions.

When Israel was taken into captivity by Assyria, because they had stiffened their necks against the Lord, the Assyrians brought in exiles from other nations to occupy Samaria. The Lord didn't forget Israel, but He also expected that these foreigners in their land would respect and fear Him. They initially acted like they did, but continued to worship their own gods. The Lord warns us against this duplicity, and challenges us to examine our lives to see if we are wavering spiritually instead of living completely for Him.