Treasured Truth

Our praise should not be to impress God or others, but to express our love for God alone.  As we continue to look at Psalm 34, we’ll see that the degree of our gratitude should equal the degree of the glory that we give to God.  It’s not about us, it’s all about Him!

Have you come to the place where everybody knows that you are not ashamed to praise the Lord?  To lift Him up, anywhere, anytime?  For any reason at all, in front of anybody?  In other words, have you gone public with your praise?

Isn’t it amazing that people who generally don’t get along, can find a way to do it when it comes to not getting along with you?  Isn’t it amazing how folk that don’t like each other, can find a common ground when it’s time to come against you?  Just a few of the observations that Pastor Ford makes today as we continue our study about criticism from Nehemiah.

Pastor Ford points out that when we are being criticized, we need to not retaliate and just ride it out.  Because if the criticism is untrue, then our lifestyle will prove to other people that it’s not true.

When we encounter criticism, we can use it t help evaluate whether our focus is on God or whether it’s on ourselves.  So, when we get criticized, if God gave us whatever we’re doing, then we should ask ourselves why are we offended that somebody is criticizing what God told us to do?

As we begin a new study in Nehemiah, we’ll learn that we should expect to encounter critics and haters along the way.  Pastor Ford will explain that any time there is an opportunity, there will always be opposition. Whenever we step out in faith, we better believe something will come along to make us fear.  We need to understand that victory will always be followed by a valley.

Pastor Ford has some encouaraging news to share with us today—even if we’re just cop outs, Christ will give us all a bail out, so we can break out and carry out His purposes for our lives, for His glory.  Jesus will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory!

Today Pastor Ford asks a poignant question—do we believe God for our future? If we do, then we should proclaim it!  We shouldn’t care what kind of opposition comes our way, we know where we’re going.  This is where we’re headed and no one and nothing can stop us. How can we know for certain?  Because God has already told us where we’re going and we can trust Him.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  And so what does faith do for us?  It gives us insight into foresight like it’s hindsight.  In other words, God’s gonna let us know what our future is going to be, so that we can have faith in Him and our future.

Today, Pastor Ford asks how can someone criticize in a hateful way someone else who’s taking their time, their gifts and the money God has given to them to minister to others. As we continue the series called “Combating Criticism,” Pastor Ford will address this and other probing questions.