Don't Let "Nothing" Stop You!

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Text: I Kings 18:41-46
Key Verse: "And said to his servant, Go up now, and look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times." (I Kings 18:43)

What really stops most people isn't something - it's nothing. When something is going on, we can usually see, hear, and/or feel it; think about Goliath, Jericho, the Red Sea, etc. However, these "somethings" are not the biggest hindrances. The biggest hindrance is, 1.)  not being able to see the conclusion of the matter, 2.) not understanding what God is doing, 3.) knowing we don't have the resources, 4.) seeing that what we can do isn't enough, and, 5.) a lack of faith.

Don't let "nothing" stop you!

1. Remember the God you serve
1. Don't take your eyes off Him
2. Lift up your eyes unto the hills - "my help cometh from the Lord!"
3. Elijah didn't have the power to stop (or start) the rain.
2. Look for the answer to your prayers
1. Expect it
2. Pray wisely - God's will (not "blab it and grab it")
3. Believe/Trust what God says (Titus 1:2)
4. Abraham was told the child was coming
1. Sarah laughed (it seemed impossible to her)
2. The angel said, "Is anything too hard for God?"
3. Just because you can't "see" it doesn't mean it's not happening
3. Obedience and Patience are required
1. Just because things are going against you - don't flag!
2. God always wants to bless you
3. The problem comes when we become displaced
1. If we're not where we are supposed to be when the blessing is poured out, we'll miss it!
4. Our obedience needs to be nailed down - fixed!
1. Willing and Obedient (Isaiah 1:18-19)

Our God makes things (speaks them) out of nothing! We do not walk by sight - but by faith. "In your patience possess ye your souls." (Luke 21:19) The perfecting of our faith takes time. "The trying of your faith worketh patience. Let patience have her perfect work..." (James 1:2-3) - so you can be entire (whole). Bear in mind: waiting on the Lord brings renewal. (Isaiah 40:31)

The "prophecy" (three and a-half years of drought,) did not mean to stop praying. God provided for His prophet for the entire time, making them "light afflictions." (II Corinthians 4:17) 

"But my God shall supply all your need,

 according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 4:19)

You're Not an Egyptian!

By Marjorie Kinnee

My child, you are not an Egyptian,

You were raised as a child of the Light.

Though you run far and wide,

You can't escape, cannot hide,

You will never be out of God's sight.

My child, you are not an Egyptian,

And your heart of hearts knows this right well.

You can bury yourself,

Put your heart on a shelf,

But the knowledge continues to swell.

My child, you are not an Egyptian,

Sin's stains look ill on your face.

Its' chains drag you down,

Soil your white wedding gown,

And frustrate the dove of God's grace.

My child, you are not an Egyptian,

Too much time's been invested in you.

By those who have cared,

And have willingly shared,

Teaching you to be loyal and true.

My child, you are not an Egyptian,

Though in Egypt's dominion you roam.

His voice you once heard,

In song and in the Word,

And His voice is still calling you home.

My child, you are not an Egyptian,

Though bewitched by Egypt's facade.

So the war rages on,

'Twixt God and Dagon,

But my trust's in the promise of God!.

The Christian with Hope is Never Hopeless

Submitted by Bernice Driskell

"Hope opens doors when despair closes them.
Hope draws its power from a great or deep trust in God and the basic goodness of mankind.
Hope regards problems, small or large, as opportunities.
Hope cherishes no illusions, nor does it yield to cynicism.
Hope lights the candle instead of cursing the darkness.
Hope looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst of them.
Hope discusses what can be done instead of grumbling about what cannot be done."
Author - Father James Keller

One of the most fundamental questions in life is: Is there hope? This question surfaces in life in different ways. We can go forty days without food, three days without water, several minutes without air; but we cannot survive without hope.

What situation are you facing in which you need hope? "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of thingsnot seen." (Hebrews 11:1) "If only in this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (II Corinthians 15:19) "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three..." (I Corinthians 13:13a)

Don't ever give up. Your mind will play tricks on you and get you depressed. Your heart will tell you - always have hope. Keep believing. Faith is now, but hope is future. Remember the story of the Syro-Phoenican woman. (Matthew 15:21-28) Jesus helped her; He will also help us. He "is the same yesterday, today and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8) Hallelujah!

Why is hope so important? Without hope we lose our motivation for life, family and ministry. Without hope we tend to go backward, instead of forward. Without hope we retreat for godly vision and follow the flesh, instead of the Spirit. Without hope we have no target for our faith to aim at, no direction for our faith to work toward. The hope I'm referring to is not the natural hope of society. That hope is merely wishing. Biblical hope means the confident expectation of good things. It involves patience. If you can't see God wanting to bless you with confident expectation, then you've lost your hope. Paul says our hope distinguishes us fromt he unbeliever who has no hope beyond this world. (I Thessalonians 4:13-14)

God wants to bless you so you can bless others. Do you have a target for your hope and faith to work toward? If not, your faith has possibly become dormant and ineffective. The Holy Spirit wants us to have hope and be dispensers of hope to people in hopeless situations. That hope is the Lord!

"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God." (Psalm 146:5) "And we desire that every one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end." (Hebrews 6:11) "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13)

Editor's Note: Bernice Driskell attends More Life Tabernacle in Swartz Crrek, Michigan - Pastor Jerry F. Stoner. This article with credit given to the writings of Father James Keller, a Roman Catholic priest and former leader of the Christopehers, is reprinted from prior editions of the Apostolic Writers Digest.

Reasons to Rejoice!

Editorial by Marjorie Kinnee

In a world writhing in the throes of disasters and tragedies, wars and rumors of wars, rebellion and strife, sorrow and sheer human misery; it's easy to focus on the negative. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was in the midst of the American Civil War when he penned this verse...

"And in despair I bowed my head,

'There is no peace on earth,' I said,

'For hate is strong and mocks the song

of peace on earth, good will to men."

He could have been writing about 2012. (See Romans 1:29-32.)

But just as Longfellow went on with his poem once he'd lifted his focus off of the chaos all around him, and looked to the Source of all help; we too can face 2013 with reasons to rejoice. Here are a few to get us started...

1.) Begin with I Peter 1:6-9 - Read and rejoice!
2.) With the angels at God's good will toward men - Luke 2:13-14.
3.) With all of creation - Psalm 65.
4.) When the lost is found - Luke 15.
5.) With the angels over a repentant sinner - Luke 15:10.
6.) In God's great doings - Luke 2:46-49.
7.) In your salvation - Psalm 13:5; 35:9.
8.) Because your name is written in heaven - Luke 10:20.
9.) In the Holy Ghost - Romans 5:11.
10.) With the wise men's exceeding great joy - Matthew 2:10.
11.) With the shepherds - Luke 2:20.
12.) In Jesus' Name - Acts 4:12; 5:41.
13.) In God's love - Zephaniah 3:17.
14.) In God's mercy - Psalm 33:18-21.
15.) In God's faithfulness - Psalm 89:1.
16.) In the truth - I Corinthians 13:6.
17.) In knowing Jesus' voice - John 14:27.
18.) In His tender care (the Good Shepherd) - Isaiah 62:5; Luke 15:6.
19.) In hope - Colossians 1:23-29.
20.) Evermore - I Thessalonians 5:16.
21.) "In the Lord always... again I say, Rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4.

Knowing aforetime what we will be facing in the days to come, Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33b)

The Hold, the Hole, and the Whole

By Betty D. Austin

As I was on hold during a call to 36^th District Court, the strangest thoughts began coming to me about the word hold.  It is a word whose pronunciation is similar to a few other words in the English language. For instance, this is what began running through my mind: hold – hole – whole. So, I started jotting down – as I was on hold – hold, hole, and whole! Then I proceeded to write this article, "The Hold, the Hole, and the Whole."

I thought about the meaning of each of these words, my phrases, and their spiritual portent. A hold is definitely a place where something is held fast, something or someone that constrains a person or object. There is a force that has definitely laid hold of us but at the same time, we have a hold on Someone who also has a hold on us – on our heart! That Someone is Jesus Christ, the One who has all power in heaven and earth.

Matthew 28:18 - "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth."

This opposing and evil force has definitely laid hold of us, thinking to place us in a hole.

Psalm 18:4-5 - "The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me."

Psalms 40:2-3 - "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD."

The word pit can be another word for hole. The pit can be the grave from which it was believed there was no deliverance or escape. It was a place of no return! This thought is reiterated by Job. However, Jesus proved that belief to be wrong!

Job 16:22 - "When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return."

Job 17:14-16 - "I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust." 

When that force lays hold of us and places us in a hole, it is in truth another challenge to the validity of the power of the One who has already allowed Himself to be placed in a hole but came forth from that hole victorious and completely whole: holding all power in heaven and in earth. 

The One who came out of the hole lives in us, has hold of us. We must hold fast to Him even when in a hole and remember He will not let go of His hold on us. If we do, He shall free us of the hold of the evil one and bring us out of the hole, free and completely whole.

Isaiah 41:10-13 - "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.　 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them,　even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

Hebrews 10:23 - "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)" 

It is a marvelous and amazing Truth that The One – Jesus Christ – who submitted to the hold to be placed in a hole came forth whole. He now does His greatest work in holes!

"Oh, Jesus, we do not have to climb up to heaven to bring Thee down, for Thou art here. If I'm in a hole, Thou art in the hole with me - to release me. All I need to do is to stop turning my back on Thee. Thou art here. Amen."
Afffirmation for the Day: "In view of the Here-ness of Jesus, I am not alone and I am not without Resources." [These two quotes taken from "The Word Made Flesh" by E. Stanley Jones]


Editor's Note: Betty Austin is the mother of Laurel Williams. (See "Covered" in this issue.) Betty and her husband, Charles R. Austin, attend The Apostolic church (Pastor Steve Warman) in Auburn Hills, Michigan. There, she teaches the women's class in rotation and conducts one on one Bible studies in her home.

Sit On It!

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Text: Matthew 28:1-8
Key Verse: "And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came, and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it." (Matthew 28:2)

The women came to the sepulchre in sorrow, wondering who would roll away the stone so they could care for the body of Jesus. They were prepared to do so, but, before they arrived, the angel of the Lord had already descended. Unknown to them, he had rolled away the stone and was now sitting on it, waiting for the women to arrive. Imagine their surprise when they came around a corner and saw the angel! But not only did they "see" an angel - he had words of comfort for them!

• Fear not!
• You seek Jesus...
• who was crucified
• He is not here!
• He is risen as He said
• Come, see the place where the Lord lay
• Go quickly, and tell His disciples...
• that He is risen from the dead, (and,)
• behold, He goeth into Galilee before you;
• there - ye shall see Him
• Lo! I have told you!

It is interesting to note that what the women perceived as a problem, (rolling away the stone,) the angel was powerful enough to not only take care of it, (do the work,) but also to sit on the problem in Victory!

Esperanza!

By Laurel D. Williams

Esperanza! I discovered this Spanish word for hope or expectation while reading a book to my daughter. Esperanza makes the word hope even more beautiful. It makes hope open and blossom, revealing the essence of its expectation.

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (I Corinthians 15:19)
While reading this verse, the Lord illuminated His Word to my soul; "in this life only." Traditionally, we hear this passage at funerals. We read this as if we have hope only in our life. But who was Paul talking about? Whose life? The preceding verses give fresh insight!

Paul starts by reminding the Corinthians of what gospel he has preached. First, he preached how Christ died for our sins, that He was buried, and rose again. Christ was seen of the twelve and of 500 brethren. Christ was seen by Paul also. Then, he speaks about resurrection, for some of the Jews did not believe in resurrection from the dead. But if there is no resurrection, then Christ is not risen. (I Corinthians 15:13) If Christ did not rise, they were false witnesses. If the dead did not rise, Christ is not raised, and your faith is vain. (v.17) And, those that are asleep in Christ are perished. So, if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are most miserable. Whose life was Paul talking about? The Life of Christ! If our hope is only in Christ’s earthly life, we are most miserable! Yes, we hope in the earthly life of Christ; His beautiful parables, His Godly example. We cherish His words. We are inspired by His miracles, His compassion, and the wonders He performed on this Earth. But, our hope, our esperanza, is in so much more.

Our hope, our esperanza, is in His death! By His death our sins are utterly and completely forgiven and forgotten. By His death, our peace was purchased. By His death and suffering, our healing was purchased. He paid the sacrificial price of sin for once and for all for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9)

Our hope, our esperanza, is in His burial! It was at this time that He became triumphant over death, hell, and the grave. We have hope that as Christ died and was buried, we too can die to this "fleshly" man by being buried with Him in baptism. When we are buried with Him, we put on His glorious Name! "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death..." (Romans 6:3-4)

Our hope, our esperanza, is in His resurrection! We hope in the newness of life. As Christ rose triumphant and ministered in a newness of life, so also can we. During this time He met with His disciples. He was preparing them for their new life- a life of mission, a life of service, a life of sharing the good news - the hope! As Christ rose, we can rise to walk in newness of life. "...That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)

Our hope, our esperanza, is in His ascension! After the resurrection, came the ascension. Mortal took on immortality. Limited life changed to eternal life. He ascended to heaven with the angels and powers and authorities subject to Him. (I Peter 3:22) He ascended to become our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). When He ascended, He did not leave us alone. He left His promise, the Spirit. Without the ascension, the promised Comforter could not come.

Oh, what a wonderful hope we have! We have hope in His life! We have hope in His suffering and death. We have hope in His burial. We have hope in His resurrection. We have hope in His ascension and have received the hope of the promise of His Spirit! And because of that hope, one day we will change from mortal to immortal. We will leave this finite life for an infinite, eternal life with Him. What a beautiful hope, what a glorious hope! ESPERANZA!

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power," (Ephesians 1:17-19)

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1:27)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant merct hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrectiob of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." (I Peter 1:3-4)

"Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." (I John 3:2,3)
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Editor's Note: Laurel Williams lives in Orange, Texas. She is married, with two daughters, and is a registered nurse. The Williams family attends the Eastgate United Pentecostal Church in Vidor (Pastor Bobby Edwards).