RockBecomesAFailure

 Rock Becomes a Failure 

My flesh and my heart fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. PSALM 73:26 NKJV

His name was Simon, son of Jonah Jesus had given nim a new name: Peter, which means "Rock" And Jesus said that he would build his church on that rock! But peter didnt feel like a rock now. He felt like a failure. No, he was a failure. It all happened SO fast. Just after the Passover meal that evening, Jesus stated that before the rooster crowed, Peter would deny three times that he knew Jesus. Peter was aghast, "Lord, 1 am ready to go with you both to prison and to death he protested (Luke 22:33).

A few hours later, a huge band of soldiers arrested Jesus. Peter tried to fight fon Jesus, even grabbing a sword and cutting off the ear of the high pries's servant, but Jesus did not fight. He went away quietly.

Peter followed at a distance. When they reached the high priests house, he joined others at a fire in the courtyard. A servant girl challenged him first, sayving that he was with Jesus. Peter denied it. Someone else said that Peter was one of them." "Man, I am not," Peter snapped back (v. 58).

An hour later, another person, catching Peter's Galilean accent, insisted that Peter was a follower of Jesus. Peter invoked a curse on himself and swore that he didn't know Jesus. He didn't know the man whom he had declared as th Messiah. He didn't know the man for whom he said he was willing to die.

A rooster crowed and Jesus looked at Peter, who ran out of the courtyard and wept bitterly.

King David had his own share of failures, as everyone does. He took comfort in the knowledge that, even when he failed, God would remain the strength-or literally, the rock-of his heart. God would sustain him,get him back on his feet, and supply him with whatever he needed to make it through. God will do the same for you.

Passage: 

Verse in Context- Psalm 73:21-28 NKJV

 And I was vexed in my mind, I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; Por indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the LORD God, That I may declare all Your works.

Questions for Reflection and Application.

Why did Jesus rename Simon to Peter?

Why did God choose David to be king?

For what has God chosen you? 

Why did God choose you? 

When you fail, how do you act toward others? 

How do you act privately? 

How does God want you to act? 

What does God want you to learn from your failures? 

What can you do to put God at the center of vour life and enable him to be the strength, or rock, of your heart?

 

MY COMMITMENT AS A CHRISTIAN

Publish date: 10/22/2006

I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit Power.  The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.  The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals. 

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.  I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.  I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.  I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus.  I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me.  When He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me—my banner will be clear!  

Written by a young African pastor and tacked on the wall of his house.

 

C.H. Spurgeon on Mental Health

Some might not be aware, that the Prince of Preachers was often  overwhelmed with depression, anxiety and panic.

Since May is “Mental Health Awareness Month”, allow us to highlight a few of Spurgeon’s quotes on these issues.

Charles Spurgeon was ahead of his time, in stating that depression and anxiety could be seen as medical problems rather than sins or “lack of faith”

“There are certain forms of disease which so affect the brain and whole nervous system that depression is a melancholy symptom of the disease.” 

“I would not blame all those who are much given to fear, for in some it is rather their disease than their sin, and more their misfortune than their fault.” 

Spurgeon believed it was error to judge those who struggle with mental health issues.

“Especially judge not the sons and daughters of sorrow. Allow no ungenerous suspicions of the afflicted, the poor, and the despondent."

"Do not hastily say they ought to be more brave, and exhibit a greater faith. Ask not ‘why are they so nervous and so absurdly fearful?’ No… I beseech you, remember that you understand not your fellow man.” 

Spurgeon’s own battle with depression and anxiety.

“I suppose that some brethren neither have much elevation or depression. I could almost wish to share their peaceful life. For I am much tossed up and down, and although my joy is greater than the most of men, my depression of spirit is such as few can have an idea of.”

“I could say with Job, ‘My soul chooseth strangling rather than life’ [Job 7:15]. I could readily enough have laid violent hands upon myself, to escape from my misery of spirit.”
 
Those who struggle with these issues should follow in Spurgeon’s steps in turning to Christ during dark times.

“O dear friend, when thy grief presses thee to the very dust, worship there! If that spot has come to be thy Gethsemane, then present there thy ‘strong crying and tears’ unto thy God. Remember David’s words, ‘Ye people, pour there, finish the quotation, — ‘Ye people, pour out your hearts before him.’ Turn the vessel upside down; it is a good thing to empty it, for this grief may ferment into something more sour. Turn the vessel upside down, and let every drop run out; but let it be before the Lord. ‘Ye people, pour out your hearts before him: God is a refuge for us.’ When you are bowed down beneath a heavy burden of sorrow, then take to worshipping the Lord, and especially to that kind of worshipping which lies in adoring God, and in making a full surrender of yourself to the divine will.” 

 “Strong-minded people are very apt to be hard upon nervous folk and to speak harshly to people who are very depressed in spirit, saying ‘really, you ought to rouse yourself out of that state.’” 

 “Thou art my Father, and I am Thy child, and thou as a father, art tender and full of mercy. I could not bear to see my child suffer as Thou makest me suffer; and if I saw him tormented as I am now, I would do what I could to help him, and put my arms under him to sustain him. Wilt thou hide thy face from me, my father? Wilt thou still lay on me thy heavy hand, and not give me a smile from thy countenance?” 

Knowledge of God

 

Knowledge of God

Everywhere you look you can learn something about God. The earth is filled with information about Him. Psalm 19:1 says that the skies proclaim the wonders of God’s handiwork. And Romans 1:20 also says that since the beginning of creation, God’s attributes have been visible in the world.

Learning about God’s character through nature is called General Revelation. These are the things that anyone can learn about God by observing creation. Special Revelation is knowledge about God and salvation that only comes through His Word.

One example of Special Revelation is Habakkuk 2:14, which talks about a future day when the earth will be filled with true knowledge of God. When this was first proclaimed, the nation of Israel was in the midst of exile. They were experiencing injustice at the hands of their enemies. But God gave them a promise in the middle of their hopeless situation…

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:14 NIV

A day will come when all people will know God. Knowledge of Him and His glory will cover the earth. Those who trust in God as their Savior will be with Him eternally in Heaven. But those who do not know Jesus will experience Him as their Judge, and be separated from God eternally.

When Jesus first came to earth, humanity got a glimpse of God’s glory. And because the Holy Spirit is still at work through the global Church—we still get glimpses of that glory. But on the day Jesus returns, all people will recognize Him as the true King. At that time, it will be too late for us to share the life-saving news of Jesus’ death and resurrection with others. That’s why we should use every opportunity we have to help people know Jesus as their Savior before it’s too late.

As Christians, we should pray for the day when Jesus returns and fills the earth with His glory. We should seek God continuously, and read God’s Word to be filled with knowledge of Him. But we should also be looking for opportunities to share the knowledge of God with others—right now. 

So take some time today to consider who you can share the hope of Jesus with. And pray for those who do not know Jesus yet—ask that God  would use you to help others get to know Him.