Dreams and Visions For Change

God speaks to us through many ways. He is a living God who desires to speak to his people, and He does speak to us. Scripture has reflected that God uses dreams and visions to communicate with us and make His presence known to us. He makes Himself known to us when we have the desire to hear Him and listen to His voice.

In John Maxwell’s book, How Successful People Think, he shares that dreamers have an expanded way of seeing life and are more likely to achieve their dreams. God uses those people who dream “to bring a newness into our lives and even to his people, the church.” As God provides for us the ability to dream, he wants us to use “big-picture” thinking to see the world beyond your own way of thinking about the future.

God wants us to grow in our relationship with Him and does not want us to become satisfied or content in where we are. We are to continue to progress in our faith and in our trust as we grow in our service and ministry for God. He gives us the ability to see where we are and to dream, or aspire, to want more. “Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up: You understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways” (Psalm 139:1-3). God can, sometimes, bring us to the end of ourselves in order to create the desire to start something new or different in our life.

While we may have a dream and desire to change, it will never work if you ate unwilling to change. You must have a willingness to deal with your own attitude. Jerry Falwell (from Building Dynamic Faith) had hundreds of ministries because God placed on his heart the desire to dream big and trust the Lord in everything He provided for him. Even in this, dreams come with some responsibilities in where they come from:
1. Is it biblical in nature?
2. Who gets the credit? God or men?
3. Have you, as a person, grown enough to receive it?
4. Would God be glorified by others when they see the results?
5. Would it help or harm my continued growth in Christ?
6. Will lost people come to Christ?
7. Will the body of Christ be edified?

In the book God Still Speaks by Robert E. Webber, he noted that “there are numerous accounts in Scripture of God revealing Himself through visual means. God uses dreams and visions to introduce change in the individual’s life and His church. Although communication through dreams is sometime looked upon negatively, dreams do have a positive place in the biblical record” (refer to Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17-18).

“After this I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old man will have dreams, and your young men will receive visions” (Joel 2:28).

God works throughout Scripture to bring about change in our personal life as well as the church by dreams, visions, and trances (for clarity, dreams are often referring to activity during sleep, while visions and trances occur when awake). These are ways God can use to communicate with us. This communication is one of many ways that God, when we are obedient to His Word and are in line with His will, can inspire us to have a significant impact on our lives and even in the lives of others. A great example of this is how God was able to impact Cornelius, a devout Gentile who still needed a relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior, and Peter, a Jew and a believer who still had more to learn about the unlimited gospel of Christ.

Cornelius, a Gentile, had a vision that God gave to him (Acts 10:3-8) that would give him the desire to be more than just a devout, God-fearing person. God gave him the vision that would impact him, and as a result, his entire household, to seek a relationship with Jesus Christ. He was told to seek Peter in Joppa. The next day, in Joppa, “Peter went up to pray on the housetop at about noon. Then he became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something he went into a visionary state” (Acts 10:9-10). Peter, a Jew, had to now have his attitude changed as to how he was to see Gentiles. Before this, Peter was taught to not associate with Gentiles. Even as believers, God is still teaching us and working with us (Philippians 1:6). In this vision, only Peter could see it, but he had to see how God sees all people, both Jews and Gentiles, are all the same in Christ. God wanted him to ponder the vision and think about it (Acts 10:17) as he was to finally meet Cornelius. The Spirit told him to not hesitate to greet the men even though they were Gentiles (Acts 10:19-20). Peter learned the lesson from his dealings with the men and realized that God was teaching him an important lesson in spite of the existing culture between Jews and Gentiles. “Peter said to them, ‘You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean. That’s why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So I ask, ‘Why did you send for me?’” (Acts 10:28-29). The Spirit was working within Peter to see how both Cornelius and Peter were to learn from the experience. Cornelius was prepared through God’s vision…”So we are all present before God, to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord” (Acts 10:33b). “Then Peter began to speak: “In truth, I understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him” (Acts 10:34-35). Peter, in obedience to God, then proclaimed the truth of the gospel to all who were present, in spite of his surroundings. The message changed everyone who heard it, and the church was forever changed. “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also” (Acts 10:44-45). It all started with God’s communication to Peter and Cornelius, and in their obedience, to bring together a nation of people to build and encourage one another in Jesus Christ and for the body of Christ.

God is the one who communicates with us, trains us, and guides us into knowledge, wisdom, and truth. Our dreams and visions, when God-inspired, give us the ability to see God’s heart and His will in your life and in the lives of others.

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Dreams and Seeking God’s Will

Dreams are often referenced in Scripture as a method of communication by God. It was a way to describe future events, such as what Joseph conveyed to his father and his brothers (Genesis 37:5, 9; 42:6, 9; 43:26; 44:14; 46:29). Daniel was an interpreter of dreams (Daniel 1:37), and God spoke to him through visions about the future conflict (Daniel 7-12). God also used a dream to warn of impending danger to Joseph, Mary and Jesus (Matthew 2:13). He even used a dream to terrify Pontias Pilate’s wife to admonish her husband to “have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!” (Matthew 27:19)

With these examples, we see that God, indeed, has used dreams and visions to communicate with us. God speaks to us in many different ways, but dreams are also a way of capturing God’s vision of the future, just as Joseph was mindful of God’s dreams for his own future in the midst of extreme hardship. What gave Paul the desire to press on for the sake of his own faith and for the brethren? It was his vision of one day being with the living Christ, even though he was imprisoned and suffering persecution for his faith. We, too, are to cope with our own difficulties by focusing on Jesus Christ and living a Christlike existence. “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable–if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise–dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).

Dreams are a sequence of sensations, thoughts, and images that communicate information to us, most often during sleep. Dreams can also occur as we visualize in our minds the product of our imagination, a wish, or our desire to see important changes in our life and the lives of others. With this, we see that God gives us the ability to dream and also use dreams to visualize what we may see in the future. If used properly, we can see how dreams can inspire us to live a life of promise and can help us to realize our own hopes, thoughts and ideas. Dreams can help to challenge us to see something in the future when we truly trust in the Lord and remain obedient to Him and His Word. Our strength comes from believing that God provides us with the ability to persevere and succeed in Christ. “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Our goals and visions of the future are reassured by God’s ongoing faithfulness. His faithfulness comforts us as He demonstrates over and over that He has everything under His control. “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). We can see God working, yet we are challenged to trust completely in Him on a daily basis.

While God wants us to see His will for us and to remain in Him, what matters to God most is how you, as an overseer of His kingdom, bear fruit before others. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you. This is what I command you: love one another” (John 15:16-17). Living for Christ will give you the ability to bear fruit, and that our trust in Him will be manifested in the results. “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples” (John 15:7-8). We are fruitful as we abide in Christ and in seeking His will. His desires become our desires (Psalm 37:4). Our dreams, viewed by others as difficult to achieve or as impossible, can become a reality as we trust in Him.

Why does one stop dreaming? It is because dreams seem impossible to see through all of the obstacles that appear to be before them. Dreams, honestly, require hard work in their execution. Satan would like nothing better than for our dreams and desires of our lives for Christ to be put aside and rendered as unachievable or unreachable. Martin Luther King’s dream was well beyond the laws and rules that existed in his lifetime, and yet his dream was the desire of many. In the midst of the perception of what does not appear to be possible, will you dream anyway? While acknowledging the hardships of life, anything can be accomplished or realized as God goes before us, gives us the strength and ability to believe while we press ahead towards the prize (Matthew 19:26; Mark 9:24)

The realization of your dreams require your faith in Jesus Christ. “I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). If it is according to God’s will, it will definitely be accomplished. Dreams are not just about ourselves, but they also may involve others. When God speaks to us, He helps us see how we can see outside of ourselves when we dream. We can know if our dreams are not just our own when we acknowledge that God is with us. “Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15). God will truly accomplish what He desires, and His fellowship with us makes it easier for us to see His vision and recognize that the Lord’s presence guides us to see through our dreams and desires to reality. Even with this, God is also looking for our proper and reverent response to Him. God is the One who helps us to achieve our dreams in our work, and it is our responsibility to see that we claim none of the glory in our accomplishments. Without Him, we can do nothing; therefore, He deserves the glory for the realization of our hopes and dreams.

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Sunday School Today: The Holy Spirit’s Purpose

The Holy Spirit is active in many areas throughout Scripture.  Here is a short (and far from conclusive) list of some of the things that identify His purpose:

1.  He speaks.  Acts 13:2

2.  He intercedes.  Romans 8:26

3.  He testified.  John 15:26

4.  He oversees.  Acts 20:28

5.  He guides.  John 16:13

6.  He teaches.  John 14:26

7.  He created.  Genesis 1:1-2

8.  He regenerates in salvation.  John 3:3, 8

9.  He raised Jesus from the dead.  Romans 8:11

10.  He completes salvation.  1 Corinthians 6:11

11.  He seals us in salvation.  Ephesians 1:13

12.  He leads believers.  Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18

Ushers: Ordained by God for Service

There are many roles of service for persons within the body of Christ. Today, we are focusing on our ushers. Ushers play an important role in our church. As we take the time to thank the Lord for their service, it is our desire that you will see that their work is truly for the Lord, Jesus Christ and His church. As the recipients of the service provided by ushers, we will explore what they do for us and see the value of their service from a biblical perspective.

• 1 Corinthians 3:11-14, 9:25 – They do it for crowns that will last forever. The Lord will give them their reward.

• Hebrews 10:23-24 – Our role is to encourage them to continue on with their work.

• “So the Lord repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight” (Psalm 18:24). God rewards us for our service when we live faithfully in our service for Him.

The word usher is referred to in the Bible as a gatekeeper, doorkeeper or simply a keeper. The word is derived from ush, meaning “to enter into.”

The usher had many duties:
1. Keeper of the city gates
2. Announcer of dignitaries
3. They went before high-ranking people to clear their way
4. They directed individuals to their proper place
5. They were in charge of who to admit or permit into the building
6. They were the ones who made it possible for the speaker to be heard (not allowing disruptions in the room)

Ushers originated from the Levites (2 Chronicles 8:14, 23:18-19). They were the overseers that David had assigned for service at the gates in the Lord’s temple. They made sure that the proper reverence was used in worship of the Lord when entering the temple. There should be, for us, a value when we approach the Lord. When we grow in our relationship to the Lord, we also should have some reverence to our view of God and in our worship of Him. They also assisted the priests in the temple and they also were overseers of the collection of the funds (2 Kings 12:9, 23:4; 2 Chronicles 34:9). The Levites were already highly regarded as priests in their own right. They were entrusted to supervise the work on behalf of the Lord and in His temple. They were operating as overseers and gatekeepers operating within the body in their service (Nehemiah 7:1, 3, 45; 1 Chronicles 23:3-5). David and Nehemiah relied on the Levites as gatekeepers to serve the Lord in their various capacities, but even with all of this, “everything must be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Dwight L. Moody presented the importance of ushers during the revival period (Third Great Awakening, mid to late 1800s) of the church. He personally interviewed and selected 500 ushers to handle and direct the large crowds. He did it for two reasons: to show that we, who serve for the Lord and the church, are ambassadors for Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) and that they have a quality about them that showed them as welcoming and hospitable (Romans 12:13).

In the embodiment of ushering, the usher has to reflect the gifts of the Spirit in his or her demeanor and actions. The joy of the Lord must be present, and there needs to be a love and reassurance that comes forth in sincerity and care. The usher must also use the proper discernment and wisdom to keep the peace and have the proper response to know what to do in emergency situations. Ushers need to be sensitive to the needs of the people and dedicated to the tasks at hand with a positive attitude and to be a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Better a day in Your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather be at the door of the house of my God than to live in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord gives grace and glory; He does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity” (Psalm 84:10-11). The joy of being at the gate as a gatekeeper has more value in God’s sight than to be out of fellowship with Him. An usher is not “just an usher” in his or her service for the Lord. It is a position ordained by God and it is a role of importance in our church that deserves our thanks and appreciation for their service.

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Sunday School Today: The Holy Spirit’s Attributes and Symbols

The Holy Spirit is called “God” in several places in the Bible. He has divine attributes as revealed in the following passages of Scripture:

1. Omnipotence – Luke 1:35. In the birth of Christ, He was the protector of Mary and Jesus. He is our protector, as well.

2. Omniscience – 1 Corinthians 2:10. In our life He knows everything about everything.

3. Omnipresent – Psalms 139:7-17. In our life, “He will never leave you nor forsake you.” He is ever present.

4. Eternal Spirit – Hebrews 9:14. In our life from the new birth to Heaven, He is at work helping us “serve the living God.”

The Holy Spirit is also identified in the Bible by several symbols and examples, which are pictures of His divine work:

1. Dove – John 1:32. The dove is a symbol of love, peace and sorrow as He ministers to Jesus.

2. Water – Isaiah 44:3; John 7:38-39. Once you are saved, only the Holy Spirit can quench your spiritual thirst.

3.  Oil – 1 Samuel 16:13.  The ear of a priest was anointed first so that he might hear God.  Secondly, a priest’s thumb was anointed so that he might act for God.  This is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

4.  Wind – John 3:6-8.  Quietly and unidentifiably, the Holy Spirit moves both in salvation and in our daily lives.

5.  Fire – Acts 2:3-4.  Fire is symbolic of purification, testing or judgment.  This is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

6.  Clothing – Judges 6:34.  The Spirit of Jehovah clothed Gideon.  Clothing speaks of protection.  He is also our protector

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Serving the Lord

What keeps you from serving the Lord more than you are already doing? Is there a lack of understanding about what you are learning about service for Christ, or are there matters that get in the way. We want to believe that it is a simple as making a declaration, “I will serve the Lord!” If only were it that simple.

In 1 Timothy, note that the hindrances that kept those in the church from serving the Lord was best described by the final verse of the chapter, “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the ‘knowledge’ that falsely bears that name. By professing it, some people have deviated from the faith. Grace be with all of you” (1 Timothy 6:20-21). The people being described here are those who teach false doctrine and who are greedy and selfish–those who are unrighteous and who are not content in their lives.

At the start of the chapter (1 Timothy 6:1-2), Paul talks about how one should work for another on behalf of the Lord and not just because one is a believer or a non-believer, or because of one’s status. God’s testimony before man is what is at stake, especially before non-believers (Colossians 3:22-23). After all, failure to work or respectful to those we report to is irresponsible and can have negative consequences (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12; Titus 1:16). In contrast, we who serve in our work are “to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, so that you may walk properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

Paul also points out to Timothy about the prevalence of false teaching and the unwillingness of those who are beyond correction. Their motivations are suspect and selfish (1 Timothy 6:3-5). Their purpose may be in financial gain, unhealthy interests, or even controversy and strife. These individuals need to be content with where they are in life (1 Timothy 6:6-8; Philippians 4:10-13). In one’s contentment, you are more open to what God is trying to teach you. If you are constantly involved in controversy and strife, you can’t be receptive or open to His teaching. One should never equate riches with contentment. “But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains” (1 Timothy 6:9-10). See also Matthew 6:24, 33-34.

Timothy was implored to flee from those with wrong thinking and to pursue Christ and righteousness (1 Timothy 6:11-12):

1. Pursue righteousness over controversy and quarreling.
2. Your actions are to be Christlike.
3. Show forth faith and not evil suspicion, especially if there is no supporting evidence.
4. Love others instead of creating friction between you and others.
5. Endure as you move forward. There is much to deal with because of ongoing pressures and conflicts. It is not about your personal gain. Persevere.
6. Be gentle in working with others.

“Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life, to which you were called and have made a good confession before many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12). We have to pursue our faith with boldness and not allow others to hinder the gospel with their selfish actions. Remember who you became when you accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. We are to “keep the commandment without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 6:14).

Paul’s command to those who have wealth (1 Timothy 6:17-20):
1. Not to be arrogant.
2. Not to put trust in money.
3. To do good with their wealth.
4. Not to lay up treasures for themselves.

Our work has value when we do our work for the Lord. At times, we have to overcome and persevere over those who give us difficulty with false teaching, false doctrine, and those that are contentious and uncooperative. Our source of contentment in all that we do comes from Jesus Christ. In our contentment, there is a confidence that we have through the Holy Spirit that gives us the ability to serve under the gospel of Christ.

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Sunday School Today: Christ’s Titles

Jesus Christ is presented in Scripture as a Prophet, a Priest, and a King.

As Prophet, He tells men what God has to say to them, and He reveals God to men. John 1:18

As Priest, He represents believers before God. Hebrews 4:14-16.

As King, He reigns today in the hearts of those who are loyal to Him (who trust in Him as Lord and Savior). In the coming day, He will reign upon the earth for one thousand years (Revelation 20:2-3). Psalm 72 describes His reign on earth. Thereafter, Jesus will continue to be our King of Kings and Lord of Lords throughout eternity.

Next study: doctrine on The Holy Spirit.

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2010: The Work of Akron Alliance Fellowship

As this is a new year for all of us in service for the Lord, we should make a responsible, ongoing assessment as to who we are and what we are as a church. Our aim is to always seek the will of God and to reach out to those who visit our church. In our effort to make visitors welcome with our greetings and our hospitality, we must consciously make sure that they are all treated equally, without regard to their stature or circumstances, just as Christ did the same for those He encountered. Keeping in mind that we need to make those persons who visit our church as welcome and as comfortable as possible, we are to love those who would be deemed unlovable by the world’s standards. To love someone has a cost. You invariably have to give up something in order to love someone. It is hardly a sacrifice to love someone who already loves you. “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43-48).”

To love someone (with an agape love) is to do so with the understanding that Jesus Christ wants that individual to know the Lord as his or her Savior. While the recipient of the overtures of a church, a pastor and its members may make one wary or suspicious of such treatment, our hearts are to express love not for the unbeliever, but love and concern for the unbeliever’s soul. After all, it is the person’s eternity that is at stake. “Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).” We are not to be concerned with a worldly response where the person you are trying to love uses you or even tries to take advantage of you, for God will certainly replenish what you have as you trust in Him and continue to operate in His will. Think of how Jesus Christ loves us unconditionally, and has met us time and again where we were…in our sin, our our own failures and in our moments of despair. We are to remember how to love others in the same way that Jesus Christ loves us (John 5:12, 15:9-14). True agape love means setting aside our own judgments and moving in the Spirit as Christ would have us to do.

In doing this, we, as a church, should have a desire for the Lord that continually challenges us to grow in our understanding of Him. “As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1-2)” There needs to be a strong desire for God and His wisdom in our lives. When you have a passion for God, He will have a passion for you. God wants us, in our trust of Him and in our obedience, to see the fruits of our desire for Him. A fulfilling relationship with Jesus Christ is the result of your dedication to Him. He will gladly meet all of our needs according to His riches (Ephesians 2:7). God also wants us to grow in Him and live for Him. This occurs when we allow His Word to teach us and provide instruction and direction. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)” God wants to shower you with His favor, His wisdom, and His knowledge. We will always continue to learn more about God in our lifetime and throughout eternity. Our prayer is that you will use this new year as an opportunity to grow in Christ. “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8).” The more knowledge of God that you acquire, the more that God can use you in service for Him. You become more valuable to God as you learn more about Him. In order to do this, we need to move away from those things that can distract us from maintaining a close relationship with God (1 Corinthians 13:11).

Our ultimate goal, as a church, is to give Christ the priority in our lives. “He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything (Colossians 1:17-18).” (See also Revelation 22:13; John 3:31; Job 42:1-5.) This means that, in trusting God in everything, it means turning over everything to Him, including our finances. If Jesus is first in our lives, He is more than able to provide for us. He wants us to place our service to Him and for Him as a priority. The more we, as individuals and as a church, learn about the Lord through our Savior, Jesus Christ, the more we can flourish in our service for Him because we know that He has a plan for us in His will and in His purpose. Take the time to listen to Him through His Word, and allow Him to speak to you. You will see the hand of God moving in your life.

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Sunday School Today: Christ’s Death and Resurrection Were Necessary

A.  Christ’s death

1. No one is saved by the life of Christ but through the death of Christ.  John 3:14-18.
2. It was part of God’s eternal purpose.  Hebrews 10:7.
3. It was necessary to fulfill Old Testament prophecies.  Isaiah 53:5.
4. It was necessary to provide salvation for man.  Ephesians 1:7.
5. The death of Christ was for others.  He died as a substitute.  1 Corinthians 15:3.
6. The death of Christ was sufficient.  It completely meets God’s claims because Christ endured and exhausted the judgment of God against sin.  It completely meets man’s need because it was the death of an Infinite Person and, therefore, its value is infinite.

B.  Christ’s resurrection

1. The bodily resurrection of Christ was necessary to fulfill prophecy, to complete the work of the cross (Romans 4:25), and to enable Christ to undertake His present work in heaven.
2. Christ’s resurrected body was real.  It was not a spirit (Luke 24:39).  It was the same body that was crucified because it had the print of the nails in his hands and the spear wound in his side (John 20:27).  Yet, it was a changed body with power to overcome physical limitations.
3. After His resurrection, Christ appeared to many of His followers at least ten times.  More than 500 reliable witnesses saw Him after He arose and testified that Jesus was, in fact, risen from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:6-8).

The resurrection of Christ is an important truth.  If there had been no resurrection, there would be no Christian faith.  This one event separates Christianity from all other religions.  All religions point to the grave of their leader and “savior.”  We do not have a dead God.  We have a living Savior who triumphed over death and the grave and is alive for ever more.  With the number of witnesses to this historic event, there is no doubt as to its validity.

God’s Plan: Change Will Change You For the Better

As I was reflecting on this past year, it occurred to me that we are not only transitioning into a new year, but also a new decade.  While the events of this year were much the same as riding an economic roller coaster, the past ten years of our lives were significantly changed by our economy, our world view and the world’s view of America, threats and attacks on our own soil, technology, and even how we buy and listen to music and watch television.

As much as we sometimes struggle with it, change is inevitable.  In many ways, change is good for us.  We don’t always see it that way.  We don’t see change as a good thing if it results in two very important areas of our lives.  We don’t like change when (1) it forces a change in our daily routine or (2) when it has us do something when we are not ready to do it.  For example, if we could turn on the radio every day and know that our favorite radio station was there waiting for us for our listening enjoyment, we relish it and take comfort in it.  It’s reliable, dependable, and we expect that it will be there when we want it…until one day, and sometimes without warning, there’s a programming change.  The radio station, suddenly, is no longer playing the music you want to hear.  Now it plays something completely foreign to you…some alternative classic rock format.  When something like this happens, you experience a sense of loss.  It is unsettling and you are no longer in a place of comfort; instead, you are scrambling for a radio station that will once again bring you into a place where you can gradually settle into a routine.  There are certain areas of our life where change can unnerve us and we welcome stability.  This past year, for many of us, 2009 was a clear example of unwelcome change in our lives.

Change is always difficult to reckon with.  Being creatures of habit, we don’t accept change easily.  The reality is that change occurs constantly.  It is inevitable, and we cannot prevent it from happening.  That is why change is often a mental wrestling exercise where you fight the change, but then, after seeing the futility of the struggle against it, grudgingly acquiesce to the reality of the circumstances pertaining to the change.  Over the past year, and the past decade, changes took place in your life and your family, my life and my family, and our country and our world, and, whether you make the choice to accept these changes or not, each and every one of them were no surprise to God.  God is aware of everything as the God who sees everything (El-Roi) all around us:

Genesis 16:13

So she (Hagar) named the LORD who spoke to her:  The God Who Sees, for she said, “Have I really seen here the One who sees me?”  That is why she named the spring, “A Well of the Living One Who Sees Me.”  It is located between Kadesh and Bered.

Since He is a God who has seen your every move, the changes in your life over the last year and beyond, we can make some conclusions about our God who sees us as we are—in our moments of strength, joy, anger, weakness, despair, and vulnerability.  He has seen it all, and there is nothing that has not happened in our lives that He is not aware of.

First, we have to look to God as being all-powerful and all-knowing:

Genesis 17:1

When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty.  Live in My presence and be devout.”

Matthew 6:7-8

When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine that they’ll be heard for their many words.  Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.

With God being in complete control of your life, He has to be aware of everything you know and experience.  He knows your needs, and He has the power to guide, protect, and keep you through the winds of change.

Next, He is a God who provides for you in your times of need:

Genesis 22:13-14

Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.  So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.  And Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide, so today it is said: “It will be provided on the LORD’s mountain.”

Note that the Lord provides for us as we have faith and trust that He will do it.  When we lack faith or trust in Him, we fail to see His provision.

How has your view of God affected your response to changes in the past year?  In the past 10 years?  In your lifetime?  Is God a pivotal part of your life experiences, or has He merely been a peripheral figure that is only a part of areas of your life that you deem relevant?  God, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, has so much to offer if we are only willing to let Him be a part of everything that we are involved in.  This is an effort of allowing God’s will for your life to truly take hold.  When you are operating in God’s will, since He sees and knows everything, the changes you experience will be considered normal.  As God is not surprised by change, operating in His will gives you the comfort at those times when change is uncomfortable.  This represents two more names of God that we can trust in—He is a God that provides peace (Yahweh-Shalom) and comfort.  He is our Shepherd (Yahweh-Rohi).

Psalm 23:1-4

The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.  He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.  He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.  Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.

Judges 6:23-24

But the LORD said to him, “Peace to you.  Don’t be afraid, for you will not die.”  So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it Yahweh Shalom.  It is in Ophrah of the Abiezrites until today.

Since God does not change, His will also does not change.  His will for your life has also not changed.  His desire for you and your life is filled with promise and the expectation that if you trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ, you will receive the full benefits of His loving care, provision and protection (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Your outlook in 2010 has everything to do with how you believe God will work in your life.  While we do not always see change coming nor are we prepared to deal with it, we can take comfort that our all-powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing God is stable and consistent—in short, He has not changed (Malachi 3:6), and He does not change His mind (Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 7:21).

Even with the many changes that we will inevitably experience, God’s plan for you, in the New Year, in the coming decade, is to be your Shepherd, your peace, your provision, your Almighty God who sees and knows it all before it even happens.  Trust in Him to be all of these things for you, and you will have more than a Happy New Year.  It will be a victorious one in Jesus Christ.  It’s a change that all of us can live with.

Copyright © Melvin Gaines.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.