Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Jesus, The H.A.N.D.S. of God

John 20:24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Just as an examination of the nail prints convinced Thomas he was beholding the hands of deity, a closer look at the Bible reveals that Jesus shares the HANDS of God: 
Honors: Jesus shares the honors due to God. 
Attributes: Jesus shares the attributes of God. 
Names: Jesus shares the names of God. 
Deeds: Jesus shares the deeds of God
Seat: Jesus shares the seat of God. 

Redeem The Time: Keys to Maximizing Opportunity

Ephesians 5:16Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. KJV Verse 16, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
“The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity.” ~ Leonard Ravenhill:
“You can't make up for lost time. You can only do better in the future.” ~ Ashley Ormon
Chronos is “Clock Time”Kairos is God’s “set time” or  “maximizing opportunity”
A Biblical Understanding of Time1. The purpose of God should be the motivating factor in our lives. He expects us to rightly use the time we have on the earth. 2. Time is the interval between the eternal past and the eternal future which has been created for God to redeem and restore creation and humankind. 3. Time allows God to move in seasons to fulfill His purposes. 2 Tim,1:9, “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began”4 . Redeeming the time is a Biblical mandate and a command from God. Time should not be misused. It is a non-renewable resources. Time moves in one direction only.
Who am I?I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.Half the things you do you might just as well turn over to me, and I will be able to do them quickly, correctly. I am easily managed - you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done, and after a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great people; and alas, of all failures as well.  Those who are failures, I have made failures. I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a human being. You may run me for a profit or turn me for ruin - it makes no difference to me.Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet.Be easy with me and I will destroy you.Who am I? I AM HABIT. "HABIT" IS MY NAME!

What God is Doing in You During a Pandemic

Philippians 1:6, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

Why We Give Thanks - Lesson from Giant Redwood Trees

William Barclay: “The distinguishing mark of the true Church is an abounding and overflowing gratitude. Thanksgiving is the constant and characteristic note of the Christian life.” J. B. Lightfoot: “Thanksgiving is the end of all human conduct, whether observed in words or works.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18, In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.Philippians 4:6, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Lesson From Redwood Trees: Rooted and Built up in HimColossians 2:7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 
Redwoods do not survive alone. They form “tribes” or communities. Sometimes they grow so close to each other they merge at the base into one tree. The first thing they provide each other is strength and support: intertwining roots.  Not deep, but wide, living in an embrace of others.
 

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken - Shine As Lights

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken: Grace to Serve

Hebrews 12:26, Whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Serving God acceptably is the outcome of things that cannot be shaken. 
Part of the process of arriving at a place where things cannot be shaken involves removing the things that can be shaken.
1 Peter 5:10, But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
The word “suffer” is defined: To be affected, to undergo; “to permit further" 
We have all experienced suffering or shaking. I know it because you are still standing in faith today!
Remember:  Justice = Righteousness. 
Justice begins with how we relate to God based on the Grace He has provided to us. 
Justice is God’s order in you
Righteousness is God’s ability working through you

Things That CANNOT BE SHAKEN When Things Shake

Hebrews 12:26, Whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
 
Hebrews chapter 12 presents five topics of context and focus.
 
The Race of Faith
The Discipline of God
Renewal of Spiritual Vitality
The Glorious Heavenly Company
Following the Heavenly Voice
 
We are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. We are not receiving a membership or an association. We have received A RELATIONSHIP!

Justice=Righteousness & Righteousness = Justice

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:17) 
The contexts of the words justice and judgment suggest the following:
1. One cannot preach righteousness without doing justice.
2. Justice must be done in the spirit of righteousness.
3. Authenticity is essential for one’s lifestyle. Live according to Christ and the word of God.
4. One must take action in helping those who are disadvantaged. 
5. Resist oppressors by holding persons accountable who would take advantage of others.
6. Stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. 
Justice = Righteousness 
Righteousness = Justice
In the Bible the words are sometimes used interchangeably. Psalms 89:14 
KJV: Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
NIV: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you
There are three types of justice
1. Biblical Justice
2. Social Justice
3. Civil Justice

Lord, Teach Us to Pray! Part Four: Victory Everyday!

Matthew 6:13, And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Remember that’s God’s design is for you to experience VICTORY EVERYDAY! 
Kingdom - The domain of the KingPower - grace, ability, provisionGlory - God’s presenceForever (Everyday and into eternity)

Victory Over Sin That Hides -"'Forgive Us Our Debts, as We Forgive Our Debtors"

Matthew 6:12  And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
Followers of Christ do not have a “sin conscience.”When you live for Christ, you are not consumed with fear of doing wrong.
Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
Walking with Jesus daily keeps our conscience clear.