Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

COVENANT: The Foundation for Every Good Thing

Closure, Clarity, Covenant: Recover all!
Part Three: Covenant Makes Everything Better!
Throughout the Bible, we see that covenant was the basis of something good happening to God's people. From the first mention of covenant in Exodus related to Israel's deliverance from Egypt, to the rebuilding of the walls under Nehemiah, to the covenant Jesus made that produced salvation for us, covenant makes everything better.In this lesson you will learn some of the great examples of covenant in the Bible as well as the instruction offered by the Hebrews' writer that pronounced a better covenant doing better promises through Christ.
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Key Thought: "Covenant makes everything better"Key ScriptureHebrews 13:20-21, Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.Reflection Questions1. What is covenant?2. Why was the old covenant under Moses week?3. How do the "covenants of promise" to Israel relate to believers in Christ today today?4. How does covenant make everything better?5. What does it mean to Covenant within Covenant?

Closure, Clarity, Covenant: Recover All! Part Two - CLARITY

Notes, Keynote Slides, and Reflection Questions:
 
In this series we are looking at principles of recovery following 2020, which was one of the most challenging years of our lives . The insurrection and attempted coup against our government capital on January 6 by supporters of the President, and incited by the President, highlights necessity of Closure, Clarity, and Covenant as a citizenry. Read more about those matters at dmy blog at bryanhudson.com. 
 
As a prophetic voice and people, we recognize the necessity of being firmly grounded in God's kingdom, exposing and rejecting falsehoods, and being socially relevant within our community and nation. During a time of prayer and meditation while preparing for the message, these scriptures came to heart and mind (exposition during the message),
 
Isaiah 28:17, I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level; Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters will overflow the secret place.
 
Remember that justice equals righteousness. Insurrection and sedition are neither just nor righteous, no matter how much people talk about God and wave a flag. 
 
Philippians 3:18, For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.
 
Our God is a refining and a consuming fire.
 
Hebrews 12:28, 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.
 
TO THE MESSAGE
 
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Key Thought: "Clarity begins with self-examination"Key Scripture
Matthew 7:1, Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 
Reflection Questions1. Why is self-examination necessary to gain clarity?
2. What is the definition of clarity?
3. How did David's actions at Ziklag lead to his gaining clarity?
4. How have Jesus' words about "Judge not" been misapplied or lacking in understanding?
5. How are the Scriptures a great source of clarity? Provide an example.

Closure, Clarity, Covenant: Recover All! | Part One

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By Bryan Hudson, New Covenant Church
WWW.BRYANHUDSON.COM
At the beginning of 2021 it is important to find closure and clarity. An important part of your success in 2021 is settling the issues from 2020. This an important truth for every year, but the unusual nature of 2020 makes it all the more important to have closure in preparation for advance. Two of the key words for this first lesson in the series include CLOSURE & RECOVERY. 
Closure is coming to terms with what something is, or what was, for the purpose of being able to move forward.
Recovery is Returning to a normal state of health, mind, or strength. The action or process of regaining possession or control of something stolen or lost.
Key Scriptures: 
John 15:7, If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
1 Samuel 30:8, So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them? And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” 

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!