Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Thanks-Giving is a Lifestyle Part 2 - Rescued & Transferred

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Paul’s prayer
Colossians 1:9 (NLT) So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Anytime you see the expression of being thankful it is not there as a filler word, it is there for a very specific purpose. Giving thanks is in the central part of any prayer because Thanksgiving opens you to something greater.
You remember that the first mention of Thanksgiving was connected to something called a peace offering. The peace offering was a free will offering unlike any other offering for Israel back in that day of law, requirements and mandates.
You will remember that we said, Thanksgiving comes from peace and peace leads to thanksgiving.
Giving thanks opens your heart and mind to God and to his supply quicker than anything else. The text says the word thanking God who has enabled us to partake of an inheritance in the light. Stop and think about that: we actually have access to something that God has provided to us. Giving thanks is like a key or combination to open the door.
RESCUED
Have you ever faced a danger, such as a near miss while driving, or some other situation that could've ended badly? What's the first thing you said? You said thank you!
We are all escapees! We are like escaped slaves! We been delivered! We got out! We made it over!Think for a moment what your life would be today without Jesus Christ, without the family he gave you, without the church and Teachers he gave you.
Jesus literally purchased our freedom and forgive us our sins. Where would we be without Jesus and his church?
The great Mahalia Jackson performed a songHow I Got Over
How I got overHow did I make it over?You know my soul look back and wonderHow did I make it over?
Tell me how we got over, LordHad a mighty hard time coming on overYou know my soul look back and wonderHow did we make it over?
Tell me how we got over, LordI've been falling and rising all these yearsBut you know my soul look back and wonderHow did I make it over?
But, soon as I can see JesusThe man that died for meMan that bled and sufferedAnd he hung on Calvary
And I want to thank him for how he brought meAnd I want to thank God for how he taught meOh, thank my God how he kept meI'm gonna thank him cause he never left me
TRANSFERRED
Have you ever had experience of experiencing a transfer to something better or an upgrade?One of the best things when you travel away from home is to be booked into one hotel room and get upgraded to a better room.
When I travel to Raleigh North Carolina last month to be a part of the 20th ministry anniversary of Pastor Williams I checked into a new Hampton hotel. I came early so I room wasn't ready for me, but because I was a Hilton rewards member, the lady gave me a king suite. I walked in there put my bag down a big smile came on my face! I received a transfer! I didn't deserve it, I could've done without it, but I received it anyway! There is no better transfer than your heart and mind to be moved out of the realm of worry, fear, anxiety, and all the limitations connected with this world the kingdom. To be transferred into the kingdom of the son of God's love is an incredible reality!
New king James version says, 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
Not only have you been transferred into a kingdom, you've been transferred into the Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ, who is the Son of his love!
There are four keys to this transfer
It is a transference from darkness to light. Without God men grope and stumble as if walking in the dark. They know not what to do; they know not where they are going. God has given us a light by which to live and by which to die.
It is a transference from slavery to freedom. In Jesus Christ there is liberation.
It is a transference from condemnation to forgiveness. He knows now that he is no longer a condemned criminal at God's judgment seat, but a lost son for whom the way home is always open.
It is a transference from the power of Satan to the power of God. Through Jesus Christ man is liberated from the grip of Satan and is able to become a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Transferred into the Kingdom of the Son of his love. Redeemed by the blood and forgiven of all sins
Psalm 89:15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. 16 In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted.

Thanks-Giving is a Lifestyle, Part 1: The Peace Offering

1 Thessalonians 5:18, In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Romans 15:4, For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
First reference in the Bible to giving thanks or thanks-giving is Lev. 7:11-14
Leviticus 7:11 ‘This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which he shall  (or “may offer”) offer to the Lord: 
(NIV- “‘These are the regulations for the fellowship offering anyone may present to the LORD:)
12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers anointed with oil, or cakes of blended flour mixed with oil. 13 Besides the cakes, as his offering he shall offer leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offering. 14 And from it he shall offer one cake from each offering as a heave offering to the Lord. It shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offering. 
This first mention of giving thanks was connected with a special offering called “the peace offering” also called the “fellowship offering.”
The peace offering was different that other offerings which were mandated for reasons of sins committed, dedication, or ritual purposes. The peace offering could be a spontaneous offering connected to nothing more than wanting to thank the Lord for his goodness! 
When we think of the OT, we think about the law, regulations, mandates, and consequences for disobedience. However, grace was present in the OT because God is always a God of grace for people who can see it and receive it.
Because many believers operate in either indifference or legalism, they miss the joy of worshipping, giving, and serving simply out of love for God - without a sense of obligation! As important as it is to give tithes and offerings, we don’t do it out of obligation, we do it out of love and appreciation for God, for His church, and all the things of God.
Worship as an offering was one of the promised benefits of the New Covenant. For New Covenant believers, every offering should be a peace offering!
Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 

"Come to me, I'll Give You Rest" - An Invitation, An Instruction, An Insight

"Come to me, I'll Give You Rest" - An Invitation, An Instruction, An Insight
Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29) "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30) "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
We all know about the importance of physical rest. We know how a lack of rest negatively affects us and how good rest brings refreshing and renewal. I pray the Lord gives you good rest, especially during this difficult season.
Jesus talked about a different kind of rest. Physical rest is connected to slowing down and sleeping. Rest for your soul is connected to Christ. Jesus said three things:
1. He said, “Come to me.” - We can call this: His Invitation2. He said, “Take my yoke and learn from me.” – We can call this: His Instruction3. He said, “My yoke is easy and my burden in light.” - We can call this: His Insight

Stand Firm by Patricia A. Hudson

One definition for stand is to remain or be set in place. 
Firm can be defined as being solid and unyielding. 
For the purpose of our lesson this morning, we will consider two thoughts.  
To stand firm means to remain set in a solid place of believing God. 
To stand firm means to have unyielding and unwavering faith in God. 
 
As we study together this morning, we will consider seven keys to standing firm in our faith in God. 
 
1.  Have Faith in God
Hebrews 11 New King James Version (NKJV)  (By Faith We Understand)
11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Having faith in God, can be viewed like the bridge that connects believers from Point A, confident trust and hope in what God has promised to Point B, the manifested evidence of the promise. 
 
2.  Do not doubt in your heart
James 1: 2 – 8 NKJV 
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
 
3.  Stand firm on the Word of God which reveals all that God said to you, all that God said about you and all that God has for you. 
Hebrews 4:1-3 New King James Version (NKJV) The Promise of Rest
4 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest. 
 
4. Pray and agree with the Word! Identify a few scriptures that align with your request.
Say what you believe, speak the Word!
Mark 11:20 – 26 AMP
The amplified version emphasizes two conditions for the things I ask for in prayer. 
First, I believe and pray in accordance with God’s will. Verse 23 in part reads, If he believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him [in accordance with God’s will]. 24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.
 
Second, If I have anything against anyone, I must forgive him.  Verse 25 reads, Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others].
 
5. Be Established on the Firm Foundation 
Build on the Rock  Matt 7:24-27 NKJ
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
 
Build on the solid rock of hearing the Word and obeying the Word. The difference between the two people, one person heard, followed, became wise and withstood the storms. The other person heard, didn’t obey, became foolish and was destroyed.  
 
6. Trust God to Renew Your Strength 
Isaiah 40: 28 – 31 NKJ
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
 
7.  Having done all to stand: Stand Therefore and Keep Standing 
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.   14 Stand therefore. 
 
In summary, the most important key to remember is:
Have Faith in God. As a believer, my mindset is to have confident trust in what God has spoken to me, what God has spoken about me, and what He has planned for me, He will perform it at the right time and in the perfect way. He just asks me to trust Him!

The Rest of God: Using the Power of Another

Hebews 4:9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
Rest is an important word! Rest is essential physically and spiritually. We know the benefits of physical rest to our bodies and minds. Most of us can do better getting good rest.
Spiritually, rest is essential to living a life of purpose and empowerment. Entering God's rest is a recognition that we are operating on the "finished works" of the Christ, such as salvation, grace, abilities, wisdom provision and health. 
Rest is far from "doing nothing," it is "doing" through the strength of God. It is using the power of Another. Just as a surfer uses the power of the wave, we rely on the grace of God.
This teaching will help you enter into God's rest!
 
 
Rest comes from using the power of Another (Jesus).
Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29) "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30) "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
 
What is REST?
R - Return to God. Use the power of Another
E - Expect renewal through being refreshed in the Lord
S - See the new way God is showing you. Relying less on your own strength and more on the Lord’s strength.
T - Testify to the goodness of God. Tell someone about the goodness of God in your life
 
What Rest Looks Like: 
1. Having God’s peace in your heart and life. 
2. Entering into you places of purpose
3. Resting from your labors because of completion. 

Honor

Matthew 10:39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. 40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
We’ve got to know what restrains Jesus, because if we know what restrains him, we’ll know what restrains us. 
Mark 6:1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief.
A lack of honor and reduced Jesus to something lesser and familiar, and this attitude among the people blocked the blessing they could have received from Him. To his family, friends, and neighbors, Jesus was just the kid down the street, or “the carpenter.” He was more than his occupation, but “familiarity” hindered their ability to see Jesus’ greater purpose and ability. 
Even though Jesus came to the city with the spirit of God without measure, only a few people got healed. They get a small reward because of a lack of honor. 
Many times God will send you what you need in a package you don’t understand or like. 
The greek word for honor literally means “a valuing.” The picture is one of something valuable, precious or weighty, such as gold. Other definitions: appreciation, esteem, favorable regard, respect. 

The Power of Perception

The Power of Perception
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" – Matthew 6:23-24
Jesus said that that the eye is the lamp of the body.
Jesus said our eyes are like lamps or lanterns, something that gives light. I would have thought that he would compared eyes to windows, something through which we view the world around us.
Using the word “lamp” is very strong because he is saying that we literally cast our own light or perception on things around us. We are not only taking in what we see, we are also shaping our perception of the reality of what we see. 
So we can say, if your perception are healthy, your life will be full of light. But if your perception is unhealthy, your life will be full of darkness
We don’t actually change things by how to see it, but learn to respond to things by how we see it. There things in life that we can and cannot control. Our perception and reaction is one of the things we can control.
Perception is powerful and we sometimes see the same things differently
There things in life that we can and cannot control. Our perception and reaction are two things we can control. 
We all know what it is like to be around people who are always negative, or find something wrong with everything and everyone. It’s like the sun got covered by clouds, or like someone turned out all the light in the room. 
Stephen Covey, the author of the Habits of Successful people wrote, “We do not see the world as the world is. We see the world as we are.” 
(Ryan Holiday, the author of The Obstacle is the Way, wrote, ”Perception is how we see and understand what occurs around us—and what we decide those events will mean. Our perceptions can be a source of strength or of great weakness. Faulty perceptions lead to misdirection & disconnection. We participate in creation and destruction of our obstacles. So what are your perceptions today?"
We want to have "healthy eyes," which is seeing things as they are and through the Word of God. Bad perception taints our world and our reality. As Jesus said, when your eyes are healthy, your whole body (life) is full of light. On the other hand, when you eyes are unhealthy, your body is full of darkness.
One key to healthy perception is to be objective: 
Definition: not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased. Intent upon or dealing with things external to the mind rather than with thoughts or feelings, as a person or a book.
Unhealthy perception often comes from being subjective:
Based on feelings or opinions rather than facts; Pacing emphasis on one's own feeling, mood, attitude, and opinions.
In a scene from Remember the Titans, Coach Bill Yoast and Coach Herman Boone show their objective and subjective perceptions based on each one knowledge and life experience. 
To survive and thrive in life, you sometimes have to focus on things that cannot be seen. This is where knowing the Lord, knowing the Bible, and having the power of the Holy Spirit in your life makes all the difference.
Moses endured by seeing Him who is Unseen. Hebrews 11:27, By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
Jesus said that Faith in God can move mountains. Your mountains are obstacles that must first be moved in your mind before they are moved in your life and cirsumstances.
Mark 11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Noah had to do it,  Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Abraham had to do it,  Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 10 for he looked for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

The Hub of Grace

The Hub of Grace
1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
 
A hub is the central part of a wheel, as that part into which the spokes are inserted.
A center around which other things revolve or from which they radiate; a focus of activity, authority, commerce, transportation, etc.
Grace enables, empowers, and gathers everything else. Grace is the hub of all fruitful and authentic Christian activity. God’s grace is not just a nice word. Grace is a virtue and a power at work on the inside of believers in Christ.
Grace is intrinsic, not extrinsic. Intrinsic means: Belonging to the essential nature of a thing: occurring as a natural part of something.
The various insights, mandates, and blessings mentioned in this text are all connected through the Grace of God.
Grace is multi-facited. It is multi-functional. It has variety within unified purpose. Grace is a hub for your life
Psalms 46:1 reads, “God is our refuge and strength, avery present help in trouble.”
The Apostle Paul discovered grace as a hub and learned to live by it.
2 Corinthians 12:7, And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
What Paul learned and taught us:
We all have burdens and weakness that keep us humble
Grace is sufficient. God does not say “no” to help. He trains us to find help His way
Strength comes out of weakness. If you cannot admit to your weakness, you will not become stronger.
Embrace the trouble or weakness, then receive God’s answer and strength
“For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

The Grace of Becoming

Colossians 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving….9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Colossians 2:10, (Berean Literal Bible) And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority,
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Becoming begins with knowing what you already have. Every advanced course starts with something called prerequisites. As believers in Christ and adults, we don’t start from scratch. We are new creations in Christ.
You are complete in Christ. Just like every person is born with DNA that carries instructions about our bodies and minds, you were born again with New Creation DNA. You have the prerequisites. What you need now is recognition and development.
Philemon 6 That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

The Master Key: Part 9, "The Prayer of Agreement"

Matthew 18:19, Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven