Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

The Power of Your Testimony

The Power of Your Testimony
Hebrews 3:4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
Revelation 19:9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Everyone has built his or her “house.” Your house is your scope of responsibility, authority, ministry, jobs, and possessions. The Bible says that Moses was faithful in his house. His faithfulness became his testimony. Your testimony, like the chapters of a book, is written every day by your words and deeds of faith in obedience to God.
2 Corinthians 1:12, "For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you."
A good testimony is:
1) Clear conscience
2) Simple and sincere conduct in in clear view others (no hidden agendas)
3) Operating by grace, not by carnal (flesh-ruled) wisdom
4) Other-focused
“Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
God’s prophetic purposes have been, and are being fulfilled, in your life!

Grace: Everything You Need

Hebrews 12:18 For you have not come [g]to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.
 
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
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. For our God is a consuming fire.
 
We live in an unstable world, full of unstable and changeable people. Even the things in our lives are subject to shaking, only to reveal what cannot be shaken.
 
Things that can be shaken were either not part of the original design and were added. At the car wash there is a sign that provides a warning about taking a car through the car wash with accessories added.
 
Grace provides everything we need.
 
God designed us. He knows what and who we are. He knows everything that belongs in us and on us. He has given me everything I need. Sometimes, I create a sense of need by adding something He didn’t ordain for me.
 
Over time, we add stuff, like cheap car "mods"--things we don't need and that don't help. God's does us a service by allowing fake stuff to be shaken off of us to reveal His "original" equipment! We can live a "bling free" life!
 
In a time of shaking, when something comes off, I feel like it is a loss....but it is actually a gain. Something unnecessary is coming off of my life.
 
How stuff gets added: Conformity to social fads and trends adds behaviors, beliefs, and baggage that we don’t need.
 
Matthew 11:16 "But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17] "and saying: 'We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; we mourned to you, And you did not lament.'
 
We have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken. You can rest in what God has given you. You can rest in your unique S.H.A.P.E.
 
Spiritual Gifts
Heart
Abilities
Personality
Experience
 
God’s kingdom is grace empowered. Grace is the hub of our lives. No Barcode labels
 
Living this way allows us to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
 
Grace allows us to consider the higher, more powerful, unshakeable, eternal realities of the kingdom of God.
 
Heb 13:9, Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace.
 
2 Peter 1:12, Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
 

Grace: An Empowered Life, Not Barcode Religion

My lesson today will be, “Grace: An Empowered Life, Not Barcode Religion” We will study from 1 Peter 4:10-11 reads, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."
We are never at the mercy, and weakness, of operating in our own strength. We can rely on the ability of God through grace in every endeavor of life. Our faith in God is not like a barcode (you will have to hear the teaching about that one!)

Stand: Grace to Stand and Not Stumble

My lesson today will be, “Stand: Grace to Stand and not Stumble.” We will study from 2 Peter Chapter One,  that says in part, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue…” (v. 2-3)
 
The conclusion of the text reads, “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble….” (v. 10)
 
We are going to do a “deep dive” into understand how God’s grace and faith work together to cause us to stand strong and victorious in every circumstance.

Mind the Gap: Close the Distance, Remove Danger, Help People

2 Peter 1:3, As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the [a]corruption that is in the world through lust 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
Ezekiel 22:29 The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice. 30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.
Nehemiah 4:6-8 New International Version (NIV) 6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. 7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
Think about gaps in three ways: 1) Closing the distance, 2) Removing dangers, 3) Helping others and receiving help.
In life there are a lot of things that do not need dramatic change. Much in life is already better than we think it is. The old saying is that “perception is reality” is mostly inaccurate because our limited perception is not capable love and bracing the entire reality of any situation. For example, a sad looking expression on someone’s face does not necessary mean that a person is sad, we only have a perception of sadness.
“Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Act Like Men - The Mandate, The Malady, the Motivation

A MANDATE
1 Cor 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love. 15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 
1 Cor 16:13 (NASB) Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.
There are two kinds of people and men: 1) Those who are living mainly for themselves and their ambitions: 2) Those who live mainly to serve others. 
The end of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church offers sound advice for men and fathers (and everyone by example). Be on the alert
Stand firm in the faith
Act like men
Be strong
That all that you do be done in love
Greek word for "act like men" means, "to make a man of, or make brave...to show one's self a man, be brave"
Brave definition: Ready to face and endure danger or pain
Here’s a good question: How does a man act?
A MALADY
There are a lot of negative perceptions about men. Part of this comes from the bad things that some men have done that are highlighted over and over again. This bad behavior gets assigned to all men, especially black men. 
Frederick Douglass said in a different day and time: "You degrade us and then ask why we are degraded. You shut our mouths and ask why we don't speak. You close your colleges and seminaries against us and then ask why we don't know.
A MOTIVATION
Good men are already motivated to do the right thing, even against all odds. 
If you encourage and honor a father and a man, that will empower him raise above all challenges and shortcomings.
What blesses men and fathers is honor. A lack of honor for fathers and men is reflection of a lack of honor for the Lord. Remember this Scripture, 1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
In his book “Honor’s Reward,” John Bevere shared the following: 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.
Flattery is insincere praise, especially that given to further one's own interests.
The antonym for “honor” is “dishonor” or to treat as common or ordinary, to not show respect or value.
Honor can be shown in actions, words, or thoughts, but all true honor originates from the heart. This is what the Pharisees and most religious leaders in Jesus’ day lacked. This is why they lacked power and moral authority.,
Even Jesus had to deal with a lack of honor and is hindered the release of God’s power.
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. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
What I have seen all of my life is the extraordinary things that men do in service to the community, family, business and ministry. Just here in Indy, there are men I have met and worked with who “act like men” in extraordinary ways. We have men who are well known doing great deeds, but we also have men acting like men under the radar.
Men like Brian Carter, Denell Howard, Derris Ross, Jonathan Thompson, Robert Townsend, Jim Strietelmeier, Eugene Potter, Anthony Beverly and many more 
 
Godly men won't lose motivation for a lack of honor, though he might lose heart. Motivation is the will to act and do what is necessary and right. Losing heart is to lose confidence or to stop believing that you can succeed. Godly men do not throw their hands up in defeat. Motivation has to be inward. This is something that separates men from boys. Boys have to be told what to do. Men know what to do.
 
If you waited for someone to encourage or help you to do something, you would not get a lot done. Help and encouragement follow action – and it often comes from unexpected places and people.
 
Later in life, and especially after your father is gone, you will appreciate how much he loved you, how much he did, how hard he worked. Don't let people hear all that at his funeral, tell him now. That’s way I honor my father with words and deeds.
 
The Bible says "Honor your mother and faith." A lot of people don't understand what honor is or how to honor.
 
How does honor affect our identity and blessings in life?
Mark 6:5 – Jesus goes to a city looking for the messiah – “Now he could do no mighty work there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.”
What really got my attention was that he could do no mighty work. I understand if he would do no mighty work. He says “could” do no mighty work. He was restrained.
We’ve got to know what restrains Jesus, because if we know what restrains him, we’ll know what restrains us.
A lack of honor and reducing Him to something lesser and familiar, 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 beyond the natural.
Jesus comes to this city that is looking for the Messiah, and the result is that even though he comes with the spirit of God without measure, only a few people get healed. They get a small reward because of honor.

Stand - Put On the Whole Armor of God, Part One

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles [strategies]  of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Strategy: A plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall objective.
Tactic: The actual means used to gain an objective,
The devil overall aim is to hinder and disrupt God’s plan in the lives of believers and prevent unbelievers from coming to faith in Christ. 
His tactics involve the use of dark spiritual forces, people, circumstances, and our own carnal minds. The most effective strategies are specifically designed and tailored to disrupt you.
 
Some well know strategies and tactics of warfare:
1. When the enemy is too strong to attack directly, then attack something he holds dear. Somewhere there is a gap in the armour, a weakness that can be attacked instead.
2. Delay entering the field of battle the others have become exhausted fighting amongst themselves. 
3. Never directly attack an opponent whose advantage is derived from its position. Instead lure him away from his position thus separating him from his source of strength.
4. Prepare a trap then lure your enemy into the trap by using bait. In war, the bait is the illusion of an opportunity for gain.
5. When faced with an enemy too powerful to engage directly you must first weaken him by undermining his foundation and attacking his source of power.
6. Disrupt the enemy's formations, interfere with their methods of operations, change the rules in which they are used to following, go contrary to their standard training. 
We also see this tactic manifest as “hidden agendas” were people keep something purposely hidden from people, usually authority figures, in order to accomplish a usually illegitimate, illegal, immoral or self-serving purpose.
7. Hide behind the mask of a fool, a drunk, or a madman to create confusion about your intentions and motivations. Lure your opponent into underestimating your ability until, overconfident, he drops his guard. Then you may attack.
8. Defeat the enemy from within by infiltrating the enemy's camp under the guise of cooperation, surrender, or peace treaties.

Expectation: The Key to Excellence in Leadership and Follow-ship

Expectation: The Key to Excellence in Leadership and Follow-ship
Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You. And to the saints who are on the earth, "They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight."(Psalms 16:1-3)
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19)
According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:20)
Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. (Philippians 3:1)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:7, 17)
Expectation defined: The state of one who looks forward to something; Expectancy, Anticipation, Something that is expected; Hope, Intention, Motive, Notion, Prospect
Expectation is cultivated by focus, placing our attention to the right/best things, having high standards, mutual submission, and good ethics.
One of the greatest things we can do for one another, and for ourselves, is to have high expectations. We live in a world of low expectations followed by low achievement and low morals. It has been shown that people will rise to meet the reasonable expectations of parents, leaders and other key persons in one’s life.  Leadership and fellow-ship are essential ingredients.
Leaders’ and followers’ characteristics and expectations. 
We all alternately lead and follow. How will we follow creates moral authority to lead. Leadership and follow-ship must be in balance as it relates to mutual responsibility and covenant relationship.
Philippians 2: 2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others
LEADERSHIP
L oving support, direction, and re-direction when needed 
E ncouragement during difficult seasons
A ccountability to others
D evotion to God in every area of life
E ffective prayer life that bears fruit
R eadiness to go first where others are expected to follow
S teadfastness in doctrine and service
H igher goals and standards which lifts others to new dimensions of living
I ntegrity and honesty in all dealings
P reaching and teaching anointed of God, born of extensive preparation
FOLLOW-SHIP
F earlessly, strongly and visibly support recognized leaders
O pen heart to new understanding and new directions
L ove your leaders with covenant love; do not allow others to “run them down” 
L earn from their example; be inspired by the works of God manifested through them
O ppose satan in any way he tries to manifest himself; cover your leaders and God’s vision through intercessory prayer and supplications
W ork and move constantly toward the stated vision and shared goals; search for the wisdom of God in helping to bring the vision to pass
S upport leaders publicly and privately, recognizing the enemy’s efforts to “smite the shepherd and scatter the sheep”(Zechariah 13:7)
H helping leaders by responding quickly and removing concerns
I  nsight on mission, messages, methods
P reared to serve when called upon and helping when not called upon

The Process of Your Paradigm Shift

Isa 43:19, Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert....21  This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise. A paradigm is an example serving as a model or pattern. A paradigm shift is an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking and doing is replaced by a new and different way.
 
On this side of the paradigm we only know the way things have been and the way that things are. Only other side of your paradigm there is innovation, creation, and new levels of provision.
 
One of the ways to detect a paradigm shift in progress is when God challenges your comfort zone. God begins to challenge your methods and call for doing things differently.  A shift is coming when you begin looking at things that have seemed useless, neglected, and barren, like a wilderness. Complaining brings a mandatory paradigm shift because God will not tolerate complaining. It is an indication of a bad mindset.
 
Every new assignment and journey in God requires a paradigm shift. A lot of our methods, habits, and ways of thinking and acting have to change.
 
Look for new things in "barren" places. God is already working on your behalf!

The Power of Promise, Part 2, The Process of Promise

Hebrews 10:35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise
Hebrews 6:13, When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,
2 Peter 1:3-5, As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust,
Today, I would like to talk about one of the greatest blessings in our lives. That is, the blessing of a promise.
The best things in life come as fulfillment of a promise from someone who has the power to make and fulfill promises. A promise is a covenant agreement between the promise maker and the receiver of the promise. We are aware of many promises that have been made to us and kept. But we’re not aware of many more promises that people, like parents, have made on our behalf that have resulted in blessing and provision in our lives growing up.
Anybody can make a promise, but that’s not what is most important. What is most important is this: Does the one who makes the promise have the will and power to fulfill promises. In life, we have to navigate a landscape that is full of promises fulfilled and promises broken. We learned about the of a promise and we grow to appreciate the power of promises, or what a promise can produce in our lives.
The Bible talks about many severe problems in our day. We know about violence, neglect, abuse, cheating, lying, and much more. To that list we add problem of covenant breaking or breaking promises. What makes promise breaking so troublesome is that the promise maker raises the faith, confidence, and expectations of others, only to dash those hopes. We are not talking about something we are unable to do, for which we apologize. We are talking about empty promises that had not potential of being fulfilled.
The basic ability to trust is something people learn as children. When promises are made and broken, this actually hinders a persons concept of trust and faith in God.  We also understand that broken promises can inflict emotional trauma on a child. What we sometimes interpret as bad behavior is actually the conditioned response of a traumatized child or youth.
One of the great lessons in going to school is that we gain the skills of responsibility and keeping promises in the areas of our school assignments. In going to school or taking training, we essentially promise to study, learn, for complete assignments and become both skillful and confident in our learned abilities. We’ve had parents, mentors, teachers and coaches who helped us understand that we have the ability to keep our promises, including promises to ourselves. 
 
It’s always important to have faith in God and to have confidence in what God has giving you. We don’t have faith in ourselves because we don’t have to power to do what God can do. We should have confidence in what God has given us and what He has asked us to do. For all of this He gives us grace.