Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Know Jesus. Know the Power of His Resurrection.

Phil. 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Jesus' resurrection is not only a past event, but a present power! That's why we say, "He IS risen," not he WAS risen. 
Rom 8:11, And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

When Your King Comes In

When Your King Comes In
Luke 19:28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet ,that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31 And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’”  32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”  34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” 35 Then they brougaht him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying:   “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”  40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
John 12:12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!”
Matthew 20:27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your servant— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Jesus is a king like no other. He is not a king who comes to conquer. He is not a king who arrives in opulence and demands servitude. He is a king who serves, saves and empowers his followers.
King Jesus rides on the faith of givers and worshippers.  When we want Jesus to enter our lives and  circumstances, we must be prepared to follow His instructions, demonstrate our faith, and worship from our heart and with our substance. Jesus looks for faith, since it is the environment of blessing and miracles. Jesus looks to see if people will honor father God, who is always looking for true worshippers who worship in Spirit and in Truth.
In that day and in many cultures today, people understand the principle of honor and the protocol of entering the presence of elders and kings. Today, there is a lack of understanding of the importance of honor and honoring people who are worthy of honor.
Kings and rulers had a reputation for being petulant (easily annoyed and complaining in a rude way like a child), cruel, overbearing and self-centered. Jesus can to not only save souls, but to restore the concept of servant-leadership.
God’s priests had lost sight of the principle of honor
Malachi 1:6, “A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence?
Matthew 10:40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."
When we honor God by honoring those He has send, and keep ourselves in alignment with divine purpose and keep our hearts clear of selfish ambition.
Worshippers and givers have a heart to honor and please God. From the text, look at the characteristics of people who worship and honor,
Obedience,   "Go into the village...."
Attention to detail,  "Find a colt tied..." (not "now what did Jesus say?")
Recognition of Jesus authority, "The Lord has need of it..."
Sacrificial giving by unnamed owner of donkey. Sacrificial giving  by the disciples and onlookers, "They spread their OWN clothes on the donkey...
A sacrifice is not something we do that we don’t want to do. A sacrifice is offering up something costly and precious.
Remembrance of blessing, "All the mighty works they had seen..."
Worship and praise, "Blessed is the King who comes..."
 We call this "Palm Sunday" because of the palm branches that were broken off and both waved and laid before Jesus (John 12:13). This was a genuine expression of honor for Jesus and father God at that time. However, the real sacrifice came from the man whose donkey was borrowed and those who laid their clothes on the donkey and on the ground before Jesus. Something noted in Luke's gospel.
The fact that we focus on the palm branches is an interesting commentary on the level of our faith and personal worship. Waving palms is an appropriate celebration, but being true worshipper requires much more.
Something the donkey owner may have known
There have been ancient laws that required citizens to render to any King any item or service he or one of his emissaries might require. The donkey owner clearly knew something about Jesus. I suggest to you that he loved Jesus and recognized His kingly authority. For all we know, this man or a family member may have been healed by Jesus.
What would we call "Palm Sunday" if we recognized the greater cost of faith and worship? What if we were required to give up our own cars, equipment (today's donkeys) and the clothes we are wearing today? Most people would rather rip down some palm branches and wave them around than do something truly valuable. If followed the example o the man who gave the most, we would call it “Donkey Sunday.”
The unknown person who allowed his donkey to be used started something. He is the most significant person in this story other than Jesus. Given our bent towards religious traditions, if the donkey owner had a name, people would have probably named a church after him long ago. We like stories with peoples and things that we can imagine and dramatize.
He also became a part of God's prophetic plan. Somehow, he sensed that Jesus was a King who brought life, provision and a high return on any investment.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9
If you had been there, would you have given your best coat or garment to Jesus? You say "Yes!" but would if the purpose was not for wearing, but to become a saddle on a donkey's back for Jesus to sit upon? Or what if your suit or dress were used to lay on the ground for Jesus and donkey to walk on?
It's time for us to prepare the way for Jesus through raising the level of our serving, giving, praising and starting something so powerful that even bystanders take notice.
Not even the Pharisees could dampen the reality of this worship and praise. Jesus said that if the people did not serve and praise Him, that the rocks would cry out! Everything in creation that is not under the control of the devil (like Pharisees and too many folks today) wants to praise God.
Remember: "Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation."
Now put that little palm branch down and go get something worth giving to our King and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!
 
 

The Empowerment of Persistence

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Persistence Definition: Firm continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. The quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people
We persist in three ways:
 Prayer: Communication with God, empowerment for people, influence over circumstances
Personal Power: Your ability to influence or change an outcome.
3. Purpose: Fulfilling your assignment(s)
Luke 11:1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins [& debts], For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.” 5 And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. 
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Relationship empowers persistence. Asking is the protocol for receiving
Asking, seeking, and knocking is the sequence and protocol for the empowerment of persistence. Your persistence open doors that remain open to you. This is the empowerment. 
Ask > Given  Immature Stage   =    No Power/Authority/Uncertainty
Seek > Find Growing Stage    =     Developing Power/Authority/Growing Confidence
Knock > Door Opened Mature Stage     =      Full Power/Authority/Full Confidence & Faith
 

Awaken the Giant Within

I John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
Philemon1:4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
The giant within you is your new creation nature in Christ. He is the “greater” one who is greater and more powerful than the world! Realizing “every good thing” inside of you is a key to effective faith.
Paul knew he could count on Philemon. More than almost everything else, we want God and people to have confidence in us.
Philemon1:21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say
 Paul’s giant was awakened
Philippians 4:12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Faith in God depends first on God’s word and God’s integrity. Faith also depends on your disposition of heart and mind. 
Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The Great Exchange

The Empowerment of Encouragement
Pt. 2, The Great Exchange
 
 
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 
 
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 
 
Isaiah 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
 
Experience the “Great Exchange” which is the basis of Salvation Through the Gospel of Christ
 
1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
 
Isaiah 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
 
Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew [exchange] their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 
 
How can a command make a difference? High expectations triggers confidence and confidence triggers great capability, 
 
Exchange of Strength is a kingdom principle 
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” 
 
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 
 
Like overwriting a file on the computer. I erased a file and started looking it like I would find it. It was gone. The sooner I accepted, the sooner I could work on the replacement. Two two hours to render and export on a powerful computer. That would have taken a couple of days ten years ago.
 
Sources of encouragement (Which have your received. Which have you offered): 
Education 
Edification  
Employment 
Embrace (Story: “Guy Needs a hug”)
Exhortation
Empathy 
Entertainment (as a vehicle) 
 
You reap what you sow. You receive what you give 
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 
 
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid 
 
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” – Hellen Keller 
 
“If the wind will not serve, take to the oars. “ – Latin Proverb 
 
“If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you.You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.“ – Mary Pickford 
 

The Empowerment of Encouragement

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25
Encouragement inspires hope. Hope in the Lord renews strength. Renewal causes you to soar, run, and walk victoriously…So encourage one another!
Also, want to invite you to check out the Firm Foundation program at www.FirmFoundationTV.net. There’s a lot of encouragement, insightful teachings, conversations, and testimonies on that website. See the flyer below:

Peace in the Middle of Your Storm: Resolving Conflicts

Jesus promises peace. Life brings storms such as conflicts in relationships and in our circumstances. The peace that Christ brings to your life is ¯ than the difficulties. Learn how to stay in peace even when you have to deal with people and resolve conflicts.
 
Proverbs 4:23, Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
 
Having peace in the middle of any of conflict begins with “keeping (guarding) your heart.” Conflict is not only the challenge of resolving interpersonal issues, it is also something that intends to degrade your inner peace.
 
The heart's central role in conflict is described in James 4:1-3. When you understand this passage, you will have found a key to preventing and resolving conflict.
 
"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
 
Most conflicts that are manifest in your circumstances began with conflicts within your own heart. Peace in your heart and peace in your circumstances are not the same. The first key to resolving conflict is to establish peace in your own heart and mind.
 
Romans 12:18, If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
 

How to Maximize Moments in Time

How to Maximize Your Moments in Time
 
One of the greatest keys to being empowered and empowering others is understanding the concept of time as it relates to God’s purpose for your life. To empower means: “Help people gain power or authority to do something great”
 
Eph. 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16)  redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17) Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
 
Colossians 4:5, Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
 
Redeeming the time; or, buying the opportunity: a metaphor taken from merchants, that diligently observe the time for buying and selling, and easily part with their pleasure for gain. The idea being that of a merchant who, knowing the value of an article and the good use to which he can put it, buys it up. (Matthew Poole's Commentary:)
 
“Because the days are evil” —The days of life in general are so exposed to evil, as to make it necessary to make the most of the seasonable opportunity so long as it lasts.  These are days full of difficulties and dangers, by reason of men’s hatred of 
 
Seize the moments or opportunities ordained of God; walk through the open door while it is open. “The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity.” Leonard Ravenhill 

Firm Foundation Weekly Broadcast #103 | Conversation with Pastor Shad Hill

Cultivating a New Attitude

Philippians 2: (NLT) 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8  he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
 
“Cultivate” is a farming term. Because attitudes “grow” we have to pay attention to factors that affect our attitudes.
 
• A good attitude will not always change our circumstances, but it will always change us. [John Maxwell]
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. [John Maxwell]
Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.  [Walt Emerson] 
 
Attitude is not what people perceive. Attitude is your internal disposition. 
 
Remember this: There are always more people with broken hearts than hard hearts.
 
According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the word "attitude" means "an internal position or feeling with regard to something else." Other words often used as synonyms are: "disposition, feeling, mood, opinion, sentiment, temper, tone, perspective, frame of mind, outlook, view, or morale."
 
Airplane pilots often use "attitude" to describe their horizontal relationship with the runway then they land. If their attitude isn’t aligned properly, the plane will make contact with the ground at the wrong angle and it will cause them to crash.
 
Your attitude is your inward disposition toward other things, such as people or circumstances. As in with an airplane, attitude is applied whenever you must deal with something other than yourself. According to God’s word, when you become a Christian, a part of your new creation is the development of new attitudes — your attitude should become like that of Jesus. The Bible says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:" (Philippians 2:5). "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off the old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds." (Ephesians 4:22 NIV)
 
What we see may be a reflection of a person’s attitude, but don’t make the mistake of judging people you don’t know. I have a friends who seems to be overly serious, not very “bubbly.” Then I found out that he lost two sons in a car accident. This had happened a long time ago and it obviously changed his life. He does not lack joy and greatly enjoys life. It’s just that some experiences jerk all the slack out of you. Most people still have a lot of slack in their lives.
 
Life circumstances, privileges, or a lack thereof, affect the development and current state of our attitude.