Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

No Other Foundation…

1 Corinthians Chapter Three which addresses the immaturity of believers as summed up in the statement, "For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?” (v. 4)
The Apostle Paul showed how rather than having “favorite” leaders/preachers, we should see the necessity of unity in ministry work and collective purpose.
1 Cor, 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one...
Paul emphasized that we have only one foundation--Jesus Christ. No one can lay another foundation in the church that would be authentic. 1 Cor. 3;11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Having favorites and operating contrary to these principles leads to the “defiling” of God’s “temple," which is the church collective. (vv. 16-17)
In the last verse of the chapter, Paul provides the best and correct perspective: 1 Cor. 3:21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
Listen to the lesson and be blessed!

From Pain to Power: Dealing with Pain Victoriously

Isaiah 53:3,5 Jesus is acquainted with pain and griefs: He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…and by his wounds we are healed.
What is pain?
1. The physical feeling caused by disease, injury, or something that hurts the body
2. Mental or emotional suffering: sadness caused by some emotional or mental problem
3. Someone or something that causes trouble or makes you feel annoyed or angry
4. Physical pain, in its simplest form, is a warning mechanism that helps protect an organism by influencing it to withdraw from harmful stimuli (such as fire).
Parallels of physical pain to “life-pain”
Physical suffering associated with a bodily disorder (such as a disease or injury) and accompanied by mental or emotional distress.
Pain avoidance can lead to self-destructive behaviors. The most potent pain-relieving drugs are opium and morphine also happen to be the most addictive.
We have something called “Pain receptors.” These are found in the skin and other tissues, are nerve fibres that react to mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli. Pain impulses enter the spinal cord and are transmitted to the brain stem and thalamus.
Life-pain receptors are not physical. Emotional or mental pain is difficult to define. The perception of physical pain is highly variable among individuals. Just as people have high and low thresholds of physical pain, They also have high and low thresholds of life-pain. Some people feel pain if someone does not say “hello” to them. Some people, like me, would not feel pain if you called me “stupid.” Now I certainly wouldn’t be running around with anyone who called me stupid, but it would not stop me from doing anything I’ve been doing.
And this is the main issue when experiencing “life-pain”: What stops you from doing what you are supposed to do? While the physical pain mechanism wants to influence you to withdraw or protect yourself, life-pain, such as emotional pain, should be addressed, not avoided.
From Pastor Joel Brooks: Some of us have way too high of a tolerance for pain. Pain is not the enemy, but evidence that one exists.
Pain is a message to you that:
1) something in your life is out of place.
2) something or someone is in your life that shouldn't be there. 1 Peter 2:20, For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
3) something in your life is under attack
4) You are being tempted.
The problem is that we tend to treat the pain rather than the cause, thus allowing the source of the pain to remain in our lives way too long. Jesus bore your pains and so know that the pain you feel (whether in your body or in your heart) is not something you were meant to live with but simply a signal to you of an area in your life that needs attention. Pain is telling you something needs to be adjusted, removed, or resisted. Decide today to lower your tolerance for pain.
James 4:7 "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you"
Keys to dealing with life-pain:
1. Don’t deny the pain. Don’t hide your pain from Jesus.
2. Know that most people cannot handle your pain because they don’t have the Spirit of Christ in this measure.
3. Identify the source
4. Know that some pain is self-inflicted:
5. Cast your cares on the Lord because handling your pain in the covenant that Jesus made.
6. Stop the pain. Life-pain is essentially noise, so go to a quiet place. “Be still and know that God is God.” (Psalm 46:10)
7. Ultimately all pain has to register in the mind. So focus on something else. Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
8. Don’t withdraw. Don’t stop doing what you are supposed to do.
9. Repent: Change your mind. Go in a different direction.

Identification: Becoming the Best You, pt. 4 | How To Do Anything

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

Identification: Becoming the Best You, pt. 3

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

Identification: Becoming the Best You, pt. 1

The old man is crucified. We either identify with the “old” person or the “new person”
We are created in Christ for good works which God ordained beforehand
Identity is the basis of influence. We are shaped by forces and personalities with which we identify. Your “new man” is your best “you.”
Colossians 3:10, …And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”
Our entire existence owes to divine identity. “Made in the image and likeness of God.”
Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

7 Facts About Your God Given Assignment

And Jesus said unto him, “No man, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

Jesus Rose! You Can Stand!

1 Cor 15:45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Bountiful Benefits of Grace

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

The Joy of The Lord is Your Strength

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Neh. 8:10
These words were born from the experience of Nehemiah leading people out of "comfortable captivity" in Babylon and Into the word and purposes of God in their own land.
Regardless of how blessed you become in this world, do not forget that true joy comes from doing God's will. The Hebrew word for "strength" means "protection" and "safe harbor."
Having more is sometimes a lure to become complacent and captive to comfort. Nehemiah was the King's cupbearer. He was an important man in Babylon. But this was only a form of "comfortable captivity" which he refused to dwell in. Doing God's will, even when it is uncomfortable, brings strength and safety.
Joy and strength come from making a difference in the lives of other people.
Go out and start building or rebuilding a wall today! #joyandstrength #nocomfortablecaptivity

How to Be Better at Everything

The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-9) is all about principles of increase. It is about understand conditions that lead to increase and becoming better. Two ways to be better: 1) Let your light shine 2) Hear well