Baptism 01/27/12

Baptism 01/20/13

Baptism 01/13/13

Baptism 01/06/13

God's Tests

"What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?" - 1 Samuel 20:1

The cost of being one of God's anointed can be great. Those whom God has anointed for service and influence in His Kingdom go through a special preparation. David was anointed to be the next king over Israel. Shortly after this, while still a young boy, he was brought into King Saul's service to play music in Saul's court. While there, the opportunity to stand up against Goliath elevated David for his next stage of development as future king. As his popularity grew so did Saul's jealousy. However, even Saul's jealousy was God's instrument for molding and shaping David.

Saul finally decided he could no longer tolerate David's success and popularity among the people, so he tried to kill David. The confused young shepherd boy spent many years hiding in wilderness caves before he was able to see the hand of God in all of this. No doubt David thought that when Samuel anointed him he would be conveniently raised up to be king with all the accompanying benefits of kingship. Not so. God's preparation of David involved much persecution, disloyalty, and hardship. These were the lessons necessary to be a godly king. God brought many tests in David's life, just as He did with Saul. David passed these tests. Saul did not.

When God anoints us, it often is accompanied by some severe tests. These tests are designed to prepare us for the calling God has on our life. Should we fail these tests God cannot elevate us to the next level. For a workplace believer, these tests often involve money, relationships, and other issues of the heart.

What if God has chosen you for a specific purpose in His Kingdom? Are you passing the tests He is bringing about in your life? These tests are designed to bring about greater obedience. In most instances, it will involve great adversity. The Bible tells us that the King of kings learned obedience through the things that He suffered (see Heb. 5:8). If this is true, why would it be any different for His children? Be aware of the tests God may be bringing before you in order to prepare you for His service.

Dislocated Hips

Jacob Wrestling with the Angel - Rembrandt

The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. - Genesis 32:31

 
Jacob was a man who was a controller. He connived and manipulated his way to get what he wanted. It was a generational stronghold passed down through his mother, who encouraged her son to play a trick on his father, Isaac, by pretending to be Esau. This trick led Isaac to give the family blessing to Jacob, which meant Jacob would eventually inherit the land God had promised to Abraham's seed. Jacob also learned control from his uncle Laban who caused Jacob to work for 14 years to take Rachel as his lifelong mate. One must ask which was more ugly in God's sight, the self-centered nature and worldliness of Esau, or the control and manipulation of Jacob? 

Control is a problem for men and women. Many women use sex to control their husbands. Many men use power and force to control their wives. Control is at the core of that which is opposite the cross-self-rule. What delivers us from this fleshly nature of control? A crisis. Jacob's crisis came when he was faced with the prospect of meeting a brother who said he would kill him the next time he saw him. Esau had built his own clan and was about to meet Jacob and his clan in the middle of the desert. Jacob was fearful, so he retreated. There he met a messenger from God who wrestled with him. Jacob clung to God and refused to let go of this angel. It is the place where Jacob was given a painful but necessary spiritual heart transplant. From that point on, Jacob would walk with a limp, because God had to dislocate his hip in order to overcome Jacob's strong will.

For believers, God often has to "dislocate our hip" through failure and disappointment. Sometimes it is the only way He can get our attention. Our nature to control and manipulate is so strong that it takes a catastrophic event to wake us up. Yet God did not reject Jacob for these character traits. In fact, God blessed him greatly because He saw something in Jacob that pleased Him. He saw a humble and contrite heart beneath the cold and manipulative exterior of Jacob's life, and it was that trait that God needed to develop. He did this by bringing about the crisis in Jacob's life that led to total consecration. This event was marked by Jacob getting a new name, Israel. For the first time, Jacob had a nature change, not just a habit change. What will God have to do in our lives to gain our complete consecration to His will and purposes?

21 Days of Devotions

Day 21

 
Jesus said God would bless those who hungered for God. The word “bless” means “to add value.” Jesus promised, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled”
(Matt. 5:6, NKJV).

Note “They shall be filled”? When you’re really hungry for a hot juicy hamburger there’s no satisfaction like sitting down to slowly munch it down. In the same way, there are times when you really want God to manifest Himself to you. You hunger for God and You want Him. Fasting from earthly food is one way to hunger for God’s presence.

The longer you fast, the more keen your thinking becomes. You’re not consumed with feeding your body. God begins to consume your thinking. You cry out, “That I may know Him” (Phil. 3:10, NKJV).

When you fast, the brain thinks more clearly and you remember more. Perhaps it’s because your heart is not pumping extra blood to your stomach to digest food. There is extra blood available to the brain, and more blood means the brain functions better.
 
Jesus called Himself bread: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger” (John 6:35, NKJV). As we fast, we find that Jesus fills every yearning of the heart.

Yes, when we fast, we focus on Jesus who lives within. As we read the Scriptures, we take Christ into our life anew, for Jesus is “the Word [of God]” (John 1:1, NKJV). So read much Scripture when you are fasting. The Bible—Jesus’ words—renews our will to live for God and sharpens our mind to think on
God.

From the Pastor

The church began a Daniel Fast today. The fast began after lunch today.  The staff will begin with a water only fast until dinner tomorrow, you are welcome to join us in this element of the fast, which will help to get the fast off to a smooth start.  We will break the fast January 20th at lunch. I hope you are joining us in this spiritual discipline that followers of God have practiced through the centuries.

A Daniel fast is a partial fast, meaning we are not fasting all foods, but only those that it is thought that Daniel fasted.  Daniel fasted on two occasions, one was for 10 days the other was for 21 days.  Being led of the LORD, we are doing a 21 day fast.  Yet in the nature of fasting throughout the Bible, there is great flexibility.  You might find that the 10 day fast is best for you.  There is also great freedom in Christ, work through your plan as the LORD leads.

Basically, we are fasting meats and other products from animals, alcohol, processed food, food with sugar.  You can eat as much as you want of those foods considered acceptable.  You will find a complete list on our website, www.ibccorbin.com.  Simply click on the slide "The Daniel Fast" and you will be taken to a page which outlines the details of the fast, recipes, and other helpful information.

You will also find a 21 day devotional on the website.  The first 7 days are posted currently, corresponding to our OT reading plan, if you are taking part in that you will find it beneficial especially.  The other 14 days will be put on later this week.  It is important during the fast to have increased time in prayer and Bible study.  The Lord will speak to you, be listening.

You can also get more information and handouts at church.
Why are we fasting?  For several reasons; it is commanded in Scripture, it has always been practiced by believers, to promote discipline in our lives, to tell our bodies that our spirit is in control, to seek insight from the LORD for 2013, to grow in our faith, to be better parents, spouses, and followers of Christ, you will also be healthier from the fast.  We are seeking spiritual breakthroughs individually and corporately.

Happy New Year!  I pray that 2013 would be a rich year of spiritual growth for each of you and your families, and for our church as a whole.

Pastor Allen

All In Series Begins January 6

 The game is a big deal and it will cost you everything. The risk is great, but the payoff even greater. What happens when a group of people put it all on the line and boldly go… all in?

All In from Immanuel on Vimeo.