By Gobel Brockman
As I type this, the celebrations are underway.
2016 is coming to an end, and we are about to enter 2017.
For some people, the end of 2016 can't come soon enough, For others, it's been a great year. I'm sure that many of you reading this have endured difficulties this year: the loss of a loved one, financial difficulty, job uncertainty, or a host of other situations. I'm also certain that for some reading this, this year has held many blessings - new love in your life, the birth of a child or grandchild, and possibly great and unexpected blessings. Wherever you find yourself at the end of this year, my prayer for you is that 2017 will be a year of joy, contentment, and most of all, spiritual renewal and revival as Jesus Christ reveals Himself to you in a greater way through the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we enter this new year, my thoughts right now are on a ritual that many engage in during this season: the "New Year's Resolution." People make many pledges and promises during this time - resolutions to lose weight, take better care of themselves, spend more time with their families, etc. Sadly, these resolutions are usually short-lived. This can lead to disappointing feelings of failure and cause us to give up hope. But as I think of this I'm reminded of what took place in the book of Exodus. God had performed many miracles for the children of Israel to set them free from Egyptian bondage. As they were about to see the final plague poured out upon Egypt, which would secure their release, God said this to them in Exodus 12:2:
"This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month for you."
God went on to tell them that every year they were to celebrate the Passover to remember this day - the "new beginning of the new year" - throughout their history to remind them of what God had done for them. My point is that their freedom came because of what God had miraculously done for them. They were about to be set free and experience a new beginning not because they freed themselves from Egypt, but because GOD set them free! As we go through this time of "New Year's Resolutions" and the disappointment that usually goes with them, I want to encourage you with this:
Changes we try to make for ourselves are limited at best, but when we allow God to make the changes, He will truly give us a "new beginning."
One of my favorite verses is Philippians 2:13, which says this:
"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure."
What I'm trying to say this week is simply this: if you want real, lasting change in your life, allow God to move in your life by the power of the Holy Ghost, and the changes will happen not for your glory, but for His. I can tell you both from Scripture and personal experience that the best way to change your life is submit to God through Jesus Christ and let HIM make the changes. He will give you a genuine and eternal "new beginning."
I pray that everyone reading this has a fantastic 2017! You'll find it as you follow Jesus.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Saturday, December 24, 2016
The Message of Christmas Will Change Your Life - Drastically.
By Gobel Brockman
Another Christmas is upon us. Once again we join with family, friends, and coworkers for food, presents, fellowship, and more food. It's also that time of year for the "Chreasters" - people who go to church twice a year; Christmas and Easter. Every year we hear about a star, a manger, wise men, and a virgin giving birth. But this year I want to look at the Christmas story in a way we don't often think about. It affected a lot of lives in ways that it also affects ours today:
*King Herod
He was king. His word was law. He then hears the news from wise men that a new king has been born. What that meant to him was simple: his kingdom was now in jeopardy. He made the horrible decision to have all the male children two and under killed in an attempt to keep this new king from his kingdom. However, his attempts were futile. Our attempts to keep His rule out of our lives will be futile as well. The Bible says in Philippians 2 that "every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord." That includes Herod - and you and me. He will be our Lord - whether we want Him to be or not.
*Joseph
The Bible describes him as "a just man." He finds out that his fiancé is pregnant, but doesn't want to publicly disgrace her. He was told that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph's life was turned upside down. He had to take his new family and flee into Egypt, and continually dwelled with uncertainty as God directed his life through dreams. The lesson he learned is a lesson we must learn as well: when Jesus comes into your life, your life gets turned upside down, and you become completely dependent on His guidance and provision.
*Jesus
He was Immanuel - "God in the flesh." He was worthy of praise, admiration, and worship, yet He came in the form of a servant. Time and time again He stated that His desire was to do His Father's will - knowing that His will would ultimately lead to the cross. In spite of that, Jesus embraced the Father's will and fulfilled it. The Christmas lesson we really need to learn is that Jesus came to fulfill God's purpose, and we are called to do likewise. Jesus said in Luke 9 that to be His disciples we must take up our cross and follow Him. What He wants for Christmas is simple: everything we have and everything we are.
As much as we enjoy the food, the parties, and the presents, may we never lose sight of the undeniable truth that the message of Christmas is simple: when Jesus shows up, your life will never be the same. He messed up the lives of Herod, the wise men, Mary and Joseph, and He's been doing it ever since. He gave His all to purchase our salvation, and demands our all if we are to become His disciples.
This year, may we celebrate Christmas as it was lived and intended - unconditional surrender to the will of God.
That's a gift He'll truly enjoy receiving.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
I'd Give My Right Arm To Be Ambidextrous
By Gobel Brockman
There are many things that I'm am guilty of, but being a "handyman" has never been one of them. For most guys a hammer or wrench in their hands is a valuable tool. For me, they're a dangerous weapon - to me and to anyone who may be standing nearby. Give me a wrench or screwdriver and my hand - and more importantly, my brain - will go numb. The simplest of household tasks will become huge undertakings for me. Red Green is better at home repairs than I am. (If you're familiar with The Red Green Show you know that's not a good thing.) I will admit that I sometimes become quite embarrassed by my inability to "work with my hands." After all, if you're a guy, that's what guys do. Except for this guy. I have to ask for help with tasks that most men could complete in less than 15 minutes. Again, I sometimes feel horrible about this.
I am a musician. God has blessed me with the ability to play music. I've never became overly proficient on one instrument, but I've been able to become "adequate" on a few. God has also blessed me over the years in doing some songwriting. None have ever been published, but a few people over the years have shared with me that a particular song has been a blessing to them at a particular point in their lives. That is an incredible blessing to hear, and I give God all of the glory for those times.
The reason I mention all of this is that there have been a few times in my life when I wished I could trade some of my musical gifts for a little bit of mechanical know-how. As I mentioned earlier, it's quite humbling to have to admit that the simplest task is over your head. But as I've thought along those lines, this thought always come to me: the same God who gave me any musical ability I have is the same God who gives those guys the ability to do what they do. The Bible says in James that "Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights." Which brings me to an interesting point: we always seem to want what someone else has instead of being thankful for what we do have. Over the years I've seen many people try to do things they want to do instead of what they are gifted to do. People who have a singing voice that sounds like Gilbert Gottfried with laryngitis shouldn't try to sing solos in church - no matter how much they want to. Guys like me shouldn't volunteer to help with the Sunday School room remodeling project. (And trust me, I don't. I help by staying out of their way. They seem to appreciate that!)
The apostle Paul touched on this in I Corinthians 12. He told them that as Christians, we are different parts of the body of Christ. He went on to tell them that the eye can't say, "Because I'm not the ear, I'm not part of the body...If the whole body were the eye, where is the hearing? If the whole body were the ear, where is the smelling?" That is a powerful Scripture for me, because it teaches a simple yet profound truth: everyone has something that they can contribute to the body of Christ. Instead of focusing on all the things you can't do, recognize that the abilities that you do have were given to you by God, and He gave you those gifts to glorify Him. Sometimes the church needs a song. Sometimes it needs a toilet repaired. Sometimes someone in the church needs a few meals prepared for them as they are going through a difficult time. (This is another area where I help out by staying out of the way.) Someone else may need someone who's a great listener with an incredible amount of wisdom. Somewhere, someone needs the gifts that God has blessed you with. When you allow Him to use you in those gifts, people will be blessed by it. And I promise you this - even if no one else notices, God will. So rejoice and give glory to God in the gifts He has given you. Allow Him to use you to minister to others with those gifts.
But if you need my help fixing something in your house, I'll help by giving you a few phone numbers of handymen I know.
There are many things that I'm am guilty of, but being a "handyman" has never been one of them. For most guys a hammer or wrench in their hands is a valuable tool. For me, they're a dangerous weapon - to me and to anyone who may be standing nearby. Give me a wrench or screwdriver and my hand - and more importantly, my brain - will go numb. The simplest of household tasks will become huge undertakings for me. Red Green is better at home repairs than I am. (If you're familiar with The Red Green Show you know that's not a good thing.) I will admit that I sometimes become quite embarrassed by my inability to "work with my hands." After all, if you're a guy, that's what guys do. Except for this guy. I have to ask for help with tasks that most men could complete in less than 15 minutes. Again, I sometimes feel horrible about this.
I am a musician. God has blessed me with the ability to play music. I've never became overly proficient on one instrument, but I've been able to become "adequate" on a few. God has also blessed me over the years in doing some songwriting. None have ever been published, but a few people over the years have shared with me that a particular song has been a blessing to them at a particular point in their lives. That is an incredible blessing to hear, and I give God all of the glory for those times.
The reason I mention all of this is that there have been a few times in my life when I wished I could trade some of my musical gifts for a little bit of mechanical know-how. As I mentioned earlier, it's quite humbling to have to admit that the simplest task is over your head. But as I've thought along those lines, this thought always come to me: the same God who gave me any musical ability I have is the same God who gives those guys the ability to do what they do. The Bible says in James that "Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights." Which brings me to an interesting point: we always seem to want what someone else has instead of being thankful for what we do have. Over the years I've seen many people try to do things they want to do instead of what they are gifted to do. People who have a singing voice that sounds like Gilbert Gottfried with laryngitis shouldn't try to sing solos in church - no matter how much they want to. Guys like me shouldn't volunteer to help with the Sunday School room remodeling project. (And trust me, I don't. I help by staying out of their way. They seem to appreciate that!)
The apostle Paul touched on this in I Corinthians 12. He told them that as Christians, we are different parts of the body of Christ. He went on to tell them that the eye can't say, "Because I'm not the ear, I'm not part of the body...If the whole body were the eye, where is the hearing? If the whole body were the ear, where is the smelling?" That is a powerful Scripture for me, because it teaches a simple yet profound truth: everyone has something that they can contribute to the body of Christ. Instead of focusing on all the things you can't do, recognize that the abilities that you do have were given to you by God, and He gave you those gifts to glorify Him. Sometimes the church needs a song. Sometimes it needs a toilet repaired. Sometimes someone in the church needs a few meals prepared for them as they are going through a difficult time. (This is another area where I help out by staying out of the way.) Someone else may need someone who's a great listener with an incredible amount of wisdom. Somewhere, someone needs the gifts that God has blessed you with. When you allow Him to use you in those gifts, people will be blessed by it. And I promise you this - even if no one else notices, God will. So rejoice and give glory to God in the gifts He has given you. Allow Him to use you to minister to others with those gifts.
But if you need my help fixing something in your house, I'll help by giving you a few phone numbers of handymen I know.
Friday, December 16, 2016
Worship Is a Verb (Audio Message)
This is an audio recording of a recent message on worship that I preached at Northview Assembly of God. Just click on the link below:
http://chirb.it/FFnm01
http://chirb.it/FFnm01
Sunday, December 11, 2016
God May Want You to Feed His Locusts
By Gobel Brockman
I once heard the story about a pastor of an old country church. There was a lady who faithfully attended there, but her husband, a farmer, wanted no part of it. While he was a good, loving husband to his wife and friendly with the pastor, he was almost belligerent in his belief that there was no God. For several years the pastor talked with the man about the things of God, with seemingly little results. However, after several years of seeing his wife's Godly character and hearing the pastor declare God's word to him, he finally came to faith in Jesus Christ. His wife, the pastor, and many in the community were overjoyed.
Less than a week later, the pastor got a call - the farmer's entire wheat crop had been decimated by locusts. As he drove to the farmer's home he vented his frustration to God: "God, how could you let this happen? We've spent years talking to this man, praying for this man, crying over this man, hoping to see him come to believe in You. Now that he finally has, You let THIS happen? What do I do or say to him now?" As he walked through the front door, he heard something he did not expect - the farmer was walking through his house quietly singing: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..." The conversation that followed went something like this:
Pastor: "Uhhh...I heard you had some damage to your wheat crop?"
Farmer: "Yep, I just got back from checking things out. The crop's a total loss."
Pastor: "Uhhh...I gotta say, you seem to be handling it a lot better than I thought you might."
Farmer: "It's this simple - when I gave my heart to Jesus last Sunday, I gave him my fields too, and if He wants to feed HIS locusts with HIS wheat crops, I reckon that's HIS business. I know He'll take care of us."
There are a couple of lessons we can learn from that farmer:
*The Bible says in Psalms 24:1 that "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof..." I think we need to be reminded from time to time that we really don't own anything. The house we live in, the car(s) we drive, the money in the bank, and all the "stuff" that we spend our lifetimes accumulating. None of it's really ours, because "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." It's all His; we're merely getting to borrow it for awhile. I'm very thankful for our house, our cars, and all of the blessings I have in my life, but I try to always remember that they won't fit in my casket when it's time for me to go.
*That farmer learned a valuable lesson very early in his faith - you can't "give your heart to Jesus" unless you're willing to give Him everything else in your life too. Committing your life to Christ is so much more than just changing how you spend your Sunday mornings. It's a call to surrender every aspect of your life to Him. Your family, your job, your finances, your future....and if I've left anything out, that too. Jesus is not only Savior, He's Lord, which means He gets to call the shots in your life. As it's been said before, either He's Lord OF all in your life or He's not Lord AT all in your life.
I think we all have "wheat fields" in our lives that mean a lot to us. I'm not telling you that if you commit your life to Jesus you're going to lose your wheat field. I'm telling you that your heart and your wheat field are a package deal. You can't give Him one without the other, and since the wheat field's already His, you may as well give Him your heart too. It's a wise investment.
I once heard the story about a pastor of an old country church. There was a lady who faithfully attended there, but her husband, a farmer, wanted no part of it. While he was a good, loving husband to his wife and friendly with the pastor, he was almost belligerent in his belief that there was no God. For several years the pastor talked with the man about the things of God, with seemingly little results. However, after several years of seeing his wife's Godly character and hearing the pastor declare God's word to him, he finally came to faith in Jesus Christ. His wife, the pastor, and many in the community were overjoyed.
Less than a week later, the pastor got a call - the farmer's entire wheat crop had been decimated by locusts. As he drove to the farmer's home he vented his frustration to God: "God, how could you let this happen? We've spent years talking to this man, praying for this man, crying over this man, hoping to see him come to believe in You. Now that he finally has, You let THIS happen? What do I do or say to him now?" As he walked through the front door, he heard something he did not expect - the farmer was walking through his house quietly singing: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..." The conversation that followed went something like this:
Pastor: "Uhhh...I heard you had some damage to your wheat crop?"
Farmer: "Yep, I just got back from checking things out. The crop's a total loss."
Pastor: "Uhhh...I gotta say, you seem to be handling it a lot better than I thought you might."
Farmer: "It's this simple - when I gave my heart to Jesus last Sunday, I gave him my fields too, and if He wants to feed HIS locusts with HIS wheat crops, I reckon that's HIS business. I know He'll take care of us."
There are a couple of lessons we can learn from that farmer:
*The Bible says in Psalms 24:1 that "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof..." I think we need to be reminded from time to time that we really don't own anything. The house we live in, the car(s) we drive, the money in the bank, and all the "stuff" that we spend our lifetimes accumulating. None of it's really ours, because "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." It's all His; we're merely getting to borrow it for awhile. I'm very thankful for our house, our cars, and all of the blessings I have in my life, but I try to always remember that they won't fit in my casket when it's time for me to go.
*That farmer learned a valuable lesson very early in his faith - you can't "give your heart to Jesus" unless you're willing to give Him everything else in your life too. Committing your life to Christ is so much more than just changing how you spend your Sunday mornings. It's a call to surrender every aspect of your life to Him. Your family, your job, your finances, your future....and if I've left anything out, that too. Jesus is not only Savior, He's Lord, which means He gets to call the shots in your life. As it's been said before, either He's Lord OF all in your life or He's not Lord AT all in your life.
I think we all have "wheat fields" in our lives that mean a lot to us. I'm not telling you that if you commit your life to Jesus you're going to lose your wheat field. I'm telling you that your heart and your wheat field are a package deal. You can't give Him one without the other, and since the wheat field's already His, you may as well give Him your heart too. It's a wise investment.
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Your Freedom Is Within Reach
By Gobel Brockman
"The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy; but I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." - John 10:10
"For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." - 1 John 3:8
A sad but true reality is that we don't have to look very hard to find human suffering. We are surrounded by hospitals filled with sick and injured people who want nothing more than a few moments of relief from their pain. Right now - even as I type these words - someone is being physically or emotionally abused due to the cruelty of alcohol abuse. Urban streets are the only home that far too many people know, with men, women, and children sleeping under overpasses or abandoned vehicles hoping to find what little shelter they can find. Right now far too many children are hungry with nothing to fill their empty stomachs. I could continue, and the list is as long as it is heartbreaking. I've said all of that to simply say this:
The devil is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy in this very hour.
However, he doesn't have the final say.
Jesus Christ came into this world to destroy the works of the devil. When Jesus willingly gave His life on the cross, He paid the ultimate price for our sin. When Jesus cried from the cross "It is finished" He was saying that the victory over the devil was forever won. You and I can now live and walk in the freedom that Jesus paid for on the cross. When He physically rose from the dead three days later, He said, "All authority is given unto Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18) We have access to receive the benefits of everything that Jesus did on the cross for us. Yes, we live in a sinful world where bad things happen, but we can live in victory and freedom in the midst of it all. As we live in these days we see the Holy Ghost moving in increasingly powerful ways.
I'm writing this week's devotional about 24 hours after attending a crusade service that was more incredible than I can put into words. Jesus Christ was preached, honored, and glorified, and the Holy Ghost moved in an awesome display of power. A lady who had not been able to walk without a walker for about three years begin to walk up and down the aisle of the church without assistance after receiving prayer. That's just one example of many people who received a healing touch at this meeting. The service began with a man coming forward with his wife. She received a healing touch, and more importantly, he immediately accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of his life. Again, I could tell of many others who received from the Lord, but my point is this: what took place was what our Scripture at the beginning mentioned - the power in the name of Jesus destroyed the works of the devil in many lives that night. That same power is available to you!
If you are hurting in any way right now - physically or emotionally - I do not offer you hope in religion. I preach to you the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. There is power in His name! I encourage you to surrender your life to Him today. Yes, He died for the whole world (John 3:16), and that includes YOU!
Your freedom is within reach. Reach out to Jesus today.
"The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy; but I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." - John 10:10
"For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." - 1 John 3:8
A sad but true reality is that we don't have to look very hard to find human suffering. We are surrounded by hospitals filled with sick and injured people who want nothing more than a few moments of relief from their pain. Right now - even as I type these words - someone is being physically or emotionally abused due to the cruelty of alcohol abuse. Urban streets are the only home that far too many people know, with men, women, and children sleeping under overpasses or abandoned vehicles hoping to find what little shelter they can find. Right now far too many children are hungry with nothing to fill their empty stomachs. I could continue, and the list is as long as it is heartbreaking. I've said all of that to simply say this:
The devil is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy in this very hour.
However, he doesn't have the final say.
Jesus Christ came into this world to destroy the works of the devil. When Jesus willingly gave His life on the cross, He paid the ultimate price for our sin. When Jesus cried from the cross "It is finished" He was saying that the victory over the devil was forever won. You and I can now live and walk in the freedom that Jesus paid for on the cross. When He physically rose from the dead three days later, He said, "All authority is given unto Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18) We have access to receive the benefits of everything that Jesus did on the cross for us. Yes, we live in a sinful world where bad things happen, but we can live in victory and freedom in the midst of it all. As we live in these days we see the Holy Ghost moving in increasingly powerful ways.
I'm writing this week's devotional about 24 hours after attending a crusade service that was more incredible than I can put into words. Jesus Christ was preached, honored, and glorified, and the Holy Ghost moved in an awesome display of power. A lady who had not been able to walk without a walker for about three years begin to walk up and down the aisle of the church without assistance after receiving prayer. That's just one example of many people who received a healing touch at this meeting. The service began with a man coming forward with his wife. She received a healing touch, and more importantly, he immediately accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of his life. Again, I could tell of many others who received from the Lord, but my point is this: what took place was what our Scripture at the beginning mentioned - the power in the name of Jesus destroyed the works of the devil in many lives that night. That same power is available to you!
If you are hurting in any way right now - physically or emotionally - I do not offer you hope in religion. I preach to you the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. There is power in His name! I encourage you to surrender your life to Him today. Yes, He died for the whole world (John 3:16), and that includes YOU!
Your freedom is within reach. Reach out to Jesus today.
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