My Prayer for 2018

By Gobel Brockman

     We have reached the end of another year. For me personally, 2017 was an interesting, exciting year. I was blessed with ministry opportunities that I haven't been able to experience before. I am very grateful to God for the open doors He placed before me in this year, and I'm excited to see what 2018 has in store. I realize, however, that for some of you reading this 2017 doesn't hold those kind of memories. You may have suffered the loss of someone that you loved dearly. Perhaps you have faced physical, financial, or personal uncertainties that have challenged you in ways that you've never experienced before. If that applies to you, my prayer is that the God of all peace will fill your hearts with faith and comfort. Life can indeed be challenging, and at times even painful, but God is more than able to sustain those who will trust Him in those times.

     Just as I was thinking about the upcoming year, a pastor friend asked a question today (as I write this) that I found interesting: "As a minister, what are two things would you like to see happen for the church in 2018?" As I thought about it, this was my response. This is my prayer for myself and for everyone who claims Jesus Christ as the Lord of their life:

1. That John 4:23-24 would be on full display in the church:

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

That Scripture says that the Father is SEEKING such to worship Him - and I want to be found of Him. My prayer for 2018 is that I will enter into areas of worship that I haven't entered into yet. Areas of surrender, obedience, and complete devotion. Areas of worship where the opinions of man will have no effect on how I worship my Father. I want my song, my music, my voice, my preaching, my writing, and my life to reflect the glory of God and the power that is found in the name of Jesus. My prayer is that people worldwide who know Jesus Christ as Lord will experience that same thing.

2. That Acts 4:29-31 would be on full display in the church:

"Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness."

     This year I have seen many incredible things. I have seen people instantly healed of different physical problems. I have seen people who were bound by drugs set free by the power of God. I have seen people give their lives to Jesus and had their lives changed in ways that we had to say, "Only God could do that!" I WANT TO SEE THAT INCREASE IN 2018! I want to see the power of God on full display bringing healing, restoration, freedom, and most importantly, salvation. I want the hopeless to find hope, the bound to find freedom, the sick to find healing, and for all to find the life that can only be found in Jesus Christ. I also want to see pulpits filled with preachers who are preaching in the anointing of the Holy Ghost with power, conviction, and hope. What the disciples saw in Acts 4 can be seen in 2018 - and I don't want to settle for anything less. 

     My prayer is that 2018 will be a year where the name of Jesus is glorified, men and women of God worship Him without restraint, and the power of the Holy Ghost is clearly manifested for all to see! 

     Will you join me in that prayer?

Christmas Will Change Your Life

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 lived 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.

There's No Need to Fear

By Gobel Brockman


     In 2 Timothy 1:7, the Apostle Paul made this statement:

     "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind." (Emphasis mine,)

     I listen as people speak about current events in their lives and in the world around them, and I notice a lot of fear, doubt, and worry. The sad part for me is many times this fear and worry is found in the hearts - and words - of born-again Christians who have the promise from God that "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) I see people chasing down every conspiracy theory that they hear on the news or read on Facebook, and in the process they seemingly convince themselves that all hope is lost. It troubles me to see so much panic in some people as it relates to current events, and particularly when it comes to the current political climate in this country and around the world. Before I continue, I want to be clear:

YES, I believe Christians should vote.
YES, I believe we should be informed voters, knowing where candidates stand on key issues.
YES, I realize that we are indeed, as the Bible says, in "perilous times." (2 Timothy 3:1)

     I also believe, however, in some simple yet profound truths:

NOTHING happens without God's foreknowledge.
NOTHING has ever caught God off-guard.
NOTHING - absolutely NOTHING - will ever cause God to lose control of this world or His plans for it.

     There's a story in the Bible that most of you reading this will be familiar with. (If you're not, it's found in 1 Samuel 17.) The Philistine army was prepared for war against the Israelites. Their greatest warrior was a giant named Goliath. He told the army of Israel to choose a man to fight against him, and the winner of that fight would determine who would reign. The Bible says that this went on for many days, and the Israelites were terrified at the thought of facing Goliath. But David - a young, ruddy shepherd boy - came to visit his brothers who were part of the army, and he was infuriated that this giant would dare defy the God of Israel. With a sling, a stone, and a solid faith that God was with him, David killed Goliath and took off his head - all while the army of Israel was "losing their heads" with fear.

     There's a lot of that going on today.

     As I mentioned, I know that these are difficult times. The Bible tells us to "not be ignorant of the devil's devices." (2 Corinthians 2:11) We are also told to "be sober, be vigilant, because our adversary the devil roams about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) My point is simply that there is a substantial difference between being aware and being fearful. I want to be aware, but I REFUSE to be fearful. How can I say that? Because God has given me the Holy Spirit, who is NOT a spirit of fear, but IS a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Simply put, regardless of what's going on the natural and political world, I refuse to be afraid. Despite what may be going on in your life right now, rest in the knowledge that God is control, and if you are His, He's in control of YOU. You are in the palm of His hand, and you're safe there. No horrible news story or Facebook conspiracy theory can change that. No election will ever cause God to abdicate His throne. If you're born-again, then whether you live or die, you are the Lord's, and nothing can take you away from Him.

     So stand firm in your faith in Christ. There's no need to fear.

The Power of Prayer

By Gobel Brockman


     I Timothy 2:1 - "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior."

     In this verse of Scripture we find some interesting things about prayer. Prayer is - rather, it must be - an integral part of our Christian lives. But there is so much more to prayer than simply asking God for stuff and asking Him to bless our meals. Searching some word definitions in the original Greek (via Strong's Concordance) gives us some interesting perspective:

Supplications: "need, want, penury (poverty or desperation)"
     The idea here isn't that we have to come to God as beggars. As someone once said, "We don't pray as beggars, we pray as the bride." In fact, Hebrews 4:16 tells us that "We can come boldly before the throne of grace." The idea of desperation here is more about recognizing the desperation of the situation. In context the verse above is speaking about praying for our leaders, and I think we all can agree that these are indeed desperate times that require God's intervention. But it also applies to each of our everyday lives. We find ourselves from time to time in desperate situations, and in those times we need to know how and where to go for help.

Prayers: "prayer addressed to God"
     Pretty self-explanatory, but it's a good reminder of who our prayers are directed to - GOD. When we pray, we are addressing the very God who created all things with nothing but His command. When we realize that there is nothing in our lives that catches God by surprise, we can come with full assurance that He is more than able to help in our time of need.

Intercessions: "to fall in with or upon; an interview or conference"
     There are two points I want to make on this:

     1) When we think in terms of "falling in with or upon" we see an excellent example of this is Mark 5. A man named Jarius had a daughter who was sick to the point of death. The Bible says that Jarius "fell at his (Jesus) feet and begged Him..." Here we see both supplication (desperation) and intercession (to fall upon). Intercession is more than simply saying, "Father, I come in the name of Jesus." It is a willingness to step out and in essence "stop Him in His tracks." This man was willing to put his own needs and comfort aside to ask Jesus to help his daughter. He was also willing to stop Jesus on His journey, humble himself before Him and admit the situation was hopeless unless He intervened.

     2) When we think in terms of "an interview or conference" we need to remind ourselves that part of an interview is LISTENING. The story of Jarius goes on to say that while they were going to his house, his servants came and told him, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Master any further?" The Bible says that when Jesus heard that he told Jarius, "Don't be afraid, only believe." In desperate times it's very easy to listen to the voice of circumstance instead of the voice of faith. May we remember to listen to the right voice.

     As I mentioned earlier, we are definitely living in difficult times. We need the grace and power that is found in the name of Jesus now more than ever. Fortunately for us, He invites all who surrender to Him to come before him in supplication, prayer, and intercession.

     Prayer warriors, the time to rise up is now!

You Haven't Lost Value

By Gobel Brockman


     I begin by asking you to use your imagination. I want you to picture two $20 bills lying before you. The one on the left is new. No creases, no tears, no stains. You pick it up and the paper is so crisp you almost get a paper cut. You can smell the aroma of Federal Reserve ink. Now look at the one on the right. It's old and crumpled up. The edges are torn, and the ink has began to fade. Someone has taken a black pen and given President Jackson a black eye and a dunce cap. The only smell remaining is from the pockets and purses of countless people. Now, here's the question: if you take the new $20 bill on the left and head to your local store, how much product could you buy with it? Simple - $20 worth. But here's my point: if you went back a few moments later with the old $20 bill, how much product could you buy? You're correct - $20 worth. 

     My point? A $20 bill is worth $20 no matter how it looks.

     I remember when I became a Christian at age 18. It was an incredible time in my life. Everything seemed new. The Bible refers to it as being "born again", and that's exactly how I felt. The drugs and alcohol that had caused me so many problems in my life were instantly gone. There was a new joy and purpose in my life. It seemed that my prayers would barely leave my mouth and the answers would come. Then, little by little, things began to get a bit more difficult. God didn't answer prayer as quickly as before. Complications arose from unexpected places. Reality began to set in that Christianity wasn't all up-tempo hymns and Welch's grape juice in Communion cups. People could still hurt you. You still had to get up and earn a living. Sometimes God's answers to prayer were either "Trust Me" or a flat-out "No, just wait." Over the years, some of the newness had worn off. Reality had given me some rough edges. Life had given me a few black eyes, and many times I felt like I deserved to be wearing a 'dunce hat'. I know I'm not the only one that's faced that. Perhaps you've had relationships that have left you permanently torn. Maybe life has left you feeling worn and damaged. But here's the point I want to make:

     We may have lost some luster, but we haven't lost our value.

     You and I are worth as much to God now as when we started. Yes, we may have some wear. We may be marred and scarred. But we also have some incredible stories to share about the way God chose to 'spend' us in His kingdom. Like a well-traveled $20 bill, we've been used by God to do a lot. Much more than that, He still has immeasurable love for us. He doesn't just see us as something to spend as He pleases, He sees us as people worth laying down His life for, which should make us all the more willing to be spent as He wishes. So don't grow weary. You're still worth as much to God as you were in the beginning. He still desires to use you to touch other people's lives. Don't let the tears and damage discourage you - they're just proof that God has given you a useful, well-lived life.

     You haven't lost any value to God, and you're still in circulation. God has more for you to do.

Change Your Heart, Change Your Prayers

By Gobel Brockman


     William Gurnall was an English author and clergyman during the 1600's. While speaking on the subject of prayer and having an expectant heart, he said the following:

     "An unbelieving heart in prayer is like one who shoots an arrow at random, without paying attention to where it falls. He doesn't follow the outcome of his praying. Failing to look up may cause many a prayer to be lost. If you do not believe, why do you pray? And if you believe, why do you not expect? By praying, you seem to depend on God; but by not expecting, you again renounce your confidence. What is this, but to take His name in vain? O Christian, stand on your prayer in a holy expectation of what you have prayed for. Mordecai, no doubt, had put up many prayers for Esther, and therefore waited at the King's gate, looking for what answer God would give. You do likewise."

     In Matthew 17:20, the disciples asked Jesus why they lacked power while praying over a demon-possessed boy. His response? 

     "He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

     The sad reality is that many times it seems we get it backwards - we think we have to have the faith of a mountain to move a mustard seed. We need to come to an understanding that God CAN and WILL answer prayer. There are some other things, however, that we need to understand about prayer as well. One example of this is what we see in Psalm 37:4:

     "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

     There's something about the verse that we sometimes fail to recognize, but it is vitally important: before God gives us the desires of our heart, He must first change the desires of our heart. Our desires can be selfish and self-centered; His desires are always focused on His kingdom and His love for others. If we are truly "delighting ourselves in the Lord" the desires of our hearts will then be to advance HIS kingdom, not fulfill our earthly, temporary desires.

     There is way too much to be said about prayer to cover it all in one devotional, but for today I simply want to focus on this: our God is a God who can and will answer prayer. His power and His love are without limits. He longs to display His power and love to us, and as His children, He desires to give us good gifts. But we must always bear in mind that these gifts are intended to draw us closer to Him and to share with those around us. But when His kingdom is our desire, we can pray in faith and with expectation. When we pray according to His will, God promises to answer – and He will answer in amazing fashion.

     He's a big God. Ask big - and believe for Him to answer. I'm convinced that we are about to be astounded at the things God is about to do in the earth.

     The best is yet to come.

A Positive Message

By Gobel Brockman


     I'm sure it may be different in other countries, but here in America most people will tell you that they "believe in God." The problem with that, however, is that far too many people consider that belief to be enough. The Bible is clear that an intellectual consent of God is not enough. James 2:19 puts it simply:

     "You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble."

     General William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, is quoted as stating the following:

     "The old-fashioned Gospel tells man that he is thoroughly bad and under the power of the devil. It drags out the very hidden things of iniquity to the light of the great judgment throne, and denounces sin without mercy and warns men of eternal wrath to come, unless they repent and believe in the only Savior. The goodness of the Gospel does not consist in the suppression of all but sweet sounds of love, but in plain, straightforward, ceaseless announcement of the whole truth. It is the Gospel of a crucified Savior who shed real blood to save men from a real guilt and a real danger, and a real hell. He lives again - to give a real pardon to the really penitent, a real deliverance from the guilt and love of sin to all who really give up to Him a whole heart and trust Him with a perfect confidence."

     The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 4:3 that in the last days men would not endure sound doctrine, but would instead seek out with "itching ears" those who will basically tell them only what they want to hear. I understand that we want to hear uplifting, positive things - those things are not only easy to hear; they are also easy to say. My desire, however, is to proclaim the whole counsel of God. I will gladly proclaim the goodness of God, but the true Gospel demands that I preach both the goodness and severity of God (see Romans 11:22). It is of little use to tell the world that Jesus is the Savior of man unless the world is first told that they NEED a Savior. The same Gospel that speaks of the joys of salvation also speaks of the horrors of rejecting that salvation. If you are reading this, my prayer is that you understand two simple points:

1) We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Because of that sin, the righteous judgment of God awaits.

2) Jesus Christ (God in the flesh) came to this world, lived a perfect life, and then laid down His life as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Faith in Jesus Christ is our only hope of salvation. That genuine faith will cause us to turn from sin (repent), surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and live for Him daily. It is only when we die to self and live for Christ that we truly find life.

     When I think of it, there's really not a more positive message I could proclaim to you than that.  

Are You Blessed or Stressed?

By Gobel Brockman

     "I'm too blessed to be stressed!"

     I'm sure most of you have seen or heard this phrase. It's on T-shirts, coffee cups, and Facebook posts everywhere. The thinking behind it is that "Since God is with me and He's blessing me, I don't have any reason to worry." It reminds me of a televangelist in the 80's who ended every program with this line: "You don't have any problems, all you need is faith in God." I do understand the thinking behind that, but there's one problem:

     It's wrong.

     Tell a parent sitting in a hospital room with a sick child and the doctors can't find what's wrong that they don't have any problems. Tell a family that is about to face homelessness due to foreclosure that they have nothing to worry about. Tell the stunned person who's just received a horrifying and potentially fatal diagnosis at the doctor's office that their fear is unfounded. In fact, I once read of a minister who was under so much pressure and tension that he was weary of living altogether. His name? The Apostle Paul:

     "For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death." (II Corinthians 1:8-9)

     I'm not going to tell someone who's in the midst of a huge struggle that they don't have any problems. What I WILL tell that person is that they can still have God's peace, God's presence, and God's blessing with them in the middle of what they're going through. One thing I have learned both from Scripture and over 30 years of Christian experience is that God sometimes calms the storms of life, and sometimes He allows the storms to stick around so that He can teach us to remain calm in the midst of them. In the Scripture I quoted above, the Apostle Paul went on to say in verses 9 and 10 that what was happening to him was to "make us rely not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us."

     Paul did not deny his problems, he looked to God while going through them. That's what I'm saying to you now. Some of you reading this are facing difficult times right now. Sickness and disease in yourself or someone you love. Perhaps you're not just living paycheck to paycheck - you're living day to day just trying to make ends meet. Maybe you or someone you love is trapped in an addiction where freedom seems impossible. A marriage or other relationship may be crumbling. I'm not going to tell you to deny that the problem exists, and I'm not going to tell you that your concern is unfounded or displeasing to God. What I will say to you is that as a Christian, Paul didn't face his battle alone - and neither do we. A Bible verse that I love is Palm 46:1 which says this:

     "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble."

     What I'm saying to you is that you may be stressed, but you can still be blessed. The power of the Holy Spirit can indeed be manifested in your life and empower you to not only endure but overcome your present situation. There are great and precious promises to those who have surrendered their lives to Christ. We have the God-given privilege to call out to Him in the name of Jesus Christ right now. He will indeed bless His people. 

     Even the stressed ones.

Get Filled & Get Going

By Gobel Brockman

     In Acts chapter 1 we see the resurrected Jesus about to ascend back into Heaven. His last words to His disciples before His ascension are found in verse 8:

     "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

     In Acts 2 we see them waiting in Jerusalem until the promised Holy Spirit came, and His indwelling made an immediate impact on the disciples. Peter preaches what was the inaugural message of the New Testament church, and three thousand people gave their lives to Jesus Christ. In the following days they saw incredible miracles, powerful deliverance, and continued growth. I try to imagine what they must have been feeling during that time. I imagine them looking at each other with joy and wild-eyed wonder as they witnessed firsthand the power of God moving among them and through them. I believe we all have periods in our lives when we wish we could push a button and say "life will always be like this." I'm sure it had to be like that for them during that time.

     They were about to learn a difficult lesson, however, and it's a lesson that we must learn as well: you can't stay in your "Jerusalem" moments forever. What I mean is this: in the Scripture I quoted earlier Jesus told the disciples that they were to go to "Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth." In Acts 8:1 we read this:

     "And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles."

     I find it very interesting that the persecution that God allowed to come to the disciples actually fulfilled His very words to them - even listing the areas they went in the same order. The Holy Spirit being poured upon them was for a purpose, and that purpose had to be fulfilled.

     Our purpose must be fulfilled as well.

     Times of revival and refreshing are amazing, and I thank God for every season of these that He has allowed me to experience. I also believe that we can live in a place of continued outpouring, where we are constantly strengthened and empowered by the Holy Ghost. I must remind myself, however, that I'm not supposed to simply be a "sponge" - being filled but never releasing what I receive. I desire and I NEED the Holy Spirit's continual infilling, but I also need to be reminded that He fills me so that I can take what He gives me and share it with others. Our "Jerusalem" experiences are awesome beyond words, but we must take what we receive to our "Judea and Samaria" because they need what God has given us. I pray that we all receive everything that God desires to give to us in those times of revival and outpouring, but let's then take those blessings and share them with everyone we can.

     What am I saying? Simply this - get filled with God, then get going for God!

Be Careful What You Pray For. You Just Might Get It.

By Gobel Brockman


     There are times when we as Christians pray for things, and I'm not sure that we think through what we're really asking God for. Sometimes I think we ask for things and fail to realize that getting the answers we want will change our lives more drastically than we anticipate. Prayers like:

"God, break my heart for what breaks Yours."
"God, I will surrender my life and do whatever You ask of me."
"God, please pour out the power of the Holy Ghost in this world again."

     I think about what happened to the disciples on the day of Pentecost, and I also think about how I and many others pray for another outpouring of the Holy Ghost in our world today. It's a totally understandable prayer when you look at what happened in Acts 2 when the disciples gathered and prayed. The promised Holy Spirit came and filled 120 believers. They were immediately filled with power, and as a result of Peter's first message, 3,000 people came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Stories are told of a lame man being healed (Acts 3), people placing sick people on the sidewalks just so Peter's shadow could touch them and they would be healed (Acts 5), and many others miraculous stories as well. We look at these stories and wish that they would take place in our midst today. They can, and in many places already are, but I think we need to take a closer look at what else happened when God answered their prayer for the Holy Spirit:

*They immediately became the enemies of the "religious establishment," and were constantly faced with persecution as a result.

*In Acts 5 a married couple conspired to lie about their offering to the church. As a result, the Holy Spirit struck them both dead - in church.

*Some were called away (actually, they were driven away by persecution) from family and friends they loved to so that they could preach the gospel to complete strangers.

*Stephen, James, and almost all of the other disciples literally lost their lives because of their faith.

     I could go on, but the point is well made. Having the Holy Spirit fill a believer or a church is an incredible experience that we all should be praying for. However, I think it would do us well to "count the cost" before we pray, because there is definitely a cost involved. When the Holy Spirit comes, He brings drastic and permanent change. I pray that God will indeed pour out His Spirit upon me, but I must ask myself if I am ready for the difficulties that may come when that prayer is answered. I want to see people touched by the Holy Spirit, but am I willing to face opposition and risk being misunderstood in the process? Simon Peter was supernaturally delivered from jail, but the reason he was in jail in the first place was that he was facing death from Herod because of his faith in Jesus. All of this leads me to an interesting question: Am I willing to face the dangerous to see the miraculous? The early church experienced the power of God because they were willing to lay everything down and count it all loss to follow Jesus. 

     Our world is in DESPERATE need of a fresh Holy Ghost outpouring. We need to see the power of God manifested in the midst of a hurting world. I must ask myself, however, a simple question: "Am I willing to lay everything in my life down to see the Holy Spirit's power?" 

     Are you? Be careful what you pray for.

It Can All Change in a Moment

By Gobel Brockman


     When I was a kid I remember my Dad talking with someone about how fast time seems to go, and I remember him saying, "The older you get, the faster time goes." As a youngster that didn't really make sense to me. 

     It makes sense to me now.

     I'm reminded of this every time I hold one of my grandchildren in my arms and realize that it really wasn't all that long ago that I was holding their parent in the same way. I'm reminded of it when I see my high school classmates post pictures of their grandchildren and remember that it wasn't all that long ago that we were in high school running around and getting into trouble. Most of all, I'm reminded of it every time I look in the mirror. (That's when I'm also reminded that time can be a cruel beast indeed.)

     It's also interesting to me how quickly things can change in our daily lives. Things can be going fairly normal when one phone call or text, one knock on the door, or one "Breaking News" story on TV can change everything. Sometimes these changes can be good, but sometimes they can leave us feeling absolutely devastated. There's an excellent example of this in the fourteenth chapter of Matthew. In verses 13-21 we read of one of the greatest miracles that Jesus performed when He fed over 5,000 men (plus their wives and kids) with five loaves of bread and two fish. I try to imagine how the disciples felt that day - not only were they witnessing an incredible miracle, but Jesus was allowing them to be a part of it. In my mind I can see them on that sunny hillside smiling and laughing as they helped pass out this miraculous meal. Jesus then instructed them to gather the leftovers, and it took over twelve baskets to hold them. It had to have been an incredible sight.

     However, the disciples were soon to learn that you can go from a sunny hillside to a raging sea in a matter of minutes.

     After this miracle the Bible says that Jesus commanded His disciples to get into a boat and go to the other side of the sea while He sent the multitudes away. It wasn't long after they began their journey that the winds became turbulent and the boat was being tossed around in the sea. Again, in my mind I try to picture their thoughts. Mere moments earlier they were experiencing an undeniable miracle, and now here they were in a stormy sea fearful for their very lives. They were in the middle of the sea - meaning that they were in the center of God's will, because it was the very place Jesus had told them to go. The Bible goes on to say that in "the fourth watch of the night" - meaning that they had been out there for most of the night - Jesus walked out on the water to them. Simon Peter asked for and received permission from Jesus to join Him on the water, and was he was indeed able to walk on the water until he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the waves. Jesus reached down and saved him, and then they joined the others and Jesus saved them all by calming the storm.

     My point this week is to tell you something that I know you already know: life can change in an instant. We can go from a "sunny hillside" to a "raging sea" in no time flat, and the interesting thing is that as Christians, that raging sea is actually the center of God's will for us. But the way I see it, Jesus was proving to His disciples - and to us - that the same power that can provide for us on the hillside can protect us in the sea. Time may move fast for us, but time is nothing to Him who is eternal. While we're fighting for our lives in the boat, He's taking a casual stroll on the water towards us. I say that because if you'll notice, the Bible doesn't say He was running on the water. He wasn't worried and He wasn't panicked. The changes that time can bring in an instant may catch us completely off-guard, but change has never surprised God. Jesus knew that His disciples were safe, and He performed a miracle to prove it to them.

     Wherever you are in life right now - be it on a sunny hillside or a raging sea - I remind you that if you are a child of God, your circumstance didn't surprise God, and neither time nor circumstances can impede His miraculous power. Trust Him.

"The 365 Challenge"

By Gobel Brockman


     A few summers ago I attended a Christian music festival, and I walked by a tent where a Bible study was being held. It had already started, so I quietly slipped in and sat on the grass in the back. They were discussing something they were calling "The 365 Challenge." Basically the idea was this: "If you were given 365 seconds to tell someone about Jesus, what would you say?" During the drive home after the festival, I spent a lot of time thinking about that. (A lot longer than 365 seconds.) This is what I came up with:

(Start the clock:)

     "In His lifetime Jesus made a lot of claims about Himself. In John 14 He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by Me." In John 10 He said, "I am the door; all who came before Me were thieves and robbers." In John 8 He told the Jewish leaders, "Before Abraham was, I AM." (They knew what He meant by that, because they immediately wanted to stone Him.) At various times He said such things as, "I am the bread of life," "I am the good shepherd," "I am the light of the world," and "I am the resurrection and the life."

     "There are many, many other things He said about Himself, and many things others said about Him that He didn't discourage. All of this leads me to the conclusion that Jesus is one of two things: either He is the biggest liar and fraud that has ever walked on this planet, or He is exactly who He claimed to be. There is no middle ground. There's no claiming that "he was a good moral teacher." People who are good moral teachers don't make such outrageous claims about themselves and attempt to deceive all who are listening. He's either a liar or He's everything He said He was. So how do we know which is true?"

     "At one point Jesus said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (He was talking about His crucifixion and resurrection.) They indeed destroyed the "temple" on the cross, but three days later Jesus was raised from the dead. In that moment, every "I AM" statement Jesus made about Himself was confirmed. He was – and is – "the resurrection and the life." His death paid the price for humanity's sin, which proved that He is indeed "the way, truth, and life." Millions have found their way out of spiritual darkness because He is indeed "the light of the world." 

     "There are some in Christianity – especially American Christianity – that seem to be presenting Jesus as some sort of product to be obtained, as if His primary role is to cater to our whims and needs. "Is your life a mess? Come to Jesus - He'll make it all better!" seems to be the message. I submit to you that He is not that at all. Jesus Christ is the sovereign King of Kings and Lord of Lords who deserves obedience and worship. There's a story in the Bible of a woman caught in adultery who was brought to Jesus. After exposing her accuser's hypocrisy and watching them walk away, He then told the woman, "Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more." There are many who love the Jesus that says, "Neither do I condemn thee" but want nothing to do with the Jesus that says, "Go and sin no more." The problem with that is the same Jesus said them both - and they are equally valid. It is this Jesus that you and I will one day stand before and give an account of our lives. You may say, "I don't believe that." That doesn't matter - you'll be there anyway. Every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Why? Because Jesus loved the unlovable, gave hope to the hopeless, and offered grace and mercy to all who will receive it. He defeated sin, death, Hell, and the grave, and is forever Savior and Lord. Yes, Jesus made many claims about Himself, but He then backed up those claims with powerful actions that no man or demon could (or can) defeat."

     "In His life, death, resurrection, and in everything that He's done since, Jesus has proved that He's exactly who He claimed to be. Jesus Christ was, is, and forevermore shall be King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords."

(Stop the clock.)

     (I'll reserve the remainder of my time for another devotional.)

Another Week, Another Tragedy

By Gobel Brockman

     I'm sure almost everyone reading this is by now aware of the tragic shooting in Las Vegas that took place a few days ago. As of this writing the death toll is at 59, with hundreds injured. It is tragic to think that those people were doing nothing but attending a concert and so many never made it home. What is even sadder to me is that it seems like beginning this devotional talking about a tragic event is becoming WAY too commonplace. It seems as though it is now impossible to turn on our TVs or log on to the Internet without hearing/reading of another mass shooting or terror attack. News commentators and political pundits on both sides of the aisle sound off afterward with their opinions of both causes and cures of these problems. But every time I hear about a situation like this, my mind goes in a bit of a different direction:

1) It's always been this way

     God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the garden of Eden. After they disobeyed God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were banished from the garden. As they continued their lives they soon had two sons - Cain, their firstborn, and his brother Abel. The Bible goes on to say that in time Cain eventually murdered his brother. The lesson in that story cannot escape us: 

     The very first human being born of woman into this world was a murderer, and human beings have been harming each other in one form or another ever since. 

     I know that our world is filled with anger, rage, hatred, and violence. My point is simply that it has been since the fall of man. In Genesis 1 God created the heaven and the earth; by Genesis 6 He's telling Noah that He's going to send a flood and destroy mankind because He saw that "the land was filled with violence." What we're seeing on the news today is not a new thing; sin has caused mankind to do immeasurable damage to itself from the very beginning.

2) We do not have the ability within ourselves to change things 

     With every mass shooting or terror attack there are calls for everything from gun control to all-out war. I know that what I'm about to say may be disagreed with by some, but neither will work. Why do I say that? Because human laws cannot change sinful hearts, and because Jesus Himself told us that in the last days there would be "wars and rumors of wars." (Matthew 24:6) The apostle Paul also told us in II Timothy 3:13 that in the last days "evil men would wax worse and worse." So what do we do? 

*Surrender our lives to Christ completely, and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and make us the men and women of God that He wants us to be. 

     "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

*Pray for revival. We can't change people, but a genuine move of the Holy Spirit in this world can. 

     "If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn on their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (II Chronicles 7:14)

*BE revival in our world. 

     "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."(Matthew 5:14-16)

     I have said it before, and I will say it again - I absolutely refuse to live in fear. I will not do it. I will not allow the things taking place in our world to cause me to lose sight of the fact that my life is in God's hands, and live or die I am secure in Him. I will instead choose to use my time on earth doing my best to follow Jesus Christ and try to be an example of what can happen in a life that is surrendered to Him. Rather than live in fear or defeat, I will live in the power of the Holy Ghost and trust Him with every aspect of my life. No matter what happens in the world I will be at peace, for God is with me. 

     When the next tragedy comes, He will still be there.

A Simple Message for Difficult Times

By Gobel Brockman

     Each week with this devotional I try to come up with words, stories, or illustrations to share my faith in Jesus in ways that I haven't used before. I try not to be repetitive or redundant. (Perhaps I shouldn't use the words "repetitive" and "redundant" in the same sentence then, eh?) But the thought occurred to me that sometimes I may make it more difficult than it needs to be. Sometimes I have to remind myself of what the Apostle Paul said in II Corinthians 11:3:

     "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (Emphasis mine.)

     So, based on the thoughts of keeping things "simple," this week I want to make some simple statements of truth:

There is a God.
The Bible is the word of God.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Jesus Christ lived a perfect, sinless life. He was crucified on a cross and laid down His life. Three days later, He was physically raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is now both Lord and Christ.
Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by Him." (See John 14:6 - emphasis mine.)

     Here's the "simplicity" that I want to focus on this week:

     These are all true whether we believe them or not.

     Truth isn't based on whether or not it's believed, it's based on whether or not it's true. Jesus said He is truth, and that's true regardless of my acceptance or rejection of His proclamation. I do believe it, however, and as a result of that faith I have received forgiveness and salvation. I have hope that man cannot take away from me. He has also given me a determination to proclaim these truths. I have seen Proverbs 28:1 fulfilled in my life:

     "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion."

     The reason I'm talking about this is because I am firmly convinced that we are approaching a time when proclaiming our faith in the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ is going to cost us something, and we need to be convinced in our hearts that our faith is more than just a "casual assent" of Jesus. If our acceptance of the truth of Christ is real, it will be evident in our daily lives. Our nation is filled with people who say they "believe in God." They may even post Bible verses or Christian statements on social media. But it's easy to be brave when bravery isn't needed. I can't help but question a person's ability to stand for Christ in the face of opposition when they won't live for Him in the place of peace and freedom. We say we'll lay down our lives for Him, yet we can't seem to lay down our plans for Him (or our remotes, for that matter.) What I'm simply saying is that our shallow faith and our false bravado isn't going to suffice for much longer. But here's the good news: those who stand for Jesus won't have to stand in their own strength. God will stand with those who stand for truth. The Bible says in Hebrews 13 that God has promised "I will never leave you or forsake you" and we can be assured of that truth.

     Especially since He IS truth.

So the End of the World Didn't Happen Today....

By Gobel Brockman


     Another week has passed, and with it another failed prediction of the end of the world. I've had to come to the realization that people trying to predict "The Apocalypse" been happening for many, many years - and those predictions will continue. For hundreds of years people have been discussing, debating, and arguing about "the beginning of the end." Many have tried to predict its time, and some people have garnered many followers in the process. It's been the topic of countless books and movies, and the theme of more sermons than any of us could ever know. Every storm and every breaking news item can seemingly be tied to "the return of the Lord." Before I proceed with my main point, let me establish a few thoughts:

*Do I believe in "the rapture of the church?" Absolutely.
*Do I believe it can happen at any time? Yes.
*Can I say with certainty that we are living in "the last days" right now? I have no idea.

     But there is one thing that I am sure of, and it's what I want to talk about this week:

     You ARE living in YOUR last days.

     I have no idea when "the rapture" is going to happen, but I do know that if it doesn't happen in my lifetime, and if I live a normal lifespan, it's already about two-thirds of the way over. Any time I'm asked about my view of prophecy, I always begin the discussion by quoting Proverbs 27:1: 

     "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring." 

     I do not know when Jesus will return to this earth, but I do know that every day I wake up, I'm one day closer to the LAST day I'll wake up. As I said, I do believe in the return of Christ, and I believe that we need to be prepared for it. I don't want my message this week to take away from what the Bible calls "the blessed hope." (Titus 2:13) I'm simply saying that all over this world today, thousands of people will pass into eternity before the sun sets in their part of the world, and I don't have the promise that I won't be one of them - and neither do you. So rather than engage in protracted debates about "What will 'the mark of the beast' really be?" or things of that nature, I want to live as though RIGHT NOW is my opportunity to do something for Jesus that's going to have lasting value. RIGHT NOW is my chance to give glory to Christ with my life. RIGHT NOW is my chance to give my praise and worship to Him. And if He gives me tomorrow, I get the opportunity to serve Him again. When you think about it, that's pretty awesome in itself - we have the opportunity to worship and work for our Creator and Savior - RIGHT NOW. As Paul said in II Corinthians 6, "Today is the day of salvation..."

     Am I trying to scare you with the thought of death? No - I'm simply reminding us all that if the Lord does indeed delay His return, every one of us are going to face it. When that time comes, prophecy debates will no longer matter, but how we responded to the call to give our lives to Jesus will matter - and it will matter for all of eternity. Still, with all of that being said, I want to end this week's devotional the same way the Bible ends its message with its next-to-last verse (Revelation 22:20):

     "Even so, come Lord Jesus."

     RIGHT NOW would be just fine. That's a blessed hope indeed.

Compromise Is Not an Option

By Gobel Brockman


Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines compromise as:

     *A way of reaching agreement in which each person gives up something that was wanted in order to end an argument or dispute; 
     *Something that combines the qualities of two different things;
     *A change that makes something worse and that is not done for a good reason

     In Daniel 3 we read the story of three Hebrew men who were being held in captivity in Babylon. The king recognized the wisdom that these men possessed and put them to work in his kingdom. These men were servants of the one true God, but they were commanded to dishonor their God and instead worship a worthless idol. Their refusal led to them being called into the king's presence. The king was furious at their refusal to bow to his "god." The king didn't want to lose their wisdom, however, so he told them that they would be given one more chance to comply with his command. If they refused they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. That was the king's idea of "compromise" - comply or die.

     There's a funny thing about compromise. I direct you back to the definition: "A way of reaching agreement in which each person gives up something that was wanted in order to end an argument or dispute." I've noticed over the years that when someone wants "compromise" what they really want is for the other party to make all of the concessions. Look again at the king's conditions: He placed all the demands on the Hebrew captives, and all he offered in exchange was that they wouldn't be executed. That's not compromise, that's a threat.

     As disciples of Jesus Christ, we face the temptation to compromise our beliefs and convictions. Another definition of compromise is to "combine the qualities of two different things." The problem with that is that when it comes to our relationship with Jesus Christ there is no "quality" on the other side. It's impossible to have "the best of both worlds" when one of those worlds is filled with only sin, pain, and death. Our enemy (the devil) is not interested in giving up anything in order to reach agreement with us, even though he's a master at presenting his temptations in exactly that way. He is only interested in stealing, killing, and destroying what God has given us.

     I've been saying for a while now that the time is coming when the name of Jesus will be a dividing line. In Luke 9:23 Jesus said this:

     "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me."

     Those who truly desire to forsake all and follow Jesus have always been opposed by those who want "the best of both worlds" - which I again maintain is impossible. My point is that the invitation to follow Jesus is not an invitation to live as you want and still keep one foot in the kingdom of God. As German pastor/theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." I say to you reading this that there is no other commitment to Jesus that will be acceptable. Regardless of any trial or temptation that we may face, following Jesus Christ is worth it. If I have Jesus, then I have everything. My prayer is that my life will honor Him in every way.

     I cannot settle for less, and I cannot compromise.

Finding Hope in the Chaos

By Gobel Brockman


     On the Day of Pentecost the 120 who were gathered in the Upper Room were filled with the Holy Spirit. The crowds outside wanted to know what was happening, and Peter preached what was the first sermon of the New Testament church. In Acts 2:34-36 we see that he ended his message with this:

     “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.' Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 

     The Bible goes on to say that about 3,000 people were added to the church that day. A short while later Peter was summoned to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, where he preached what was the first message about Jesus to the Gentile world. He ended that message with this:

     "And God commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is Jesus who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:42-43)

     The Bible says that all who were there were filled with the Holy Ghost and were baptized. The church was off to a blazing start!

     One of the things I find interesting in these stories is the simplicity of what took place. The apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost, they spoke the simple truth that salvation and hope are found in Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost then drew men and women to that salvation. No gimmicks, no trickery, no keyboards playing softly in the background. Just the Spirit of God doing in people's lives what ONLY the Spirit of God could do.

     He's still doing it today.

     I type these words as the United States prepares for its second hurricane in two weeks. Many lives have tragically already been lost in these storms. In other parts of our nation, raging wildfires have consumed much land and property. Both natural disasters and the pain caused by terrorism and the evil side of humanity are causing problems throughout the world. Regardless of what nation you're living in, and what specific situations your nation currently is facing, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will enable me to clearly proclaim to you that there is no other hope than the hope found in Jesus Christ - for without Him THERE IS NO OTHER HOPE. While others are seeking what - or who - to blame for all that is taking place, I will instead encourage you to look to the source of all hope in the midst of them: Jesus. I do not offer you any solutions through politics, self-help, or positive thinking. I proclaim to you Jesus Christ and Him crucified, resurrected, and forever King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No matter where you're reading this, Jesus Christ is who you need.

     Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

     We all live in one world, and it's a world filled with pain and turmoil. We all only have one hope, and it's only found in one name. Whoever you are, wherever you are, and whatever you're going through, I direct you to faith in Jesus. There's hope in Him.

One Day, You'll No Longer Have a "Someday"

By Gobel Brockman


     Today (as I write this) I had two different conversations with two different people about a common thought: just how quickly time goes by. This afternoon I watched a group of young men playing soccer in our local park and remembered that it wasn't all that long ago that I was playing basketball with my friends in that same park. (I also thought about how much pain I'd probably be in if I tried to play now!) It doesn't seem all that long ago that my wife and I were the parents of small children, and here we are now with several grandchildren - with another one on the way. (Yes, we're excited!) But as I thought on this, I was reminded of what the Bible says in James 4:13-14:

     "Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit,” whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? It is just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."

     "A vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." How often do we forget that? How often do we make plans for our future while forgetting that our futures can be changed in the blink of an eye? I don't mean to be overly dramatic, but the simple truth is that none of us wakes up in the morning assured of how our day is going to end. Countless people every day begin their day not realizing that they are beginning their last day on this earth. A startling but accurate observation that I believe we all need to give some thought to.

     I believe that the saddest part in all of this is all the people who have what I call "Somedayitis" - a condition where the person says, "I'll do it someday." 

I know I should spend more time with my children: I'll do it someday.
I know I need to get right with God: I'll do it someday.  
I know I should turn away from the things that are keeping me from getting closer to Jesus Christ: I'll do it someday.
I know God has a calling on my life that I need to fulfill: I'll do it someday.

     The problem is, we never know when our today is our last "someday."

     If you are reading this and you have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, you may be one of those people who have said, "Yes, I believe what the Bible says about Jesus. I know I need to acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. Someday soon." I say this with as much gentleness as I can, but please know that you are running out of "somedays." Paul said it this way in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2:

     "As workers together with God, we ask you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have listened to you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Look, now is the accepted time; look, now is the day of salvation."

     Your "someday" is NOW. TODAY is the day to give your life to Jesus Christ. If you have already done that, then TODAY is the day to begin walking in obedience and surrender to His will for your life. TODAY is the day to step into the calling that He has for you. None of us know what lies ahead in our tomorrow - or if we even HAVE a tomorrow. Allow the Lord to work in your life TODAY.

     Before one day becomes your last "Someday."