Looking Back, Looking Ahead

By Gobel Brockman


     The celebrations are about to commence. 2018 is coming to an end, and we are about to enter 2019.

     I know that for some people, the end of 2018 can't come soon enough, For others, it's been a great year. I know 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 2019 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 Ghost.

     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 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 2019! You'll find it as you follow Jesus.

Christmas Will Mess With Your Life

By Gobel Brockman

     Another Christmas is upon us. Once again we join with family, friends, and co-workers 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

     Herod was king. His word was law. One day he 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, Herod's attempts were futile. Our attempts to keep His rule out of our lives will be futile as well. The Bible says this in Philippians 2:10-11:

"That at the name of Jesus every knee shall, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father." 

     That includes Herod - and you and me. Jesus is and forever shall be Lord. Every tongue will one day confess this truth. 

*Joseph

     The Bible describes him as "a just man." He finds out that his fiancé Mary is pregnant, but doesn't want to publicly disgrace her. He was then told in an angelic dream that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. At that moment Joseph's life was turned upside down. He had to take his new family and flee into Egypt, and for the next few years he lived with only the certainty that God was directing his life. 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 must 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 this in Luke 9:23: 

     "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

     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 (and the OTHER 364 days) as they were intended - unconditional worship and surrender to the will of God. 

     The message of Christmas will mess with your life. And what an awesome gift it truly is.

Don't Let the Fire Die

By Gobel Brockman

     I’ve been thinking a lot this week about how quickly things can change in our spiritual lives. It’s interesting to me that we can go from “on fire-red hot revival” to near apathy in what seems like a relatively short time. A prime example of that in Scripture is found in the story of the church at Ephesus. In Acts 19 we read of miracles and deliverance taking place by the power of God in Ephesus. Their response was instantaneous and drastic:

     “The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.” Acts 19:17-20 (NLT)

     The power of the Holy Ghost was moving in Ephesus. People were turning from sin and turning to Jesus. Miracles were taking place. People were being set free and finding what true life in Christ was really about. In a relatively short time, however, we hear Jesus saying these words to those same Ephesian believers:

     “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” Revelation 2:2-5

     The church of Ephesus went from burning their sinful possessions in the public square to being on the brink of losing their fire for the Lord altogether. The sad thing was that all the while they were still “doing church.” They were working, patiently enduring, and standing for the name of Jesus – and yet Jesus said, “I have something against you.” I submit to you that it’s no different today. We can still be active in church while having left our “first love” for Jesus Christ. The harsh reality is that Jesus wouldn’t accept it from the Ephesians, and He won’t accept it from us either.

     I can’t help but wonder just how widespread this is right now in our churches. How many prayer rooms that once blazed with the fire and zeal of the Holy Ghost are now little more than a pre-service formality? How many worship services that once touched the heart of our Father are now just “good music” that appeals to our ears? How many preachers that once preached with a palpable anointing are now delivering little more than motivational speeches that give us full pews but empty hearts? How many men and women of God who once grieved about their sin are finding themselves entangled by it again?

     How quickly it can happen. I sadly know from experience.

     My prayer for myself is that I will heed the words that Jesus spoke to them: “Repent, and do the works you did at first.” May I fan into flames the fire that God has kindled in my heart. May what I do for the Lord be born out of my love and worship of Him. May our prayer rooms be filled with power and intercession. May our worship truly touch the Father’s heart. May preachers boldly proclaim the full counsel of God. May we see true, lasting revival touch this nation and the world.

     May we not let the fire die.   

Say Goodbye to Your Comfort Zone

By Gobel Brockman


     At the end of last year I preached a message (and also posted it online) called "2018: The Year of the Vanishing Comfort Zone." For myself and many of my family, friends, and church family, that is exactly what 2018 has been. God has stretched us and used us in ways I never could have imagined. It has been an amazing, exciting, and challenging year, and He has been incredibly faithful through it all. In thinking about this, I fully believe what I'm about to say to be true:

     2019 WILL TAKE US OUT OF OUR "COMFORT ZONE" IN AN EVEN GREATER MEASURE!

     (The remainder of this week's devotional is a portion of the message I preached at the end of 2017.)

     OUR NESTS ARE ABOUT TO BE STIRRED!

     "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8 

     In this Scripture, Jesus gave His disciples the road map for their mission. They were to stay in Jerusalem until they were filled with the Holy Ghost. They were then to establish the church in Jerusalem, then they were to take the gospel to "Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth." They fulfilled it all - but they stayed in Jerusalem. Eventually God had to stir their nest!

     "Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." - Acts 8:1

     I don't believe it's incidental that the order of Acts 1:8 is repeated in Acts 8:1. GOD'S PLANS WILL BE FULFILLED! I'm sure it seemed horrible to them to face that persecution, but that persecution led them into the fulfillment of God's purpose. They were to soon discover that in the kingdom of God there is plenty of room for peace, but none for "comfort zones." (The words "God" and "comfort zone" do not belong in the same sentence - unless that sentence is "God doesn't like your comfort zone!") The thing is, they shouldn't have been surprised by this. God rarely does anything the way He's "supposed" to do them!

     What started as persecution turned into a God-ordained revival! Many times we mistake what God is allowing in our lives to be abandonment - when it is actually advancement!

     In preparing this message I felt the Holy Ghost impress on my heart that for many of us, 2018 is going to be a year when we are challenged to step into the unknown and trust God. Here is what I'm sensing:

*Some will be challenged to step into responsibilities that they weren't seeking, maybe don't even want, and don't feel qualified for. 

*Some will have unexpected ministry opportunities/conversations with people they weren't expecting to ever be able to minister to. 

*Some will be faced with life changes that on the surface may seem difficult and stressful. (When you find yourself in these times, just remember that Joseph probably felt the same way. We know how that turned out!)

     The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 that "Without faith it is impossible to please God" and we don't need faith if we have the answers ourselves. I firmly believe that God is going to take many of us out of our comfort zones and ask us to do things for the kingdom of God that we don't we're capable of doing. I simply want to remind you of this: MIRACLES DON'T HAPPEN IN COMFORT ZONES! 

     So with that in mind, I will close this message by asking this question for 2019: Do you desire to please God?

     If your answer is yes, then follow Jesus with all of your heart - and say goodbye to your comfort zone. Will it be challenging? YES. Will there be times of complete uncertainty? YES. Will it test you in ways you never imagined? YES. Will it require a faith in Jesus Christ that causes us to abandon our own understanding? YES. 

     Will it be a wild, exciting ride that causes us to marvel yet again at the power of God? YES!