Silence of the Lambs

1st Kings 18: 21 - 'And Elijah came to all the people and said, 'How long will you waiver between 2 opinions? If the Lord is God, serve Him; but if Baal, serve him.' But the people answered him not a word.'

When it comes to demonic assaults, silence doesn't make the devil go away, it gives him an invitation! As the quote goes, 'Evil prevails when good men do nothing.'  Listen, the challenge is that we would be a people would rise up, speak up, stand up, and be prayed up!

Since the beginning of time, man and his family has been under attack...in fact, the first assault from hell was against man's family! Genesis chapter 3 shows us a conversation the devil had with Adam's wife...where in the world is Adam? Why didn't he speak up? The devil (Through a serpent), is challenging their faith and their destiny, yet Adam says nothing! 

His silence became his downfall, and eventually, the downfall of humanity! We need to be a people that will speak up against the flood tide of wickedness in our generation! Men, we need to cover our wives and children with our prayers...we cannot afford to sit in silence and watch the devil run a muck in our homes...it's high time to stand up for what we believe! Single parents, you are no different! Quit excusing your teen's behavior, or worse, living your life through them, (Especially sexually), and speak what is right in your home!

The family is under attack, and it's our responsibility as God-fearing men and women, to take a stand for Jesus and speak Christ into every situation and circumstance of life! The Lord said, 'Let there be light...' He also told us that we are created in His image...if He can speak life, so can we! Speak faith and life in your homes...turn things around and capture victory!!

Wait On the Lord

Isaiah 40:31
31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

There is strength in waiting. So many times, as believers we blow it right before breakthrough! Think with me for a moment. In the Book of Joshua chapter 6, the Children of Israel were told to simply march - not speak. In essence, they were told not to talk themselves out of victory...they were also told not to handle the situation on their own...the battle is the Lord's!!

They had to endure the taunting, and mockery of Jericho for that entire week...had they lost their temper and went after the people of Jericho, they would've suffered casualties because the only way to advance their military forces was to climb the walls. The armies of Jericho simply would've picked them off with archers.  They decided to wait on the Lord and Shout! God fought for them instead, and the walls fell down flat.

This is good doctrine...if you would simply let Jesus handle it, He can knock down walls for you! One of the main reasons why you never experience the deliverance / breakthrough you're looking for is because you do everything yourself rather than give God control!  Wait on Him. Allow the Lord to fight for you and in the words of Moses...'Hold your peace!'

- Pastor Melrose

Overcoming Failure

Matthew 26:69-75, Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came 

to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

Here is a classic example of failure...

What is Failure? Is it permanent? Is there no second chance? Answer this question for yourself: A person is a failure when…a mistake is made / a person quits / someone says he/she is…

Where are you in the answer to that question? Are you a failure  because you've made countless mistakes? Are you a failure because you've quit certain things? Are you a failure because someone told you that you were/are?

Proverbs 23: 7 - 'For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.'

The truth is, all 3 of these answers can be true; it depends on you and what you're willing to accept as failure. Listen, failure should be a teacher, not an undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is nothing more than a temporary detour, not a dead-end street.

A successful person is big enough to admit his/her mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.

- Pastor Melrose

Crowned King

Matt. 27: 27 - 31, 'Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus
into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him.
And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.  When they had
twisted a crown of Thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in
His hand.  They bowed before Him mockingly, 'Hail King of the Jews!'
Then they spat on Him, striking Him on the head with the reed.
After they were finished with their mocking, they took the robe
from Him, put His own clothes back on, and led Him away to be
crucified.'

Jesus died for us, taking our place so that we can have eternal life.  Whenever I read this scripture and others like it, or whenever I catch a glimpse of 'The passion of the Christ', I get a bit misty eyed because I know what Jesus got in return for His sacrifice...a wretched broken teenager 23 years ago.  I looked at this scripture last week in a way I never noticed before, and I would like to share it with you.

First of all, they twisted a crown of Thorns upon His head.  Thorns in the bible rose up and choked the 'Seed', and it became unfruitful...(Matt. 13)...I thought about that because thorns in the bible were defined by Christ as the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches...I've always thought in the past that the cares of the world were simply exploits of the flesh, but that's not entirely true.  I care for my kids' safety, health, education, etc...these are cares of the world...(1st Cor. 7: 34b...'cares for the world...') This is not bad within  itself...it becomes bad, and chokes the Seed when it becomes competition to the Seed.

The deceitfulness of riches are quite self - explanatory...the biggest deceiving strategy is, that riches can take the place of God's provision...so you have these 2 factors that Jesus says, are 'Thorns' if you will.  What's amazing to me is, this is what the Known World (Rome), mocked Jesus with by slamming it onto His brow.

What they didn't realize is, Jesus asked for this because He cares for us in this world!  Then it hit me...they removed the royal robes, and placed His plain clothes back upon Him, led Him away to the cross; they never removed the Thorns from His head!

So, while Jesus was hanging on the cross...He had the world on His mind...

- Pastor LaMont Melrose

Take Him by the Hand

John 11: 34 - 'And He said, where have you laid him? And they replied, 'Lord, come and see...'

This is a very powerful story because it really hits us where we live...it's a story of men and women in the Word of God who must deal with and cope with death.  We've all been here and have our own stories but, it doesn't lessen the pain in any way.  Mary and Martha suffered the loss of the brother - to make matters worse, they send for Jesus, but He was waylaid.

I can't help but make parallels to this story in my own life; especially concerning things that have gotten sick and died in my heart.  Now, on the physical and literal side, I personally know what it's like to lose a sibling. However, I can also relate to this story from a spiritual perspective.  Ask yourself:

Has your prayer life died?  Has your devotion to the Lord or perhaps your personal evangelism died off?  Keep in mind, Lazarus, (They're brother), not only died, but by the time Jesus arrives, he had been dead for 4 days and decay had began to take its toll...can you relate to this story spiritually?  There are some amazing things in this story that I so appreciate about Jesus...

He asked them to take Him to where they lay Lazarus...not tell Him, SHOW HIM.  In our prayer life, we must take Jesus by the hand, and lead Him to the tomb of our hearts.  Take Jesus by the hand, and lead Him to where you got tired; lead Him to where you were in your darkest hour; take Him to the place of your fears and failures...will you show Him?

If you read on, He tells them to roll away the stone...that's what we have to do, He's not gonna do it for us!  Martha warned Him about the stench, but Jesus didn't care - He wasn't there to critique the situation...HE WAS THERE TO SPEAK LIFE INTO IT!  Jesus didn't put on protective gear or gloves, He got right into the stinky stuff - this is what He will do with us!

When He spoke life - Lazarus came forth!!  This is what Jesus wants to do for you and me!  He wants to be shown the dead areas of our lives so that He can bring resurrection power to them!!  Will you humble yourself and let God do this for you?

Change comes when you humble yourself and allow God to have His way...

- Pastor LaMont Melrose

First Love

Ps. 18: 6 - 'In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God...'

Have you ever been desperate before God?  Have you ever fell to your knees and sought the Lord beyond will power, distraction, or fear?  Is God so powerful, that you crouch at the altar...all night if necessary?

I've often wondered what ever happened to those times in prayer and devotion to God.  Have we become so comfortable and content with our present circumstances that we refuse to cry out to God? What is it that makes us afraid to do so?  Is it our own pride that would keep us from such an act of humility?  Maybe all of the fight is taken out of us and we are too tired to press in...I don't know what the reason is, but I do know that it is needed terribly.

There was an old Christian singing group of the 90s called 'For Him.'  They sang a song that was the title of one of their albums...it was called, 'The basics of Life.'  The anthem in the chorus was, 'We need to get back to the basics of life...'  Think about your relationship with God at the beginning...you felt in your mind and in your heart that NOTHING would ever be solved unless Jesus solved it right?  How about today?

I believe over the years, people have become accustomed to doing their own thing, or due to their lack of faith - they simply accept their present circumstances because it's too much to fight for more...God help us...God help us indeed!

Phil. 3: 14 - '...I press towards the mark for the prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus...'

Do you remember that?  Do you remember what those words meant to you?  Can we get desperate before God again?  Can we concede to the fact that without Him, we can do nothing?  Solomon told us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding...(Prov. 3:5)

One of the greatest attributes found in the disciples of Jesus can be summed up in one word...Abandon

Lay it all on the line for Jesus, run to Him, consider Him first, fall in love with Him again and cry to the Father!!  The tenderness of a new Christian can be found in us again...when we press in.

- Pastor Melrose