Stake a Claim - Pastor Josiah Elias

“God bless Faith Chapel,” Ashley Elias proclaimed. “Thank you, Papa, for what you are doing at Faith Chapel,” she prayed. “There has been a shift at what you’re doing.” People are falling in love with Jesus again! From Isaiah 44:3-4, Ashley read, “For I will pour water on the thirsty land,   and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,   and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in the meadow,   like poplar trees by flowing streams.” (NIV) Ashley had prayed these verses over FC-God’s promise of restoration, for revival and growth. Then she read the Aaronic blessing over us. “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV) She thanked the LORD for what He was doing at FC and said,”You are what He is doing.” Praise God for her words of honor and praise to the LORD. Then Pastor Josiah reminded us that our mission is to culture like Christ, and our vision is Jesus. The sermon entitled “Stake a Claim” is based in Nehemiah; he led the Israelites as they began rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. Entire families were part of the construction. “Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the  nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, ’Don’t  be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great  and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your  daughters, your wives, and your homes.’” Nehemiah 4:14 (NLT) Nehemiah was staking a claim for the Israelites and reminded them to take up the fight as well for their families and homes. If we’re willing to fight for our families, God will fight for us! “When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!” Nehemiah 4:20 (NLT) If it is the Lord’s battle, He will fight for and with us. The enemy is attacking the family mightily through social media, the government, even in educational settings. If the enemy is paying this much attention to the family, we too should pay attention to the family and have a response. Our response needs to be God based, His Word based, and His Spirit based. The same Jesus who carried the lamb on His shoulder was the strong Jesus who stood up to the Pharisees and Sadducees each time they tried to trap Him. It is the same mighty Jesus who turned over the money changers’ tables on the Temple grounds. It is the same powerful Jesus who spoke to five thousand men and their families and miraculously fed them with the five loaves of flat bread and two fish. It is the same surrendered Jesus who went to the cross for your family and you.  When it comes to family, protecting is building. Pastor Josiah exclaimed,”God says,’Drive a stake in the ground for family.” What does that look like? How much have you prayed over and with your spouse and children?  Have you shared life verses with your family and told them why you selected those verses and what they mean to you? Have you testified how the Lord has been with and for you when you felt no one else was? We need to invest in our loved ones. Does invest only mean money? It means to be vulnerable with them about your faith in Jesus. It means time and talent. If we don’t claim our family, something else will. We need to examine our priorities and decide what is truly important eternally, for we are His.  Jesus’ blood grafted us into His family. “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word.” John 17:6 (NLT) Since we are grafted into the family, may we keep His word and surrender our wills to Him. May we proclaim our spouses and children for Him.  Jesus prayed,”Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.” John 17:11b (NLT) I love that Jesus prayed for His chosen ones, and He prays for us. Protect them through prayer and the word. Do not hold loosely what God has given you. Tighten your grip on those He’s given you. Our priorities need to be God’s priorities. Focus on His priorities and apply them to your life and loved ones. The final area was in Acts 16 where Paul and Silas were in jail, and they were singing hymns, praying and praising the Lord. The other prisoners could hear them.  All of a sudden a great earthquake occurred, “and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!” Acts 16:26 (NLT) Instead of bemoaning their plight, Paul and Silas praised the Lord and prayed. The Almighty Lord intervened, and their chains were shaken loose.  The other prisoners’ heard the praises, experienced the earthquake and their chains falling off too! Your witness, your gratitude, your sharing of the Lord may affect others. Their freedom may be tied to your faith. We need to be bold to share the Lord’s transforming grace in our lives, for the time is short! The jailer knew that the consequences for escaped prisoners was going to be severe. He prepared to kill himself, but Paul and Silas stopped him because all of the prisoners were still there. The jailer asked what he had to do to be saved. They answered “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” Acts 16:31(NLT)  When the jailer brought Paul and Silas into his home, “he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.” Acts 16:24 (NLT) As we tell others about Jesus and how He has changed our lives, answered prayers, protected us, they are given the opportunity to accept Him as their Lord and Savior. What God has done in you drips deep down into the same ground your stake is driven into. Then Pastor Josiah had stakes and pens passed out to each congregant. With whom are you zealous to share the Lord? For whom are you contending? Where will you put that stake in the ground? Ask the Lord to whom you should talk. May you be salt and light in this troubled world. Calendar: 5/16-LB potluck, worship and viewing of The Forge 6:00 in the Activity Center Blessings, Larry and Annette