WEDNESDAY'S WORD - CONCEALED - 08/28/19 -Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

 

"A fraudulent intent, however carefully concealed at the outset, will generally, in the end, betray itself." - Livy - Roman Historian   

When I looked for a photo to describe the word CONCEALED, images displaying individuals with concealed guns popped up. That was interesting, and a sign of the times I guess. I was actually thinking more about hiding internal issues, not deadly weapons. Sometimes there's not a whole lot of difference, at least figuratively.  To CONCEAL means to keep from sight, or to hide completely; to keep something secret; to prevent it from being known or noticed. Certainly, most who carry concealed arms have a self or other-protective intent. The same could be said for many who hold secrets, sins, and deceptions, but, "God can't heal what you won't reveal."  

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer the righteous availeth much." (James 5:16)  This is one of the most well-known but difficult to apply scriptural instructions. Uncovering problem areas is excruciating, but it's a part of the Cross-life. It feels like we're going to die if we admit that something is awry in our lives or we've done something wrong. We take such pride in appearing perfect. We wonder if anyone will care for us or handle our flaws or sins graciously. So instead of disclosing the issue, we do what makeup artists have been instructing women across the globe to do every day. We apply CONCEALER to cover up any perceived flaw. Except we don't use commercial make-up; we wield distraction, deflection and projection. We use jokes, anger, tears, attacks, substances, and behaviors to prevent people from discovering the truth.      

"...everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open and every secret will be brought to light." (Mark 4:22)    

Jesus employed this statement several times, positively and negatively in the Gospels. He tells his disciples to be aware of the yeast or the growing negative influence of the Pharisees. Jesus assures His followers that eventually the deeds and motives of these legalistic Jewish leaders will be exposed. (Luke 12:1-2) However, in Mark 4:21-25 and Luke 8:16-18, Jesus uses the same phraseology to state that the light of the true Word of God and the light being held in its carriers will also not be hidden, but exposed to all the world. The mystery of Christ, the Good News of the Gospel, was not ever meant to be concealed, but revealed. Bringing all things that God wants to expose to light is a powerful tool for freedom, deliverance, and salvation. I pray that none of us are stifled or bound by what we conceal.  

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - ARMOR - Sadell Bradley 08/21/19 - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

   

"The military's own report says that one-third of deaths and casualties could have been avoided if proper body armor and vehicle armor had been provided from the start of the war." - John Olver - Politician  

 

ARMOR is defined as the metal coverings formerly worn by soldiers or warriors to protect the body in battle; or the tough metal layer covering a military vehicle or ship to defend it from attack. Outside of the US military, the coolest example of an armored vehicle I've seen is the Batmobile. At the push of a button or a spoken word, its strong defenses roll into place within just a few seconds and the hero is shielded from an array of bullets and grenades. The tail winged, technologically advanced motorcar is more than a high-speed pursuit vehicle; it is critical defensive and offensive weaponry of the highest form that saves. Bruce Wayne would be a goner without the body and automotive armor specifically designed for him. He would just be a regular vulnerable and defenseless bloke without that armor.  

 

It's hard to talk about AMOR without giving a nod to Ephesians 6:10-17. There, Paul instructs us to put on the full armor of God in order to stand when the day of evil comes. He emphasizes that our battles are not with flesh and blood. Our true warfare is against the powers of the world's darkness and against spiritual forces in heavenly realms. This is a great reminder when conflicts arise and we want to make them about people. If we do not see the higher reality and apply the ARMOR of God, we are susceptible to the enemy's attacks.   

  

In 1 Samuel 17, Goliath and the Philistine military, are taunting the armies of Israel to send an opponent to engage in a deathmatch. The Israeli soldiers were in fear, including king Saul and David's brothers. David accepts the challenge confident that with the LORD's help, he will defeat the 'uncircumcised Phillistine,' and gain a victory for Israel. In verses 38-39, Saul tries to help David by giving him his armor, "Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor. David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them." And David took them off."  David proceeds to defeat the giant with his own clothing and simple weaponry: a slingshot, 5 smooth stones, superior skills, and the hand of the LORD.  

 

The Batsuit was designed to fit only Bruce Wayne. In the same way, David could not fulfill his assignment with another man's armor...not even the armor of a king. There are people whom you admire greatly, but they'll never be you. You want to have what they have and do what they do, but that might not be what God wants for you. Letting go of comparisons and being yourself will probably bring you great relief. Have you been trying to fight a battle or fulfill your assignment with someone else's armor?     

   

 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - BOLDNESS - 08/14/19 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"It is better by noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half of the evils we anticipate, than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what might happen."  - Herodotus - Greek Historian    "The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion." (Prov. 28:1) A BOLD person shows an ability to take risks; displays confidence, courage and a lack of shame. I love this quote from author and theologian Mike Yaconelli,  "Boldness doesn't mean rude, obnoxious, loud, or disrespectful. Being bold is being firm, sure, confident, fearless, daring, strong, resilient, and not easily intimidated. It means you're willing to try what you've never tried, and willing to trust what you've never trusted. Boldness is quiet, not noisy."  It's interesting that this word batach in Hebrew is the same word for trust. A person who is righteous is inwardly secure and outwardly bold because they trust in God.     In Acts 3, Peter and John healed a lame man at the temple by the power of Jesus' name and had many converts. They came under the scrutiny of the Elders and Scribes. The leaders of the synagogue wanted to know in what name the miracle had been performed. The Apostles answered boldly. "Let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed." The Bible says in verse 13-14, "When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response." The Jewish leaders warned Peter and John not to speak or teach in Jesus' name. "But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you rather than God. For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." (18-20)    Sadly, boldness is a somewhat scarce character trait in Christians these days. We are too often intimidated in situations that require bravery. Neither the confrontation nor its potential dangers dissuaded Peter and John. Despite the fact that this all occurred in the same city where Jesus was conspired against, falsely accused, and tried; instead of running away they prayed:   "And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus. After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." (29-31)   Let's pray for the same boldness.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - EXODUS - 08/06/19 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"You know that Moses was spinning like crazy in Exodus 14-17 when the Jewish people wanted to go back and become a place again because tramping through the desert was a bit too hard." - Joe Klein - American Journalist    On Monday I heard the song "Deliver Me - This is My Exodus" by psalmist Donald Lawrence featuring soloist Leandria Johnson. The song discusses how God is able to heal the holes in our souls that exist because of painful events in our past. The soloist's lyric begins, "Lord, deliver me, 'cause all I seem to do is hurt me. God rescued me from myself...from my overthinking." Throughout Deliver Me, Lawrence speaks the Word of God over listeners toward healing, freedom and release. Then Johnson and the choir rise to a powerful repetitive declaration, "THIS IS MY EXODUS!" stating emphatically that they will no longer be bound or enslaved to the past. An EXODUS is defined as a mass departure of a people, in the Old Testament of the Jewish people's escape from bondage to their Egyptian captors. Exodus means 'out of the way.' So 'Deliver Me' personalizes this sentiment, 'My Exodus' is that I'm now deciding to get out of my own way - and I need God's help to do that. That's very powerful, and not just for Leandria Johnson who has endured many things in her life, but for us as well.       We generally see an EXODUS as breaking free from a shackled or bound existence. But it's also the fulfillment of a promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 15:13-14. "Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions." When the fullness of time arrived, the LORD held true to His Word bringing immediate restoration to millions simultaneously. Luke tells the ultimate result of this deliverance in Acts 7:7 'But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,' God said, 'and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.'    The Children of Israel experienced the same circular, repetitive, struggle in the wilderness that the songwriter describes in 'Deliver Me'. Every time they wanted to do right, as the Apostle Paul said, "evil was present." (Rom. 7:21) For the Jews, it took a new generation and a few faithful leaders to purge out fully their inbred past bondage so that they could wage war for their future inheritance. When we sing a song or make a proclamation like, Deliver Me, This is My Exodus! we are invoking God's rescue, deciding to break free, believing what He's promised, anticipating restoration, committing to worship Him fully, and preparing to go to war for our inheritance.