Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Our annual theme and current preaching series at The Community Fellowship is “A New Thing” based on Isaiah 43:19 that says God will new thing around us and in us.  We have been looking at Scripture passages that remind us of how God makes us new. Since we are new in Christ remember that our enemy want us to not believe that.  The question is how do you maintain the truth that God has made us new?  That is what we answered yesterday. Satan’s biggest lie is all about YOU.  He says you aren’t enough.  He says you have been lied to by God and the church.  He says it is all about you.  All of those are lies, and to believe the enemy’s lies we miss what God says. 1 Thessalonians 4:8  NLT   Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. God’s biggest truth is that life is about Him and others.  Other people help us maintain the facts, the truth...

  He has changed our lives.   I am talking about what Jesus was sent by the Father to do.  What an honor and a blessing to know who we are.  Yet these is something we need to do once we know what God has done. Make a choice to live out the change.  Walk it out.  Believe it and don’t let lies be buried in you and burden you over and over.  How do we make this change stick?  Walk it out… Ephesians 4:22  NLT   throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. The old goes away.  Like 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we are new.  So throw off that old way. Galatians 3:27  NLT   And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. We are united with Jesus.  Nothing and no one can change that fact.  Look at the end of Romans 8 about absolutely nothing can remove God’s love for us and from us.  But once again how do we...

  Yesterday I began a new series at The Community Fellowship called “Getting Honest”, and we talked about believing lies or the truth.  We must understand that who we follow dictates the character in us and in who we follow. Understand that the premise of lies or the foundation of lies is from the enemy.  It is his character to lie and to pervert our lives. John 8:44  NASB You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. He is the father of lies and is the original liar.  He is opposed to the truth.  Now truth to Jesus. John 14:6  NASB Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. He is truth.  He is life.  His character is the opposite of lies and...

We are continuing to explore what returning to God is about with our 2016 theme of RETURN at The Community Fellowship.   Often to return means there has to be a change.   It could be a change of heart, a change of thinking or a change in action.   Our current series called LIES is focusing on the changes we must make to align ourselves with truth. This is our theme verse: Joel 2:13 NLT “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” Repent and return to God.   Don’t stay where you are or as you are.   God is full of mercy.   His compassion is new every day, and our God is ready to show us His love.   His love is based not on what we do but on what Jesus has done for us.   Therefore, to return means to line ourselves up with what we see as God’s characte...

When we deal correctly with lies, our own truth will change quickly.   But the choice is ours.   What will we believe?   What will we hold on to? Psalm 19:14   NASB Let the word s of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. Our heart, our beliefs guide all we do.   If we don’t believe there are consequences to our actions, we will act differently.   If we believe that there is some desired outcome, we will respond differently.   Our actions and our words are living billboards, announcers if you will, of what we believe in our hearts.   That is why we have to make sure our words help make people better, lift up instead of tearing down and demonstrate care and wisdom.   Words are intended to be used between people and to share thoughts, ideas and desire.   Yet when our words are full of poison or negative, the results will not be what helps everyone. Ephes...

I believe when someone comes face to face with God, when someone comes near the presence of God, things begin to change.   Life begins to change in huge ways.   By acknowledging our God we come to see His grace and experience His peace.   Have you been there?   There are places I’ve been where I have experienced this.   I love those places. But keep on listening.   The presence of God and His peace is not about a place.   It is about a relationship with God.   Just like going to church doesn’t make you a Christian or even a better person.   Having a personal connection to God is where we find our safe place, saving place, strength, peace, and so much more.   And because that is not a place we find God with us all the time and enjoy His presence. John 1:14   NASB And the Word became flesh , and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Matthew 17:4...