Wonderful Counselor

December 17, 2014


By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

No matter who or what we are - men or women, young or old, rich or poor - we cannot help but be impressed with the Wonderful Counselor. He alone is perfect and the only One who can meet all of our needs.

We have no fear of disdain or judgment when we share our heart with the Wonderful Counselor. He never tells us that our problems are frivolous or insignificant. He never grows tired of listening to us or bored with what we have to say. When we approach Him with our concerns, He says, "I know all of your problems, in far greater detail than you do, and I already have an answer for your troubles. I have comfort and joy for your troubled and sorrowful heart. I have blessing waiting for you. I have just been waiting for you to come to Me."

Christ's supernatural wisdom far exceeds any human wisdom. When Jesus is our counselor, miracles happen and transformation takes place through the power of God. Only Christ has the ability to see into our hearts, even into the corners that we try to hide from ourselves. Only Christ has the authority to forgive our sins and give us a fresh start. Only Christ has the power to give us eternal life with Him. Only Christ can heal our hearts and souls.

Whatever you are going through, Jesus the Wonderful Counselor is longing for you to come to Him with your burdens. Only He can make you whole. Only He will always listen no matter how long you cry out to Him or what you have to say. What is burdening your heart today?

Prayer: Wonderful Counselor, I need to give You my burdens today. Thank You for always being available and for always wanting to hear from me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Obedience Without Hesitation

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D. Abraham did not hesitate to obey the Lord. He packed up everything and headed for the land of Canaan—no questions asked. God had spoken, and Abraham obeyed. Are we willing to do the same and step out obediently without hesitation? There will be times when the Lord instructs us to wait, and we must be willing to do just that—be still and wait for Him. Waiting is also a form of faithful obedience. Abraham was not perfect. He panicked and took matters into his own hands as he took his family to Egypt. What made sense from a human viewpoint was folly from God’s viewpoint. When we feel threatened, many of us do the same thing—we become fearful and take matters into our own hands. However, in times of crisis, we must remain steadily focused on Christ, watching and listening for His leading. Fear always challenges faith. When we divert from God’s plan out of fear, we end up in a foreign land, fighting a foreign enemy with our own resources. Like Abraham, we will make mistakes. We will take a wrong turn and end up in a place other that the one God has for us. However, the journey of faith begins at the Cross where Jesus died for our sins and where we can find eternal forgiveness for our souls. When we stray, the Cross reminds us that we can always turn to the Lord, asking Him to forgive us and to lead us on from that point. No matter where you are on your journey of faith, look to the Lord in faith for guidance and trust that He will always lead you in paths of righteousness for your ultimate good and His glory. Prayer: Father, I confess that at times I have allowed fear to cause me to hesitate to obey You. Forgive me for those times and help me to trust that You will not lead me astray. You are worthy of my complete obedience. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).

Trying To Please God

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.



One of the greatest dangers that we often fall into is associating God with our earthly fathers. Whether your earthly father was gracious or harsh, you can never associate your earthly father with our heavenly Father.



I wonder how many people spend their life trying to please God, but feel they can never please Him enough. I wonder how many are laboring under a sense of failure because they feel that they cannot satisfy God.



I think of our religious friends, the Muslims, who bow and prostrate themselves five times a day until they develop a mark on their foreheads, which they wear with pride as a sense of accomplishment. They are trying to please Allah, but they have absolutely no assurance that they can ever please him.

I think of Martin Luther, the great reformer who ignited the Reformation in Europe. As a Dominican monk in the monastery, he was so overburdened with his sin and his unworthiness in trying to please God, he literally would go to the abbot of the monastery every hour on the hour for confession until the abbot got tired of him and said, “Stop coming back.”



Luther wanted to please God, but he couldn’t until he read the Scripture, opened the Word of God and realized that salvation is by grace alone. Then his life was transformed and he ignited the Reformation in Europe.



We spend all of this effort and hard work trying to please God, yet never feeling that God is pleased because we miss the meaning of the Word of God. Without faith, no one can please God.



Prayer: Father, thank You that no earthly father can compare to You. You are perfect and full of grace. Thank You for the reminder that there is nothing I can do to attain Your acceptance. Thank You that it is only by Your grace that we can be called Your sons and daughters. Amen.

“

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Cookout reminder!

Hello Holland First Family!

This Sunday after the 11am service is our Annual Church Cookout at Lawrence Park in Zeeland!  Here is some information to help prepare for the day….

·         Dress casual!  Feel free to wear “appropriately” comfortable, ready to go to the park, clothes.

·         Bring lawn chairs for seating in the park area

·         It’s highly recommended that food items be brought in disposable containers to make clean up easy for those working the kitchen pavilion.  And don’t forget large serving utensils for your food items.  Any items that are not disposal please make sure to LABEL them so they can be returned to you.

·         Last Names A-M bring a side dish

·         Last Names N-Z bring a dessert

·         EVERYONE bring a 2 liter beverage.

·         The church is providing hamburger, hotdogs, & condiments.

There’ll be Praise & Worship, an inflatable for kids, great food, fun fellowship and don’t forget the Volleyball Tournament!!!

Hope to see you there!

Raquel Santos

Administrative Assistant

1331 E 16th Street

Holland, MI 49423

(616) 396-5646

7 Signs You’re “Judging” Others

1. You are more enraged at someone else’s sin than you are embarrassed by your own.

2. You refuse to forgive (or when you forgive, you refuse to forget).

3. You “cut off” those who disagree with you.

4. You gossip.

5. You refuse to receive criticism.

6. You refuse to correct someone’s position.

7. You write someone off as hopeless.

Argentina meeting Sunday, June 29th at 5p.m.

Attention Holland First family. This Sunday at 5p.m. before our ACCESS night we are having an informational meeting for our 2015 Argentina missions trip. If you are thinking about going do not miss this important meeting. It will last 1 hour and will be held in the prayer room right off the sanctuary. God bless you!!!!!

The Holiness Gap

 A great read in light of my sermon on Sunday entitled, "Family Values" (Part A)

Lord bless you,

Pastor Mike Houser (Senior Pastor)

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.



With God’s help, we can join Paul and combat the god of the age that he warns us about in 2 Corinthians 4:4.

The god of this age conceals itself with various disguises, but there are two common worldviews that present themselves in our culture. Self-improvement movements like Unitarianism teach that Christ is the ideal, perfect man—which we can also be if we obtain a higher self. Knowledge-seeking movements like Scientology teach that if we know enough, we can survive forever. Both philosophies promote the same lie about salvation: that there is something we can do to bring us closer to God.

Like most lies, these philosophies are based on twisted Truth. The Truth is that there is a large gulf between man and God that only Christ can bridge. But we stand in need of absolute and total rescue—not better thinking.

Read Ephesians 1:3-8. God chose to bridge the gap between our sinfulness and His holiness by spilling Jesus’ blood in payment for our sins. Because Christ paid the price for our forgiveness, God can declare us “holy and blameless in his sight” if we choose to turn from our sin and run to Him (Ephesians 1:4). Jesus mended the holiness gap. No higher learning or knowledge is needed.

Holiness can only be given by One who is holy. It has to be imparted—it cannot be earned. Since we are not holy, the only way we can ever become holy is for a holy God to reach down and bring us up to His level, imparting His holiness to us. This is exactly what God did in Jesus. This gap-mending offering of forgiveness is a free, undeserved gift, but it must be accepted. And there is no other way to accept it than through Jesus.

We cannot rid ourselves of sin by knowing enough or by trying to be the best we can be. Those are the chains of the spirit of the age. When you encounter people who practice these philosophies, listen for the way they are attempting to bridge the gap they feel between themselves and God. Then, as the Holy Spirit guides you and gives you words, explain God’s heart to them. Share that the gulf has already been mended. Christ did it all—and all they must do is turn to Him.



Prayer: Lord, thank You for mending the holiness gap so that I can have fellowship with You. Thank you for setting me free with Your Truth, and show me how to share this Truth with others. Amen.

“
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

3 Things to Teach Teens at Graduation (and Before)

Posted by: admin in Church Leadership, Home Page, Ministry Life 0 34 Views

High school graduation is a rite of passage unlike any other. You move from being treated like a child (legally) to being counted an adult, both in society and in any academic setting you might enter. Colleges aren’t even allowed to discuss your grades with your parents apart from your consent. Childhood is over. Adulthood beckons. How should you respond to the blessing and challenge of graduation?

1. Own Your Faith.

If you come from a Christian home, you have benefited tremendously from a host of supportive circumstances (household rules, numerous protections, church life). Testing awaits as you enter the world. It won’t be enough to ride the coat tails of your parents’ faith. If you’re not sure about Christianity, now is the time to settle the matter (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Christianity is a faith unlike any other because it’s based on historical events that were verifiable to thousands of people in Christ’s day (1 Corinthians 15:3–6, 12–14) — some of whom died for what they would have known to be false, had it been false. If you have doubts, ask away. The existence of God, the reliability of the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus, Jesus being the only way to God — there is a wealth of material which addresses these and other questions.

But do you want to base your life on Jesus Christ? You’ll soon encounter new opportunities to misuse God’s good gifts in ways that seem alluring — that seem to offer immediate pleasure. Will you believe the lie that God is a cosmic killjoy, out to rob you from experiencing the good things of life (Genesis 3:6)? Or will you trust that the One who made you knows best, that his rules are an expression of his love, and that his ways lead to your greatest happiness (Psalm 16:11)?

2. Own Your Relationships.

The Christian faith is lived out in community. So you’ll need to find a good church. Somewhere you can worship, learn, grow, and serve. Somewhere you can form friendships and where you can be a friend. Look at a few church websites before you leave home. Check out their beliefs, listen to their sermons, and be aware of their ministries. Make church attendance a priority early. It’s a harder habit to form later.

At college, the easiest friendships aren’t always the best. To become wise, you need to walk (or do life) with the wise (Proverbs 13:20). Look for others who share your commitment to the things of God and faithfully invest in them. Relational evangelism is worth pursuing, especially at college, but make sure you also nurture friendships that strengthen your faith (Proverbs 27:17). We’re commanded to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16) — which presupposes we are salt and light. To make a difference in the world we must be different than the world. Holiness in lifestyle, combined with a gracious demeanor, provide a winsome alternative to the wasteland of hedonism and materialism that are rampant on college campuses and youth culture in general.

 

3. Own Your Decisions.

Assessing situations, weighing alternatives, and thinking critically are like using muscles. Flabbiness comes from disuse; strength comes through practice. The next few years are full of choices — which college (or trade) to pursue, what to study, how to pay for it, and more. It might be nice if God spoke with an audible voice at each crossroads, but that’s not been my experience. We should pray (James 1:5). We should seek counsel from trustworthy people who know us (Proverbs 15:22). We should consider where we’ve been successful and what activities we enjoy, as these point to where, over time, we might be most useful in this world for the good of others and the glory of God.

Panicked that you’ll miss God’s will? God wants us to follow him more than we do. His moral will is revealed in the Bible. His sovereign will is revealed as we live it. So make the best decisions you can based on sound judgment, accept the consequences, learn from any missteps, and trust God to shower you with mercy and goodness (Psalm 23:6). With God no path is without difficulty and no path is without blessing.

Congratulations on your graduation. Godspeed in the days ahead. Grace be with you to the end.
Alex Chediak (@chediak) is a professor of engineering and physics at California Baptist University and the author of Preparing Your Teens For College (Tyndale House, 2014) and Thriving at College (Tyndale House, 2011). Learn more about Alex’s work at his site.

This article was first published at the Desiring God blog under the title “The Blessing and Challenge of Graduation.”  Republished with permission.

Making a Difference

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Only the Holy Spirit can change someone’s heart, but God is calling us to be a part of the process. We can make a difference in the eternal lives of others. We can tell our neighbors how Christ changed our lives. We can share with our friends why we have peace in the middle of difficult times.


We can train our children in the ways of the Lord. And we can unite together in prayer for the souls of nonbelievers.



We can pray that we will continue to have the freedom to openly speak Jesus’ name in public. We can pray that we remain free to share the full Gospel message, without being confined to a politically correct version. We can pray that God will continue to use His people to spread His Gospel to the ends of the world.



Spend time in prayer today examining your priorities. Where does the Great Commission fall on that list? Pray daily that God will renew your passion for the souls of nonbelievers. Pray that God prepares the hearts of those around you to receive the Gospel message. Pray for the Holy Spirit to provide you with opportunities for sharing about Christ. Pray that our country’s freedoms will continue so that we may freely speak the uncompromising Truth of the Gospel.



Prayer: Father, I pray that You would use me to make a difference in the lives of those around me. Renew my passion to see the lost come to know You. Open up doors of opportunity for me to talk about You and give me the courage to boldly proclaim Your Truth. Thank You for the freedom we have to speak about You. Amen.


“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30).

Complete Obedience

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

If we are truly trusting in God’s plan and providence, then we will live in obedience to His will for our lives. Our trust in God is not meant to sit upon a shelf. We will face trials constantly, along with temptations, and struggles that will put our faith in God to work.
Before God would use Abraham, Abraham had to take the first step of obedience and leave his pagan hometown, Ur. But on the way to Canaan, Abraham and his family settled in Haran, another pagan town, for six years. Abraham’s obedience was incomplete.

God does not want us to start out on His path and then stagnate. Obedience involves commitment and follow-through. How many times do we settle for something short of the Lord’s perfect plan for our lives? How many times do we set out in obedience, only to stop at the halfway mark?
But God did not give up on Abraham. “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you’” (Genesis 12:1). This time, Abraham did not stop until he reached Canaan.

Prayer: Father, help me to go all the way in obedience to You. Show me if I am settling for something short of Your perfect plan.

“If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth” (Deuteronomy 28:1).

 

Daily Living Faith

When Jesus rebuked the disciples in Matthew 8 for having “little faith,” Jesus wasn’t talking about saving faith, but daily living faith. Our saving faith remains constant, but our daily living faith rises and falls according to the strength of our relationship with God. When we are not in constant intimacy with God, the first storm that hits will create fear and panic. When we only give God the crumbs of our time and attention, our faith and understanding in Him will weaken. Faith that conquers fear depends on absolute trust in God. It is the kind of faith that has an open heart to whatever God provides for us. It is a faith that is manifested as an utter dependence on the sovereignty of God. When we live by faith, we know that even when the storm is at its worst, we can trust that God is working out His purposes for us. When Jesus rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith, He was referring to their failure to trust Him in this practical situation. How often do we trust God with our eternal souls, but not our daily needs? God wants us to trust Him not only with our salvation, but also with our relationships, our resources, and our futures. He wants to see our professed faith in action. He wants us to put our complete trust in Him for every detail of our lives. When we walk close with God and trust Him daily, our faith will conquer our fears. When we put our focus on God, fear fades into the background. At the first sign of fear, our plan of action should be seeking God in prayer. Prayer: God, I trust You with my salvation, but sometimes I struggle with trusting You with the details of my life. Help my daily living faith to strengthen, that my faith would conquer my fears. Amen. “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Matthew 6:30-31).

Honor your father & mother

Mothers teach, counsel, and guide. “Do not forsake your mother’s teaching” (Prov. 1:8). Mothers comfort. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you” (Isa. 66:13). Mothers are a source of wisdom. The famous Proverb 31 was written by King Lemuel as “an inspired utterance his mother taught him” (Prov. 31:1 TNIV). There is a reason Proverbs personifies wisdom as a woman. Lady Wisdom walks in grace and wisdom purchased over decades of choices to cultivate her heart by faith. Wisdom is earned. And a mother passes her wisdom, her way, her core beliefs onto her children. “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Tim. 1:5). Too often we have diminished our mothers, both who they are and what they’ve done. We want to respect the weighty role they have played in our lives.

God's Encouragement

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D. After God’s promise of victory to Joshua, God encouraged Joshua through His Word: “Be strong and very courageous. ... Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:7-8). True prosperity and success come from holding tenaciously to the Word of God. This doesn’t mean we won’t face setbacks or opposition in our work for the Lord. It doesn’t mean that every person we share the Gospel with will want to listen. But ultimately we will be on the right path when we follow God’s Word. As Scripture says: “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:165). God also encouraged Joshua with the promise of His presence: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Even more than God’s promises or His written Word, we have the presence of God. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). When we make our relationship with God a daily priority, when we consistently seek and listen to His voice, when we trust in Him moment by moment, then God will give us the victory. Prayer: God, thank You for the encouragement You give us through Your Word and through the promise of Your presence. Thank You for the victory You give as we trust in You. Amen. “You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry” (Psalm 10:17).

The Bride of Christ

April 23, 2014 By Michael Youssef, Ph.D. Psalm 45 is a wedding song that tells the story of the king’s wedding—the wedding of all weddings. Psalm 45 is a prophecy about the coming of our groom, King Jesus. It paints a picture of King Jesus preparing a place for His bride, the Church, and then coming back to take her to His Father’s house. In His first coming, Jesus betrothed every believer to Him on the Cross of Calvary. He told everyone who belongs to Him: “I love you. I died for you. I have chosen you and have paid the heaviest dowry that could be paid with my own precious blood. I am betrothing you to myself and I am committed to you. I will take you to my Father’s house.” For those who are part of the bride of Christ, soon—whether we go to Him first or He comes back to us first—we will hear those words: “Welcome home. I have been preparing my Father’s house for you. I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have shown you my love on the Cross; now you can see it fully. Come inherit your Father’s kingdom. I know that you have waited longingly for me, but the wait is over. Now enter into my Father’s glory.” Prayer: Father, thank You that when I accepted You, I became a part of the bride of Christ. Thank You for the inheritance that awaits me. Amen. “As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5).

Wonderful devotional

Run to the Rock By Michael Youssef, Ph.D. King David called God his “Rock.” Whenever David found his security, his family, or his reputation under attack, he ran to the cleft of the Rock and found a never-failing source of aid and protection. In the Bible, a rock symbolizes the invincible, immutable, and changeless character of God. Therefore, David did not pray feeble “I hope you can do this” prayers. He knew that God’s all-sufficient power could rule over any problem, even when circumstances seemed out of control. David overcame some of life’s worst situations by making confident requests of God, calmly reasoning with God, and acknowledging he had cause for rejoicing because God would assuredly answer his prayers. What has failed you in your life? The company you counted on? The spouse you trusted? Your health? When your world collapses before your eyes, do you turn to God, the Rock, or do you wonder how God allowed this to happen to you? David’s proven method of running to God will help you find direction for and protection from the difficulties you are facing right now. He is your Rock, your unfailing refuge in times of trouble. Prayer: God, I need to run to You, my Rock, today. Teach me how to pray confidently, knowing that You will answer my prayers. Amen. “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2).

Kate Zudweg's Baby Shower info

Hi Ladies! (Husbands, if you get this email please pass on to your wife, thanks!) Kate’s shower is coming up Monday, March 17th at 6:30p.m. at the church and we just wanted to communicate a few things in regards to it! •Amy Houser will be collecting $ to purchase some larger items if anyone is interested in giving to that – she will be collecting $ thru Sunday. She will add your name to the card. •If any ladies would like to help by bringing light, finger food, type items for example, finger sandwiches, veggie tray, cheese/cracker tray, fruit bowl, chips & dip, etc. just let her know. You can email Amy at powerhouse4jesus@hotmail.com •Also bring a book to build baby’s library •Kate is registered at Target and she is having a girl! •Many ladies have already RSVP’d by signing up at the info center. THANK YOU! If you haven’t had a chance to yet, please do so soon. This will help us in preparing for the shower. You can also RSVP by responding to this email. I will be sure to add your name to the list.  Raquel Santos Administrative Assistant 1331 E 16th Street Holland, MI 49423 (616) 396-5646