Today is Ash Wednesday. For Christians, it is the beginning of the Lenten Season. In general, it is a season of soul-searching, reflecting, repenting. For many, it is a special time, a sacred time of self-sacrifice – denying oneself of some beloved or cherished thing in order to draw closer to the Lord and focus upon Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
This season, however, is not meant to become a time of self-loathing and extreme mourning, but rather an opportunity to stop, take inventory, renew our commitment to serving the Lord and seeking to do His work and will. It is a special opportunity to remember the price that Jesus paid for our salvation – the road He traveled to make deliverance from sin available to us. Oh how we should praise Him!
When Jesus went to the wilderness and fasted forty days and forty nights, it was not simply for the sake of piety. He was preparing for the spiritual battle that lay ahead. Jesus was not sitting and mourning, he was praying and preparing. Ultimately, the Lenten season should help to further prepare us to do battle and equip us to carry out the ministry assigned to our hands.
With this thought in mind, I’d like to share with you a very special message given at Covenant (the church where I serve as Senior Pastor) on the occasion of my 5th Pastoral Anniversary. “Get Up! The Victory is Yours!” was the message delivered by Minister Carla J. Davis, a Minister with the Arlington Street Church of God in Akron, Ohio.
Minister Davis is also a member of the gospel-recording group, Divine Hope, which was named Artist of the Year by Star Song Records. She is the musical director for Rise, Sally, Rise, Inc., a workshop ministry founded by Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett that specializes in anxiety disorders in African-American women. Minister Davis holds a Master’s degree in Pastoral Clinical Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary. Her career background includes public relations and journalism. Currently, Minister Davis is a full-time marketing director, and also works at a private psychological practice.
In her message, taken from the Book of Judges, chapter 4: 1-14, focusing upon the Prophetess Deborah and the army commander, Barak, Minister Davis provided three things that can help us to “get up” and receive the victory that God has planned for us.
Following the highlights given below, please click on the provided link to hear her message in total as well as her soul stirring rendition of, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
Read on, listen and be blessed!
Shepastor Highlights Minister Carla J. Davis’ Message
“Get Up! The Victory is Yours!”
God will always execute victory with wisdom: Have a strategy and plan for where you are going. Don’t be caught sleeping and complacent.
God gives us the edge over our enemies and THE enemy of our souls – the devil: “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but are mighty through the pulling down of strongholds…” II Corinthians 10:3-5 (Minister Davis recommends the book, The Rules of Engagement)
God has equipped you for Victory: We are not called into battle alone. God is with us, God has a plan for us and God has given us everything we need to be victorious through Him!
Hear all of Minister Davis’ message by clicking the link below…(Once at the site, click the last message on the list, “Get Up the Victory is Yours”)
http://www.covenantbaptistwickliffe.com/wordsforlifeaudio.htm
Do you have a special Lenten story or meditation you would like to share. Is there some resource or book you’d like to recommend for Lent? We’d like to hear from you! Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com
Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
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