ELEVATION NORTH has NEWS for YOU!

NO LONGER SCARED OF OUR OWN VOICES!  Does that describe you?  Or do you just wish it did?!  Has the craziness of this world silenced your voice in recent days (or years)?  Or has the increasing volume of evil and disrespect stirred up your voice to a rising roar that will set the enemy back on its heels?  You have power, you know!  I am just reminding you of that fact!  In fact, if you have Christ IN you, then you have all the power you need to activate the voice He has given you for such a time as this!!  You don’t have to be a certain age or a specific race, have a specified amount of wealth or live on the right side of town.  You can be a child or an elderly person – or any age in between.  You can be any race, any color that God has created.  You can be homeless, penniless – or have amassed worldly fortunes.  You can live in a tent, a shack – or reside in a huge home or a mansion.  None of that matters; none of that defines who you are!  But your voice does!  Your voice proclaims who you are … loud and clear!  Your silence can shout, and your words can whisper.  But NOW is not the time for us to remain silent on what is truth according to God’s Word.  And now IS the time for our words to resonate boldly and clearly … beginning in our homes with our families.  In our churches and communities, standing up for what God says is right.  In our local and state and national governments, making the truth of God the deciding factor in policies and procedures and laws.  May our words be backed up by our actions, until they reverberate around the world, etching truth and love and kindness on every heart in every culture … like Jesus did! 

Jesus spoke the truth of God in love, but clearly and resolutely.  He did not whitewash what the Father sent Him to say.  And He did not back down on what the Father sent Him to do.  He was focused and followed through.  He spoke the message of the Gospel without reservation.  He did not change the message depending what crowd He was speaking to.  Neither did His disciples.  They echoed the very words of Jesus, and they shared them unashamedly.  Even to death.  Nothing or no one could deter them.  Oh, they failed at times – but they ran right back to Jesus.  Because while circumstances changed, and their risk-of-ridicule or risk-for-death was at a high level – their call to follow Christ was kept intact when they kept their eyes on Him.  They saw and experienced the life of Jesus and could prove first-hand that He does not change.  He is true to His Word that says He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  They could count on Him, that they knew!  And we can, as well!  The disciples and followers of Jesus saw Him live His life in obedience to His Father in heaven, all the way to the Cross!  No one had ever seen such a love before.  It was impossible to fully grasp.  Our minds cannot comprehend a love that gives up its own life for another.  But our hearts can receive such a love!  A love that paid the penalty of death for our own sins should set us on fire and move us to immediate action.  To an action that does not fade or flicker out over time.  An action that once set in motion by the very acceptance of this love, should grow stronger as it continues to be lived out through our devotion to the One who gave us His all!  You know, we cannot ever do enough … or be enough … to match up to what Jesus did for us.  And that is not what He asks us to do.  He only calls us to follow Him once we’ve received Him.  “Follow” is an action verb.  It means we will be engaged in God’s Kingdom work for as long as He gives us breath!  To all He calls us to do.  What He calls us to, He will empower us to do.  We need not fear – anything or anyone!  We only need to embrace the VOICE that God has given us to live life like He meant us to:  ON PURPOSE! 

Each new day brings new God-opportunities!  New God-appointments!  Are you ready?  Have you bathed your new day in prayer?  Are you walking out into these never-before-lived hours in God’s anointing and covered with His precious blood, His Spirit providing you with power and protection and peace?  You don’t go alone!  And you should never attempt to.  You will fall flat on your face – you will sink.  But, dear ones, I am telling you that WITH Him, there is NOTHING you cannot do!  Never forget that “greater is He that is IN you, than he that is in the world!”  The power of the enemy of our souls does not hold a candle to the power we have with CHRIST IN US!  That truth should be enough to cause us to use our voice – our GOD-GIVEN VOICE … for His honor and His glory and His Kingdom purposes in these days!  Go on now – speak God’s message in the boldness and power that is yours!  And stand tall in His love and His truth!  No more being scared of your own voice!

REMEMBER . . .

“Fear not (there is nothing to fear), for I am with you; 

do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you;

yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My (victorious) right hand of righteousness and justice.”

~ Isaiah 41:10  

Joyfully Serving Christ . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie