Harbor Rock Tabernacle

It was a diverse crowd when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, coming to be sacrificed for our sin. His disciples, people whose lives had been changed, the curious, and the Pharisees were all there, largely praising Him. But the opposition of the jealous, hypocritical religious leaders influenced most in the crowd to turn on Jesus just 5 days later. This parallels James 4, which says that our pl...

James' teaching about obeying the Lord and providing clear evidence that we trust and serve Him isn't an issue of obligation....it's an issue of love. So what does love for the Lord look like, on a practical, everyday basis? As disciples, there must be an external expression of the internal wisdom we have from the Lord. We are called to be dramatically distinctive from a world that is gripped by s...

What we say, how we day it, and why we say it has a tremendous impact on how people view us and influence we have. In James 3, he cautions us about how we use our words. We live in a time where everyone is an expert, so it is vital that we handle the Word carefully, because the enemy will try to hinder accurate communication of the Bible. So it is essential that we guard what comes out of our mout...

As we walk by faith, the integrity of our heart and the wisdom of our actions externally impacts our witness and our relationships. We can have a tremendous influence as ambassadors of Jesus Christ, or we can do damage by showing partiality and favoritism. There are multiple ways we do this, and James 2 says it makes us judges with impure motives. Doing so signals that we have forgotten that we ar...

In his letter to Jewish believers, James encouraged them and us about the need to validate our faith and wisdom and humility through how we live. One of the enemy challenges us in this way is how we respond emotionally to frustration and difficulty. Are we disciplined and self-controlled or do we impulsively fly off the handle? Weakness in this often indicates that we are still allowing impurity i...

As we walk in humble, persevering faith, seeking the Lord's wisdom, with the goal of consecration and integrity, the test is whether we are deceived by the enemy's temptation. When we trust God's word and do what brings life, He will give us clarity. Then, it's a matter of whether we will live with conviction and courage. By asking 3 important questions, and finding strength and confidence in the...

When we're going through trials, our pride and need for pleasure demand attention. But God's ideal is that we would be humble, and have faith that perseveres because we love and trust Him. This authenticates us as His disciples. So when the enemy pushes temptation on us, enticing us to sin and rebel against the Lord, we need to listen for His voice. It is the right voice--the one that leads us to...

We are constantly searching for wisdom--everyday, situationally and about big decisions. The Bible says it is more valuable than gold, but that we will only obtain true wisdom when we fear and trust the Lord. As we go through these confusing and prophetic times, the world only offers self-focus and self-promotion. But the Lord promises in James 1 that when we seek wisdom with an unwavering faith,...

Whether it is an attack by the enemy or a refining of our faith by the Lord, trials are difficult to go through. To live out our faith during trials, we have to understand their purpose and how to respond so we can live in victory. James wrote to Jews scattered by persecution, reminded of their past history of disobedience, and shows that the long-term cost of sin is much more severe than the shor...

When Daniel was taken into captivity in Babylon along with the rest of Judah, he had no rights. Even though he was singled out to be indoctrinated as a Babylonian, he knew he could not compromise his convictions. Two different times, he fasted--once as a teen slave who didn't want to accept defiled food, and another time as an older adult who was burdened by mankind's sin and his nation's rebellio...

As we move into 2021, what are you living for and who are you living for? What are your spiritual goals, and why do you have them? What can you do for Jesus? Jesus teaches in Luke 9 that we would find more purpose if we would "lose ourselves" and live for Him at all times. In every decision, we need to analyze whether we are living for Christ or against Christ. The starting point is repentance and...

The difficult realities of 2020 have led to predictions that even darker days are ahead. But as Christians, we walk by faith and have been called to be light in darkness. We have a new opportunity to step out of our comfort zone and be powerful, prayerful believers. Christ didn't come to make bad men good, He came to make dead men alive, and as those who have been given eternal life, we need to jo...

The focus of Christmas is often making sure to get the right gift. Involved in that is an understanding the need of the person you are giving to, and making sure it has lasting value. God has shown His love and understanding of our eternal need in sending Jesus Christ. He saw that we are imperfect because we dead in sin, and gave the perfect gift to offer us eternal life. But we have to receive it...

2020 has exposed a spiritual divide that has put us on a path to increasingly polarize people. That inevitably will mean there will be less opportunity for people to be nominal Christians. There really are only two responses to Jesus Christ, and they are highlighted in the Christmas account with Herod and Simeon & Anna. When the wise men came with the news of the Saviour's birth, Herod could h...

Throughout Scripture, there is a direct correlation between being humble and being used of the Lord. The Lord blesses humility, which is evidenced in how He utilizes Joseph and Mary;. They were ordinary, unknown teenagers from a small, disrespected village, but the Lord had His eyes on them because of their pure character and selfless mindset. So when the word comes to each of them that they will...

In the middle of the awesome account of Jesus being born, there were real people experiencing significant challenges. One of them was Elizabeth, who had the heartache of years without having a child. But instead of being filled with resentment and bitterness about her difficult circumstances. Elizabeth stepped into trust in the Lord, and was faithful to serve Him. She and Zacharias kept praying fo...

On Harbor Rock's 10th Anniversary, we look at the account of Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14. His father Saul had strayed from the Lord and was living in fear and apprehension when the Philistine army assembled, ready to destroy Israel. But with deep faith in the Lord's help and provision, Jonathan and his armor bearer go to present themselves to the Philistines. They believed that the Lord would give the...

Living as a disciple goes beyond just believing in Jesus Christ--it's a full commitment and passionate implementation of the calling He has given to us. To really live as His disciples requires a radical change in our thinking--as evidenced in the lives of Peter and Paul. In their writing, they detail 4 essential steps that help us evaluate how "all in" we are in our discipleship. Assessing the ma...

In addition to the amazing eternal salvation and security those who trust in Jesus receive, the Lord gives His disciples extra benefits. The world can't offer or replicate the supernatural power, passion and peace given to those who faithfully trust, live for and serve Christ. These benefits produce an inner strength that not only gives us confidence and contentment, but also empower us to see liv...

Going out into a world that is hostile against Jesus and working to make disciples is a dangerous assignment. Not only do we face significant spiritual opposition, but the cost of discipleship can cause us to allow numerous actions of an undisciplined mind, which can hinder our faithful service. All of this can discourage and dissuade us, or we can seize the amazing opportunity the Lord gives us a...

A disciple is focused on both our call to walk worthy of Christ and make disciples, and looking for the return of Jesus. The next great event is the Rapture of true believers, which is different in multiple ways from Jesus' Second Coming. The signs Jesus gave about both events are very present today, and stir us to take four specific actions to prepare ourselves and others to hear the Trumpet. Vid...

Many people in the world lack peace because they have believed the lie that yielding to sin & living for ourselves gives freedom and contentment. Jesus taught just the opposite--that sin brings bondage and death, while He offers life and true freedom. As His disciples, we believe and continue in His Word, free from guilt, confusion and the wrong priorities. This gives us the joy and strength t...

Though none of us enjoy them, there is great benefit from the struggles we go through in life, especially the ones the Lord initiates. Tough circumstances and spiritual warfare are challenging enough, but what about the times when we wrestle against the Lord? That’s the position Jacob found himself in one night, when the Lord personally intervened in his life, challenging his stubbornness but also...

The Lord places great importance on us being teachable–accepting His instruction as being right and best, and willingly complying with it. Proverbs calls us to listen, watch and wait for the Lord, not only hearing and obeying Him, but having a sense of excited expectation of how He will work when we do. But we’re fighting against a dark culture that pushes stubborn, entitled selfishness…and even w...

As believers, we are marked by our “new birth” in Christ, and then by living as His disciples. Jesus says that the distinguishing characteristic of a disciple is that we love one another. But how do feel and show genuine love for those who hate and oppose Jesus…and us? As we face increased carnality, corruption and criticism, we can look to Jesus’ example. His anger over sin and compassion for tho...