Harbor Rock Tabernacle

The most important issue every person must deal with is what to do the fact that Jesus Christ's tomb is empty. When we look at the historical Biblical text, and think through it logically, there are 4 credible, convincing proofs about His resurrection. The preponderance of evidence, along with the radical transformation in the disciples and all of Jesus' followers, gives conclusive support to the...

In the days of the Tabernacle in the Old Testament, the Lord was very specific about all the details--especially about linen cloth with blue, purple and scarlet thread interwoven in it. This linen presented an advance picture of Jesus Christ, Who came to "tabernacle" among us. Each of the three colors holds a powerful meaning related to Jesus and His sacrifice for sin, and how He purifies us. This...

There are 7 major times when Jesus visited Jerusalem. Each one confirmed Who He is and His purpose for coming here as "the Word in flesh, dwelling among us". Pieced together, these visits communicate a full understanding of the Gospel message--that a loving God wants to save all people from our sin. Everything Jesus came to do will culminate in the next time He comes to Jerusalem: To set up His et...

The one active responsibility Jesus gave believers before He left for heaven was to go out to share the Gospel and make disciples. But for many, that calling is intimidating, so we become hesitant, and don't follow through. That's why it's valuable to look at the example of Andrew, who made it a priority to bring people to meet Jesus. Even though he was overshadowed as Peter's younger brother, And...

Prayer requires deep faith, reaching out in confidence, and gratitude--all three are interconnected. In Mark 5, there was a woman with a great need, and she believed if she could just touch Jesus' cloak as He walked by, she would be healed. Her courageous faith made her determined to get near Him. When Jesus stopped to identify her, she responded with humility and brokenness, and Jesus' response s...

Hope is an interesting concept. It is desire that usually contains some degree of uncertainty--the weather, or a sports team's chances of winning, or even serious, life-threatening situations. But in Romans 15:13, we read about "the God of hope", Who gives us confident expectation and fills us with joy and peace. He wants to give those who trust in Him abundant hope that will stoke unshakable fait...

Is the Christian life just making a decision to receive Jesus, and then giving Him part of your life...or is it being completely sold out for Him? Using his personal testimony as the foundation, Tony Yocco shares several passages, including one about the rich young ruler, who went away sad after Jesus called him to give all to follow Him.

Recent news broke about wealthy parents cheating the system to get their kids into college. By trying to protect their kids from failure, they robbed them of a real life education. All throughout the Bible, the Lord details men and women who failed--including John Mark. These examples remind us that every person is a spiritual failure and needs a Saviour. They also teach us 5 ways in which failure...

When we are struggling or dealing with a trial, Psalm 40 tells us that if we patiently wait on the Lord with faith, He will graciously respond with five amazing actions to support and strengthen us. His response shows the depth of His love and mercy, and the unfailing sufficiency of His help. Once we experience those, or when life is going well at the moment, we then have respond with our own fait...

When we pray, it requires a strong focus and a strong faith. We have to set aside time to enter in God's presence, and then trust that He will be gracious and generous in answering. In his final words to Israel, Moses talked about why this is so important: Because the Lord is so near to His people that He meets us whenever we call on Him. This simple, amazing truth is easy to take for granted. But...

In 1 Timothy 4, Paul warned Timothy and all believers that in the latter times when Christ will return, some will fall away from the faith. The enemy is pushing this through deception and false doctrine, and increasingly, people are falling for it. As Christians, we are called to be nourished by God's Word and to discipline ourselves for Godliness. This study details the vital importance of both,...

Every person has pain in their past, often associated with someone who has hurt us, been mean to us, or broken our heart. We may not want to forgive them, especially when they don't apologize, but doing so will free us from the chains of anger and resentment. In this study from Colossians 3, we look at the example of Jesus Christ, and see how extending grace and being willing to forgive not only r...

There are times when we wish we could have a "do over" with something in our past. Our frustration over what has happened in the past can make us sad, or we may idealize something or someone, creating unhappiness with our life now. In Ecclesiastes 7, the Spirit teaches us about the harmful effects of living in the past, both personally and spiritually. Then, reminding us of His wisdom and work, He...

Discouragement can be a common struggle, and there are multiple spiritual factors which can contribute to it. In John 21, Peter was wrestling with his own sense of failing Jesus, especially after he had boldly declared that he would never turn aside or deny Jesus. So the Lord meets him and the others in a familiar setting in Galilee. Peter's response to Jesus being there, and the Lord's words to h...

There is nothing the Lord values more than our faith. It is at the center of everything we know and are as believers. In John 5, Jesus meets a sick man at the Pool of Bethesda, whose perseverance and hope showed that he was trusted the Lord would move in his life and help him. So when Jesus asks the pivotal question for mankind--"Do you want to be healed?--it not only applies to the man in that mo...

Many of the warnings Jesus gave were to those who were arrogantly confident about what they perceived as their religious security. John the Baptist, who announced Jesus, confronted the spiritual hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Their proud reliance on their position and practices overshadowed the fact that their hearts were spiritually dry and unwilling to change. It is important for us t...

The message the Lord gave to a small group from Judah who were not taken into captivity offers fascinating parallels for us today. There are similarities in the spiritual culture, which is cause for concern as we look at what is happening within the American Church. But this "remnant" had characteristics that the Lord highlighted, and in the middle of discouragement and crisis, He offered them wor...

As believers, we have to establish a correct and consistent way of thinking, so temptations don't persuade us, and trials don't discourage us, and spiritual warfare doesn't defeat us. In this study from Prayer Meeting, Psalm 105 teaches us the importance of focusing on the Lord in order to maintain the right perspective. This helps fight discouragement from forming in our heart and mind, and makes...

The Bible tells us that God is always faithful, and His mercies are new every morning. So how do we reciprocate such a kind, gracious gift, and sacrifice in return? In Ezekiel 46, the Lord called Israel to offer 3 distinct sacrifices "morning by morning". The deep spiritual meanings behind the burnt, grain and oil offerings have tremendous application for our lives now, and should change the way w...

In Exodus 33, Moses had experienced great frustration but also the power of standing in the literal presence of the Lord. Because of that, he wanted to know the Lord more fully and only where the Lord led. Even with all the amazing experiences he'd had, Moses desired a greater expression of God's glory. It would seem obvious that we would ask for that, but there are two hindrances which prevent th...

Throughout the Bible, and in our own experiences, there is unmistakable evidence that God answers prayer. When we cry out to Him, like the believers did when Peter was put in jail in Acts 12, the Lord breaks chains and releases us into freedom. In this study, Adam Lopez calls us to prayer, and to praise God for all the ways He answers.

The angels' message that night in Bethlehem was "peace on earth"--but how can they possibly make the claim, when all the evidence in the world argues to the contrary? The answer lies in the fact that Jesus came to "accomplish redemption". He had to make us aware of our sin and our need for a Saviour, because that is not possible by relying on our own "good works". His coming showed that God has te...

Ten minutes before the angels appeared to the shepherds, they were putting in ordinary, mundane lives, with little expectation of anything extraordinary happening. That parallels how we live most of the time. So if Jesus hadn't been born that night, they would have just gotten through life, without any spiritual purpose, hope or joy. But because He came to earth, everything changed. We can now mov...

When Joseph and Mary made the 80 mile trip for an unusual worldwide census, it challenged their comfort at seemingly the worst possible time. And yet, there wasn't a moment of hesitation in going, because they trusted the Lord. Their humility and obedience sets a standard for how we are to respond to God's plans. By being willing to have our faith stretched, and our plans changed, the Lord will mo...

What do you do when you're feeling afraid and overwhelmed, either by spiritual opposition or difficult personal situations? David experienced the full range of emotions in his life, and within Psalm 56, two different responses which provide very divergent perspectives. In this Prayer Meeting study, his example and counsel teaches us to change our focus--away from self and toward the Lord.