Harbor Rock Tabernacle

It is amazing what Jesus has done to save us and give us new life. He has secured victory over sin and death, and promises that true believers have overcome the world. So it is shocking that there is an epidemic of spiritual, emotional, mental and relational paralysis among believers!  We don't have to be overwhelmed and weakened by the world and difficulty, because the Lord enables us to prevail...

As change takes place in society, sometimes we aren't given the option to accept what has changed. While the advancements are more convenient and requires less of us, they can also gradually condition us to new thoughts and behaviors.  As believers, we have to guard against this concept in terms of the enemy's attempts to acclimate our heart and mind to doubt the Lord and compromise our conviction...

Hezekiah had a great start as the King of Judah--rejecting his dad's evil example, tearing down what offended the Lord and restoring the temple. The foundation for this was his strong trust in the Lord, to Whom Hezekiah "clung". This concept of adhering to and obeying evokes a young child or a rock climber. The latter has to be intentional in which rocks they grab and which path they take to move...

The Lord calls us to more than just knowing Truth and understanding what is expected of us--He calls believers to action. He has taught us how to do what is right, and instead of being a burden it is a source of joy and strength. Hezekiah was one of the few good kings of Judah, and ignoring his father's evil example, he chose to reform the nation spiritually and practically, by courageously aligni...

As we seek discernment and the Lord's leading, there is often a need to wait on Him. But many of us struggle with impatience, which can be a result of the need for control and even a lack of wisdom. The Lord promises His goodness, kindness and faithfulness to those who fear Him, so He calls us to trust Him, and to wait for Him with all our soul. We can confidently do this because we know Who He is...

When the wise men told Herod that the Messiah had been born, he and the people of Israel should have been thrilled. But Herod felt that his power was threatened, and lied to the wise men that he also wanted to worship Jesus. When our heart is proud and not yielded to the Lord, it shows up in deception, irrational overreaction and lack of sensitivity toward others. So it is vital that we ask the Lo...

As believers, it is vital that we have discernment from the Lord. This means the ability to hear from the Lord, so we can distinguish was it wise and right, so we can faithfully obey Him. After he asked for and received wisdom from the Lord, Solomon wrote "proverbs" to those who love Him. He exhorted us to seek for and cry for wisdom, treating it like a great treasure that is sometimes only found...

After the shepherds heard about Jesus' birth, they were excited to go see Him and have their angel's message of salvation verified. But what would people think when they started talking about the message and the experience? Would they been seen as crazy, and rejected in society? Especially in an increasingly hostile and punitive culture, Christians may feel hesitant to share their faith. But every...

One of the great fears in life is the fear of change. As a believer, we often wonder, "what if the Lord calls me to something different or difficult?" When Mary received the news from the angel, her natural instinct would have been fear and many questions. But because the Lord's hand was on her life, and because she feared the Lord more than her circumstances, she was willing to live as a bondserv...

Joseph, the man called to the huge responsibility of being the earthly father of Jesus Christ, never says one word in the Bible. But his actions sets a powerful example of righteous character, unquestioning faith and faithful obedience. Facing his own personal fears, as well as social criticism and the risk of his career, Joseph still immediately honored the Lord and embraced the sacrifice of livi...

In every communication God has with the key people in the Christmas account, He tells them the same thing: "Do not be afraid". Fear is a factor in every person's life, whether external fears like finances and world conditions or internal ones like loneliness, failure and change. But the Lord helps us to move past "What If?" by experiencing His mercy and faithfulness. So even when our hopes are unr...

Jesus interacted with a man names Jairus, whose young daughter was very ill. Even though he begged Jesus to come alongside and help him, she died before they got to the house. The person bringing the bad news told him not to "trouble" Jesus anymore, and it would have been easy for Jairus to just accept her fate, or even get angry and bitter. But Jairus had strong and resilient faith, which require...

There are countless, distinctive examples of the Lord blessing people and groups. But why does He do this, and are there conditions under which He is more inclined to bless us? Jacob's unique blessing of Ephraim in Genesis 48 not only gives an advance picture of the undeserved mercy Jesus offered at the cross, it also affirms 2 Chronicles 16:9, which says "the Lord is looking to strongly support t...

As we live as believers in Jesus Christ, we're called to escape safely from sin while running swiftly toward deep faith, holiness and being like Christ. Using the analogy of hunting, we see that this pursuit requires intentional prioritization and preparation, and that working together, we can fulfill our individual and collective purpose of imitating Jesus in our lives and church. The great motiv...

Whether in parables or direct explanation, the constant focus of Jesus' teaching was the Kingdom of God. When we view life through the Lord's priority, it transforms our thinking, because everything is filtered through the concept of the rule of Christ over our lives. When we are spiritually reborn and have His Spirit, He then has Lordship over all we think, say and do. The Spirit's power also ena...

The issue of mental health is a significant and complex issue, especially among the younger generations. This battle resides in our mind, which the enemy is constantly attacking to corrupt and lead away from the Lord, and he pushes us to live by the "flesh" rather than by the Holy Spirit. It's important for us to honestly assess whether the flesh is controlling us and leading us toward death, or w...

When we believe in someone or something, we are convinced, but it doesn't necessarily change our behavior...but when we trust, we are convinced, and it produces change. Israel struggled with trust, so at Sinai, the Lord called them to hear Him. That Hebrew word sama means to carefully hear, listen to and obey. The depth of our relationship with the Lord determines how well we are doing this, and t...

Death has been in the news because of the conflict in the Middle East, but it continues a growing narrative that some lives aren't worthy--Israel, life in the womb, and even those who hold Biblical convictions. But as Christians, we have the hope of life. The Lord not only created us, but offers every person rescue from sin and death through Jesus Christ. This secures eternal life, and until then,...

When we reach our mid 20's, our brain's ability to form new neural connects--it's neuroplasticity--starts to decline, more rapidly as we age. This means we have to be intentional about learning--Biblical truth, essential facts and about ourselves and others. This is vital in living for the Lord, so we remain humble and teachable. In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar didn't learn from the mistakes and spir...

We all endure difficulties, but at times, the problems stack up so high that we feel very discouraged. Psalm 34 teaches us to first carefully analyze possible self-inflicted causes like sin, self-dependence and soft faith. Spiritual warfare also incites fear, which can control our thinking and perspective. But we need to remember that circumstances are only temporary, but trusting in the Lord's fa...

The book of Ezekiel is full of odd and confusing imagery, but it's timeless message comes down to simple truths: God is holy, mankind is sinful and rebellious, but the Lord is still loving and gracious to offer His mercy and redemption to everyone. At that time, the nation of Judah had ignored the prophets, and allowed their unguarded hearts and tolerance of sin to choose what was openly offensive...

What are the essence and purpose of a Christian? When the apostle Paul said to the proud, worldly and distracted Corinthian church to "imitate me as I imitate Christ:, he was stressing the importance of looking at Jesus to answer those questions. Every believer is called to be a replica of Christ, especially by genuinely living out the fruit that His Holy Spirit equips us to live out. This will en...

Often when we face change, in frustration we question why it had to happen, or wonder what life might have been like if it hadn't. A more beneficial response is to understand what the Lord is teaching us through the change. By looking at decisions of both King Jehosophat and Jesus' disciples, we see the importance of seeking the Lord with confident humility, knowing that the enemy may cause change...

With the pressure and stress that inevitably comes with fall's schedules, how do we ensure that we grow and thrive spiritually? In John, after Jesus had ministered to the Samaritan woman at the well, He tells the disciples that He has a secret food that empowers Him. He prioritized times alone with the Father, being refilled and refreshed. Following His model will keep us from getting burned out,...

The Psalms tell us that "it is good" to thank and praise the Lord, declaring HIs lovingkindness and faithfulness. To declare means to "stand boldly and openly make known", which not only changes our perspective on everything, but also puts us in the position to experience five benefits the Lord provides as a result. These benefits center on building a deeper love for the Lord, a heart of humility...