Holly Springs Bible Fellowship Podcasts

Exodus 20:6 - Commandment 3 - Reputation - God's name is something that must be treasured, valued, and respected.  His reputation is at stake as we live our daily lives.  We show honor or dishonor to Him with our words and actions each day.  Give God the best, not the leftovers.  Honor Him so that others may come to know Him. 

Exodus 20:3 - Commandment 2 - Priority - God makes it very clear that he wants to be the authority in your life and have first priority in your affections.  He does not want you to accept substitutes, or add other "gods" to your life.  He wants to be central in all you do and He desires for you to reflect His image to those around you.  

Exodus 20:1,2 - Commandment 1 - Authority - Everyone has chosen who is going to be the authority for their life.  That authority is internal (you) or external (outside of you).  Your choice of authority will determine your direction in life and eternity, so choose wisely.  I believe that God as your creator and redeemer is the only one who has earned the right to be the ultimate authority in your life.  Follow Him with all your heart, soul, and mind this week. 

Exodus 19 - The Bible reminds us that God desires a relationship with us.  But God is holy and we have to come to Him on His terms, not ours.  He expects obedience and change as we continue in our relationship.  Unlike Israel God allows us direct access to Him as His children.   

This is the first Sunday back in our building since March.  Pandemic lessons - The last few months have tested all of us.  It is important that we take the time to reflect on what we have learned.  We have to learn and implement the lessons that make us more like Jesus Christ.  All of the things of the last few months can be used to deepen our relationship with God and expand our opportunities to impact our world for Christ.  Let this season of life shape and mold you in healthy ways as you go forward.  

Exodus 18 - Life can be overwhelming.  Often the issues that we struggle with are rooted in the choices we are making.  Jethro challenges Moses to focus on his priorities and learning to let go of things he should not be involved in doing.  It is a great reminder that burn out is often sourced in the way that we approach our life each day.  Learn to do the essential things rather than the urgent things and invest in the lives of people over things.   

Exodus 17 - God has unlimited resources and we must be careful when questioning His ways.  He has the ability to do the impossible.  We must learn to support, encourage, and help one another as we journey together.  Everyone one of us has a role to play and that role has an impact on others.  God is to be our banner.  He is the one we center our lives on this week.  Serve Him and others this week.

Exodus 16 - Manna is a reminder that God will provide for our daily needs.  It is important that we learn to trust and walk with God daily.  We need to learn contentment and not gripe and grumble against what God has provided.  As we go forward this week, we need to focus on doing things God's way and not our way.  We need to go through this time with an attitude of gratitude because God has met our daily needs and that should be enough.  

Exodus 15 - God is always at work around us.  He has not abandoned us, but He will test us to see if we focus on Him or our circumstances.  He will not do things the way you think He should do them, His ways are different.  He will provide a time of refreshing if we will learn to rest in Him and take His yoke upon us.  Let Him be in control this week.  Pastor Jim Thomas - Holly Springs Bible Fellowship - Hornick, IA 

Exodus 14,15 - Trust God that He will accomplish His plan in His time in your life.  Do what He asks you to do.  Realize that God will always allow our faith to be tested.  Testing should help us realize our strengths and weakness.  And we need to praise and Thank God for allowing this time in our lives to draw us closer to Him and others. 

Exodus 14,15 - God is actually in control.  It is important for us to remember that He has a plan and can use anything for His honor and His glory.  Our focus is crucial to our future in the days ahead.  We can focus on the circumstance or the God who is really in charge.  We trust God for our eternal destiny, let's trust Him for the future here on this earth as well.   

Exodus 11,12 - The Jewish people had to make a choice.  They obeyed and trusted in God or they faced His judgment.  God has not changed.  Anyone who trusts in Jesus as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world will also be saved.  I hope you have that assurance.  For those of you that do - Let the world know that you are not ashamed.  

John 19:30 - It is finished - The cross was a horrible, dark, difficult time for God.  God forsaken of God, we can never understand it.  God did that for us so that we could have a relationship with him.  He loves us more than we will ever know or comprehend.  Please make sure you have accepted His finished work and allow Him to give you a new purpose and meaning for life here and in the world to come. 

Philippians 4:9 - Paul tells the believers at Phillipi to do life like he did life.  In Acts 16, he has demonstrated  what these principles look like.  Rejoice no matter what your circumstances.  raw near to God so the world can see your gentleness.  Pray with thanksgiving even in pain and difficulty.  Allow the Peace of God to be seen by everyone.  Focus your thoughts on the things that keep you healthy mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically.  Hopefully through your testimony, people will want to follow the Christ who is real and genuine in your life.

Philippians 4:8 - Paul gives us a key to accessing the peace of God.  We have to be responsible for what we allow into our lives.  We need to control the things that we have control over.  We need to embrace the things that are true, honest, just, pure, loving, and high toned.  Things will help to build us up and not things that lead to a negative destructive paranoid way to thinking.  When we change the filter of the things we allow into our lives, we position ourselves for a healthy response that is pleasing to God and those around us.  

Philippians 4:7 - My prayer for us all this week.  May we rejoice in the protection that God has provided.  May we never forget that the Lord is near and wants us to take our requests to Him.  We trust Him with the things that are heavy on our hearts.  May each of us embrace and access the peace that God gives us to handle the days ahead.  May the world see Jesus in us this week.  

This is an audio version of the Facebook Live broadcast.  Pastor Jim talks about how our church is responding to the current Corona Virus situation in the United States.  

Philippians 4:6 Paul reminds us that prayer, not despair should be our response to the trials in life.  Specific prayers sourced in humility and thanksgiving need to be our daily practice.  Whatever you are carrying this morning, cast it upon the Lord and stop carrying stuff you were never designed to carry.  

Philippians 4:5 - Rest - Gentleness.  We do not have to be anxious, frustrated and worrying all week.  God is near and our focus needs to be on Him.  That will allow us to respond in such a way that those around us notice something different.  While others are anxious, we have a calm that trusts in our God who is always near, so we can contagiously calm. 

Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord Always.  It is not God's will or plan for you to live in a constant state of breathlessness, worry, and anxiety.  The best way to face your anxiety is to learn to rejoice in what He has done and is doing in your life.  The focus needs to be trusting Him to shelter you in the time of storm.  We realize we cannot escape storms, but we can take shelter in the one who provides safety in the storms.  The Prince of Peace can give you a spirit of calm, quench anxiety, provide courage, and grow your faith in the Lord.  That needs to be your focus.