Refuge and Strength
December 01, 2021
00:01:00
The Hamilton Minute is a power packed 60 seconds where we tackle the issues of the day through the lens of God’s Word. You don’t want to miss a moment of it.
The Hamilton Minute is a power packed 60 seconds where we tackle the issues of the day through the lens of God’s Word. You don’t want to miss a moment of it.
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"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 (ESV).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Psalm 46 is a popular Psalm as it includes the text, “Be still, and know that I am God.” This was the conclusion to a Psalm that previously observed,
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
This described what looked like the end of the world. Nevertheless, the Psalmist remained unshaken. He refused to allow present difficulty to cause him to forget God’s past faithfulness.
Virus or no virus, God is our refuge and strength.
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Matthew 19:5 (ESV).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
With this statement Jesus affirmed what He’d already said in Genesis 1 and 2 and defined marriage for all time. Contrary to the protestations of the nouveau critical theorists, the nuclear family consisting of a married father and mother is not a western sociological prescription or construct.
Marriage did not originate in the west. It’s origin isn’t suburban America.
It started in Genesis, in the Garden of Eden. Marriage is God’s idea. Therefore, He alone defines it. If you don’t like it, your problem is with God… not me.
"So the chief Priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well."
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
After Jesus resurrected Lazarus his and Lazarus’ fame spread. They already planned to kill Jesus. But now, because Lazarus was tangible evidence of Jesus’ resurrection power, the chief priests and Pharisees plotted to kill Lazarus too.
They never worried about Lazarus before. But now, because he is a walking billboard of Christ’s power, they want him dead too.
This, brothers and sisters, is why many come against you. It isn’t personal, but Satanic forces can’t stand your representation of God’s power to transform lives.
That’s why we rejoice when we’re slandered for His namesake. Christ’s power is on display.
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
The verses from Colossians I just quoted are immediately followed by:
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
The delusion and deception of humanistic philosophy require its prey to become bitter, entitled, and unthankful.
To remain impervious to deception, we must abound in thanksgiving to God.
Thanksgiving empowers us to reject the captivity of today’s grievance culture.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice.” Romans 12:15(a).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Michael, a five-year-old boy, showed up at the courthouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for an adoption hearing with his foster parents, and he had a crowd of unusual supporters.
Michael's entire kindergarten class sat in the audience behind him waving big red hearts mounted on wooden sticks to show their support.
The kindergartners offered the most touching answers, standing up and telling the court, "I love Michael" or "Michael's my best friend.”
Michael's new father and mother have been married for nearly 10 years, and he'd been living with them as a foster child for more than year.
Adoption truly is at the heart of the Gospel.
"By mercy and truth iniquity is purged; and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” Proverbs 16:6 (KJV).
My name is Abraham Hamilton III and this is the Hamilton Minute.
We live in a day when churches are filled with people ready to hear and receive God’s mercy. Unfortunately, however, it is often accompanied by a de-emphasis or concealment of the truth of God’s Word.
Paul, the salvation-by-grace-through-faith Apostle, was asked if salvation is solely a product of grace what benefit then does the law provide. Paul responded, “Without the law, I wouldn’t have known God’s righteous standard and how far away from it I was.”
Any presentation of God’s mercy absent of God’s truth is no Gospel at all.
Iniquity is purged by mercy and truth.
“Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!” Romans 10:15 (NASB).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
A friend of mine who pastors in Nigeria once said to me “ya know, America has sent more missionaries into the world than any other nation before it. But the nation that once sent missionaries has now become the mission field.”
As you consider the calling God has for you, I just want to remind you that just as other nations need missionaries we need missionaries in America too.
There are a lot of neighborhoods right here in our country that desperately need evangelism and discipleship. Let’s not forget them.
"Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” 2 Timothy 3:5 (ESV).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Today some professing Christians assert that Critical Theory, Critical Race Theory, and Intersectionality are helpful tools for the Church. These people have an appearance of godliness, but their assertions deny the sufficiency of God’s Word to guide the Church in living out the reconciliation Jesus secured for us on the cross.
Make no mistake, as Paul told Timothy, the God-breathed Scripture is sufficient for teaching, for correction, for training in righteousness.
Those who have an appearance of godliness, but deny the power of God’s Word for doctrine and practice must be identified and avoided.
"She took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6(b) (ESV).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Genesis 3 records for us the cataclysmic rebellion against God in the Garden of Eden. The entire episode, Eve’s entertainment of the sensual lies of the talking snake, the deceptive twisting of God’s word, all of it transpired with Adam standing right there.
Adam was the one to whom God entrusted his word to originally, Adam was the one God charged with cultivating and protecting the garden and his wife.
Yet he stood there silent.
Men, let us not repeat Adam’s sin of present absence.
Stand on God’s word and defend your gardens!
"I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:14 (NASB).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
A generation has been taught they descend from animals, that there is no God.
They’ve been taught they are nothing more than a cosmic accident, they have no purpose and life has no meaning.
Life’s meaninglessness has been punctuated for them by the 60 million children who’ve been slaughtered in the womb… and counting.
But society is shocked when they act out exactly as they’ve been taught… like animals with no conscience.
Respect for human life begins with respect for the Life-Giver.
America needs repentance!
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NASB).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Buzz Aldrin is the famed astronaut who planted the American flag on the moon and explored it for some 21 hours.
What many don’t know, however, is what Mr. Aldrin did to commemorate the moon landing.
Aldrin, a committed Christian and Elder in his local church, marked the incredible occasion by celebrating Holy Communion. This first meal ever eaten on the moon was a celebration of the LORD’s table, a lunar declaration that Jesus Christ is our LORD, Savior, and soon coming King.
“Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.” 14:23(a) (ESV).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
We live an era currently where spirituality is en vogue. Christ following is not.
Some, even claim to love Jesus while simultaneously rebelling against His word and encouraging others to rebel similarly.
But, Jesus said it himself: “if you love me you will obey me. Whoever does not love me does not obey my words.”
Make no mistake about it, to love Jesus is to obey Him. You cannot love Jesus and disobey Him.
If you are living in rebellion against Jesus’ word, you are not following Jesus as He’s revealed Himself in scripture. You’re following a god you’ve created.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.” Psalm 139:13 (ESV).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
According to the CDC and the Guttmacher Institute the number one reason women choose abortion is they’re “not ready for a child.”
2) “Can’t afford a baby.”
3) “Don’t want any more children.”
4) “Don’t want to be a single mother.”
5) “Not mature enough to raise a child
6) “Would interfere with education or career.”
Those reasons represent 95% of all abortions.
Risks to the mother’s physical health represent less than 4% of all abortions and conception resulting from “rape and incest” represent 1% of all abortions.
The reality? Abortion is used as birth control.
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines socialism as an economic system in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state. The distribution of goods are controlled by the state. It is a system where there is no private property. A stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism.
American socialist put the descriptor “democratic” in front of socialism because they hope to persuade you to vote for… the elimination of private property.
Make no mistake, socialism is socialism. There is no kinder, gentler form of it.
“Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” Romans 5:12 (ESV).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
A popular effort in social revisionism is happening where “racism,” which is better described in Biblical terms as skin-color-based partiality, is a crime of which only people with lighter skin color can be guilty.
Let’s be clear, factions, divisions, and dissensions, including those based on skin color, are the fruit of the sinful flesh.
The root cause of partiality is sin.
Every person, regardless of the quantity of melanin in their skin, is capable of partiality.
The only remedy for sin is the blood of Jesus Christ.
For you formed my inward parts. you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
My name is Abraham Hamilton III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
According to a recent study published by the Christian Post, 76.3 percent of all abortions are obtained by "God-fearing women."
With 68.7 percent who identify themselves as Christian women, and 18 percent of all abortions obtained by self-discribed
born-again or evangelical women.
A corresponding Care Net study found that many women with unplanned pregnancies go silently from the church pew to the
abortion clinic, convinced the church would gossip rather than help.
America's greatest need is repentance.
When the hearts of the American people turn to God, everything else will be impacted.
"But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah weren’t the only Jewish exiles in Babylon. They weren’t the only people under Nebuchadnezzar who knew that YHWH expressly prohibited worshipping graven images.
Yet, they are the only three recorded in Scripture who refused to bow down and worship the golden statute. Though they were an extreme minority they refused to go along to get along with the Babylonian culture.
The way of Christ-following may be in the minority today, it is nevertheless The Way.
Resolute is the disposition of the fully persuaded. In this modern day Babylon, be one of the three.
"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32 (ESV)
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Full weaponization of the federal government to crush a political opponent, politicians and a political party that bill themselves as pro-life while refusing to actually do what’s in their power to stop the killing of little babies, the successful and unrelenting advance of Regressivism…
All of these are signs that our national condition is not merely a natural phenomenon. It is spiritual.
Civic engagement without spiritual engagement produces political roller coasters. National course correction will only come by national repentance. We must elevate Him.
"Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” Luke 19:5 (ESV)
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
When their mom passed the Landau brothers of NJ had a garage sale to clear out their mom’s house, but they decided to keep a few things including mom’s old creepy painting of a woman passed out in a chair and two men trying to revive her.
Fast forward to their estate auction and the brothers found themselves fielding bids from France and Germany for the painting.
Turns out it was a long lost Rembrandt that ultimately sold for $1.1 million.
A trained eye spots value where others don’t.
"From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth…” Ephesians 4:16 (KJV)
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is the Hamilton Minute.
It's not by chance that Jesus refers to his Church as “The Body.” Just as it is with our physical bodies every member has a distinct role and function to fulfill.
Unfortunately, in the era of celebrity Christianity we’ve reduced the concept of ministry solely to what occurs in what is often little more than Sunday productions and performances.
The key to thriving in God’s Kingdom is understanding that every member in The Body of Christ is vital called to ministry.
