Abiding in the Vine

The Word of God is so incredibly sustaining! God’s love and faithfulness is beyond our ability to fully comprehend!

The awe-inspiring message found in John 15 has permeated my heart lately as the Lord continues to build, expand, and solidify Shepherd’s Fortress Ministries. I am seeking the Lord for a greater understanding and a deeper devotion regarding the promise of abiding in the Vine.

We must first establish within our hearts and believe what Jesus said in John 15:1, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” I am convinced with all my heart that Jesus is the true vine! The description of a vinedresser is so very insightful in helping us to understand the constant care our Heavenly Father provides in our lives.

The vinedresser is responsible for pruning, the removal of dead twigs or branches, as well as shaping the vine or tree to promote health and beauty. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2). Pruning is painful, yet if it were neglected, the result would be much worse.

The vinedresser eradicates pests and insects that would come to devour the harvest. Vinedressers have an understanding of what types of pests are attracted to the fruit of the vine. They specialize in the overall care and protection of the vine. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:3-4). Pests present themselves in our lives in many ways such as sin, our own flesh getting in the way, negative thoughts and words, the flaming arrows of the enemy, and more. The Word of God, His truth, makes us free from all that would attempt to destroy us.

Vinedressers ensure the vine receives plenty of water during the growing season. Insufficient water levels will negatively affect the harvest. It will also affect the growth and maturity of the branches. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.” (John 15:5-6). The Holy Spirit is ever-present. He is our teacher, counselor, and steadfast guide. He nurtures and provides strength as He guides us into all the truth (John 16:13).

Vinedressers gather the harvest and they monitor the vine between harvests to help ensure future harvests. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:7-10). Part of abiding in the vine is soaking in God’s Word. We tend to allow ourselves to be consumed with the things in our lives that aren’t working out, the pressures, struggles, and our short-comings. When we determine to abide in the vine we will focus on how much God truly loves us which in turn will inspire us to willingly do all that He commands.

I encourage you to stand on these verses of Scripture and receive His Word. These promises apply to churches, ministries, and individuals. Jesus gave us these wonderful promises because He loves us and wants us to live our lives in the realm of His joy! This is possible as we abide in the Vine and fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith! ^“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (John 15:11). The joy of the Lord is our strength!

Thank you all for you love, prayers, and support! We’d love to hear from you! Our email address is: shepherdsfortress@gmail.com you will find our phone number and mailing address below.

Many blessings!

David Revelle

All gifts to Shepherd’s Fortress Ministries are tax-deductible. God will abundantly bless your faithfulness and generosity for helping to sustain this kingdom building ministry to pastors and their families.

 

 

 

 

It’s OK to Jump!

Have you ever taken a major risk? Left your comfort zone? I’m sure you have. The question is, “Who or what motivated you?”

We all know the age old story of the dad and child at the swimming pool: Dad is in the water with his arms outstretched beckoning his son or daughter to jump into his arms. I’m sure many have experienced this timeless event. My three daughters could share memories…especially the times that included me catching them at the bottom of a water slide. In my reference to this illustration, the pool is the world around us with all of its waves and uncertainties from the viewpoint of a less than average swimmer. The dad represents our Heavenly Father who loves us and has nothing but His best in mind for His children.

Has God, with arms outstretched, invited you to jump? Is He inviting you to jump into His pool of opportunity now? God specializes in leading us through the scope of His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t use gimmicks, trickery, nor does He lead us by a whim. He leads us from the character qualities of wisdom, assurance, and hope.

When we seek after God’s will in our lives, we learn that He allows the situations of today to prepare us for tomorrow. I have come to believe there is a reason for everything. Our God is not absent-minded nor does He frequently change our direction as one without a plan. He is not indecisive nor is He tentative in His decision-making.

June 1, 2014 was a significant day for my family, in my personal life, and the ministry of Christian Center Church in Davenport, IA (where I pastored from 1994 to 2014). As you may have read in earlier blog posts, we embarked on a pastoral Sabbatical to take time up the mountain to pray and seek the Lord for His direction at this point and time in our lives. God confirmed many things within our hearts; He has also opened so many doors. During this past year, the Lord has demonstrated His faithfulness to the church and to us in ways too numerous to count. God set many things in order both in Iowa and in Tennessee for His plan to come to fruition. There are so many instances where Tracey and I have had to look one another in the eye and say, “There is no doubt… this is God’s handiwork!”

June 1, 2015 is another significant day for my family, in my life, and the ministry to which I am called. We’re jumping into the outstretched arms of our Heavenly Father yet again. Not because we are putting Him to the test, it’s because He has beckoned us to do so. We’re jumping by His invitation. In the story of the dad and the child in the swimming pool, at first it seems the dad is usually required to invite the child to jump into his arms repetitively in order to help overcome fear and resistance and to convince him or her that it will be ok. However, once the child experiences the safety of landing in dad’s arms, it reaches a point where the child initiates the jump…repetitively. Why? Because there is great joy in a genuine father/son father/daughter relationship. This is true in the Christian life as well. God loves it when we become this excited to do His work, especially when there are great risks involved from our perspective. Generally, when God invites us to do something, there is a bold step of faith connected with it. He beckons us in a variety of ways, “Follow Me”, “Come unto Me”, “He who has ears to hear”, “Be strong and courageous”, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart”, “Go into all the world”, these are just a few of many examples. On a personal note, as we fall into the arms of our Father placing our lives and ministry completely in His hands, we are seeking Him to provide all that is needed to sustain Shepherd’s Fortress as a full-time ministry to pastors, pastors’ wives, and their sons and daughters. We trust He will continue to quicken people, through the Holy Spirit, to partner with us from places near and far. God is our Source and we are confident that He will abundantly bless all who come alongside this ministry.

In most everything in life you will hear someone say, “Well, it’s sink or swim.” From a Biblical point of view I see it as either, “I must fix my eyes on Jesus” or I can “focus my eyes upon the storms and the waves that surround me.” The choice is ours to make. We choose to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus every day…every moment in His strength. “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

In the natural, when we enter a new season, we tend to focus on what we have left behind. While we are thankful for every person, every joy and blessing, and every experience that taught us, I believe Scripture teaches us to focus on Whom we are following more than anything else. We have been asked countless times, “What made you come to Tennessee?” We don’t mind being asked. Our sincere answer is, “The Lord truly led us here.” Through much prayer, God has settled something very important within both Tracey’s and my heart. The focus isn’t that we left Iowa; the focus is: “We’re following Jesus.”

In Mark 1:16-20 we read the story of how James and John left their father Zebedee, a family of fishermen, to follow Jesus. They didn’t leave their dad all alone; verse 20 confirms there were hired servants in the boat to help him in their absence. Jesus sums it up this way in Mark 10:29-30, “Jesus said, ‘Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.’”

We are genuinely thankful for the promises of God found in the Bible! This is the foundation of our lives, the anchor of our soul.

Many blessings to you and your family!                                                                                                                                                         

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for each person who has committed to pray for us. We would ask the following favor, when you pray for us, please pray for Christ-centered pastors, their wives, and their sons and daughters all around the world. Thank you!

Let us pray for you! If God is beckoning you to “jump” into His arms in some way, please leave a comment below. You may also write, email, or call us and we will add you to our Prayer List.

Here is our contact information:

Shepherd’s Fortress Ministries
P.O. Box 104
Brush Creek, TN 38547-0104

Phone: 615-489-3676
Email: shepherdsfortress@gmail.com

A Heart for Pastors

If you have spent any time doing research, you will quickly learn that pastors and their families need our support and encouragement more now than ever. Godly pastors serve with a passion to lift up Jesus and tend His sheep. I have many great friends who are pastors. We spend so much of our time and energy loving and leading people, we tend to forget that we need to take time to be refreshed. Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking we have a large capital “S” branded across our chest. With this in mind we begin believing there isn’t anything we can’t do, after all, the Bible says, “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). We tend to focus more on the first part of this verse, “I can do ALL things…” and we stop there; read the rest of the verse, “…through Christ who gives me strength.” If the task at hand is “through Christ,” it indicates we are operating according to His will. He will give us the strength to accomplish it. If we are always frazzled, over-worked, frustrated, and weary, can we honestly say we are living our life according to this verse in its proper context?

This question leads me to my passion for ministry. I have a heart for pastors and their families. In my twenty years of pastoring, and as a pastor’s son, I’ve had the experience of serving as a bi-vocational pastor. I’m familiar with having to work an overnight shift on a Saturday night with just enough time after work to go home and shower, get dressed and be at the church to lead the morning service; take an afternoon nap, lead the evening service, and return to my secular job at midnight that night.  I have received several late night emergency calls. I have conducted three funerals in a period of seven days with the preparation of a message and the leading of the weekend services mixed in. There are meetings, phone calls, emails, weddings, outreach, ministry, and don’t forget…loving, leading and caring for my family, which includes my wife and three daughters. You get the picture…

During my years pastoring, I admit, I never took a sufficient break to rest, unwind, and be refreshed. Jesus did. There are many instances recorded in the Bible where He went up the mountain or out into the wilderness, away from all the noise, to pray and spend quality time with His Father.

Last summer God provided a way for me to take a Sabbatical to seek the Lord for His direction at this point and time in my life. While on Sabbatical, my passion to bless and encourage pastors and their families skyrocketed. I spent my Sabbatical in middle Tennessee, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Shepherd’s Fortress Ministries was born during this time. Our Mission is simply “to provide support and encouragement to pastors, pastors’ wives, and their sons and daughters.” My passion is to help provide opportunities for Christ-focused pastors to take time up the mountain to pray and be refreshed.

God is opening many doors of opportunity here in Tennessee. I was invited to attend a Pastors’ Retreat where I met several pastors. At this retreat I met an evangelist who has been faithfully serving in ministry since 1964; it is clearly evident that the joy of the Lord is his strength! He invited me to join him for a weekly Pastors’ Breakfast at a local café. The relationships that are developing out of this are priceless. In a future blog post I will expound on all that God is doing…we have some very exciting things to report and offer our heartfelt praise to the Lord for once details have been finalized!

My goal is not to make a name for myself, my goal is to lift up Jesus and serve His shepherds in a way that glorifies Him and brings encouragement to their hearts. I pray all who read this blog are enriched and drawn closer in their relationship with Jesus!

I would like to invite you to pray and seek the Lord and if He would direct your heart to send a love gift to support this ministry that would be such a blessing!

You may send your donation in one of two ways:
1. You will notice a Paypal Donation button in the upper right portion of this blog. Please click on it and you will be directed to our Paypal account. (You are not required to have a Paypal account to do so.) On some smartphones you may need to scroll down to the bottom and click, "view web version" to access this button.

2. You may send a check made payable to “Shepherd’s Fortress Ministries” and mail it to: P.O. Box 104, Brush Creek, TN 38547-0104

“Shepherd’s Fortress Ministries” is covered under the 501(c) (3) 1620 Group Exemption of “The Fellowship” Irving, TX and governed by a Board of Directors. All gifts are tax deductible.

Thank you all so much for your love and support! Many blessings to you and your family!

Walking in Genuine Faith

Lately I’ve been learning so many valuable things about fully trusting God.  I am striving to make every effort to rely on Him completely, resisting doubt and fear. I was raised in a home where the word “faith” was a regular part of our vocabulary. My dad was a man of faith. He taught me so much with his words, yet more importantly he taught me the most by his example. Although he went home to be with the Lord twenty seven years ago this month, many things I learned from him are still making an impact in my life today. He drilled Scripture into my heart within the confines of a very healthy father/son relationship. Dad taught me that faith is a gift from God and that as we exercise our faith, we grow in maturity and gain understanding. One of dad’s favorite verses is found in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” NKJV To this very day I can still hear him quoting this verse over and over again.

In Romans 12:3b Paul writes that “God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” When something is allotted to us, it generally means that that something is available for our use, yet it is up to us to take action and use it. When we read of how God has allotted to each a measure of faith, we are convinced that He has made faith available to us; however, we must exercise our faith through a life of prayer and obedience. There are no short-cuts. The great news is: Christ gives us the strength and understanding to do so. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” NKJV What a reassuring promise!

 In Matthew 17 we read an account of The Transfiguration of Jesus. Following this magnificent event, as Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John descend from the high mountaintop, they encounter a situation with the other disciples at the bottom of the mountain. A concerned dad brings his son to the other disciples earnestly desiring healing, deliverance, and restoration on his behalf. Evidently this dad assumed that those who truly follow Jesus should be people of genuine and effective faith that bring supernatural results. How disappointing it must have been for him to realize the other disciples were not spiritually equipped to confront the dilemma he and his son were facing. In Matthew 17:17 we see directly into the heart of Jesus and how displeasing it is  to Him when we do not exercise the faith He has allotted to us, “Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” NKJV After Jesus delivers, heals, and restores the son, the other disciples ask Him why they couldn’t. Jesus’ reply is found in verses 20-21, “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” NKJV

Jesus gives us direction on properly exercising our faith in these verses. He teaches us the magnitude of faith. If you have the faith as a grain of mustard seed, you can move mountains! He totally diminishes and demolishes the activity of the devil. Even in light of all the ways the enemy was torturing this son, Jesus tells us that faith in Him, the size of a tiny mustard seed is more powerful than anything the devil could ever attempt to throw at us! Jesus says, “Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Emphasis added)

My earnest and humble prayer is to be spiritually ready for every encounter; not to promote myself, but to genuinely reach the lost and hurting through Christ Jesus and bring glory to His holy name! Today’s post began with the valuable things I am learning in terms of fully trusting God. The most important thing I have learned from the passage in Matthew 17 is that I must be a person of prayer. I’m not talking about rehearsed lifeless prayer that I repeat like an auctioneer. I’m talking about devoted, diligent, faith-filled prayers, where prayer has become the oxygen of my Christian life to the degree that I cannot live, move, or exist without it!

The text includes one last thing; it says, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Fasting demonstrates that I am concerned more for the rescue, deliverance, and salvation of others above my personal desires. Fasting helps me to empty myself of selfish thoughts and attitudes that I may be filled with the Spirit. I must present myself before God as a yielded vessel knowing He performs His supernatural work through a life of faith and obedience.

I conclude with a question: Are you facing a mountain in your life today? Have you been un-equipped spiritually in the place where the other disciples were at the bottom of the mountain? Hebrews 11:1 says, “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.” TLB

Let me place a challenge before you: Today, purpose within your heart to be a devoted person of prayer. Make prayer your spiritual oxygen causing you to breathe in all you need to live a life of true obedience before the Lord. Finally, exercise your faith! Begin naming the impossible situations in your life in your prayers with an unshakable trust in God to respond according to His faithful promise!

Be blessed and encouraged! We serve the only True and Living God!

Moving at God's Pace

When we think of the pace of life, we are pressured into thinking that we are moving too slowly in this fast paced world. I happen to believe we move too fast, or to put it more accurately: we mismanage our time more often than we are willing to admit. In this techno-crazed world we have every time-saving device you could ever imagine, yet no one ever has any time. Take a moment to think about that…if you have time that is.

We feel as if we are being robbed of time as if there is never enough. Within our hearts we might be saying, “So many responsibilities, and so little time.” Let us be reminded, there are still only 24 hours in a day. Since the beginning of time this has been the case. Many don’t have enough time to even read a few paragraphs such as these. They may hurriedly skim through and not retain a word saying, “I am so busy!”

It is incredible to think of how we hide behind the phrase, “I am so busy!” Busy doing what? The traffic on social media has skyrocketed even negatively affecting productivity in workplaces during normal business hours. We are so busy with technology; we can’t even put the gadgets down long enough to safely drive from point A to point B, have a meal, or to genuinely communicate with our spouse and kids…and most important of all, our Heavenly Father.

A few years ago I visited Obion County, Tennessee where my ancestors settled in the 1800’s. I can see a benefit of living in that time period without the technology of our day with all of its distractions. Stories are told of how that generation rose early in the morning to accomplish their tasks for the day and went to bed not long after sundown to rest as a result of the satisfaction of completing their work. We learn they had a steady pace, a rhythm. They rested; a necessity that is so uncommon today. They didn’t have Facebook; they had actual Face-Time. They didn’t text family members in the same room; they had this innovative idea of talking to one another using eye contact immersed with a heart of love. They didn’t sit at the dinner table checking their phone every few seconds; they enjoyed a home-cooked meal, one savory bite at a time, and had family conversations that brought nourishment to the soul. My point isn’t to say that technology is a bad thing; it can be used for good. However, it leads me to another age old phrase, “All in moderation.” To put it another way, refrain from overdoing it. Take healthy breaks from devices. Wipe the dust off a book or some sporting equipment that may be used out in the yard. Don’t allow gadgets to be a substitute for real life and authentic relationships, especially with the Lord.

God established life to be steady and fulfilling. You might be asking, “Why then is my life so unstable and out of control?” First, we humans made a mess of things with our sin. The first place to start is a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. If you haven’t yet invited Him to be the Master of your life, the One who captain’s your ship through every storm; I invite you, in fact, implore you to invite Him into your life right now! You can get on your knees and pray a simple yet powerful prayer from your heart, “Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. I believe You are God’s only Son who died on the cross for my sins and arose on the third day. I receive your forgiveness. You wash away every stain of my sin with your precious blood. Jesus, come into my heart. I surrender my life to You completely. Lord, thank you for loving me so much! Amen” This is the first step in a new direction. God will direct your heart to a Bible-teaching church where His truth is taught and where His people will surround you with love and grace. Now, through the Holy Spirit, you will be able to understand and be equipped to apply His Word to your life.

We have the assurance that the answer to every question can be found in the Bible. Psalm 46:10a says, “Be still and know that I am God.” The first two words give us so much insight, “Be still.” What does this mean in our lives today? The NASB says, “Cease striving.” In other words, TRUST GOD! When we’re tempted to worry and fear, we must determine to believe God and rely on Him with every fiber of our being! When we hear the whispers of the enemy that fill us with anxiety, we must silence them with the Word of God. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” This is the authority we have in Christ!

I urge you to take some quality time today to “Be Still” in the presence of the Lord. He will meet you there, calm your fears, silence all the noise, and fill your heart with His peace that passes understanding!

Thank you for taking time as a reader. I welcome your input as we grow in our relationship with Jesus together. If this has encouraged your heart, and I pray it does, please invite a friend to visit that they too will be encouraged. Many blessings!