Faith, defined in Hebrews 11:1, "is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". What does that mean? It means that faith is believing that what we hope for, what we pray for, we actually have it even before it is manifested. For example, though I don't have the initial funds to get a much needed car, I will pray for it, hope for it and believe that, somehow, God will make it so that I get a car. The hope is for a car. The evidence of things not seen is my faith and total belief that God will provide a vehicle for me and thank Him for answered prayer; the evidence not seen. No one fully understands God's timing and so we have to believe in Him that our hope will be manifested and hold on to that faith and be patient for God's blessing. Then, when least expected, God answers that prayer, that thing hoped for. God, through His Spirit, places a call upon someone who is getting rid of a perfectly good vehicle and that person gift's you that car, free and clear. The evidence of things not seen is the work of God through the actions of the Spirit and an obedient person of faith. I know, sounds pretty crazy doesn't it? Like, do things like this really happen? These kinds of things do happen; it did happen. This gift of a car actually happened to me. There have been so many blessings that the Lord has provided and I am ever thankful to God for keeping all of His promises.
As adults, it is very difficult to find that childlike faith within us. That child went away a long time ago and had been covered up with life's experiences both good and bad. However, that child is still within us and that faith, that childlike faith is definitely attainable. Don't get me wrong, when we hope for or pray for something, it is not realistic to think that the answer will come right away all of the time. Though there are times when they do, more often, we have to ait and that is when our faith is tested; that's when we need to trust Him and know that He is working to answer your prayer. My prayer for the car came within several months. My prayer to find my biological father came after 32 years of searching and praying. The point is that we have to hold on to our faith and believe that God will answer our prayers and He will make sure to do so right on time. The Apostle Paul mentions that God deals to each of us a measure of faith (Romans12:3), so we need to learn how to hone in on that faith and believe that no matter how small we think our faith is, God can still use it. So where is your faith? Dig down deep and find that inner child and you may find that measure of faith that's needed to keep hope alive and to allow God to manifest that which you hope. God is awesome at that.
Saturday, June 27, 2020
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Where is your faith? Part 1
There was a time when Jesus and his disciples were on a boat. As Jesus slept, a storm approached and as it grew stronger causing water to enter the boat, the men feared for their lives. They woke Jesus up asking that He save them because their lives were surely in danger. When Jesus woke up He asked why the men were so afraid and said "O you of little faith"; then Jesus stood up, rebuked the storm and then, the storm was gone, The guys were in awe and were like, "who can this be that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" (Matthew 8:23-26)
There was another time when the disciples were out on the boat. Jesus was not with them at that time, but eventually, they saw Jesus walking on the water toward them. They freaked a bit and thought maybe it was a ghost, but Jesus spoke out to let them know that it was indeed Him. Peter called out to Jesus and asked to prove that it was indeed him and told Jesus to command that Peter too walked on the water. So Jesus did, and Peter walked on water; until a wave came and became afraid and started to sink. Jesus pulled him up to safety and once again said "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
(Matthew 14:25-31)
Doubt and Fear have been the enemy of God and His children from the very beginning as read in Genesis regarding the fall of man, Adam & Eve disobeying God. They are strong adversaries and more often then not, doubt and fear find a way into our hearts causing us to miss out on the blessings God has for us and miss out on being witness, through personal experience, to the power and never broken promises of God. Doubt says miracles don't happen anymore. Fear says I'm not good enough and will never be good enough for God to bless me. Let me tell you something about doubt and fear; they are the spawn of lies which smoothly slithers out of the mouth of God's enemy. There is a weapon that is available to all of us that can and will defeat the lies of doubt and fear; and that weapon is faith. It's not just any faith, but the faith of a child.
A child's faith is unwavering, it's raw; a child has perfectly blind faith. When the disciples asked Jesus who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus pointed out a child and said "unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, who ever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven..." (Matthew 18:1-4). Obviously a grown adult cannot magically transform into a child. However, as adults we need to be as humble as a child, unconditionally loving like a child, fully trusting like a child and as faithful as a child to God. That means believing in and having faith in God; as a child would. Where is your faith; where on the line of adulthood does your ability to be like a child lay?
There was another time when the disciples were out on the boat. Jesus was not with them at that time, but eventually, they saw Jesus walking on the water toward them. They freaked a bit and thought maybe it was a ghost, but Jesus spoke out to let them know that it was indeed Him. Peter called out to Jesus and asked to prove that it was indeed him and told Jesus to command that Peter too walked on the water. So Jesus did, and Peter walked on water; until a wave came and became afraid and started to sink. Jesus pulled him up to safety and once again said "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
(Matthew 14:25-31)
Doubt and Fear have been the enemy of God and His children from the very beginning as read in Genesis regarding the fall of man, Adam & Eve disobeying God. They are strong adversaries and more often then not, doubt and fear find a way into our hearts causing us to miss out on the blessings God has for us and miss out on being witness, through personal experience, to the power and never broken promises of God. Doubt says miracles don't happen anymore. Fear says I'm not good enough and will never be good enough for God to bless me. Let me tell you something about doubt and fear; they are the spawn of lies which smoothly slithers out of the mouth of God's enemy. There is a weapon that is available to all of us that can and will defeat the lies of doubt and fear; and that weapon is faith. It's not just any faith, but the faith of a child.
A child's faith is unwavering, it's raw; a child has perfectly blind faith. When the disciples asked Jesus who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus pointed out a child and said "unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, who ever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven..." (Matthew 18:1-4). Obviously a grown adult cannot magically transform into a child. However, as adults we need to be as humble as a child, unconditionally loving like a child, fully trusting like a child and as faithful as a child to God. That means believing in and having faith in God; as a child would. Where is your faith; where on the line of adulthood does your ability to be like a child lay?
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Where the heck is God & why is He doing this?
During this time of uncertainty it is easy to become afraid and unsure of the future. Social distancing a key to staying safe even though there are many who do not care to follow the rules. Hording and selfishness causing doubt about humanity's ability to come together to combat an invisible enemy. Thank God, however, for those who do what is necessary to keep each other safe; not only to the point of losing their jobs, but even to the point of losing their own lives. Often, it is times like these, because of fear and anger, that many ask where is God and why is He doing this.
Make no mistake, God is still here and He is not the one to blame; though it is easy to blame Him because we don't want to take responsibility for our own actions. Blaming God is easy; look what happened with Adam and Eve. Eve chose to listen to the serpent and Adam chose to listen to Eve and then Adam had the audacity to try and place fault and blame on both Eve and even on God when Adam said to God "the woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I ate" (Genesis 3:11). The fact of the matter is that both Adam and Eve were at fault for making the choice to disobey God. The same holds true even today. Man is free to make decisions, even bad decisions; and when he/she has to live with the consequences of their actions, they want to blame God. We are where we are today because of the actions, or inaction, of man, not God.
Anyone who truly knows God and has a relationship with the Father, I pray, will remember His truth and His promises. Yes, I include myself because I too can fall into the thoughts created by fear. I am by no means perfect nor claim to be. So this is just as much for me as it may be for many of you. Regardless of what is going on in the world we must remember that God is always with us and will strengthen us and uphold us in His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). He promised to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We either believe in His word and His promises or we don't; there is no in between. We are hot or we are cold, but we cannot be Luke warm and straddle the fence; (Revelation 3:15-16; 1 John 2:15-16). We have to remember whom we serve and whom we worship. We have to remember that God is not a man and so does not lie or change His mind about anything that He says (Numbers 23:19). So during this time of uncertainty, we have to remember to do our part and pray; pray for those who have chosen to fight the good fight for all of us. Pray for them and their families. Pray for those who are forced to work though unessential workers; for those who are forced to work because they have no choice. Pray for our leaders, whether we like them or not. Pray because God hears us. Pray to God the Father, by the power of the name Jesus the Christ and the action by that power in the movement of the Holy Spirit..............
Amen.
Make no mistake, God is still here and He is not the one to blame; though it is easy to blame Him because we don't want to take responsibility for our own actions. Blaming God is easy; look what happened with Adam and Eve. Eve chose to listen to the serpent and Adam chose to listen to Eve and then Adam had the audacity to try and place fault and blame on both Eve and even on God when Adam said to God "the woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I ate" (Genesis 3:11). The fact of the matter is that both Adam and Eve were at fault for making the choice to disobey God. The same holds true even today. Man is free to make decisions, even bad decisions; and when he/she has to live with the consequences of their actions, they want to blame God. We are where we are today because of the actions, or inaction, of man, not God.
Anyone who truly knows God and has a relationship with the Father, I pray, will remember His truth and His promises. Yes, I include myself because I too can fall into the thoughts created by fear. I am by no means perfect nor claim to be. So this is just as much for me as it may be for many of you. Regardless of what is going on in the world we must remember that God is always with us and will strengthen us and uphold us in His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). He promised to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We either believe in His word and His promises or we don't; there is no in between. We are hot or we are cold, but we cannot be Luke warm and straddle the fence; (Revelation 3:15-16; 1 John 2:15-16). We have to remember whom we serve and whom we worship. We have to remember that God is not a man and so does not lie or change His mind about anything that He says (Numbers 23:19). So during this time of uncertainty, we have to remember to do our part and pray; pray for those who have chosen to fight the good fight for all of us. Pray for them and their families. Pray for those who are forced to work though unessential workers; for those who are forced to work because they have no choice. Pray for our leaders, whether we like them or not. Pray because God hears us. Pray to God the Father, by the power of the name Jesus the Christ and the action by that power in the movement of the Holy Spirit..............
Amen.
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