Faith: belief without proof; trust.
The word tells us in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." While most of us are probably familiar with this scripture, today I want to talk to you about it a little differently. Today I want to focus on having everyday faith. When I say everyday faith I mean having the knowledge (and peace of mind) of knowing that the Lord is with you every minute, every hour and every second of the day.
When you have that type of knowledge, it's easier not to fret when standing in the midst of an unknown situation. No matter what, we are able to rest assured because we know that God is with us. Did you know that our faith is tested everyday? Sometimes we don't even realize it, but God may put an obstacle or two in our path to see if we are going to exercise our faith.
When you find yourself tripping over one of those obstacles, take comfort and rest upon the word of God. For example, 1 John 5:4 reassures us, "For whatever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Because we are believing by faith that God is right here with us, it doesn't matter what comes up, or what's put in our way - we know of a surety that He is our peace, He is our deliverer, He is our way out, and He is our joy. When we believe those things on the inside, we can overcome the world.
But what do you do if you don't have (or don't feel in the moment) the faith to believe God can overcome our situations? Do we cry out in despair with no hope? We could - but what does that say about our faith? Not much, right? That's not having the faith of a mustard seed. When it comes down to believing in Jesus Christ, we must believe that He can move on our behalf and can do anything that we need Him to do. Now that, my friends, is having everyday faith.
In those moments when you feel you faith wavering, get into the word of God as fast as you can. Dig deep to see and understand what He's saying and what he really means. Having that understanding can help us remember that all things are possible to him that believeth. Roman 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." The word of God will build our faith, give us joy and strengthen our very soul!
With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Take the Battle to the Lord!
Battle: fight, struggle
2 Chronicles 20:15 tells us, "for the battle is not yours, but God's."
Is it just me or does it occasionally feels like it's hard for you to surrender your fights and your struggles to the Lord? I think it's just human nature to always try to fix things - which is crazy, because really - who can fix it better than God?! But yet, here we are trying to find the perfect solution for every problem.
Well my friends, I'm here to tell you that is not God's way. In fact, it kind-of shows a lack of trust in Him. Haven't you heard people say, "Nothing's too hard for God?" If we truly believe that, then why are we trying to fix things ourselves?? why aren't we just giving it all to Him? I imagine that it must hurt the Lord so much to see His children cry and not come to see about them. If you have kids of your own, I'm sure you know what I mean. So let's stop acting like we can win every battle on our own and allow God to work on our behalf.
Let's look at Asa. Asa was a King who did good and right in the eyes of the Lord. When Zerah, the Ethiopian, and his army came out against Asa, he knew exactly what to do. Instead of trying to fix the problem himself, he "...cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power; help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee." And wouldn't you know it - "...the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled" (2 Chronicles 14:11-12). Even though Zerah's army was much bigger, it didn't matter. There is simply no battle or no struggle too big or too hard for our God!
For Asa, the good news didn't just stop there! If you continue reading the story, you'll see that not only did God defeat the Ethiopians, but He also gave Asa and his army all their possessions! The word says; "...and they carried away very much spoil" (2 Chronicles 14:13). How awesome is that? King Asa didn't try to fight the battle alone - no, he was much smarter than some of us! Instead, he cried out to the Lord. We must follow Asa's lead, and not make the Lord our last resort. Not only will God fix the situation, but He will also reward us - just as He did for Asa and his army.
The point I'm trying to make here is that we should never become uneasy in the midst of our day-to-day struggles and battles. That's because God has the power, the authority, and the ability to do just what He said He would do! So remember, fight your battles on your knees by crying out to God. As the song writer said, "If I hold my peace and let the Lord fight my battle; victory, victory SHALL be mine!"
With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
2 Chronicles 20:15 tells us, "for the battle is not yours, but God's."
Is it just me or does it occasionally feels like it's hard for you to surrender your fights and your struggles to the Lord? I think it's just human nature to always try to fix things - which is crazy, because really - who can fix it better than God?! But yet, here we are trying to find the perfect solution for every problem.
Well my friends, I'm here to tell you that is not God's way. In fact, it kind-of shows a lack of trust in Him. Haven't you heard people say, "Nothing's too hard for God?" If we truly believe that, then why are we trying to fix things ourselves?? why aren't we just giving it all to Him? I imagine that it must hurt the Lord so much to see His children cry and not come to see about them. If you have kids of your own, I'm sure you know what I mean. So let's stop acting like we can win every battle on our own and allow God to work on our behalf.
Let's look at Asa. Asa was a King who did good and right in the eyes of the Lord. When Zerah, the Ethiopian, and his army came out against Asa, he knew exactly what to do. Instead of trying to fix the problem himself, he "...cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power; help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee." And wouldn't you know it - "...the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled" (2 Chronicles 14:11-12). Even though Zerah's army was much bigger, it didn't matter. There is simply no battle or no struggle too big or too hard for our God!
For Asa, the good news didn't just stop there! If you continue reading the story, you'll see that not only did God defeat the Ethiopians, but He also gave Asa and his army all their possessions! The word says; "...and they carried away very much spoil" (2 Chronicles 14:13). How awesome is that? King Asa didn't try to fight the battle alone - no, he was much smarter than some of us! Instead, he cried out to the Lord. We must follow Asa's lead, and not make the Lord our last resort. Not only will God fix the situation, but He will also reward us - just as He did for Asa and his army.
The point I'm trying to make here is that we should never become uneasy in the midst of our day-to-day struggles and battles. That's because God has the power, the authority, and the ability to do just what He said He would do! So remember, fight your battles on your knees by crying out to God. As the song writer said, "If I hold my peace and let the Lord fight my battle; victory, victory SHALL be mine!"
With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
There are Benefits to Being Quarantined!
Quarantine: isolation to prevent spreading of infection
During a crisis like the COVID-19 Pandemic, it's very easy for us to become overwhelmed with thoughts of how we are going to put our life back together when it's over. It can be easy to become anxious and restless because our fleshly nature doesn't like isolation shutting us off from the pleasures of this life. Remember, bad things happen to good people, so when life gives us lemons, let's thank God and make lemonade. If we are patient and trust God, in the end we will get the victory.
Let's take a look at some people in the Bible who also experienced a quarantine during their lifetimes:
With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
During a crisis like the COVID-19 Pandemic, it's very easy for us to become overwhelmed with thoughts of how we are going to put our life back together when it's over. It can be easy to become anxious and restless because our fleshly nature doesn't like isolation shutting us off from the pleasures of this life. Remember, bad things happen to good people, so when life gives us lemons, let's thank God and make lemonade. If we are patient and trust God, in the end we will get the victory.
Let's take a look at some people in the Bible who also experienced a quarantine during their lifetimes:
- David. David was in quarantine when he was hiding in the fields and caves (1 Samuel 20:1, 24 and 1 Samuel 23:13). Hiding from his own son and Saul who wanted to kill him. Although he was shut up for a while, when God said it was enough - it was indeed enough. Both Saul and David's son were killed and David went on to be the King of Israel. I'm sure that he didn't like being in isolation, but you never read where David murmured or complained and in the end he got the victory in a mighty way.
- Joseph. Even Joseph found himself in quarantine when he was put in prison for a crime he didn't commit (Genesis 39:7-23). He had such a good spirit within himself, he truly made lemonade out of his situation. He didn't sit around and complain about why things were happening the way they were. No, he humbled himself and kept praising God and trusting in God. Before he knew it, he was made the head of the prison. Some years later, Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream (Genesis 41:16) and was promoted to Chief Steward over Pharaoh's house. He later became ruler over all Egypt.
With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
There Is Good In All Things! Part Two
Inconvenient: a lack of comfort, a trouble or a bother, something difficult to do
This week we will continue to talk about how all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose (Roman 8:28). Often times, God puts His thumb in our backs or puts the squeeze on us, because we are more apt to pray, more apt to fast, and more apt to spend time in the word when these things happen. Look at this coronavirus - people are praying and pleading the blood as never before (see - God knows how to get our attention)! Not only are most of us praying for ourselves more, but we are also praying for others as well. We're looking out for our neighbors as we have not done in a long time. In hard times and in hard places, God always makes things work together for good, if we love Him and let Him call us according to His purpose.
God placed the Israelites in a time of testing, trials, and hardness. He deliberately allowed the Egyptians to make His people's lives bitter with hard bondage. The Egyptians were strict in their demands in all manner of service. They were severe, harsh, and oppressive in their rulership over the Israelites. Yet, the more pain, suffering and distress they caused the Israelites, the more God brought His good blessing to them. In today's terms, the point is that although it may not look like it, but there is good even in hardness. God's good blessing upon the Israelites caused them to multiply, increase, and to call and cry unto the Lord (Exodus 1:12-14). Through their bitter, hard bondage, they were brought into a closer relationship with God. His purpose and plan in the midst of every place of bitter, hard bondage is for us to grow and to draw closer to Him.
God puts us in trials and situations when it's inconvenient. In this life, God places us in many of these types of situations in order for us to find the good in it. We experience inconvenience because God has a special time and a special way by which His purpose and plan works together to give us the things we long for - whether it be a job, children, a husband, or a house. We must not become impatient, because we are being - in our minds, at least - inconvenienced and we must not use our pride to get us out of the situation. When we do that, we miss the good in the situation and it will, more often than not, cause us much grief. Remember, inconveniences are from God and He has hidden good in them. Two things to do to gain the victory over an inconvenience - or something that is bringing us pain instead of comfort are: 1) acknowledge the truth by proclaiming that God makes all things work together for good; and 2) repent for our pride.
The result of the hard times we endure is worth more than the pain it takes to go through them. God always delivers His people after they learn their spiritual lessons. We can find His good blessing by praying "Lord, show me the good."
With all this said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
This week we will continue to talk about how all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose (Roman 8:28). Often times, God puts His thumb in our backs or puts the squeeze on us, because we are more apt to pray, more apt to fast, and more apt to spend time in the word when these things happen. Look at this coronavirus - people are praying and pleading the blood as never before (see - God knows how to get our attention)! Not only are most of us praying for ourselves more, but we are also praying for others as well. We're looking out for our neighbors as we have not done in a long time. In hard times and in hard places, God always makes things work together for good, if we love Him and let Him call us according to His purpose.
God placed the Israelites in a time of testing, trials, and hardness. He deliberately allowed the Egyptians to make His people's lives bitter with hard bondage. The Egyptians were strict in their demands in all manner of service. They were severe, harsh, and oppressive in their rulership over the Israelites. Yet, the more pain, suffering and distress they caused the Israelites, the more God brought His good blessing to them. In today's terms, the point is that although it may not look like it, but there is good even in hardness. God's good blessing upon the Israelites caused them to multiply, increase, and to call and cry unto the Lord (Exodus 1:12-14). Through their bitter, hard bondage, they were brought into a closer relationship with God. His purpose and plan in the midst of every place of bitter, hard bondage is for us to grow and to draw closer to Him.
God puts us in trials and situations when it's inconvenient. In this life, God places us in many of these types of situations in order for us to find the good in it. We experience inconvenience because God has a special time and a special way by which His purpose and plan works together to give us the things we long for - whether it be a job, children, a husband, or a house. We must not become impatient, because we are being - in our minds, at least - inconvenienced and we must not use our pride to get us out of the situation. When we do that, we miss the good in the situation and it will, more often than not, cause us much grief. Remember, inconveniences are from God and He has hidden good in them. Two things to do to gain the victory over an inconvenience - or something that is bringing us pain instead of comfort are: 1) acknowledge the truth by proclaiming that God makes all things work together for good; and 2) repent for our pride.
The result of the hard times we endure is worth more than the pain it takes to go through them. God always delivers His people after they learn their spiritual lessons. We can find His good blessing by praying "Lord, show me the good."
With all this said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
There Is Good In All Things! Part One
Good: Suitable, fit, agreeable, pleasant; of a favorable character or tendency
Things: A matter of concern, event, circumstance
God said in His word, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Roman 8:28). God's purpose for putting us into and through trials are for our growth and for our perfection - even when it doesn't seem like it at the time! As Christians, many times we become disheartened, disillusioned, and discouraged because we are thinking like the children of Israel - that God has brought us to a place of suffering to kill us. But trust me when I say that is an evil thought about God's Holy nature because that is not His purpose for trials at all.
God's purpose for trials is to make them a part of all things that work together for the believers' highest good. Also, trials serve as a great advantage in helping us find and build a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. That's because those hard times push us to enter into new revelations of God's word. Those trials also tend to separate us from things that are unlike Jesus Christ. Take David for an example - he had much suffering in his life, from Saul and his Son Absalom, who formed a bold conspiracy against him. David's heart was broken under the crushing pressure of the slanders and threats from his own son. However, through all of his suffering and pain, God's Spirit enabled David to write many beautiful Psalms for his comfort and for the soothing comfort of a broken heart down throughout the ages.
Psalm 61:2-3 says, "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." Like David, we must flee unto Christ, the Rock of Defense. Remember, the scripture says arm yourselves likewise as the Lord suffered, so will we (I Peter 4:1). We must ask the Lord to hold our hands, to guide us in the midst of pain, and to be our strength. As Psalm 147:3 reminds us, "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." God is an awfully good God and if we put our trust in Him we will see that all things really do work together for our good!
With all that said, let the Church say Amen and... AMEN!
Things: A matter of concern, event, circumstance
God said in His word, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Roman 8:28). God's purpose for putting us into and through trials are for our growth and for our perfection - even when it doesn't seem like it at the time! As Christians, many times we become disheartened, disillusioned, and discouraged because we are thinking like the children of Israel - that God has brought us to a place of suffering to kill us. But trust me when I say that is an evil thought about God's Holy nature because that is not His purpose for trials at all.
God's purpose for trials is to make them a part of all things that work together for the believers' highest good. Also, trials serve as a great advantage in helping us find and build a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. That's because those hard times push us to enter into new revelations of God's word. Those trials also tend to separate us from things that are unlike Jesus Christ. Take David for an example - he had much suffering in his life, from Saul and his Son Absalom, who formed a bold conspiracy against him. David's heart was broken under the crushing pressure of the slanders and threats from his own son. However, through all of his suffering and pain, God's Spirit enabled David to write many beautiful Psalms for his comfort and for the soothing comfort of a broken heart down throughout the ages.
Psalm 61:2-3 says, "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." Like David, we must flee unto Christ, the Rock of Defense. Remember, the scripture says arm yourselves likewise as the Lord suffered, so will we (I Peter 4:1). We must ask the Lord to hold our hands, to guide us in the midst of pain, and to be our strength. As Psalm 147:3 reminds us, "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." God is an awfully good God and if we put our trust in Him we will see that all things really do work together for our good!
With all that said, let the Church say Amen and... AMEN!
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