The ONLY WAY to get Faith is by hearing The Word of God. That means that you have to literally hear The Word of God and the preaching and teaching of The Word of God to get Faith!
Now, I want you to notice something in Romans 10:17. God did NOT say Faith comes by what you hear one time. God did NOT say Faith comes by what you hear one time a week. He did NOT say Faith will come when you hear The Word once a month or just the one time you heard the Good News when you got saved. NO! Faith comes by HEARING AND HEARING! “Hearing” is present tense! The Word Hearing is a continual and ongoing word! You cannot live by Faith on what you only heard last Sunday or last month! Faith comes by hearing and still hearing and again hearing The Word of God! You must be reading The Word DAILY! Why? Because the Times and the Last Days that we are living in, you will use all the Faith you received that morning by reading The Word of God by the end of your day!
When you read your Bible, read it out loud so that you can hear it with your ears. When you are in your car, listen to the preaching and teaching of The Word. When you are house cleaning, have the Word going in your ears through the radio or TV. When you are doing work outside, cutting the grass, getting ready for work . . . find ways to get The Word IN YOUR EARS! Read Christian articles and publications that will help you grow up in your Faith! Reading devotionals and Daily Teachings just like this and even reading it out loud will increase your Faith!
How do we not only keep OURSELVES from going under in our minds, but help OTHERS FROM GOING UNDER in these wearisome times? The answer is that we have to keep ourselves in a place and mind set of Faith! We have to maintain a LEVEL OF FAITH that is requiring us to go deeper and yet higher in God and in His Word! Our Faith Levels must increase as the darkness, heaviness and weight of the enemy increases in these Last Days! We have got to have such a Level of Faith in us that we will not lose hope, that we will not go into the despair that the enemy is trying to bring! Our Level of Faith must be High, so that we can see the things that we are having Faith for come to past! The devil wants you and I to not have Faith. He wants to STEAL your Faith and when he steals that, he takes your HOPE, and then he’s took your Faith in what you were once CERTAIN of. (Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being SURE of what we hope for and CERTAIN of what we do not see.”) And when the enemy has stolen all of this,he just made you stop waiting and having Faith for what God said you could have!
Yes, Bride of Christ YOU Are Responsible For Your Faith, The LEVEL Of Your Faith and The Power Of Life and Death You Bring Forth From Your Tongue! Decide today to increase your Faith! Determine today to raise your Faith Level! For, in these Last Days your Faith Level MUST be on a higher plane for not just you, but for you and those around you! And only you, Church, can do this! Only you, His Righteous, can decide to go higher and carry out the Will of The Father and to Live by Faith! Church, renew your minds, for the level of faith that you live on IS UP TO YOU!
Scripture of the Day: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” - Romans 10:17 (KJV)
Showing posts with label walking by faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label walking by faith. Show all posts
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Time-Lapsed Blessing
Have you ever watched a clip of time-lapse photography as a flower blooms, a sun rises and sets, or inhabitants of a city swarm, frenzied, like busy ants in a colony? It takes only a few seconds to see the painstaking, micro-movements of activity, when in fact the process took hours, or days, to unfold. Sometimes the blessings of our lives occur so subtly, so gradually, that we fail to acknowledge them until after-the-fact, when we are able to view the whole picture from start to finish.
Some of you are experiencing an extremely slowed down pace right now, and it is an uncomfortable, even painful switch from the life you’re used to. A loved one has gotten ill (or maybe even yourself); a work adjustment such as a layoff or forced retirement has shaken your long-term goals; an empty nest just got full again; or God has perhaps led you into a place you thought would be teeming with production…only instead of what you expected, now your steps have ground down to a near halt. If you’re used to running a marathon, it’s just plain difficult to wade knee-deep in the mud of transition. You may even find yourself asking, “Lord, are You SURE this is what You ordered for me?”
Change is hard sometimes; it just is…especially for those of us who thrive on structure. We’re so sure, when we’re slammed by any unexpected turn that throws our schedule off, that it HAS to be an attack of the enemy to sabotage our happiness, peace, and progress. Certainly, that is the case sometimes. But know this: God is not at all taken by surprise at your circumstances; in fact, the very event that threatens to delay your blessing’s arrival by years could well be a Divine setup for a time-lapse blessing. Don’t disdain the season you’re in!
I once made a statement that the Lord expects us to bear fruit in every season of our lives; and in one sense, that may be true. However, this morning as I meditated on the Lord’s goodness while peering out at the changing, falling leaves, God brought that statement back to my memory and corrected me. He spoke to me, so clearly, that regeneration doesn’t occur without a dying off first. Oh, the tree itself is not dying when the amber and crimson leaves break free from their security and drift to the ground. Instead, the tree is undergoing a necessary process in order that life may continue and that it may produce fruit in another season.
As you dig your heels in and patience has her perfect work in you, be assured that you aren’t washed-up, and you’re no has-been. God is not narrowing your borders or putting you out to pasture! He has a far greater plan than you might realize. Embrace the falling of the leaves and enjoy ambling through avenues of transition…for though the crisp bite of winter’s chill seems to threaten to stay forever, as surely as spring will come and buds will break forth again, you too will burst with new growth in HIS INFINITELY PERFECT TIMING. You’ll look back at your time-lapsed blessing, having come away with so much more for having had to wait, and you’ll breathe the incredulous words, “Wow. You knew what You were doing the whole time!”
Scripture of the Day: “And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.” (Galations 6:9 AMP)
Lisa Crum is an inspirational freelance writer and Christian songwriter. She serves as administrative/pastoral assistant at Regional Church of God in Delbarton, WV. Lisa also ministers weekly as part of the praise team and worship band. For more from Lisa, visit her at http://www.facebook.com/lisa.crum.…
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Pressing On With Precision And Purpose
Hebrews 12:1-2 is a word for those of us who find ourselves in a struggle day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. God would have us to know that we should not be struggling just to be struggling. We should no longer go into each day with the mindset this is another day of struggle, stress, and strife. As children of God we should be able to find some joy, some peace, some happiness in the midst of any given situation or circumstance. As children of God we should not be constantly flailing around in the winds of worry or caught up in the sinking sands of sorrow.
This is not the life of those who lean not to their own understanding but trust in God with their whole heart. The life to which we have been called is not one without challenges, but it is one where regardless of what might come our way the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Jesus tells us in John 16:32-33, “In me ye might have peace. In the world, ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." It is for this reason that we are able to press on. Not just for the sake of pressing on, but we press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Some reports offer various names about who the writer of our text is. Among the names is the apostle Paul: the tentmaker from Tarsus; that trailblazing theologian; the apostle called by Christ Jesus; Paul, the apostle we all can relate to; the one who often times found himself perplexed on every side yet did not give up; the one who counted it all joy when he found himself in various trials and tribulations. I’m talking about the same Paul who reminds us that all things work together for the good of them that love God and are the called according to his purpose. Paul had to press on with precision and with purpose. Otherwise the challenges in his life would have caused him just to acquiesce to the assaults that life assailed against him.
The text helps us understand three things that we need to do in order to press on with precision and purpose. We need to hold on to God, hold on to the goal, and hold on to the Holy Ghost. When we replay the seemingly catastrophic climb up Calvary’s hill, we remember the crown of thorns on his head. We remember the cross that was on his shoulder. We remember the jeers of the crowd. Then when he got to the top, there we see them driving the nails in his hands and feet. As he hung between two thieves, they gambled for his clothes beneath. There his mother watched helplessly. Yet Jesus had the strength, Jesus had the divine desire to say Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
While we’re pressing on with precision and purpose, what people do to us is inconsequential. People are not our focus and this life is not our goal, but a life of Godliness.
So we run this race with patience,
We fight the good fight of faith.
With precision we stay the course.
With purpose we turn our eyes toward Jesus.
The psalmist put it best in, Psalm 121, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved, he that keepeth thee will not slumber."
When the race gets you down, press on.
When your hopes are handcuffed and your dreams are deferred, press on.
When the headwinds of life slow you down, press on.
When life is filled with delay, disruption, and disappointment, press on.
Press past the mess and stroll through the stress.
Press on!
Scripture Of The Day: "...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Second Fiddle, First Chair
Oh, the agony of unrequited love. It’s the fodder of many a love song, the motive of many a convicted felon, and the “dys” of many a dysfunctional family.
We read in the Bible of many instances where favor of one over another caused trouble. For Jacob, his can of worms was opened early-on when his uncle unloaded the older sister off on him in a grab bag marriage…and only after he agreed to a “sentence” of 7 more years of hard labor, did he wind up with his beloved Rachel. But what of Leah, Wife Number One, who may have had first chair but was actually playing second fiddle? Over the years, not only did unbalanced favor create division between Leah and Rachel, but the shockwaves reached out into their offspring as well. When at last the long-barren Rachel finally bore Joseph, Jacob’s partiality toward him caused the other sons to despise the boy.
Perhaps as you read this today, you are dragging the baggage of rejection behind you like a ball and chain. It’s as much a part of your existence as your right foot; in fact, it’s become a bit of your identity. When you look into the mirror, you see IT, not you.
Sometimes we can’t avoid being in the line of the fire of unfair circumstances; but while we can’t avoid the circumstances, however, we CAN allow God to shape our attitudes into a way that not only pleases our Heavenly Father, but assures us that we will reap a harvest when we remain faithful.
You may be in a relationship right now where you’re poorly regarded. Perhaps a fellow employee seems to step in and steal all your kudos from the boss, and you can’t seem to get ahead no matter how hard you try. Perhaps you are the “black sheep” of the family, or at the very least, the child who appears to be loved and respected less than your siblings. You may be the wife or husband who walks in the shadow of a deceased former spouse. You may even be a pastor of a church where all you hear of your parishioners is “the way Brother So-and-So did it.” You’re not a hopeless case. You don’t have to live in unhappiness and unfulfillment, either.
You’ve asked God to change your circumstance s many times; now ask Him to change your heart toward your circumstances. Colossians 3:23 tells us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” (NIV) Begin today to sow into that relationship as unto the Lord, and not for the glory and acceptance of man. See, man can’t help but fail us because man isn’t perfect. When we do our works as unto the Lord, God blesses our steadfastness and integrity. Over time, our faithfulness will be proven and yes, it will pay off. When you do your best, you will ALWAYS have the approval of your Heavenly Father.
Interestingly when Jacob dies, the Scriptures tell us he was buried next to Leah—unfavored, homely Leah--instead of his beautiful Rachel. Perhaps in the end, he had come to value the longevity of Leah’s devotion to him. We don’t know all that transpired over the years, but we do know that he was content to rest beside the seemingly unloved one in the end.
Entrust your situation into God’s hands today, and remain faithful. Serve that employer well. Love that partial parent anyway. Be a devoted stepmother or father. The only one you’re obligated to “prove yourself” to is the Lord…and He can cause you to just seep with pure love for the person who disappoints you, even in the process. God who sees your heart attitudes in secret, will reward you openly--because you sought His acceptance above all else.
Today’s Scripture: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” - Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
A Renewed Mind
If anything has become evident this past year, it is that we cannot continue to do what we've always done and expect things to change for the better in our lives. The jobs, people and systems that we've come to place our trust in have proven themselves insufficient, and as a result, many of us have come to a crossroads in our lives.
We've come to a place in our journey where we cannot afford to take another step backwards due to a bad decision, nor waste any more time on that which is unproductive in our lives.
I know it may not seem like it, but in the midst of all of this bad news, God has really positioned us, if we make the necessary adjustments in our lives, to never have to circle this mountain again. Do I have your attention? I hope so, because I believe that God is using this trouble to change or transform our minds. Let me explain.
God has shaken everything that has proudly exalted itself as being sufficient or a "source," exposing it as being only an illusion. Governments, institutions and people that once proclaimed themselves as being trustworthy have found themselves in need of help.
To make it in this season of history, we are going to have to think differently and on a higher level to overcome the gravitational pull of our fallen economy and society. Romans 12:2 warns us, "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" and Ephesians 4:23 states, "be renewed in the spirit of your mind." To "be conformed," means to be "patterned after" or to "think like." To avoid the fate that this world's system is suffering, we cannot continue to think and operate like the world. Our minds must be renewed.
The word "re" indicates that there was a former "state of mind" or "being" that is to be pursued. In Genesis 1:26, the bible declares that we were created in the image and "likeness" of God. The root word for "likeness" in the Hebrew is translated, "to think like". We were given the ability to think creatively like God and to cause our thoughts to become things. The only limitation of a creative mind is its imagination. Creators never run out of substance or suffer lack because they do not depend upon anything external for them to be productive.
I believe the shaking that we are experiencing today is designed to awaken believers, who have become sedated by the world's system, to cause them to consider who and what they've placed their trust in. God gave us the ability to know His mind and thoughts (1 Cor. 2:10-16) so that we would not be confined or limited by what the world says we can have or do. Because we've been indoctrinated through education to embrace conformity and not our creativity, many believers are unnecessarily suffering lack when they are pregnant with ideas waiting to be birthed that could provide for their generations.
What creative ideas, innovations, inventions and projects has God placed within you that are waiting to be manifested? These creative "thoughts" are the "things" God has given you to overcome what is overcoming the rest of the world. However, this will require you to renew your mind and know that God is your Source and everything else is a resource!
Scripture Of The Day: "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God" - Ephesians 4:23-24a.
Nothing but Your Faith; Nobody but God
In Matthew 17:20, Jesus tells his disciples if they had faith as a grain of mustard seed, they could say to this mountain be removed from here to there, and it would move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Some of us are and have been facing some impossible situations.
We have tried to make those lifestyle changes that would move us closer to God, but we can’t just seem to get there.
For every one step forward, there’s a challenge which tries to push you two steps back. If this is you, you are in a situation where the only thing between you and defeat, is your faith in GodNothing but your faith, and nobody but God. Nothing but your faith can keep you seeing the glass half full instead of half empty.Nobody but God can give you the glass to put the water in.Our faith is the foundation of the fundamental element pertaining to our survival. You lose your faith, you’ve lost the battle. You lose your faith; you’ve lost your will to live, to win, and to stay in the battle.
Gideon, the youngest son of Joash, led the Israel
ites in one of their continuing battles against the Midianites. Gideon was chosen by God as Gideon was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the wheat from the Midianites. Judges 6:11 tells us an angel of the Lord came and sat under an oak tree at Ophrah. The angel of the Lord appeared unto Gideon and said, “A mighty hero the Lord is with you.”
Gideon replied, “Sir if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘the Lord brought us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”
Gideon goes on to doubt himself, doubt his ability, doubt what God was trying to do in him. Gideon says, “How can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family?
By this time, the Midianites had been attacking at will the Israelites for about 7 years. Given the length of time of the pressure, the stress, the duress, the press, Gideon has questioned God.
Sometimes, we allow the length of time we are in our situation and circumstance, to dull our senses as to who we are and whose we are. God was with us before we went into the challenge; God is with us in the midst of the challenge. God sees the potential in us even when we can’t even see the reason for going on. It is at this point that nothing but your faith and nobody but God can help. It is when the bad times seem like they’ll never end, that you’ve got to believe that nothing but your faith and nobody but God.
Despite his doubt, despite disbelief, Gideon needed a sign. God gave him a sign, and then God went on to show Gideon that in order to win, it’s nothing but your faith, and nobody but God. God took Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 300. In other words it doesn’t take a whole lot of folk to start a new life with new beginnings. It only takes one asking for a clean heart and a right spirit. Nothing but your faith, and nobody but God.
Scripture of the Day: “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” -
Matthew 17:20
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Use Your GPS
Today while driving, I didn't listen to the voice coming out of my GPS because I thought I knew a better route to get to my desired destination. However, I was wrong … very wrong. Not only did I take the wrong route, but in doing so, I ran into extra obstacles and road blocks. First I turned down a street where construction was going on and the lane was blocked.
Then I came to a busy intersection, and the signal light was not working and we all know how most people pretend to not understand how to make it a four way stop. When I finally thought I was back on the correct route, I came to railroad tracks and seemingly the longest train ever comes. So I had yet another delay.
What should have been a 10 - minute drive turned into 55 minutes. It also resulted in much frustration, stress and ended with a mind-blowing headache. I was faced with all these unnecessary issues all because I didn't allow the GPS to do the very thing I purchased it for ... to direct me from one destination to the other.
Although by purchasing it, I was supposedly saying that I trusted it to do the job for which it was created. Yet, I still thought my way was better. Look where it got me. We often do the exact same thing in our Christian walk. God has provided us with a life GPS, the Bible (A good friend of mine calls it God’s Position System). The Bible has clear and concise instructions/directions for every aspect of our life.
God even gave each of us access to the Holy Spirit to remind and nudge us when we begin to get off the designated track. Yet, just like me this morning, too often we feel like we know better than the GPS (Bible) and decide to go our own route.
The Bible says turn right and we turn left. We purposely block out that little voice that keeps telling us to take a u-turn. And what happens? We find ourselves wondering how our lives got turned upside down. ... stuck in bad situations ... facing meaningless obstacles ... waiting for trains to pass that never should have been on our route to start with.
And yes, God can get us back on track just like the GPS did in my car. But first we must finally relinquish control and listen to it. So be encouraged. It may take longer than it should have but you can get back on track and become everything God called you to be.
For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death. Psalm 48:14
Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. Psalm 119:133
Scripture Of The Day: "I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let it go; Keep her, for she is your life." - Proverbs 4:11-13
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Learn Something
By Cindy Beall
I remember the day well. It was the end of May in 1991, and my mother was sending me off to Wyoming for the summer as a missionary with the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas. Despite the adorable denim jumper with a colorful sailor collar I had on, I was down. And scared.
I'd never been away from my mother for more than a couple of weeks and even then, I could drive 55 miles home to see her if I really needed to do so. And here I was leaving her and going some 1,200 miles away for eleven weeks. Eleven weeks. What in the world was I thinking?
The first couple of weeks proved to be difficult at best. My tear-stained cheeks certainly put a damper on my partner's spirit. She wanted to fix me and make it better, but we both knew that I just needed some time. Time to grow up and learn to rely on God.
And I did.
We had a tremendous summer where we learned more than we thought was possible. Spending that much time on an Indian Reservation will do that. Spending that much time anywhere will do that...if we'll let it.
You're in a place in your life. You don't know what the future holds. You don't know what plans are ahead for you. You don't have any idea what lay on the horizon.
Neither do I. But we know Who does.
Wherever you are in your life, learn. Learn something from it. As the old adage goes...Grow where you're planted. I am confident that God will meet you where you are.
Scripture Of The Day: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11
Cindy Beall is a Christ follower who uses her gift of exhortation by writing and mentoring women. She uses her past experiences, including the near death of her marriage, to encourage people that God truly does redeem. For more information about Cindy, log onto http://www.cindybeall.com
I remember the day well. It was the end of May in 1991, and my mother was sending me off to Wyoming for the summer as a missionary with the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas. Despite the adorable denim jumper with a colorful sailor collar I had on, I was down. And scared.
I'd never been away from my mother for more than a couple of weeks and even then, I could drive 55 miles home to see her if I really needed to do so. And here I was leaving her and going some 1,200 miles away for eleven weeks. Eleven weeks. What in the world was I thinking?
The first couple of weeks proved to be difficult at best. My tear-stained cheeks certainly put a damper on my partner's spirit. She wanted to fix me and make it better, but we both knew that I just needed some time. Time to grow up and learn to rely on God.
And I did.
We had a tremendous summer where we learned more than we thought was possible. Spending that much time on an Indian Reservation will do that. Spending that much time anywhere will do that...if we'll let it.
You're in a place in your life. You don't know what the future holds. You don't know what plans are ahead for you. You don't have any idea what lay on the horizon.
Neither do I. But we know Who does.
Wherever you are in your life, learn. Learn something from it. As the old adage goes...Grow where you're planted. I am confident that God will meet you where you are.
Scripture Of The Day: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11
Cindy Beall is a Christ follower who uses her gift of exhortation by writing and mentoring women. She uses her past experiences, including the near death of her marriage, to encourage people that God truly does redeem. For more information about Cindy, log onto http://www.cindybeall.com
Friday, January 28, 2011
Faith That Goes The Distance
By Pastor Kenneth Polk
God, throughout the scriptures, spoke through anointed men to convey the message, that those whom have been justified must live by faith. It is paramount that we become strong in faith, because we are living in days which will test the very fabric of our belief system.
In Hebrews 11:6 we find written these words, "But without faith it is impossible to please him." If you conduct an extensive word study on the word "please" you'll discover to please someone you'll have to be in agreement with them. So let's paraphrase that verse. But without faith it is impossible to line your life up in agreement with God. Therefore, in order to tap into the rich resources God has for every believer, your life must be in agreement with His. The success of your Christian walk and relationship with God is predicated by the level of your faith. Moreover, faith is the foundation of your Christian experience.
The word "faith" is properly defined by the Greek word pistis. Pistis is defined as firm persuasion, or to persuade, a conviction based upon hearing. It implies knowledge of, assent to, and confidence in divine truths, and revelations of the Word of God. The scripture proclaims "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."( Romans 10:17). The problem is most people take the word "hearing" literality. However, it's not speaking of hearing with your physical ears, but hearing within your spirit being.
The only way the word is going to produce faith in the life of a believer is that the word must become a living rhema within the soul of man, thus producing a life changing experience. Simply, the engrafted word becomes alive and real in the heart of the hearer, and he or she will begin to act according to the Word of God applying biblical principles to their daily life. This transformation of life will also change the quality of their life. The level of your faith is contingent upon the amount of the living word engrafted within your inner man.
So how does one's faith grow? I quoted earlier from Romans 10:17, "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Looking at the seed principle, mostly everything is the product of a seed. Man, animals, plants and even fruit has its origin from a seed. Jesus said "the sower sows the word."( Mark 4:14). In Luke 8:11 Jesus told us that "the seed is the Word of God." When a pastor or teacher ministers the word, he or she is sowing seed. The seed of the word is trying to penetrate the soul of man. Once the (word) breaches the soul it will either give birth to a living word (rhema), or it will be aborted.
According to Luke 8:12-14 Jesus said, "that being an indifferent hearer, the cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, and being not rooted in Christ" would cause the seed of the word to become aborted. However, if the seed of the word is birthed within the soul, a living word (rhema) is born. This living word will influence the spirit of man prompting a visible outward illustration of Christ and the faith walk. The just shall live by his faith.
The Bible speaks of various levels of faith ranging from a measure, to the God kind of faith. The stronger you are in faith will determine how victorious you will be in your spiritual life. Is your faith strong enough to go the distance?
Scripture Of The Day: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.." - Romans 10:17 (KJV)
Pastor Kenneth Polk is the Pastor of Followers of Christ Christian Center and author of the book, Living The Spirit Empowered Life. For more information about Pastor Polk, log onto http://www.followersofchristcc.com
God, throughout the scriptures, spoke through anointed men to convey the message, that those whom have been justified must live by faith. It is paramount that we become strong in faith, because we are living in days which will test the very fabric of our belief system.
In Hebrews 11:6 we find written these words, "But without faith it is impossible to please him." If you conduct an extensive word study on the word "please" you'll discover to please someone you'll have to be in agreement with them. So let's paraphrase that verse. But without faith it is impossible to line your life up in agreement with God. Therefore, in order to tap into the rich resources God has for every believer, your life must be in agreement with His. The success of your Christian walk and relationship with God is predicated by the level of your faith. Moreover, faith is the foundation of your Christian experience.
The word "faith" is properly defined by the Greek word pistis. Pistis is defined as firm persuasion, or to persuade, a conviction based upon hearing. It implies knowledge of, assent to, and confidence in divine truths, and revelations of the Word of God. The scripture proclaims "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."( Romans 10:17). The problem is most people take the word "hearing" literality. However, it's not speaking of hearing with your physical ears, but hearing within your spirit being.
The only way the word is going to produce faith in the life of a believer is that the word must become a living rhema within the soul of man, thus producing a life changing experience. Simply, the engrafted word becomes alive and real in the heart of the hearer, and he or she will begin to act according to the Word of God applying biblical principles to their daily life. This transformation of life will also change the quality of their life. The level of your faith is contingent upon the amount of the living word engrafted within your inner man.
So how does one's faith grow? I quoted earlier from Romans 10:17, "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Looking at the seed principle, mostly everything is the product of a seed. Man, animals, plants and even fruit has its origin from a seed. Jesus said "the sower sows the word."( Mark 4:14). In Luke 8:11 Jesus told us that "the seed is the Word of God." When a pastor or teacher ministers the word, he or she is sowing seed. The seed of the word is trying to penetrate the soul of man. Once the (word) breaches the soul it will either give birth to a living word (rhema), or it will be aborted.
According to Luke 8:12-14 Jesus said, "that being an indifferent hearer, the cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, and being not rooted in Christ" would cause the seed of the word to become aborted. However, if the seed of the word is birthed within the soul, a living word (rhema) is born. This living word will influence the spirit of man prompting a visible outward illustration of Christ and the faith walk. The just shall live by his faith.
The Bible speaks of various levels of faith ranging from a measure, to the God kind of faith. The stronger you are in faith will determine how victorious you will be in your spiritual life. Is your faith strong enough to go the distance?
Scripture Of The Day: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.." - Romans 10:17 (KJV)
Pastor Kenneth Polk is the Pastor of Followers of Christ Christian Center and author of the book, Living The Spirit Empowered Life. For more information about Pastor Polk, log onto http://www.followersofchristcc.com
Thursday, January 27, 2011
How High Can You Jump?
By Dr. Myles Munroe
I remember the day I found out that I can jump real high—about eight feet high.
Now, I can’t jump that high intentionally, but I did it once when I was a little boy.
There was a lady who lived behind our house from whose fruit trees we would occasionally feast and help ourselves. When we were little kids, we would crawl under the fence. Once day while I was on her side of the fence, her very vicious dog suddenly appeared. I had just touched down after climbing the fruit tree. As I carefully considered the distance between the fence, the dog and myself, I knew I had to make a run for it. I ran toward the fence with the dog close behind me. As the fence came closer and closer, all I could say was “O God, I’m dead.” All I could think was “jump.” As I left the ground, my heart was pounding and my chest felt like an arcade full of shouting people. I was so afraid! When I landed, I was safely on the other side of the fence.
When I turned around and looked at the dog, he was barking angrily because he couldn’t get over the fence. I just thought, “Yea, good for you.” Suddenly I became very proud because I had gotten away from him. But when I started to realize what I had done, I looked at the fence and thought, “How did I do that?”
I thank God for that dog. He was a blessing in my life. I never jumped that high before, and I never have since, but at least I know that I did it. I discovered that day there is a lot more potential in me than I realized was there.
The same is true for you. You aren’t doing more because no one has challenged you. I want to take you from the realm of waiting for people to challenge you and encourage you to challenge yourself. Don’t wait for a dog to teach you how to jump. Jump by your own challenge. Don’t just look at life and say, “Well, I’m going to wait until a demand is made on me and then I will produce.” Make a demand on yourself. Say to yourself, “Look, I am going to become the best in this area no matter what people have done before me.” Then go after that. You will accomplish it if you set out to do it.
This devotional is an excerpt from Dr. Myles Munroe's book "Understanding Your Potential."
Scripture Of The Day: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
Dr. Myles Munroe is an internationally renowned bestselling author, lecturer, teacher, life coach, government consultant, and leadership mentor. He is senior pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Fellowship, where his wife, Ruth Ann, serves as co-senior pastor. http://www.bfmmm.com.
I remember the day I found out that I can jump real high—about eight feet high.
Now, I can’t jump that high intentionally, but I did it once when I was a little boy.
There was a lady who lived behind our house from whose fruit trees we would occasionally feast and help ourselves. When we were little kids, we would crawl under the fence. Once day while I was on her side of the fence, her very vicious dog suddenly appeared. I had just touched down after climbing the fruit tree. As I carefully considered the distance between the fence, the dog and myself, I knew I had to make a run for it. I ran toward the fence with the dog close behind me. As the fence came closer and closer, all I could say was “O God, I’m dead.” All I could think was “jump.” As I left the ground, my heart was pounding and my chest felt like an arcade full of shouting people. I was so afraid! When I landed, I was safely on the other side of the fence.
When I turned around and looked at the dog, he was barking angrily because he couldn’t get over the fence. I just thought, “Yea, good for you.” Suddenly I became very proud because I had gotten away from him. But when I started to realize what I had done, I looked at the fence and thought, “How did I do that?”
I thank God for that dog. He was a blessing in my life. I never jumped that high before, and I never have since, but at least I know that I did it. I discovered that day there is a lot more potential in me than I realized was there.
The same is true for you. You aren’t doing more because no one has challenged you. I want to take you from the realm of waiting for people to challenge you and encourage you to challenge yourself. Don’t wait for a dog to teach you how to jump. Jump by your own challenge. Don’t just look at life and say, “Well, I’m going to wait until a demand is made on me and then I will produce.” Make a demand on yourself. Say to yourself, “Look, I am going to become the best in this area no matter what people have done before me.” Then go after that. You will accomplish it if you set out to do it.
This devotional is an excerpt from Dr. Myles Munroe's book "Understanding Your Potential."
Scripture Of The Day: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
Dr. Myles Munroe is an internationally renowned bestselling author, lecturer, teacher, life coach, government consultant, and leadership mentor. He is senior pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Fellowship, where his wife, Ruth Ann, serves as co-senior pastor. http://www.bfmmm.com.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The What-If Syndrome
By Tanya S. James
Generally, I consider myself a person of great faith but recently after doing some self reflection I realized my faith may not be quite as strong as I thought. In fact I actually have what I have coined as the “what-if syndrome.”
It seems I ask God a lot of questions about the things I believe He calls me to do.
What if I fail?
What if they don’t listen?
What if it doesn’t work out according to my plan?
What if this...?
What if that …?
All of my “what ifs” cause a delay in my obedience which is in fact disobedience.
When God says move, my faith needs to activate and cause me to move immediately. If God says I am healed, I should embrace that and walk in my healing. If God says, start that business, I should trust that the provisions to make that happen will come.
Whatever He speaks is already done. Yet, many times I try to analyze the situation and control every step of the process. However, my Christian experience reminds me that we are never in control; it’s all in God’s hand.
So why do we continue to stress, worry, fret, etc over our situations? It’s time to let it go and give it completely to God. Trust and believe and walk in faith knowing He always has us covered.
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
To me, both of those statements say the exact same thing and both of them require me (and you) to get rid of the “what-if” syndrome.
Do you realize how much we could accomplish if we REALLY operated in faith? Fear would have to flee and peace would overcome us – no matter what our physical eyes saw in front of us.
My “what ifs” have held me back long enough … I’m ready to cover my eyes and just walk wherever God tells me to go. Won’t you join me? We’ve tried to do it without faith, let’s try something new for a change. Let’s truly activate our faith and apply it to EVERY situation in our lives. I guarantee the outcome will be completely different. We have nothing to lose, and EVERYTHING to gain.
Scripture Of The Day: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” - 2 Corinthians 5:7
Tanya S. James is founder and CEO of The Master Plan, an artist management firm, and author of From Promiscuity to Proverbs 31: Getting Off the Fence of Sexual Immorality. You can find Tanya blogging at http://www.mycoffeemoments.com.
Generally, I consider myself a person of great faith but recently after doing some self reflection I realized my faith may not be quite as strong as I thought. In fact I actually have what I have coined as the “what-if syndrome.”
It seems I ask God a lot of questions about the things I believe He calls me to do.
What if I fail?
What if they don’t listen?
What if it doesn’t work out according to my plan?
What if this...?
What if that …?
All of my “what ifs” cause a delay in my obedience which is in fact disobedience.
When God says move, my faith needs to activate and cause me to move immediately. If God says I am healed, I should embrace that and walk in my healing. If God says, start that business, I should trust that the provisions to make that happen will come.
Whatever He speaks is already done. Yet, many times I try to analyze the situation and control every step of the process. However, my Christian experience reminds me that we are never in control; it’s all in God’s hand.
So why do we continue to stress, worry, fret, etc over our situations? It’s time to let it go and give it completely to God. Trust and believe and walk in faith knowing He always has us covered.
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
To me, both of those statements say the exact same thing and both of them require me (and you) to get rid of the “what-if” syndrome.
Do you realize how much we could accomplish if we REALLY operated in faith? Fear would have to flee and peace would overcome us – no matter what our physical eyes saw in front of us.
My “what ifs” have held me back long enough … I’m ready to cover my eyes and just walk wherever God tells me to go. Won’t you join me? We’ve tried to do it without faith, let’s try something new for a change. Let’s truly activate our faith and apply it to EVERY situation in our lives. I guarantee the outcome will be completely different. We have nothing to lose, and EVERYTHING to gain.
Scripture Of The Day: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” - 2 Corinthians 5:7
Tanya S. James is founder and CEO of The Master Plan, an artist management firm, and author of From Promiscuity to Proverbs 31: Getting Off the Fence of Sexual Immorality. You can find Tanya blogging at http://www.mycoffeemoments.com.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Pressing On With Precision And Purpose
By Pastor Marvin Moss
Hebrews 12:1-2 is a word for those of us who find ourselves in a struggle day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. God would have us to know that we should not be struggling just to be struggling. We should no longer go into each day with the mindset this is another day of struggle, stress, and strife. As children of God we should be able to find some joy, some peace, some happiness in the midst of any given situation or circumstance. As children of God we should not be constantly flailing around in the winds of worry or caught up in the sinking sands of sorrow.
This is not the life of those who lean not to their own understanding but trust in God with their whole heart. The life to which we have been called is not one without challenges, but it is one where regardless of what might come our way the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Jesus tells us in John 16:32-33, “In me ye might have peace. In the world, ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." It is for this reason that we are able to press on. Not just for the sake of pressing on, but we press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Some reports offer various names about who the writer of our text is. Among the names is the apostle Paul: the tentmaker from Tarsus; that trailblazing theologian; the apostle called by Christ Jesus; Paul, the apostle we all can relate to; the one who often times found himself perplexed on every side yet did not give up; the one who counted it all joy when he found himself in various trials and tribulations. I’m talking about the same Paul who reminds us that all things work together for the good of them that love God and are the called according to his purpose. Paul had to press on with precision and with purpose. Otherwise the challenges in his life would have caused him just to acquiesce to the assaults that life assailed against him.
The text helps us understand three things that we need to do in order to press on with precision and purpose. We need to hold on to God, hold on to the goal, and hold on to the Holy Ghost. When we replay the seemingly catastrophic climb up Calvary’s hill, we remember the crown of thorns on his head. We remember the cross that was on his shoulder. We remember the jeers of the crowd. Then when he got to the top, there we see them driving the nails in his hands and feet. As he hung between two thieves, they gambled for his clothes beneath. There his mother watched helplessly. Yet Jesus had the strength, Jesus had the divine desire to say Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
While we’re pressing on with precision and purpose, what people do to us is inconsequential. People are not our focus and this life is not our goal, but a life of Godliness.
So we run this race with patience,
We fight the good fight of faith.
With precision we stay the course.
With purpose we turn our eyes toward Jesus.
The psalmist put it best in, Psalm 121, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved, he that keepeth thee will not slumber."
When the race gets you down, press on.
When your hopes are handcuffed and your dreams are deferred, press on.
When the headwinds of life slow you down, press on.
When life is filled with delay, disruption, and disappointment, press on.
Press past the mess and stroll through the stress.
Press on!
Scripture Of The Day: "...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2
Pastor Marvin Moss is senior pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Pastor Moss is extremely active within the Atlanta community, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Gammon Theological Seminary. For more information about Pastor Moss, log onto http://www.cascadeumc.org
Hebrews 12:1-2 is a word for those of us who find ourselves in a struggle day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. God would have us to know that we should not be struggling just to be struggling. We should no longer go into each day with the mindset this is another day of struggle, stress, and strife. As children of God we should be able to find some joy, some peace, some happiness in the midst of any given situation or circumstance. As children of God we should not be constantly flailing around in the winds of worry or caught up in the sinking sands of sorrow.
This is not the life of those who lean not to their own understanding but trust in God with their whole heart. The life to which we have been called is not one without challenges, but it is one where regardless of what might come our way the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Jesus tells us in John 16:32-33, “In me ye might have peace. In the world, ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." It is for this reason that we are able to press on. Not just for the sake of pressing on, but we press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Some reports offer various names about who the writer of our text is. Among the names is the apostle Paul: the tentmaker from Tarsus; that trailblazing theologian; the apostle called by Christ Jesus; Paul, the apostle we all can relate to; the one who often times found himself perplexed on every side yet did not give up; the one who counted it all joy when he found himself in various trials and tribulations. I’m talking about the same Paul who reminds us that all things work together for the good of them that love God and are the called according to his purpose. Paul had to press on with precision and with purpose. Otherwise the challenges in his life would have caused him just to acquiesce to the assaults that life assailed against him.
The text helps us understand three things that we need to do in order to press on with precision and purpose. We need to hold on to God, hold on to the goal, and hold on to the Holy Ghost. When we replay the seemingly catastrophic climb up Calvary’s hill, we remember the crown of thorns on his head. We remember the cross that was on his shoulder. We remember the jeers of the crowd. Then when he got to the top, there we see them driving the nails in his hands and feet. As he hung between two thieves, they gambled for his clothes beneath. There his mother watched helplessly. Yet Jesus had the strength, Jesus had the divine desire to say Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
While we’re pressing on with precision and purpose, what people do to us is inconsequential. People are not our focus and this life is not our goal, but a life of Godliness.
So we run this race with patience,
We fight the good fight of faith.
With precision we stay the course.
With purpose we turn our eyes toward Jesus.
The psalmist put it best in, Psalm 121, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved, he that keepeth thee will not slumber."
When the race gets you down, press on.
When your hopes are handcuffed and your dreams are deferred, press on.
When the headwinds of life slow you down, press on.
When life is filled with delay, disruption, and disappointment, press on.
Press past the mess and stroll through the stress.
Press on!
Scripture Of The Day: "...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2
Pastor Marvin Moss is senior pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Pastor Moss is extremely active within the Atlanta community, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Gammon Theological Seminary. For more information about Pastor Moss, log onto http://www.cascadeumc.org
Sunday, January 23, 2011
God Can Use You
By Dr. Jack Graham
It absolutely thrills me when I think that the God of heaven can actually use me! It blows my mind that I can be an instrument to accomplish His will...just like the land on which abundant rain falls.
Faithful Christians are the tools God uses to do great things that have eternal value. He uses His followers as witnesses to the entire earth to tell everyone about Him and His love. When you stop to think about it, you and I can truly alter the course of history and the world!
Unfortunately, some people are not being used by God because they are either unwilling or unfaithful.
It is said that Leon Trotsky, who was a key part of the Communist revolution in Russia, actually attended a Sunday school class one day during a visit to America. But the teacher of the class was absent that morning, and did not bother to get a substitute. So no one taught the Bible that morning, and as far as anyone knows, Trotsky never attended church again.
What if someone had been faithful enough to show up that Sunday morning? It may have helped to alter history!
All that God asks of us is to make ourselves available to Him. Tell the Lord today that you want to faithfully serve Him, to be like the land in today's verse that is a blessing to others and is blessed by God as a result.
Who knows what wonderful things might happen when you are faithful to the Lord!
All that God asks is for you to make yourself available to Him!
Scripture Of The Day: "For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned." - Hebrews 6:7-8
Dr. Jack Graham is the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the nation’s largest, most dynamic congregations. The author of numerous books, Dr. Graham is the founder of PowerPoint® Ministries, a radio and television broadcast ministry. For more information about Dr. Graham, log onto http://www.powerpoint.org. …
It absolutely thrills me when I think that the God of heaven can actually use me! It blows my mind that I can be an instrument to accomplish His will...just like the land on which abundant rain falls.
Faithful Christians are the tools God uses to do great things that have eternal value. He uses His followers as witnesses to the entire earth to tell everyone about Him and His love. When you stop to think about it, you and I can truly alter the course of history and the world!
Unfortunately, some people are not being used by God because they are either unwilling or unfaithful.
It is said that Leon Trotsky, who was a key part of the Communist revolution in Russia, actually attended a Sunday school class one day during a visit to America. But the teacher of the class was absent that morning, and did not bother to get a substitute. So no one taught the Bible that morning, and as far as anyone knows, Trotsky never attended church again.
What if someone had been faithful enough to show up that Sunday morning? It may have helped to alter history!
All that God asks of us is to make ourselves available to Him. Tell the Lord today that you want to faithfully serve Him, to be like the land in today's verse that is a blessing to others and is blessed by God as a result.
Who knows what wonderful things might happen when you are faithful to the Lord!
All that God asks is for you to make yourself available to Him!
Scripture Of The Day: "For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned." - Hebrews 6:7-8
Dr. Jack Graham is the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the nation’s largest, most dynamic congregations. The author of numerous books, Dr. Graham is the founder of PowerPoint® Ministries, a radio and television broadcast ministry. For more information about Dr. Graham, log onto http://www.powerpoint.org. …
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