Tag: faithingod

Have You Enrolled in the School of Faith?

Text:

Hebrews 11:29-30 (ESV) 

29  By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 

30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 

Observation:

The people of faith then and the people of God now have one thing in common; faith obeys God in spite of circumstances or consequences.

Joshua 24:2 (ESV) 

2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.

The gift of faith is available to anyone who has ears to hear. It is the hearing of the word of God that births faith in the heart of a person.

Romans 10:17 (ESV) 

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Have you enrolled in the School of Faith? Are you living by faith in God? There are lots of places you can seek help in this world, but there is no greater power than the power of the living God. Notice what he said to Abraham.

Genesis 12:1-2 (ESV) 

1 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 

2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

God promised Abraham 3 things:

I will show you

I will make you

I will bless you

The test of genuine faith is obedience. Faith is willing to wait on God; it obeys in spite of circumstances, and without regards to consequences. Faith puts everything in God’s hands.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) 

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that you have given me the gift of faith. Lord, when my faith is tested, help me to hold on to your unchanging hand. Lord, remove from my vocabulary the word quit. Lord, I want to go the distance with you. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Daily Bread

Title: The Secret of Living A Life of Contentment in A Troubled World

Text:

Mark 4:35-41 (HCSB)
35 On that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side [of the sea].”
36 So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was [already] in the boat. And other boats were with Him.
37 A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.
38 But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?”
41 And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Observation:

Could the cause of my worry and anxiety be unbelief? The disciples would have not been so worried and anxious if they had believed what Jesus told them before they got in the boat.

35 On that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side [of the sea].”

Jesus told them let’s cross over to the other side of the sea. Jesus did not ask them to get in the boat so that they would drown. The problem was their lack of faith in Jesus; that He meant what He said.

Mark 4:40 (HCSB)
40 Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?”

O Lord, give me the faith that in the midst of my troubles; when it seems like the storm will never calm, help me to remember these words, and for my soul to sing:

“Brightly doth His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall,
Trusting Jesus that is all.”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/569#3#ixzz2nYggr2Mk

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, help me to always remember in every circumstance, that Jesus is in the boat with me, and that He has promised to get me to the other side. This is my prayer, and this is my song.

Psalm 18:1-2 (HCSB)
1 I love You, LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
6 I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.
Psalm 18:16 (HCSB)
16 He reached down from heaven and took hold of me; He pulled me out of deep waters.
Psalm 18:19 (HCSB)
19 He brought me out to a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.
 Psalm 18:31 (HCSB)
31 For who is God besides Yahweh? And who is a rock? Only our God.

Daily Bread

Title: The Assurance that Believers in Christ Will Never Die

Text:

John 11:20-27 (ESV)
20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Observation:

When you lose a loved one its hurts; the hurt is deeper when that loved one has been one that you have known her whole life. I was present on the day of her birth, and I was present on the day of her death.

The humanity in us cries out when a loved one dies. We identify with Martha’s words, “Lord, if”. The pain and loss is real.

However, we must remind ourselves of what we know about death, and the promises and the hope that we have about the status of the soul of those who die in Christ.

John 11:25-26 (ESV)
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

The words of Jesus give us hope and comfort. Victory and comfort for God’s people comes when we are able to move from saying “Lord, if” (in verse 21) to “Yes, Lord” (in verse 27).

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I thank You for the words of Jesus that because He lives that those who believe in Him will never die. Father, I am so glad that I can say, “Yes, Lord” to this goodnews. Lord, I thank You for the gift of eternal life.

Lord, I thank You for my sister in Christ; my cousin Marcia who is now living in the land of the living while those of us who mourn her loss are living in the land of the dying. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Because He Lives I Can Face Tomorrow – – Bill Gaither sings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVdEdIDyeaA