Our
whole walk with God requires faith. If we book a ticket to fly from Saskatoon
to Manchester, with our innate human faith, we don’t give another thought to
the fact that our flight will land at Manchester, but yet many Christians often
struggle with believing God’s word (having faith in God). As an example, when
God says: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in
glory by Christ Jesus”, do his people believe (Phil 4:19; KJV)?
You
know, all Christians were given a measure of faith in God when they were born
again (Rom 12:3). But the bible says we need to grow our faith just like a baby
needs to grow to adulthood. How do we grow our faith? In Romans 10:17 we see
that: “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. In other
words, we need to be in the word, reading it to ourselves, meditating it (thinking
about it, rolling it around in our mind) and getting good solid bible-based
teaching. Faith also comes by praying in the Holy Spirit; either in our native
tongue, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, or by praying in tongues (Jude
20).
In
the Amplified Bible it has a wonderful explanation of strong faith: “through
the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute
trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness” (2 Tim 3:15; Amp). Now that’s
faith and it can be ours.
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".......so
that I might finish my course with joy...." (Acts 20:24; KJV), I don't
believe God wants us to be boring stodgy Christians. If we could enjoy life
rather than rushing from one busy thing to another, then we would have a better
witness to the world.
God:
“giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Tim 6:17; KJV) and in John 10:10
Jesus said: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly”. The writer of Ecclesiastes told us to find ENJOYMENT in everything
we do and even adds that this is from God (Eccl 2:24; 5:18).
The
apostle Peter taught that if we want to: "love life and see good
days", there are 3 things we should do: 1. Watch what we say. 2. Do what
is right. 3. Search for peace (1 Peter 3:10-11). I would like to add one more
scripture to that advice which is found in Acts 20:35, here we are told: “it is
more blessed to give than to receive”. Once you make your aim in life to be a
giver (and that doesn't just mean money), then you cannot fail to enjoy life,
because you will be putting others first and that is a great prescription for
joy.
Please
pass this on. All rights reserved.
Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book:
“On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also
to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.
The
story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet always impacts me each time I read
it (John 13:1-14). It is an example of selfless humility and love. When reading
that story the other day it struck me that in washing the disciples' feet Jesus
would have done that act of love to Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
Jesus
then exhorted us to wash one another’s feet and even those of our enemies: “If
I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s
feet.” (John 13:14; KJV).
On
the cross Jesus asked his Father to forgive those who crucified him: “Then said
Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus
taught that we should love our enemies, do them good and pray for them (Matt
5:44). We are told that we should never repay evil for evil and should be at
peace with people (Rom 12:17-18).
Paul
went on to say that God will deal with those who may choose to cause us harm (v
19). Our role is to overcome evil with good (love) and seek to be a blessing to
those who are against us (v 20-21).
Isn't
it amazing that we have a God who carries our burdens (Matt 11:28-30), protects
us and fights our battles for us (2 Chron 20:15). We just need to trust (Prov
3:506), walk in love (Eph 5:2), and cast our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7).
Please recommend our book:
“On the Way: Basic Christian Training” to others. Check out our web site for
information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. ASK US FOR A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, using the contact us page
on our website; click here: www.onthewayinlove.com
The
Apostle Peter denied Jesus 3 times at Jesus' greatest time of need (John 18:15-27).
After his resurrection Jesus took time to specifically let Peter know that he
loved him and forgave him (John 21:15-17). It is interesting that Jesus told
Peter, who would become a leader in the early church, to feed his lambs, tend his
sheep and feed his sheep.
Feed
means to feed or keep, while tend can also mean to feed but also to shepherd or
pastor. Peter exhorted the elders (shepherds) of the church to oversee, care
for, shepherd and feed the flock, or church (1 Peter 5:2). The shepherd leads, protects,
feeds and pastures his flock (Ps 23, John 10:1-30).
We
have shepherds, our pastors and elders, who provide spiritual food from the
Bible. When Jesus charged Peter there was such a clear emphasis on feeding the
flock. We should heed this emphasis in our own lives.
God's
word is truth (John 17:17) and this truth sets us free (John 8:32). God's word
is life (Psalm 119:50); it is vibrant, alive and full of power (Heb 4:12). This
power will change us (Rom 12:2), make us all God wants us to be, bring God's
blessings and grow our faith (Rom 10:17).
No
wonder the psalmist said "thy word have I hid in mine heart" (Psalm 119:11;
KJV). We would do well to heed this advice.
Please
pass this on. All rights reserved.
Please recommend our book:
“On the Way: Basic Christian Training” to others. Check out our web site for
information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. ASK US FOR A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, using the contact us page
on our website; click here: www.onthewayinlove.com
"Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every
name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and
things in earth, and things under the earth" (Phil 2: 9-10; KJV).
The
name of Jesus is higher than any other name; that means anything else that can
be named - any kind of problem, any kind of illness, any kind of anything -
must bow to the name of Jesus. The word "name" in Greek means not
just a person's name but also their character and authority.
That
is why our Lord told us to pray in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14; John 16:24).
He actually said he would do whatever we ask when we pray in the name of Jesus
and that we would be full of joy as a result.
Peter
did just that in Acts 3:6 when he commanded a lame man to be healed in the name
of Jesus: “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have
give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk”. In Acts
3:16 Peter added the it was through faith in the name of Jesus that the lame
man was healed.
We
can command demons to leave in Jesus name, sickness to leave, relationships to
be restored and so on. There is power in the name of Jesus. Use the name of
Jesus today with the authority that is behind that name and expect results.
Please recommend our book:
“On the Way: Basic Christian Training” to others. Check out our web site for
information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. ASK US FOR A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, using the contact us page
on our website; click here: www.onthewayinlove.com