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When YOU are ready

When YOU are ready

Hebrews 11:1-2     Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

Helloooo…..is there anybody up there????? God, are you hearing my prayers? I have been praying to you about this, but you don’t answerrrrrr me. Why don’t you answer me? We all have made those statements; those statements show our level of faith in them. Not receiving an answer, or maybe even receiving one we don’t like, so we continue to pray hoping to change God’s mind. Thank you God for so many unanswered prayers. It is in our little minds that we lack that understanding of how God operates out of the confines of time; He created time, rules time, and is not bound by time. When I stress out over the things that don’t happen on my timetable with God, the Holy Spirit always seems to whisper this scripture to me: 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Can you look at the entire Bible in the light of that scripture? In God’s eyes, it has only been a couple of days since Christ payed for our sin debt due. Look at how our world has run from God again; we are just like the stubborn, stiff-necked Israelites of the Old Testament. We see the proof of God, and then turn our backs on him, over and over again.

Hebrews 11 is the place to go for the proof of those patriarchs of faith. Those people that had such great faith in God, they put their lives entirely in his hands. It was by this faith, that verse two shows that God considered them righteous by their faith. Hebrews 11 is the chapter on which one’s faith is proven by the action that is taken. The level of our faith can be found in the understanding of the sunrise we see every day. The simple beauty and incredible complexity of all creation, right down to us as His greatest creation. Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (ESV) If God can breath a star into existence, the details of my life are a breeze. The level of your faith will determine how you live your life. “You are what you believe”, a best friend, and the Godliest man I know once told me. Your faith is found in that statement and self-analysis. It will guide your every decision in the background of your mind. When you are wondering the “whys” of your life, and or your prayer life, consider that God is testing your faith in delayed responses in and to them. Keep drawing near to God and He will answer you, when YOU are ready.

 
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Posted by on September 15, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Heartfelt Faith

Heartfelt Faith

Hebrews 11:5-6    By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

This morning in prayer I seemed to go down a road of reflection on my life the past six or seven years. I remembered God stirring my heart, and that led to a desire to start reading my Bible every day. I remember God really convicting me of sin. I remember God really asking me for steps of faith. I remember my life changing so much in so many ways from just answering that tug on my heart to start reading my Bible every day. That is the root of my evangelism, my ministry, my calling from God. To share a life changed with you; to share Salvation through Christ with you; to share the need for time with Him every day with you. All of the troubles and questions you face are found in Christ, and a heart that truly desires to serve Him. You do not have to go to seminary to become a disciple for Christ.

Hebrews 11 is packed with the stories of the people who had great faith in the Bible. The stories many of us know; of those that stepped out into the unknown on the hope they would find God there. Every story, every time, never failing, God was there to provide for them. Enoch had such a heart for God that he did not even taste death’s sting; God took him alive into heaven. Enoch left a powerful testimony of a life dedicated to God. For 365 years he pursued God and the things of God with so much heart that God whisked him away into heaven, leaving Enoch an eternal testimony of a heart for God; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Enoch could not see that eternal testimony that God had for him. He only had a heart for God and desired to please God for all his life. God had bigger plans for him.

Are you comfortable in your faith? Are you feeling good about your relationship with Christ? If you are not feeling challenged by Christ in acts of faith, you may need to examine your heart for Him. He detests the lukewarm Christian, the comfortable, the content. Revelation 3:15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. We have so watered down the Gospel in today’s church that many who believe they are saved, are not. You cannot say a prayer, sign a card, and live your life for this world for the remainder of it and expect an eternal paradise. The conviction of sin that sets in upon true salvation brings a desire to serve the One who delivered it. That heart is moved into service; that heart is moved into acts of obedience; that heart is a heart that pleases God.

 
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Posted by on February 21, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Hands and Feet

Hands and Feet

Matthew 18:11-13   For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

“Well, I am gonna just sit right here. I am comfortable, and that might cause me to be uncomfortable.” That statement could apply in many contexts to many different situations in our lives. Think of how many times you have not made a move because a move will always involve change. We can tend to get content; we fear change; we get lazy. To step out into the unknown is where faith is. Hebrews 11:Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We can seem to justify by many, and any, means the reasoning behind remaining idle. Satan provides the excuses for sitting still, for that keeps us from experiencing Christ in those situations.

This morning in my prayer time I had the words “hands and feet” on my mind. We are to be the hands and feet of Christ in the motion of going out and spreading the Gospel. We are not to remain idle, or to simply serve ourselves, but to share with those that Christ puts before us. Do you think it is a coincidence that God has put that person before you; and that you are feeling that tug to share? This is a time when you deny yourself and your fear; you step out in faith to share your faith. Hebrews 13:16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. The acts of sharing your faith is the acts that please God. The idleness and denial of sharing your faith pains the Holy Spirit living inside of you. Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Idleness is a sin, in fact a great sin to be honest. When the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation from the visions he experienced; idleness is directly addressed in a terrifying scripture. Revelation 3:15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. This scripture should terrify you. You cannot sit in the comfort of your religion in a pew on Sunday. You cannot grieve the Holy Spirit and not share your faith. You cannot remain idle and not live out your faith; you must let your faith in Christ take you where you would not go on your own. Be the hands and feet of Jesus, and live out your faith in Him.

 
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Posted by on December 9, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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