Faith Is Action

Week of July 14, 2023

 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

Faith is acting in confidence that God’s power is active in your life.  Faith is trusting God’s power will be your strength to do everything through Him.

When you say, “There’s something I’d really like to do for God, but I don’t think that I can do it.”  God may reply, “Great! Now that you have figured that out, I can work through you.  You can’t do it by yourself, but with my power working through you, you can do anything I ask you to do.”

If you only say “I can’t” and never recognize that “God can” you are less likely to ever attempt great things for God.  It’s like having a car with a very powerful engine, if you don’t believe it can get past the first intersection you’ll never take it out of the garage.

God’ power is available to you, “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.  Remember, faith is acting with confidence in obedience to what He has called you to do.  Where is God asking you to step out in faith?

Not One Word Has Failed

Week of July 7, 2023

 “Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth.  And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you.  All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.”  Joshua 23:14 (NKJV)

Close to the end of Joshua’s life he gathered the Israelites so that they could reflect upon all God had done for them since they first began following Him.  God had given them the assignment to conquer a foreign land with fortified cities and armies more powerful than their own.  They were commanded to go forward with nothing more than God’s promise that He would go with them and take care of them.  Now Joshua was looking back over their experience and reminding the Israelites that God had kept every promise.

Twenty-four years after God promised Abraham and Sarah a son they were still waiting but in the twenty-fifth year they were able to look back and say that God is faithful. David had to flee for his life from Saul and he probably questioned how God would keep His promise to make him King but at the end of his reign, David was able to review how God had kept every promise. Hindsight always gives us a clearer picture of how faithful God has been to us. We must not be tempted during a crisis to wonder if God will be faithful to His promises.

Do you feel like there is a crisis going on in your life?  If so, I encourage you to hold on to the promises of your Lord because He will not forget His promises to you.  Take some time right now and look back and recount the ways in which God has been faithful to His word in your life.

God Bless, Pastor Rick

Believe When You Pray

Week of June 30, 2023

“When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!”  Yet she kept insisting it was so.  So they said “It is his angel.”  Acts 12:14-15

These two verses illustrate that you can pray to God and still have doubt in your heart. There are times when God will answer such prayers as He did when Peter was in prison awaiting for a certain execution. The believers in Jerusalem were powerless to physically free him and so they turned to God in prayer. When God miraculously released Peter from prison their reaction revealed the doubt that was taking place in their hearts. They argued with each other that Peter could not possibly be free even though he stood outside the door knocking.

It is possible to be a person of prayer and not have 100% faith in your prayer.  You can ask God for help and not have faith in His ability to meet your needs. Have you ever been surprised when God answered one of your prayers?  As believers we ought to expect God to answer our prayers.  If you are praying for forgiveness are you still living with guilt or after you have asked God to provide for your needs did you remain worried?

Maybe we should ask God to increase our measure of faith, so that we can live a life that reflects absolute trust in Him. Remember that because of His grace He may choose to respond to your request in spite of your lack of faith, Remember that God said all things are possible to those who believe!  

God Bless, Pastor Rick