Don't Be Afraid, Just Believe

 

 

    

Luke 8:49-50

 

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher any more."

50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."

NIV

You have been there, just as I have.    Life has dealt you pain, grief, sickness or discouragement.  Gathering your courage, you begin to seek the Lord for a breakthrough.  When all of a sudden... the situation gets even worse!

 

In the passage today, Jesus was on His  way to heal Jairus's daughter when He is diverted by a woman with an issue of blood.  She boldly approaches Jesus and grabs hold of his garment- and His power.  Instantly she is healed.  And Jesus is arrested. "Who touched me?" He demanded to know.  Then He begins a dialogue with the healed lady.  All to the detriment of Jairus' daughter.  While He stands there, taking care of the needs of this lady, Jairus' daughter died.

 

Jairus was there first.  He already had Jesus' attention.  Jesus had agreed to go to his home with him.  It appeared the miracle was on its way!  And then, there was a delay.  And the situation went from bad to worse.  What do you do when life seems to be a progression of bad reports?  Broken dreams?  Infirmity?

 

I love Jesus.  O, how I love Him!  But this passage makes me love Him even more.  How heroic that He can be in the middle of a miracle for one person, and recognize the discouragement in another.  He turns immediately and encourages Jairus' faith, "Don't be afraid, just believe..."

 

Sometimes  as we stand praying, in the very presence of Jesus, our life can take a sharp downward turn.  It is hard to wrap our minds around it.  It  is hard to understand why He allows things, especially things that we are praying about already.  It is hurtful when it appears He is answering everyone  else's prayers, but our own.  It is hard to be in need and see another rejoicing.  But it is what God expects of us.

 

Jairus' situation was dire indeed.  Hopeless, in fact.  But that is never the end of the story with God.  What are you facing today?  "Don't be afraid, just believe."  Don't be afraid, just believe...

 

No situation taxes the power of God.  He  strength and ability is without limit.  When you are in a battle, believe.  When the warfare increases, believe.  When your dream has died, believe!  Jesus cares about you and your situation.  He has not forgotten.  He will come through for you.  He will take care of you, either with a miracle, or with an infusion of grace.   Squelch your fear.  Do not speak your doubt.  Choose instead to summon the strength one more time to believe.

 

Jairus' believed and received his daughter back from the dead.  God is watching over the situations that concerns you and is speaking life into them.  All is not lost, child of God, just believe.

 

 

Dear Lord, help me to not be paralyzed by fear and discouragement.  Increase my faith.  Embolden me to believe as I wait to see your miraculous works on my behalf.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Immeasurably More

 

 

 

    

Eph 3:20-21

 

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

NIV

When my kids were younger, a toy store started sending out nifty Christmas wish books complete with stickers.  The stickers said something like "Number 1"; "Gotta Have!"; "I love this!"... you get the point.  Each book probably contained 20-25 stickers.  Being the cool mom that I am, I made sure that each of them got their own. That way they could place stickers on their top picks to help me with our shopping list, and of course, the Santa letter.  My oldest, who has always been a bit more discriminating only used 3 or 4 of his stickers.  Next thing you know, though, my middle son had gotten the oldest one to give him his residual stickers.  Suddenly, his wish list has morphed into something even the Trump's would question.

After that, I had to take him aside and explain that we just cannot ask for everything.  We must choose the things we really love the best.  And still he had to understand that he might not get all he asked for. In life, I have probably been guilty of adopting a similar attitude with God.  I have to ask Him for just a couple of things.  I do not need to overtax God, right?

This verse says that "he is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine."  Take a moment to think about that.  He is able.  He can do it- it is no problem for Him.  His power and ability is without limits.  But notice the next part...  He can do immeasurably more than all we ask.  Without measure.  Too great to be weighed or estimated.  That means I can never ask for anything too big or too hard. But that is not the end of it- He can do more than I can even imagine.  His thoughts are so much higher than mine.  His resources include things I have never even heard of.   That is why we can trust Him with our lives.  He knows things we will  never understand this side of heaven!

The final thing that leaps off the page to me is that it is according to His power that works in us.  His  power has already been loosed in the life of the believer.  What are we doing with that power?  Are we calling on it as we believe God for greater and greater things?  Or are we leaving it virtually untapped in our lives?

A note of balance.  God is sovereign and always has the right to "veto" a request that does not line up with His will or purpose for us.  As long  as we are  surrendering our desires to His written Word and will, the sky is the limit!  We can take the limits off of God and ask for the immeasurably greater things!

 

Dear Lord, forgive me for putting limits on You through doubt and unbelief.  Increase my view of You and my faith as well.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

 

Christmas Miracles: Miracle Confirmation

    

Luke 1:39-45

 

Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

NKJV

 

After the angel's visit, Mary left quickly to go to her cousin, Elizabeth.  Thanks to the announcement of the angel, Mary knew that the Lord had performed a miracle in the life of someone  else that she knew.  How merciful God is to give us the confirmation that we need when He calls us to do something bigger than ourselves.

The Bible records that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt and she was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy about the Christ's birth.  Until the birth of Christ, people were not filled with the Spirit continually, but rather, with occasional dispensations for specific purposes. This is a rare time that a woman was filled and the only time I can recall that an unborn baby is touched by the Holy Spirit.  This is indeed a special circumstance, a miracle of the power of God as the most pivotal point in  history, up to this time, unfolds.

 In verse 4,  Elizabeth confirms that Mary is carrying the Messiah. I know this verse must have brought such encouragement to sweet, innocent, Mary.  Likely she would encounter many people during her pregnancy who would question her virtue and the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy.  I love that the Lord cares not only about His will coming to pass, but also about the vessels who are carrying out His will on Earth.

 I love verse 45, because God is using Elizabeth to commend and further encourage Mary's faith .  Here is the element of belief. Elizabeth acknowledges the faith of Mary.  She discerns by the Spirit of God that Mary has believed the angel's proclamation and is walking in faith concerning God's purpose for her life. 

The story of Christmas is full of so many miracles. The miracle of the forerunner. The miracle of the virgin birth.  The miracle confirmation brought to Elizabeth through Mary. There are many other miracles that occurred as well.  God is a supernatural God.  Everything He does is above our understanding and filled with His supernatural essence.   When He allows us to participate in His plan, His resources  are without limit.  We can trust in Him.  He has it under control.

Dear Lord, thank you for walking through life with us.  Thank you for the encouragement and confirmation you bring to us.  Help me to be a person of great faith as Mary was.   In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Believing

 

    

 

    

Rom 15:13

 

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

NKJV

 

The month of December is filled with movies and TV shows based on the power of believing.  Believing in Santa.  Believing in the power of Christmas magic.  It is sad to me that we have so commercialized and distorted the message of Christmas.  I do not have a problem with playing the whole Santa thing with your kids.  But if we are going to talk about believing, let it be in Jesus!

When people suffer with depression and despair it is often a result of losing their hope and faith.  People commit suicide because they no longer believe or have hope that it will get any better. We cannot afford to lose our hope and belief in Christ, and in His ability to work out any and every situation for our good.

I love this passage of Scripture because it makes it obvious that we can be filled with  all joy and peace in believing.  There is no way to experience these blessings apart from believing.  In truth, it is hard to receive any blessing without believe. We receive salvation because we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths. We receive wisdom, direction, and life-changing power as we believe.

Life can be rough.  It can knock us off our feet and put an enormous hole in our belief.  But as believers, we cannot afford to stay there.  We have to get up and go back to being what we are:  believers.

As we wait on the Lord  for a breakthrough, let us believe it is coming.  As we pray for finances, hold  fast to the belief that your need will be met.  If you are searching for a life mate, believe he/she is out  there and God will send them to you at the right time.  

When we give up on believing we forfeit our joy and peace. Fight the good fight.  Do whatever you must to stand.  Do not be moved from a place of believing.

Dear Lord, increase my faith.  Help me to believe all that Your Word says without wavering.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Planted, not Snatched

 

    

Matt 13:3-4

 

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow.  4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.

NKJV    

 

Having grown up in church, I became familiar with the awesome and miraculous  teachings of the Bible at a very young age. My  faith reached the place to receive Christ as Savior when I was five. In truth, I have never really known a life apart from Jesus. For that, I am exceedingly grateful.  But I am also aware that not one everyone was blessed to have such opportunities early in life. 

 

Many studies have shown that childhood is the prime time to win people to Jesus.  If  they do not choose Him in their early years, the likelihood that they will do so late,r goes down significantly.  Why is that?  One  of the things  that I believe contributes  to this  phenomenon is that a child's ability to believe is so much higher than that of an adult.  Children do not have to understand every facet of a situation to just believe. Child-like faith is a beautiful thing, and one that we should endeavor to cultivate throughout our lives.

 

Today's passage talks about a sower, or farmer, planting seed.  In this portion of Scripture, some of the seed fell on the wayside.  It was not planted in holes or trenches, rather it was sown on top the ground.  Because of that, the seed was easy prey for birds to come along and snatch it up and eat it.   In this parable, the seeds mentioned is the truth about the Kingdom of God, or more specifically, that Jesus is Savior.

 

Further explanation is given in verse 18:

 

18 "Therefore hear the parable of the sower:  19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

 

It is so vital that everyone have the opportunity to hear the gospel message.  Without that, how can they ever hear, know, or understand that Jesus loves them and died to give them life eternal?  I have always been puzzled about the various responses of people  when they hear truth.  Some readily receive it and are transformed immediately, others it takes a process, while still others never choose to believe at all.  The parable of the sower explains  so  much  about this process.

 

In light of today's verses, what is our duty as a Christian? Foremost, our duty is to share the gospel.  We have to let people know what the Lord has done for us, within the context of His  Word.  After that, I feel it is important that we pray for those we are witnessing to, that God will prepare their hearts to receive the seed of Truth.   We must pray that the Lord will plow up the soil of their hearts, that it will be softened and prepared to receive it.  Then we must pray that it settles deeply within them.  Finally, we must pray against the  enemy  stealing the truth from them.  Becoming a Christian is such a supernatural phenomenon, that we can never leave out the importance of God's divine involvement.

 

Another important thing to note is that we must share the truth in a way that people can understand.  To tell a person who has never been in church a day  in their life that that they are a wretched  sinner, bound for hell unless  they receive Christ's  atonement for their sin and be redeemed, is like speaking a foreign language to them.  "Christianese" is not a universal language!  What people can understand is that they do not do everything right, that Jesus died to cancel the penalty of that sin and offers  them a relationship with Him instead of an eternity apart from Him.

 

As you witness, pray that the Lord will give you wisdom in your words to speak in the language of your hearer.  If it is an educated person, your approach will be different than with a simple  or illiterate person.  Both are equally valuable, but the soil must be prepared  differently!

 

Dear Lord, help me to have an effective witness.  Show me who to share with, and grant me wisdom and favor to sow seeds that they can understand and receive.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Fully Convinced

 

 

    

Matt 9:20-22

 

20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.  (NKJV)

 

Have you ever been desperate? The kind of desperation that does not care that you are making a fool out of yourself,  crying in the altar?  The lady in this passage had experienced 12 years of failure, sickness, weakness, social isolation and medical treatment. She had nothing left.  Nothing but her faith.

I am amazed that she was able to hold on to her faith for so long after so many attempts and failing results.  But in this passage we see an inspiring glimpse into her mind. She does not say, "I might as well touch Jesus, I have tried everything else."  No!  She said if I can just touch the very tip of his garment, I SHALL BE WELL!  Not possibly.  Not a 20% chance of success.  This woman was fully convinced.

I cannot prove it by Scripture, but it is my opinion, that the Holy Spirit had given this woman the gift of faith- a supernatural impartation of belief.  It seems improbable that she would have the courage to believe after so much disappointment without it. But regardless of whether or not she was operating in a gift of the Spirit, or old-fashioned, garden variety faith, ahe knew who Jesus was and what He could do for her.

No matter how long you have prayed. No matter how disappointed you have been in the past, make up your mind to believe in the healing power of Jesus.  Believe in His miracle working power.  What have you got to lose?!

 

Dear Lord, increase my faith.  Help me to be fully convinced of your faithfulness and ability.  Forgive me for any mixture of doubt.

In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Making God Happy

 

        

 

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."  Heb 11:6 (KJV) 

 

Do you want to please God? Do you want to make him happy? Make him proud of you?  Me too!  I think sometimes that the only way to make Him happy is to follow all of  the commandments He has laid out in his Word.  It is almost like I think the only thing that pleases Him is the things I don't do.

 

But according to today's verse, God is pleased with a positive action too.  He is pleased when I have faith.  When I believe He will work, when I believe He will come through, God is pleased.

 

This verse is full of a lot of instruction- little treasures we can learn from.  But for now, I want to spend today just thinking about how happy I can make God by just believing in Him.

 

Dear  Lord please help me to increase my faith.  Help  me to believe you and operate in faith in every area of my life.  Please forgive me for the areas of unbelief.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Sherri

What is in a Name?

 

"For this is the message you have heard from the beginning:  You should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother.  And why did he murder him?  Because his own actions were evil and his brother's righteous.  Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.  Anyone who does not love remains in death.  Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.  This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.  This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his  presence whenever our hearts condemn us.  For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.  Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command:  to believe in  the name of the his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. "  I John 3:11-22

 

Yesterday's verse said we get what we ask, because we keep his  commands. Today's verse goes on to explain his  commands: 1) believe in the name of Jesus; 2) love one another.  Both of these things are pivotal to leading a life pleasing to the Lord.

The first command is to believe in the name of God's Son, Jesus Christ.   The name of Jesus contains so much power, so much potential, and so much authority.  And the utterance of his name should contain reverence.  Why do Christians jokingly throw around the name of Jesus, as if it were common?  We must recognize the sacredness of the privilege to speak his name and to operate in the authority of his name.  When Jesus ascended to heaven, he left us with his  name, allowing us the right to use the name of Jesus both in prayer, and in battling the enemy of our soul.  To truly "use" the name of Jesus correctly, we must first believe.  We must believe that he is indeed God's son. We must believe that he is Messiah, our Savior and Redeemer.  We must believe that he died for our sins and raised from the dead.  We must believe that he ascended to the right hand of the Father where he makes intercession for us.  Knowing these things builds our faith in who he is and in what can be accomplished in his name.

Secondly, he is concerned with us demonstrating his love for others.  I John is full of "love talk."  It is one of the major themes of the book.  We can never succeed in loving God until we succeed in loving others.  Humanity was created in the image of God and for his glory.  We must always have a reverence for the lives of others created in his image.

As we head into the Easter (I prefer to say Resurrection) weekend, take some time to reflect on the redemptive work Jesus completed at Calvary and all it means to you.  As you do, you will no doubt experience a rise in your faith in that matchless name!

Dear Lord, help me believe in you and reverence your name as you have commanded.  Anoint me to love others as you do.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Sherri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Riding the Wave

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”  James 1:6

On Mother’s Day weekend, we took out boat out to Shell Island.  The waves were wicked.  By the time we arrived at Shell Island, we were soaked from head to toe because the tall waves kept coming aboard our little boat.  We were motions sick, damp and miserable.  Being tossed about by the winds and waves is not a much fun as you might think!

In this passage James had just told us to ask God for wisdom.  But then he goes on to add today’s verse.  If you are going to go through the trouble of asking, we must then follow through with believing.  That seems simple enough.  Obviously we believe, or we would not ask.

I think the tricky part often occurs between the time we ask and the time we actually receive.  So often, the fruit of our prayers remains in the soil a long time, before we see it erupt with any promise.  Then we have to wait for the sun and rain to do their jobs before we ever get to actually eat the fruit of our prayers.

So what happens in the spirit during the incubation period?  A whole lot of nagging doubts, fears, second guessing and becoming impatient!  When we are in the Spirit and our faith is high, it is easy to believe God is going to answer our prayers.  But when life wears us out, it often seems our faith and hope begins to fade.  We must resist this tendency if we want to enjoy a fruitful prayer life.

Being tossed and blown by the wind causes instability.  Our sure-footedness often goes lacking. Hold on!  Be strong!  Keep believing!  Do not give an audience to your doubts.

Often I am like the father in Mark 9:24 who said “Lord, I believe.  Help my unbelief.”   So true and so profound- because like that man we often have that mixture of doubt and faith.

Dear Lord, help me to believe and not waiver.  Help me to cast down all doubts and believe that you are not only willing, but able, to answer my prayers.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri