11.10.09
Facing Doubts
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Have you ever thought about what we would do if Jesus walked as a man on the earth today and He performed the miracles that we read about in the Bible?
Many of Jesus’ followers were eye witnesses to the amazing miracles Jesus worked in His life while he was here on the earth.
They watched firsthand as Jesus turned water into wine, restored sight to the blind, healed infirmities, and brought the dead back to life.
I believe that most of us today would probably doubt just as most of them did.
Today Twitter would be full of tweets, blogs would be over run with accusations, and the TV news shows would continue to sow seeds of doubt and discord and tell of the lies and tricks of this man named Jesus.
However, in the face of our doubts, no matter how strong or cynical, Jesus is still the miracle worker today as He was then.
He is still the one who today heals, frees, and even raises those from the dead!
The question is:
Do we trust that He can do anything in our lives today?
Do we trust that He can and will provide our every need?
Do we trust He can open blinded eyes in the spirit realm and in the natural?
Do we trust He can and will do the miraculous?
In John chapter 11 we read the story of Martha and Lazaras.
Martha had spent a lot of time with Jesus; He had been at her home on many occasions and yet she doubted that He could bring back her brother Lazarus once he was dead and in the grave. She had no confindence in this man Jesus whom she knew well she had doubt that she would see Lazaras rise up from the dead and walk out of the tomb he had been in for 4 days.
In v. 24 Martha says to Jesus
“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
She first believed if Jesus was there her brother would not have died, but now he had, and even though she believed Jesus was the son of God, it never occurs to her that he can raise Lazarus from the dead. Or if it did occur to her she did not believe it could happen.
It had been 4 whole days that he was lying dead in the tomb. How could Jesus bring him back now?
She allowed her grief and her five sense realm to dictate to her what her belief should be.
What is your situation and your five senses telling you or leading you to believe about a situation you are in?
Martha knew in the natural that Lazarus had been dead too long; too long she thought for even Jesus to do anything about it. A little side note to notice; even though Jesus knew she had doubts, Jesus still called to Lazarus to come forth and right before Martha’s doubting eyes she watched Lazarus walked out of the tomb alive and well!
I love that- he had compassion on them all – he has compassion on us too. Martha, Mary, and all those who were there mourning with them all saw the power of Jesus. Many of them had heard or seen his power before, yet they did not believe he could do the impossible. We are like this, we see God do many miraculous things in our lives, yet when we face our hardest trial we do not think he can come through Martha and Mary both told Jesus if he had been there Lazarus would not have died – they had faith for that, however, they did not ever once believe he could just return life back to Lazarus very dead body. And we do the same thing, we can believe God can do one thing but not another.
Doubt according to the dictionary means:
to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.
to distrust
to fear; be apprehensive about.
Jesus instructed us over an over in his word to believe, only believe.
Mark 11:24 What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
All throughout the old and new testament we hear story after story of those who believed God gave them what they believed for.
Jesus asked us to only believe he could, when we believe He can, he honors that belief is a key element to victory over your situation.
When we choose to believe and not doubt we will see a breakthrough.
We cannot let our doubts keep us from experiencing Jesus’ life changing power.
We must trust Him and stand back and watch him work in our lives and in the lives of those around us.
We are to only trust Him
That’s what He wants to know do we trust Him? Do we believe he is the same Jesus who walked the earth and raised Lazarus from the dead?
Is he the same?
Yes! Hebrews 13:8 says
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
What he did then, he can and will do now but we have a part to play we must believe and not doubt!
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11.03.09
Know This Is Only A Test Part 4
Throughout the month of October we did a series on
Know this is only a test!
We have talked about trails and how we are all in seasons of testing. We have tests to endure so we can move up in our levels in life and in our spiritual walk.
And we have learned we can pass the tests in life if we know what the word of God says. And Testing is what proves we are ready for use by God.
We learned what Paul taught us in 1 Corinthians 13:5 that we are to have proper fruit during trials, and that fruit is our actions and our words.
Speaking the word of God instead of speaking of lack, debt, sickness, or doubt or unbelief!
James instructed us in James 1:2-4: To consider it wholly joyful, whenever we encounter trials of any sort.
And we are to let endurance, steadfastness and patience do a thorough work, in us so that we may be perfectly and fully developed lacking in nothing. Hallelujah
We have learned there are some truths in testing:
WE ALL EXPERIENCE TESTS AT EACH STAGE OF OUR GROWTH NO ONE IS EXEMPT!
TESTING ALWAYS PRECEDES PROMOTION
OUR GOAL IS TO PASS THE TEST
SELF PROMOTION AND THE PROMOTION OF OTHERS CAN NEVER REPLACE GOD’S DIVINE PROMOTION.
We learned some of the types of tests:
MOTIVATION TEST that comes to the one who are doing right, to prove why they are doing it.
The LORDSHIP TEST which occurs when you’re in a situation where it becomes difficult to obey God. It will reveal your heart response to who or what has the final authority in your life.
The WILDERNESS TEST that comes in dryness to prove your potential to change and enter you into a new growth level.
The TEST OF TIME because it involves waiting! And proves the quality of your work, based on both opportunity and longevity
TEST OF SMALL THINGS which comes to prove our faithfulness/potential for greater opportunities & challenges.
STEWARDSHIP TEST which proves how strategic & generous we handle the resources we presently control.
And the
CREDIBILITY TEST That proves our ability & integrity: and it is to reveal that we won’t compromise our ethics under pressure.
We are going to finish up this series with the Warfare Test, The Authority Test, and the Offense Test
The Warfare Test is a test which proves what you’ll do when you are in God’s will & you experience adversity/opposition.
Exodus 13:17
“If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
The Hebrew children have been lead out of Egypt headed to the Promised Land. However God does not lead them on the main road, the obvious road, the road that was a direct route from Egypt to the land God had said they would possess.
God leads them on the route that will take longer and one that has a big obstacle in its path – the red sea!
When we have a promise from God and we are on our journey, going along in his will, we may not get the shortest destination route to our promise.
We may get huge obstacles like the Red Sea where we must trust God.
God does not always work in the way that seems best to us!
God knew what was ahead in the Philistine territory, he knew his children he was leading out and he knew they must take a longer route.
When we are on our way to where God has for us we are not to complain or resist God when we don’t get to go the route we think is best.
In the midst of our being right in the will of God we are not promised there would be no adversity
God knew there was a huge Sea they would have to cross; he was not surprised when they arrived, he already had it worked out.
We need to remember we are in a test even when we are in God’s will, remember in an earlier part of the series we learned that the word test means the means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined; We may be right in God’s will but this warfare test is determining our genuineness.
Were the Hebrew children going to trust God when they approached the Sea? Would they lean on him through this journey in the desert?
And just as God gave the Hebrews a pillar of cloud and fire so they would know day and night that God was with them God has given us his word and the Holy Spirit to guide us through our time of testing.
OFFENSE TEST
This test comes to prove you’re not easily offended and are ready to forgive others.
Heb.12:14-15
“Pursue peace with all men…see to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by it many be defiled…”
Listen to some of the definitions of offense:
Something that outrages, the act of attacking; assault, the act of displeasing
We do not truly understand what bitterness and unforgiveness can cause in our lives. Matthew 18: 23-35 tells us if we do not forgive people we get turned over to the torturers.
If we would only realize that when we choose not be to offended and forgive someone who has hurt or offended us we are actually helping ourselves rather than them.
We feel as if we are the ones who are to pass a judgment sentence on them, we feel justified in doing so because we have been hurt, However, we are really helping ourselves when we choose to not be offended and to forgive and we are releasing them so God can do what he wants to do with them.
God will deal with those who hurt us if we will put them in his hands by forgiving them. I see forgiving them as a seed I am sowing in obedience to God’s word, and once I have sown that seed he will bring about the harvest of blessing.
I will be free; I will not be in bitterness, anger, or a place of hurt
I am totally free!
Series diseases can develop as a result of bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness.
Mark 11:25-26
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your
Father also who is in Heaven may forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in Heaven forgive your transgressions.”
Jesus himself said this and he clearly teaches us that unforgiveness hinders our faith from working.
When we look above at several verses at all Jesus was telling us, he said if we say to our mountain, he said whatsoever we desire when we pray, he said we are to believe and we will have what we want, or be able to cast into the sea that which we don’t want. However Jesus also says first we are to forgive anyone we are holding a grudge against being offended is holding a grudge
AUTHORITY TEST This test comes to prove your attitude & willing submission towards your God-given authority. Those who are over you in authority.
I Samuel 24
Tells the story of David and his 600 men who are hiding in the caves in the wilderness from Saul because he has been repeatedly trying to kill David.
David, his men, and Saul all know David will be king and when Saul enters the cave David and his men are hiding in
David’s men see an opportunity for David to kill Saul because he has no idea they are hiding there. They assumed this was an indication from God they should act.
David on the other hand had great respect for Saul even though he was trying to kill him. David respected Saul’s position of authority as God’s anointed King.
David did know he was to be king, but he also knew it was not right to strike down the man God had placed on the throne.
When David refused to do what his men urged and take the opportunity to rid himself of his enemy David instead decided to stand against the group and do what was right.
We must not allow our moral standards by giving in to group pressure or taking the easy way out.
It was true David was to be king; it was true Saul was wrong by trying to kill David but it was also true that it was not David’s place to step out and take matters into his own hands and not allow God to handle the situation.
Romans 13: 1-7 teaches that God has placed the government and it leaders in power, we may not know why but we are to respect the positions and roles of those to whom God has given authority.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 clearly tells us first before we pray for our children, ourselves, or anything else we are to pray for our leaders for all in authority over us!
It is our responsibility as children of God to pray for those in authority over us, God can only intervene as Christians seek his face and ask him to move!
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10.27.09
Know This Is Only A Test Part 3
Last week here on The Dose of Inspiration we continued on our 3 part series that now has become a 4 part series. We began the week of Oct. 6th and we will continue the series through next week Oct. 27th.
This series is called
Know this is only a test! (Click Here to listen to the broadcast)
In part 1 – we talked about trails and how we are all in seasons of testing. And just like when we were in school – we had tests to take to pass to the next school level – we also have tests to take so we can move up in our so called levels in life and in our spiritual walk.
We can pass the tests in life if we know what the word of God says.
We learned that Testing is what proves we are ready for use by God.
We learned what Paul taught us in 1 Corinthians 13:5 that we are to have proper fruit during trials, and that fruit is our actions and our words.
Speaking properly – speaking the word of God and not lack, debt, sickness, or doubt or unbelief!
We learned that James instructed us in James 1:2-4
To consider it wholly joyful, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort.
But James taught us we are to let endurance, steadfastness and patience do a thorough work, so that we may be perfectly and fully developed lacking in nothing.
We have learned there are some truths in testing:
WE ALL EXPERIENCE TESTS AT EACH STAGE OF OUR GROWTH NO ONE IS EXEMPT!
TESTING ALWAYS PRECEDES PROMOTION
OUR GOAL IS TO PASS THE TEST
SELF PROMOTION AND THE PROMOTION OF OTHERS CAN NEVER REPLACE GOD’S DIVINE PROMOTION.
Last week we learned some of the types of tests:
MOTIVATION TEST
This test comes to the one who are doing right, to prove why they are doing it.
The LORDSHIP TEST
Occurs when you’re in a situation where it becomes difficult to obey God. It will reveal your heart response to who or what has the final authority in your life.
The WILDERNESS TEST
Comes in dryness to prove your potential to change and enter you into a new growth level.
And the TEST OF TIME because it involves waiting! And proves the quality of your work, based on both opportunity and longevity
You can hear each of those and the scripture reference on the BlogTalk Radio site under Part 2 of our series.
Today we are going to continue in our types of tests starting with
TEST OF SMALL THINGS
This test comes to prove our faithfulness/potential for greater opportunities & challenges.
(Eph.5:16) tells us to “…making the most of your opportunities, because the days are evil.”
(Luke 16:10)”He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.”
God will use small things to test you.
AT NWI Bible College where I am the director/teacher I tell the students that everything is ministry.
They may be called to a world wide ministry but if they are asked right now to clean a bathroom, or stand and hold the door and greet, or even work in the nursery then they do it and do it unto the Lord
Colossians 3: 23-24 “Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah)…” -
God wants to see how you are going to be faithful in the small things.
What about your talents. Are you using them for him?
What he has blessed you to do, are you using them to serve others and glorify him?
What about finances? Are we giving of our tithes and offerings? If he gives you a dollar are you faithful to give him the dime he has asked from you?
I know most people don’t want to talk about money, but I can tell you that my family and I are walking talking testimonies of the goodness of God when it comes to finances.
We are faithful in our tithes and we give our offerings over that to ministries who are increasing the Kingdom of God.
And because of our faithfulness my husbands business is being blessed more and more everyday. Other businesses who are closing down are calling us to buy their inventory and we are so back up with work, praise God we need to hire other people! I am not bragging, well yes I am I am bragging on my Father in Heaven who has honored us because we honor Him!
We have to prove our faithfulness and potential in small things. In Matthew 25: 14-28 is a parable Jesus told.
Jesus said this particular parable is an illustration of the Kingdom of Heaven, so that tells me this is very important.
Jesus is describing the Kingdom of Heaven,
The master in this parable divided money among his servants according to their abilities.
The bags of silver are representative of any kind of resource we are given. And God expects us to invest these resources we are given wisely, we are responsible to use well what God has given us.
And when the servant who invested his resources wisely came and told the master what He had done, the master said in verse 24 well done my good and faithful servant.
Notice he said he was good and he was faithful!
And he goes on to tell him because he was faithful in handling the small things, he would make him ruler over many things! (Oh there is so much to teach on this later) but we are to see that Jesus wants us to use the small things we are given, the talents, money, resources, opportunities and take these small things and run with diligence and fervency for him,
When we invest our resources God has given us – like the good and faithful servant did we will see what God will do with it.
Now that is all resources, our time – how much do we spend with Him, our talents, what has he gifted you with, are you using it for His Glory, for His Kingdom, and our finances.
STEWARDSHIP TEST
This test proves how strategic & generous we handle the resources we presently control.
This test goes along with the test of small things as well, but also look at Luke 12:16-21
“And He told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a certain rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying: What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops? And he said this is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul: Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry! But God said to him: You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?
So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
When we are blessed do we just store it up or do we increase the Kingdom of God with it?
God wants us to have nice things just as we want our children to, but we are never to be so caught up in our own selves that we are not increasing the kingdom of God
Matthew 6:33 tells us But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Jesus tells us right here God’s number one priority is to seek first his kingdom.
Jesus shows us it is more important than seeking food, water, clothing, shelter, and anything else!
God wants us to seek, discover, understand, and enter into the Kingdom of God.
Seeking the Kingdom is top priority. We are to live by Kingdom principles.
In our test of stewardship and every test for that matter
We seek first the Kingdom of God nothing else is to be in competition with it, and we are to give of what we have willingly and generously to the Kingdom, to further the Kingdom.
And God is so awesome that even as we give he still gives it back to us in a good measure!
CREDIBILITY TEST
This test proves our ability & integrity: it is to reveal that we won’t compromise our ethics under pressure.
Galatians 2:11-13 Paul is saying this “But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed (tested) him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the
Gentiles; but when they (the Jews) came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.”
Although Peter was a leader of the church in this instance he was acting like a hypocrite. He was driven by fear of what James and the others would think and Paul knew he had to confront Peter face to face to get him back on track. Not to harm him or point him out as “look at him he is so wrong.” no he wanted Peter to see the mistake and to protect others in the church from being swayed too.
As for Peter he may have felt he did not want to offend James and the Jewish Christians.
But we must know even though compromise is an important element in getting along with others we should never compromise the truth of God’s Word.
If we ever feel we have to change our Christian beliefs to match those around us -we are on dangerous ground.
The Word of God is to have final authority in our lives; we are to seek God’s Kingdom FIRST God’s Word is always His will and as we endure the tests we are going through we will be strengthened and prepared for His service.
I can tell you when I am going through a really difficult test that I remind myself that this is not about me.
I am going through this test for someone else down the road.
That after I have come out of this test, I will be able to minister to someone else who is going through that same test, I can encourage them and pray for them So when I get my focus off of me, it helps me to endure.
God loves us so very much, He only wants the best for us, and He has wonderful things for us to do, but we first must be made ready
And the testing process is what makes us ready for His service.
The definition of the word testing is the means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined.
Our genuineness is determined by the test we are in.
Do you want more; do you want God to use you more?
Then your genuineness is being determined by the test you are in right now, so as James says count it all wholly joyful because you are going to be lacking in nothing when it is over! Praise God!
—–
We are going to finish the types of test next week we will talk about Authority Test, the Warfare Test, and the Offense Test, so you do not want to miss it!
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10.15.09
Know This Is Only A Test Part 2
Would rather hear this blog? Click Here to Listen!
Last week here on The Dose of Inspiration we started a 3 part series that began last week and will continue through next week Oct. 20th.
This series is called Know this is only a test!
In part 1 we talked about trials and how we are all in seasons of testing. And just like when we were in school – we had tests to take to pass to the next school level – we also have tests to take so we can move up in our so called levels in life and in our spiritual walk.
We can pass the tests in life if we know what the word of God says. Just as we studied for a test in school, we must study the word of God in order to pass the tests we are enduring in our lives.
Testing is what proves we are ready for use the testing you endure is what proves you for God to use you!
Paul taught us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 we are to have proper fruit during trials, and that fruit is our actions and our words. Our actions and our words should be speaking properly – speaking the word of God and not lack, debt, sickness, etc. We must recognize what our fruit is showing and is it proper fruit for our test!!!
James instructed us in James 1:2-4
To Consider it wholly joyful, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort. We must understand that the trial and proving of our faith brings out endurance, steadfastness, and patience.
But we are to let endurance and steadfastness and patience do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed lacking in nothing.
Praise God.
I went on to explain what testing proves in us on Part 1 (so if you missed it or need a refresher just go to the BlogTalk site and listen to Part one again.
Quickly I want to list them again
here are some testing truths:
WE ALL EXPERIENCE TESTS AT EACH STAGE OF OUR GROWTH NO ONE IS EXEMPT!
TESTING ALWAYS PRECEDES PROMOTION
OUR GOAL IS TO PASS THE TEST
SELF PROMOTION AND THE PROMOTION OF OTHERS CAN NEVER REPLACE GOD’S DIVINE PROMOTION.
Today we are going to go over the first half of the types of tests, and next week I will go over the 2nd half, again Part 1 of this series listed them all for you and a brief overview of them.
I will also give you what scripture reference they each have, and what they work in us and what they work out of us!
Because just like silver or gold put over a refiners fire; it is there to draw out impurities and the Bible says in Malachi 3:3 that God sits as a refiner and purifier over our lives.
And our trials will pull things out of us- impurities out of us, in which God wants, removed.
Also clay in a fire sits at an intense heat to harden the vessel in order for it to be used properly. If it does not harden it cannot be used properly.
And our fire, our tests and trails are what prepare and harden us to be the vessel we need to be for God.
The first test we are going to talk about is:
MOTIVATION TEST (Job 1:9-11 / Matthew 6:5-6)
This test comes to the one who are doing right, to prove why they are doing it.
(Job 1:9-11)”Then Satan answered the Lord, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Hast thou not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Thy hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse Thee to Thy face.’”
Job was doing right, and the devil thought he could change Jobs mind and he thought if Job lost his stuff and his family then he would curse God and turn from him.
But God knew better, he knew Job loved him and would continue to serve him, Job was not serving God for what great things he had, he served God because he loved him.
We need to realize that Jobs test was a span of 9-18 months depending on what bible scholar you take and what Job learned in the end when he had nothing left
was that he still had God and He is more than enough!
What are our motives, do we serve God because we love him or because we want something? Do you give just because we know the bible promises a return or do we do it to worship our Father?
What are our motives? God knows our motives but this test will be one which comes to prove to us and those around
just who is our God and why are we serving him?
Do we say God why me or God use me!?
Testing is difficult but the result is often a deeper relationship with God! Those who endure the testing as Job did will experience greater rewards in the end. Remember testing produces promotion!
LORDSHIP TEST (Luke 5:4-7 / Joshua 1:8)
This test occurs when you’re in a situation where it becomes difficult to obey God. It will reveal your heart response to who or what has the final authority in your life.
(Luke 5:4-7)”Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
There are several difficulties and tests here
1. Peter, Andrew, James and John had all gone fishing. Jesus meets them right where their lives are when he arrives at their place of work.
These men had been watching Jesus as he established his authority in the synagogue, and at this particular time this was their 2nd call from Jesus to follow Him. In Mark 1 16-18 we can read about the first time Jesus had called them to follow them. But here we are now at the 2nd time in Luke 5.
We may think that these men Jesus called were extraordinary people of great faith, however that is not true. They were ordinary people like we are who had to grow in their faith, just as we do.
2. Jesus asks them to let down their nets in Luke 5:4 and let down your nets
but notice Simon Peters answer: And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
Two things here, 1st Peter does not want to go back into the water because they have been fishing all night and when Jesus came they were cleaning their nets because they were done. But Jesus wanted to prove he cared about their day to day operations and their needs so He told them to let down their nets, but look at how many nets Peter let down! One!
Peter said And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net! One! Peter was tired, weary; probably hungry, ready to go home, and then may have even thought, this man is going to make me look like a fool if I put all my nets in the water, so I will only put in one.
But Praise God He blessed Simon anyway and filled the net so full it was beginning to tear! Imagine if they had put all their nets in the water!
When things seem uncomfortable to us or bothersome because things are not working we may be in a test to prove who or what has the final authority in our life.
What do we do with what God instructs us to do?
WILDERNESS TEST (Deuteronomy 8:15-16/Psalm 42:1-4)
This test comes in dryness to prove your potential to change and enter a new growth level.
(Deuteronomy 8:15-16)”He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water…In the wilderness He fed you manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you, in the end.”
Now I can tell you about the dryness test. I have lived it and praise God have obviously passed it because I am here to tell of it!
When a pot is formed on the potters wheel and molded into a piece of pottery it goes through a whole processes of mashing, and beating, and water added and even some sand added to it to form it correctly and have it hold up under the firing process.
But there is a process called the drying process where that clay pot must sit on the shelf for a proper amount of time to dry. If it was to come off the lonely drying and barren shelf too early
it was not be able to withstand it’s purpose.
A potter knows to fire a vessel without breaking; the clay must first be air-dried. Sitting on the shelf to dry properly will keep us from breaking in the refining process.
We must wait in the wilderness test, in the dryness, to prove our potential to change and enter a new growth level. This only happens while we wait!
A similar test to the wilderness test is:
TEST OF TIME (Esther 4:14/Galatians 6:9) because it involves waiting!
This test proves the quality of your work, based on both opportunity and longevity.
For the longevity part of the test we see
(Galatians 6:9) And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
Oh the times I had to stand on this scripture to keep myself from giving up. As a matter of fact I came out of a test of time just this week, in the midst of me bringing you these messages on testing. (As I have said we are all in tests, including ministers of the Gospel)
According to this scripture we win if we do not give up. In your test of waiting how long are you willing to wait?
Think of what you want to do most desperately or have the Lord do for you. How long are you willing to wait? 10 weeks, 10 months, 10 years! I have waited as long as 13 years for something to come to pass, but Praise God just this week it did!
I waited for my son to come to the Lord for 9 years and now He is in Bible College after serving the devil for so long.
I am still waiting in tests for some things, but I know God is faithful if I am faithful and do not give up!
No matter how long I have waited and seen things come to pass, I always look back and say I would do it again to get the results I have gotten!
Another part of the time test is (Esther 4:14)
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
After the decree to kill the Jews was given, Mordecai and Esther could have decided to save only themselves or just waited for God to do something, instead they saw that God had placed them in their positions for a purpose so they seized the moment and acted.
When it is within our reach to save others, to do God’s work, to intercede for someone we must do so. We are not to see how life threatening the situation is, or wait for God to do something – Remember God has done all He is going to do on this earth until He returns, we are his hands, feet, and voice – we are His body, we are to do the work,
He gives us the authority and strength but we are to get up and get going – not wait for God to do something, he is waiting on us!
We are to ask Him for His direction then ACT!
You may be like Esther and in places where you are for such as time as this! Don’t look around and say help, why me God, say God here I am send me I am willing, I will be your hands, feet, and voice as Esther was!
Join me next week for Know This Is Only a Test Part 3 where I will give you the last of the types of testing and what they mean to you!
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10.09.09
Know This is Only A Test!
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I wish I had the beep sound which comes on the TV and Radio when there is an emergency that says beeeep this is only a test.
Today I want you to know that whatever you are going through this is only a test!
When we become children of God some feel as if there should not be any problems in their lives. But we have never been promised that. What we must know is the we have already been given all the power and authority we need by Jesus to overcome whatever trails we are facing.
Testing is a normal part of life; nearly every moment of our live–is a test. Tests are common to all of us; we all go through what we call “seasons of testing.” And just like when we were in school – we had tests to take to pass to the next school level – we also have tests to take so we can move up in our so called levels in life and in our spiritual walk.
We can pass the tests in life if we know what the word of God says. Just as we studied for a test in school, we must study the word of God in order to pass the tests we are enduring in our lives.
Nothing and no one are exempt from testing in life, think about it – even our cars our appliances and even our computes go through testing in order to prove they are ready for use! The testing you endure is what proves you for God’s use!!!
And as you endure the test, you must realize you are being prepared for promotion! Your test is proving your potential, your maturity in Christ, your willingness to do His will, and thus resulting in a higher level of promotion!
In Genesis 22 we all have read the story of Abraham’s test of faith. God was using his promised son Isaac to test Abraham on his obedience and his trust in God. (Where is your obedience and trust during your test?)
The Bible gives us examples on testing:
Psalm 17:3, Psalm 26:2, Psalm 139:23-24
The Apostle Paul wrote in his final letter to the Corinthians with some very specific instructions 2 Corinthians 13:5
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!
The Amplified translations says: “Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it.”
Did you see that, we are to examine ourselves to see if we are holding to our faith – are we holding to what the Word of God says AND are we showing proper fruit! Proper fruits, so while we are being tested what is our fruit showing?
Your fruit would be your actions, and your words.
What actions are you doing in this testing? Does it line up with the Word of God?
What words are you declaring in your testing? Do your words line up with the Word of God, or do they speak of defeat, lack, failure, doubt and worry!
What is your fruit showing and is it proper fruit for your test!!!
James 1:2-4
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
Do you feel enveloped in your test right now, does it seem like you can’t get out?
Well James goes on to say:
Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects],…
(Listen to this)
James finishes by saying –
lacking in nothing!
So when you endure your test, joyfully as James says, or as Paul said, showing proper fruits, as you let endurance and steadfastness do a through work in you – in the end you will be lacking in nothing!
Again here is- promotion for the test- lacking nothing in the end sounds like a promotion to me!
Here are some truths about testing:
1. WE ALL EXPERIENCE TESTS AT EACH STAGE OF OUR GROWTH NO ONE IS EXEMPT! We ask the Father, “oh use me Lord, I want to be a vessel for you,” then when some testing comes up we are rebuking every devil and crying out to God, when he is doing exactly what we asked – testing us and preparing us for His use – to be a vessel used of him.
If you had a huge company and someone came in and said make me the president- you would not, you would first test this individual. You would research them and see what they have done.
So why do we think we in our humanness we should not be tested when we want God to use us. We have a lot of messed up stuff in us which has to be removed. We have to get harder to be the vessel God needs in order to do the job He needs. A clay pot stays as soft clay but must go through the fire, the testing, to be a harden pot to be used properly.
2. TESTING ALWAYS PRECEDES PROMOTION (SAY THAT OVER AND OVER AS YOU ARE GOING THROUGH YOUR TEST, I AM BEING PROMOTED!)
3. OUR GOAL IS TO PASS THE TEST (TELL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER: “FATHER IN JESUS NAME I ASK YOU TO HELP ME TO PASS THIS TEST, TO COME OUT WHERE YOU WANT ME TO BE WHEN THIS IS OVER. TO BE THAT VESSEL YOU CAN USE!”)
4. KNOW THIS: SELF PROMOTION AND THE PROMOTION OF OTHERS CAN NEVER REPLACE GOD’S DIVINE PROMOTION. HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING. HE KNOWS THE PLANS AND PURPOSES OF EVERY PERSON ON THIS EARTH; HE CREATED THEM. SO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU WAIT FOR GOD TO DO THE PROMOTING IT WILL BE LASTING PROMOTION!
Over the next 2 weeks on the Dose of Inspiration Radio Show I will explain with scripture reference different types of testing and what they perfect in us:
1. TEST OF SMALL THINGS- This test proves our faithfulness/potential for greater opportunities & challenges.
2. MOTIVATION TEST – This test comes to the one who is doing right, to prove why they are doing it.
3. STEWARDSHIP TEST -proves how generous we handle the resources God gives to us.
4. WILDERNESS TEST – to prove your potential to change and enter a new growth level.
5. CREDIBILITY TEST – proves our ability & integrity under pressure.
6. AUTHORITY TEST- to prove our attitude & willing submission towards God-given authority.
7. OFFENSE TEST – prove you’re not easily offended and are ready to forgive others.
8. WARFARE TEST – proves what you’ll do when you are in God’s will & you experience adversity/opposition.
9. TEST OF TIME – proves the quality of your work, based on both opportunity and longevity.
10. LORDSHIP TEST – This test occurs when you’re in a situation where it becomes difficult to obey God. It will reveal your heart response
Over the next 2 weeks I will take us through each of these tests and give you scripture reference to them. Tell you friends to join in, share the link to the show, people need to know what the Word of God says about testing!
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09.29.09
Is It God Will?
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So many people say I want to do God’s will or I want God’s will for my life or my situation. However, they usually follow up the previous statement with “but I don’t know God’s will for me.”
Today we are going to show you once and for all what God’s will is concerning your life and your situation.
We know that to be a child of God we must have accepted Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Savior, then after doing that we have an inheritance opened up to us. This inheritance is as if we were given an inheritance by the wealthiest man on this earth, a man where money and power could settle everything for you, well we have been given something far better.
And our inheritance does give us everything we need. I encourage you to read the 1st chapter of Ephesians to read about some of the benefits you have received as a child of God. Ephesians 1:3 says “We are blessed in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
In other words, every provision for your physical health and welfare has been given to you. Your spiritual needs, including victory over sin and fear and failure have already been met in Christ Jesus.
Right here is God’s will for you. It is His will for your life to be blessed in all areas; he does not want lack or sickness for you.
Would a God who is love according to 1 John 4:8, want to send His son to save you then want to keep you in poverty, sickness, frustration, hurt, anger, bitterness – NO he wants to give you all that is good. James 1:17 tells us “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father.”
Nowhere in the Word of God does it tell us that since Jesus came to this earth to be beaten for our sicknesses and crucified on a cross for our sins, nowhere in the word does it say he wants to teach us lessons by keeping us in sickness and poverty, in fear, doubt, unbelief and failure. That is not his will!
To know the will of God for your life, you must read the Word of God. His word IS his will. Hebrews 4:12-13 tells us the Word of God is alive and nothing is concealed from its (His) sight, and God and His Word are one (John 1:1).
We must understand that God and His Word don’t just agree, God does not just agree with what the Bible says, God and the word are one.
His Word is as all-knowing as He is. When you realize that when God speaks, His words comes from His heart and they are filled with Him. It’s the same way when you speak from your heart; your words are full of you.
So not only is every answer for your every need written down for you on the pages of the Bible, but there in black, white, and red is the will of God concerning your life.
Are you praying for salvation for your family, God’s will is there as to whether or not he wants them saved? In Acts 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be save, and thy house!” There is God’s will, you AND your house! What about those lost that are not your family Ps. 2:8 tells us to pray for the lost in heathen lands! And there are so many more on his will for salvation, we need to look them up and stand on them!
Are you asking God if it is his will to heal you? Isaiah 53: 4,5
Matthew 8:16,17 & 1 Peter 2:24 all tells us of Jesus being wounded, bruised, and taking on our infirmities and bearing our sickness and healing us – it says “we were healed!” that is past tense, it was done, he already did it for us! It IS his will for us to be healed today and forever!
Do we all agree that whatever Jesus did on this earth, he was an example of what we are to do, how we are to act. I would say we all agree to that.
So if we look at Luke 5: 12-13 we see a man who had leprosy and this man asked Jesus to heal him IF it be his will, and Jesus said “I am willing, be healed!” It was Jesus will for this man to be healed!
Well you may say, yes but that was for this man. Well Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. “ And Acts 10:34 “God is no respecter of persons.”
Are you worrying about a situation in your life? 1 Peter 5:7 tells us we are to “cast ALL of our cares on him,” it does not say worry.
We talked last week on the show about Phil. 4:6 if you missed that show on How to change your situation I encourage you to listen to it. It is Not God’s will for us to worry. We are telling him we do not trust him when we are worrying, he can’t answer our prayers when we are in worry.
What about financial situations?
Phil 4:19 tells us “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus!” Who is the supplier, you the worrier or God? God is! So we need to trust this promise.
3 John 2 tells us “beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”
Luke 6:38 has the perfect will for your finances and I am walking talking proof of it “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
So you cannot ask I wonder if I should tithe or give of myself and my resources, here is His will!
If you want to know God’s will concerning a matter in your life you must study the Word of God and find his will for you. His word is his will.
The word tells us it is his will for us to be healed, saved, wealthy, at peace with everyone and everything! So let’s not doubt His word but instead let’s stand on the promises He has already given us, this word is our manual – our contract with God! What we are entitled to as his children.
When we can find a scripture about whatever we need – right there is our answer as to whether or not it is God’s will for us!
John 5:39 tells us to search the scriptures, and when we do this, we will know his will!
1 John 5:14,15 tells us “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
Break down:
We have confidence in Him; confidence that if we ask according to his will, he hears us.
Remember his word is his will, so if we ask according to the Word of God, if we pray and stand on a scripture over our situation, we know we ARE praying his will.
Then it says, and if we know he hears us, well how do we know, well we just read it – if we ask according to his will he hears us.
So we are praying his will and asking by asking with the scripture
for example if I was needing finances I would pray
Father in the Name of Jesus, I am asking for finances to increase in my life. I have given of my tithes and offerings and according to Luke 6:38 your word says “Give and it will be given to me: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into my bosom. For with the same measure that I use, it will be measured back to me.” You also tell me in
Phil 4:19 that you God shall supply all my need according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus! So I am standing Father on your promises and according to mark 11:24 you said I can ask whatever I desire and believe that I have received it and it shall be done. So I thank you now Father, that you are my supplier, I call you my supplier, I praise you that you ARE my supplier. And you do bring to me the finances I need in a good measure pressed down shaken together and running over, I thank you now for the men and women who are going to give unto me because of you and your word. I thank you for it now that it is done already, in Jesus name!
Then no matter what it looks like in the natural I praise him that it was done back when I prayed the prayer and stood on the promise. I do not need to beg him I do not need to keep praying the prayer over and over because that is unbelief,
I might think God was not listening or did not hear me or I did not say the right words. But that is unbelief – I stood on his word, and I thanked him in advance by faith that it is done and I praised him and I keep thanking him and praising UNTIL (I don’t stop by what I see) I praise him and thank him until I see it come to pass in the natural. Then I testify about his goodness!
I know he has heard me according to 1 John 5:14, 15 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” And it says I get what I ask him for! Hallelujah his word IS his will.
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09.24.09
How To Stop Worry and Change Your Situation
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Are you worrying over your current circumstance? Have you cried out to God over and over to help you and asked him to change your situation? Today we are going to see how the Word of God says we can change our situation.
This world is filled with more worry and anxiety then it has been for many many years. For most of us this is the worst we have seen our country because we are too young to remember the trails of times past.
I minister to people every day who are wondering, worrying, and asking why. Most of them are shaken saying “No matter what I do this sickness, this financial problem, and these circumstances I am facing do not seem to go away. I keep praying, crying out to God and I wait on Him to do something.”
And alas there lies the problem – They are waiting on God to do something when all the while God is waiting on them! He is waiting on us to know what His word says and to get up and act on it!
I can tell you the Word of God is true, everything that is written in it is true. No matter what your circumstance there is a promise written to you in the Word of God where you can declare it and stand on it. You must read the Bible and study it to know what your promise is. Then by faith take it as yours and stand on it no matter what the circumstance looks like.
We must know what they Word of God says But remember just Knowing the promises and even memorizing them, is not enough.
If a person was hungry they could know about food and have memorized in their mind what it looks like, and think about it all they want. But they are still hungry.
Your memory only feeds your mind. It does not feed your body. It IS good memorize the Word
But it is also necessary to go directly to the Word of God, to feed your spirit with it; it is spiritual food for you. You must eat on it daily just as you feed your fleshly body, your spiritual man must eat! You must get the word in you as part of you not just be able to recite it.
You are a spirit who lives in a body and has a soul. So you must feed your spirit- which is your heart- (not blood pumping heart) but your spirit man. The word says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks according to Luke 6:45.
What you fill yourself up with is what will come out of you. My pastor’s wife says all the time when people are being squashed, that is when it will show what is truly in them. So if you are being squashed right now, what is coming out of you? Words of faith or words of failure, defeat, worry, fear, and doubt.
Today I want to bring our attention to how we are to be acting in the midst of trials.
We are going to have trials; we have never been promised as Children of God that we would not have trials. James 1:2 tells us to count it all joy, and some translations say count it all pure joy when you encounter trials.
You must realize that Testing always leads to promotion, and promotion is something to be joyful about.
Now there is so much more to teach on that subject but that is for another day.
So let’s talk about how are we to act in the midst of trails; when we are worried or anxious.
Let’s look at Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
You may have heard that quoted so many times you too can quote it in your sleep. But if you are worrying or you are anxious then you have only memorized this promise, just as someone hungry memorized food, it is not in you, it may be memorized in your mind, but it’s not part of your spirit.
Let’s break this down because Paul was writing this letter to exhort believers to live with joy in the midst of varying situations.
Paul gives very specific instructions here.
First he says to be careful for nothing that word means anxious.
The Amplified Translations says “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything,”
So here it is established we are not to be worrying, fretting or having anxiety about anything and if we are then we are going against what they Word of God says and we are not going to get answers to our problems if we remain there. So let’s look at what we can do in our situation.
He goes on to say “but in everything,”
and that means everything
“by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.”
Ok so here we go: concerning everything – our finances, our health, our relationships, our emotions, whatever it is we are to
1. Pray – And this is how we pray- the Word of God; we can’t just pray out any old prayer and expect Him to answer it. You must pray according to the guidelines He’s given us in His Word. Pray the Word of God over our situation – get the scripture over our situation. Search them out and stand on them. If you need healing then find out what the word says about healing, if you need finances find it, if you need restoration, find it, they are all in there! Then we are to Pray in the Name of Jesus And we are to also trust the Holy Spirit. He is God’s power arm. He’s the One who’s going to guarantee that the work gets done. So we are to pray and pray properly!
2. The word supplication (because it says prayer and supplication) the word supplication means fully transfer the burdens of ones soul. And the soul is made up of our mind, our will, and our emotions. So we are to transfer fully the burdens of our mind, the burdens of our will, and the burdens of our emotions onto God 1 Peter 5:7 says “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him” (recap 1 & 2)
3. Give Thanks – we have talked about that in previous weeks concerning faith. When we ask in Jesus Name, believing we have already received what we have asked for, then we are to give thanks to God for it in advance. Right here we are doing the same thing. We are to pray, transfer fully our burdens over to God and then give Him thanks that it is already done!
4. Let your requests be known to God. Tell him what they are. He knows what you need already but he says we can give him our requests. Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].” we are allowed to go to him boldly and give him our requests.
So as we Pray, transfer fully our burdens to God, give God thanks in advance for our requests we give to him- then in Verse 7 it tells us “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” When we do the steps listed in verse 6 we then get the peace promised in verse 7.
Now I know most of you say I have tried that but I can’t help but worry by mind keeps thinking about the situations happening. Well look on into verse 8
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Amplified says “[fix your minds on them]“
We are to fix our minds only on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, those with any virtue in them and those things which are praise worthy.
Does lack, defeat, fear, worry, anxiety, sickness, loss, death, fighting, anger, gossip, does any of that sound like the things listed? NO! Notice it says whatsoever things are of good report. Only think on those things giving you a good report, the Word of God is a good report. Isaiah 53:1 asks who report shall you believe. The amplified says who has trusted in, relied upon, and clung to. Are you trusting in God’s report – His word, are you relying upon his word, are you clinging to his word?
No matter what if we keep our mind fixed on these things as we
Pray in the Name of Jesus according to the Word of God and trusting the Holy Spirit to accomplish it, as we transfer fully our burdens over to God, and thank him in advance for the answer we have asked for in prayer; our requests which we have made know to him. We will see the victory!
He is faithful! Praise Him for His provision, Praise Him for His healing, Praise Him for His restoration, and take a stand on His word and remember He is the provider we are NOT!
When Satan starts shaking your mountain stand in your authority and Speak to that mountain in the name of Jesus! Then thank Him and shout for the victory.
We are here to represent Jesus on this earth, and that means we are going to have to walk in faith. Not just any of kind of faith either. God’s kind of faith!
And Paul gave very specific instructions of how we are to act. Now it is our choice, we can stay where we are, or we can choose to believe the Word of God and stand on it, in faith believing!
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09.11.09
Friday Fire & Cry Out For America 9/11
Today marks the eighth year anniversary of September 11, 2001 where America was shaken to its foundations by a series of surprise terrorist attacks.
We want to honor those who died in those senseless acts. We want to honor those families who are still dealing with the effects even today.
All of us were awakened to the new reality of global terrorism on the September day. We saw people run to churches and to God for comfort yet now eight years later our nation needs to be awakened again, not just to the threats of terrorism, but to our critical spiritual condition.
Americans are now in desperate need of a fresh Christ Awakening. Over these last months our economy has been deeply shaken. Overall church attendance continues to decline across the nation, America is now the third largest mission field in the world and an entire generation is growing up with little understanding of absolute truth.
Yet, in what appears to be a very trying time for the Church in this nation, there are those of us who believe that America is on the verge of a sweeping move of God’s Spirit that will touch every state, every county and every heart. Americans are now in desperate need of a fresh Christ Awakening.
Join today on the Dose of Inspiration Radio Show as we cry out to the Lord for our country! You can join us live at 1PM EST or join in prayer with us on the archieve at the end of the show. Whichever way please make sure you join in to pray for our nation!
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09.08.09
If It’s Not Present Tense It’s Not Faith!
If you missed the Dose of Inspiration Radio show here is our topic for today!
Last week on the Dose of Inspiration Radio Show we talked about Hebrews 11:1 and how we need faith for right now for our situation AND we need to present our faith as evidence to God to please Him and to have what we desire.
Today we are going to follow along the lines of faith because so many children of God do not truly understand what Faith really is. Now when I talk about faith I am not talking about our faith in Jesus that He is the son of God , died was buried and rose again and is now seated at the right hand of God making intercession for us his children. That is all true but I am talking about faith for the impossible. Believing God to make an impossible situation possible!
Faith as we learned last week is taking hold of something we do not see and bringing into reality. Most people read Mark 11:24 where Jesus himself declared “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” They say “ok I can ask for whatever I need and then I will receive it.” But hold on, there is a missed step. Jesus said whatever you ask for BELIEVE you received it , notice that the word received is past tense, so Jesus was telling us- when we ask we must ALREADY believe we have received it and then He said it WILL be yours.
I have ministered to so many people who see this and get excited about it. Then I listen to them talk to me later -while they are standing in faith waiting for it to come to pass -Their words tell me a lot of the time they are not in faith but they are hoping. When we say “Lord I hope you will do this for me” we are NOT in faith. Remember NOW Faith – we learned that in Hebrews 11:1, when we are hoping we are saying it may be coming sometime in the future, but the Word of God tells us to have faith for right now and Jesus said believe you have RECEIVED – that is – it is already done!
We need to make sure we are not saying “I hope God will do this, I prayed for Him to do it, I know the Word of God says He can and will, but I hope He will.” – That is NOT faith. We do not receive anything from God through hope, it is by faith that we please him and receive from Him.
Remember prayer changes circumstances but prayer does not change God. He is always the same and that means if he said ask, believe, and you WILL receive – then it will happen. But we must do our part. And He plainly tells us what our part is: ask, believe you received, and then He will do His part and bring it to pass.
We cannot substitute hope for faith and get answers from God. He gave us His word to lead us, every situation you need an answer to is in the Word of God. It is your instruction manual for life. But we must read his word, know what it says we must do, know what it says we can have, and know the steps we are to take in order to get what we desire.
Now I know that some of you are thinking about hope in the Bible – that hope is the Blessed Hope. The Blessed Hope of the church is the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the saved dead, the rapture of the living saints, and the hope of heaven and the hope of seeing our loved ones and friends. That is the Blessed hope.
But when we say “I hope the Lord will help me financially or I hope the Lord will heal me or I hope the Lord will deliver me,” the word hope is misplaced. We are not to hope Jesus will do anything because His word already said He will or He already has, so we are to have faith in His word, that what it says IS true. We are to have faith in God that He is not a liar and if He said He would do something -He will, but we must make sure we are praying and acting according to the Word.
If our prayers don’t seem to be working then we need to check ourselves. What are we saying, what scripture are we standing on, how much time with the Father are we spending, are we walking in love? We have a part to play in all of this, we can’t just say well whatever I ask for Jesus said I can have it, yes He did but we have steps to take first.
We need to check our words, when we say “I hope God will,” or “sometime God will do this” or “God is going to do something,” those are not words of faith and assureity that God is faithful to do what He said He would. Faith says it is mine and I have it now, no matter what it looks like in the natural, no matter what my 5 senses are telling me, I walk by faith I do not look at what I see, hear, taste, touch or smell! My 5 senses will not lead me, my circumstance will not lead me. I have it by faith!
But as long you are hoping and speaking God is going to do whatever you are desiring -your desire will not come to pass until you get over into faith and believe what God said he would do, believe it is already happened the minute you asked for it.
In John 4: 43-50 the royal official son’s was close to death and this man had heard of Jesus and goes to him begging him to heal his son. He knew Jesus could do this obviously or he would not have gone to Him. But I love what verse 50 says about the man when Jesus told him to go his son will live verse 50 says “ The man took Jesus at his word and departed.” That is faith, this man did not say “no Jesus you have to come and lay hands on him, no come and make sure he is not dead.” Remember verse 47 it said he begged Jesus get this picture this mans son is close to being dead and he is begging Jesus to come and heal him. However when Jesus said your son will live this man could not see if his son was dead or not, he had nothing but Jesus words that said your son will live and he took Jesus at his word.
The Bible is the word of God it is Jesus words, we must read what it says about sickness and disease, what is says about lack and poverty, what is says about restoration and we must be like this royal official and take Jesus at His word! If it says we are healed and we have restoration, and we are not to live in poverty and he is our provider then we must take Him at his word – THAT is faith!
We learned last week that YOUR Faith gives the substance to the things you desire, hope does not have any substance. Listen to this translation of Hebrews 11:1 “ faith is the warranty deed….. is at last yours.” A warranty deed is a type of deed where the seller guarantees that he holds clear title and has a right to sell it! So get this – Your Faith is your warranty deed, your faith says you hold clear title to what you are believing for and you have rights to it!! Remember hope is future tense, and if your talking is not present tense you are NOT in faith.
We need to say Lord I believe I receive my finances, now, I believe I receive my healing now, I believe I receive my deliverance now, whatever your desire thank Him for it and tell Him you believe you receive it in NOW! You are to praise Him and thank Him in advance daily until you see it come to pass in the natural KNOWING it has already come to pass in the spirit realm!
You can hope for your finances to come but faith gives you the assurance that you will have it! Your faith gives you the assurance! No matter what your desire is Jesus said YOUR faith gives you the assurance!
I teach at NWI Bible College and we have been studying faith. Our students have learned about what John Wesley called “Mental Assent.” Wesley said “people mentally agree that the Bible is true, but they don’t believe it in their heart.” We must believe it with our heart and not our minds. We can’t just say, yes I know the Word of God is true but don’t believe what it says you can have is for you.
How do you know if you are believing with your head and not your heart? Matthew 12:34 says “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” What is coming out of your mouth? Are you saying I hope God will, or He will sometime, or God is going to, are you talking about lack when the word tells us in 3 John 2 “beloved above all things I desire you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.” Are you hoping Jesus will heal you or thinking in the future He will when 1 Peter 2:24 tells us “by whose stripes you were healed.” That word were is past tense so we have already been given healing by Jesus.
Are you believing with your head or your heart? What are you saying. What are you declaring into your life right now by the words you speak.
Jesus told us we can have what we desire when we believe. Our part is to ask, believe it has been done, and allow Jesus to manifest it for us!
Let’s look at one last scripture today 1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: ( we are born or God right so we overcome the world) and this is the victory that overcometh the world, ( here is the answer to your situation pay attention) even our faith.” Your victory according to this promise of God is you ARE to overcome the world and you get victory by your faith!
The message Bible says “The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith.” YOUR faith is the conquering power that brings the world to its knees! You can bring sickness, diseases, lack, debt, poverty, relationship problems, whatever your circumstance the Word of God says YOUR faith is the conquering power to bring it to its knees!
Our job is to be like the royal official and take Jesus at His Word.
Thank you for joining me today and remember who the son has set free IS free indeed!
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