The Word Of Faith?

 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 

  

  When I was a young man I started listening to “Word of Faith” preaching. I liked the confidence, boldness, and complete lack of doubt these preachers displayed. But as I was struck by illness and disease that refused to go away “by faith”, I started digging into scripture to see what it said about illness and disease. 

  

Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 1 Timothy 5:23 

  

 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Galatians 4:13-14 

  

  Not only did Timothy, Paul’s helper, suffer from illnesses, he was essentially told to “take some medicine”, and not believe it away through faith. More than this, Paul himself, the great Apostle who God used to write so many New Testament Epistles, a great man of faith, also suffered from illness that was not prayed away. In other words, followers of Christ become ill and suffer just like everyone else. Faith has nothing to do with it. Christians are also among the poor. Christian virtue is neither measured by a good doctor’s report or full bank account. 

 

  We do pray for the sick, including ourselves. We also pray about our finances. Sometimes God works a miracle and we are quickly healed, and sometimes God uses doctors and medicine to heal us, and at other times we suffer with lifelong illnesses and disease. And it is often illness or disease that brings about our death at the end of our days here on earth. 

 

  Faith in God is of paramount importance, and that faith begins and ends with our trust in a Savior who will usher us into heaven when our days down here end. We do not place our Christian faith in faith, or in ourselves, or in perfect health or plenty of wealth. Our faith has an Object, a Person, and His Name is Jesus. 

 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, heal us and meet our financial needs. But know that even if we die ill and in poverty we will not lose or give up our faith in You! Amen. 

 

 

Let Go Of The Steering Wheel

 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 

  Too many times in my life I have asked in prayer that “God’s will be done....” and at the same time refused to let go of the reins of my life. We want God to steer the vehicle of our lives, but refuse to let go of the steering wheel. 

There are times in my life I recall how foolish I was to think my efforts were of any value or needed by God. In one particular instance I launched into a litany of prayer when God just wanted me to be silent and still. He essentially told me to “shut up”. Hearing that in your spirit will quickly get your attention and put you in your place regarding how much God needs your efforts.     

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 

  It is not our efforts but His power working through us that accomplishes His will, and often we simply need to get out of His way and let Him steer the ship of our life. 

  This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. Isaiah 30:15 

  Here in America, we have been caught up in the “Self Help” culture for decades. Everything depends upon you choosing this or that, making some change in your life to be happy and put you in control. An entire commercial industry depends upon a self help culture to waste money on the latest fad for improving oneself and bettering our lives.  

When it comes to solving our problems and truly improving ourselves how much better off would we be to get quiet before God and simply ask for His help? Why not let Him guide your life in every area? 

In the great scheme of things, it will be God that transforms the life of a Christian and changes us for the better. No one can improve you, or steer your course better than God. 

There is a saying: Let Go And Let God. Something both to remember and practice in the life of every believer.

Prayer: Dear Lord, how hard it is for us to let go of the wheel of our lives and let You Steer our course. Take control Lord, and help us to get out of Your way. Amen. 

Revisiting Bible Friends

 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family...By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8a-9a  

 

 Years ago, my father-in-law said something to me that stuck in my mind. He said he liked to reread favorite books because it was like visiting with old friends again.  

I think Christians have a similar experience as we read the Bible. When we read about Noah and his goodness, and Abraham and his faithfulness, David and his courage, Ruth and her love for her mother-in-law, Samson and his great strength and terrible weakness, we revisit “old friends”. We see them learn and grow and we increase our faith as we read about their lives again and again. 

 

The greatest person we read about in the Bible is Jesus. Like His disciples long ago, we too can sit at His feet and learn from His teachings. We can see Him casting out devils, healing the sick, and raising the dead back to life. What a blessing to read and spend time in the pages of the Holy Bible. 

 

  It is easy to excuse a lack of Bible reading. We are busy, we are tired, perhaps sick, or some other reason or excuse arises. But the truth is that we rob ourselves when we neglect God’s word. How much stronger, wiser, more faithful might we be if we revisit the Book that launched us into the Christian life. Salvation is found in Jesus, and we find Jesus in the Bible. 

 

  I know how easy it is to excuse oneself from reading Scripture. There are lots of reasons. Yet if we would see Bible reading as a blessing rather than a chore or obligation. See it as a chance to revisit great men and women of old, and a Savior whose wisdom never grows stale. Viewing Bible reading as a pleasure rather than a duty could rekindle the joy we first had when we realized what a gift God’s Word is for the believer. 

 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, ignite a passion for Your word in our hearts and a desire to know you better by reading the Holy Bible. Amen. 

 

 

Prime The Pump

 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38 

 Because of the Spirit of Jesus Christ living inside of us, living water flows out and touches those around us with the love and power of God. We can, in a sense, water others and help them grow because there is living water inside the believer. 

  Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10 

 There are times we do not feel like we have living water inside of us. We get exhausted, irritable, anxious, depressed. We suffer illness and all sorts of afflictions that can weigh us down. It can seem that we have nothing to offer those around us. Yet if you believe in Jesus as your Savior there is more to you than meets the eye. 

  Salvation changes us. A new Spirit now abides within believers. Old things are gone and everything has become new inside of us. We need to remind ourselves of that living water and our new situation as followers of Jesus Christ. The old, grimy, sin-laden person we were has become something new. We are a new creation as scripture says (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

  Do not rely on your feelings. Feelings and emotions change more quickly than the weather. Our new situation in Christ does not depend upon how we feel, but upon how we truly are within. While we may not feel like new beings filled with living water, Jesus says that we are new and should not only believe it, but act like it. There is living water inside of you. Let that water flow. 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, let the water rise in us and become a flood that pours out and positively affects the lives of those around us. Help us represent You well on this earth and to cause others to also want that living water You have given us. Amen.