How does one change his mind from hiding from God to running to God? Well, today’s scripture tells us that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
In Matthew 8, the man with leprosy had enough faith to come out of his hiding place and head straight for Jesus to seek healing because of the gracious words he had heard while Jesus was preaching to the multitudes. If our Lord had preached a hellfire-and-brimstone message of condemnation, do you think the man would have dared to approach Him for healing?
Of course not. He would have walked away fearful of punishment, and feeling more condemned and hopeless than ever. But because he heard words of grace—how God wanted to be a loving Father to him and provide for all his needs—faith arose in his heart, giving him the confidence to approach the Lord Jesus for his miracle.
My friend, what you hear about God is of utmost importance. It can mean the difference between receiving your miracle and remaining where you are in your lack or bondage. It can draw you close to God, or drive you further away from Him. Faith comes by hearing, but fear also comes by hearing.
If you’ve been hearing about a God who is mostly angry and out to get you for your sins, how can you have faith to look to Him for help? If you’ve been hearing that He gives people (even believers) sicknesses and punishes them with horrible accidents for their sins, how can you look to Him for healing?
If you’ve been hearing that He wants you and your family in poverty to keep you humble, how can you believe Him for financial breakthroughs or deliverance from mounting debts? How can you possibly trust God for anything good to happen to you if all you’ve been hearing are sermons that make you feel more condemned and fearful of His judgment?
It’s sad, but the things I’ve just mentioned are the very things people are hearing about God. Just look at the movies made about God today—God is always portrayed as mean, judgmental, petulant, destructive, and even murderous! How they’ve perverted Who God really is—“compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love” (Ps. 103:8 NLT)!
Don’t misunderstand me. God does have anger, but the Bible never defines God as wrath; it defines God as love (1 John 4:8, 16).
Did our Lord Jesus ever condemn the prostitutes and tax collectors, those despised and rejected by society? No, He was a friend of sinners! Did He ever take away from the poor, or inflict the sick with more diseases? No, He fed a hungry multitude with twelve baskets full of leftovers and healed everyone who sought Him for healing wherever He went!
The Bible tells us that Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). What does that tell us? God wants to do good, not evil, to us!
If this were not true, God would not have been with Jesus, backing Him up. Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works” (John 14:9–10).
If you want to know what God is really like (and not what man portrays Him to be), look at Jesus in the Gospels. He is God’s will in action, and He went about doing good—saving, delivering, healing, restoring, providing, guiding, and loving the unlovable. That’s our God!
One of my students had an assignment to create there own study, this is Izelle’ study material on FAITH
Study By: Izelle Viviers Faith and Trusting God and follow Him.
What is faith?It is trust, assurance and confidence in God.Living faith is shown by service and obedience to God.
Definition of faith in the Bible.
Is rooted in the Greek word “pristis” which means believe,trust,and confidence. Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God and the means by which we can receive eternal life.As christians faith is essential in our relationship with God because it allows us to trust in His promises and believe in His plan for our lives,even when cannot see or understand it.
Hebrews 11:1 provides a comprehensive definition of faith saying.”Now faith is the substance of things hoped for.the evidence things not seen.This verse highlights the importance of faith as the substance or foundation of our hope in God and the evidence of things we cannot see or understand.Our faith in God allows us to trust in His promises and believe that He will work all things together for our good.(Romans 8:28)
In addition to being the foundation of our hope and relationship with God,faith is also the means by which we can be saved and receive eternal life.John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” The verse highlights the importance of Faith in Jesus Christ as the means by which we can be saved and receive eternal life.
The definition of faith in the Bible is belief,trust and confidence in God and His promises and it is the means by which we can be saved and received eternal life.Faith is essential for Christians as it provides a foundation for our relationship with God and our faith journey.
5 Simple Ways To Strengthen Your Faith.
Trust Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Matthew 6:25-27 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
John 10:10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Pray Like you mean it.Pray like God is in the room sitting right beside you. Mark 11:23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.
It’s okay to lift up our ever need to God.It’s okay to give Him every single one of our burdens,worries and fears.It’s okay to ask God to interviene in our liives,and ask Him for the provisions we need.He wants to hear our voices,and He wants a personal relationship with each and everyone of us.
Daily prayer will invite God into our lives and help us establish a deeper trust. Our faith will grow stronger as we release the power of prayer in our lives. I believe that any form of prayer is okay, formal or informal, as long as you’re communicating with God, it’s always good. We are instructed to pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. Therefore, to truly exercise faith in our lives we must live a prayerful life, constantly reaching out to God.
I know that every prayer I pray is heard. I understand that every prayer I pray may not be answered in the way I want or the time frame I would like. However, that will never stop me from praying with my whole heart.
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Practical application: Start every day with prayer! I do believe sitting in the presence of God is important and I do think there are times when God deserves my undivided attention.
I know it sounds really simple, but God already knows all my needs, and honestly He probably knows them even better than I do. I just want Him to know that I need Him and I want Him in my day. I send up quick prayers throughout the rest of the day. Some are in thankfulness, while others are asking for more guidance, wisdom, and knowledge. A great deal are for people, I love to pray for people.
Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Read Scriptures
We must know the Word of God! We must make time to sit down and curl up with our Bibles. We need His Word inside, in our minds and in our hearts. Knowing God’s Word goes hand in hand with trusting God and praying. Read His promises, and then have great faith in God, that they will come to pass. Pray them over your life. In God’s Word we will find strength, hope, love, peace, and joy. We will also find promises of provision, and instructions to keep us away from sin and rebuke the devil. We will gain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in our lives through His instructions.
Read Matthew 17:20, and then believe that faith can move mountains. Read Philippians 4:19 and have faith that God will supply all your needs. Read Malachi 3:10 and believe that if God is first in your finances He will pour out blessings for you until they overflow. Read Ephesians 6:10-17 and know that you have The Amour of God, what can possibly come against you.
If we want to exercise faith in our lives, we must let God’s instructions and commands be our guide. In doing so we will strengthen our faith greatly.
Psalms 119: 105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Practical application: I start with a prayer just asking that God would speak to me through His Word, giving me the knowledge to understand what He is laying on my heart. I keep a journal with my Bible at all times and index cards. I also have a few colorful pens tucked away. When something I read “speaks” to me or “tugs” on my heart, I write it down.
Sometimes I have a verse that I’m taken with and it becomes a focus for me. I break it down until I truly understand it and can start applying it. I don’t get very far in my reading daily doing this, but I know that I’m truly leaning into His Word and applying it to my life. I believe quality over quantity applies here. I’ve made a rule for myself, and this might sound silly, but until I’ve read for 30 minutes a day… no Pinterest, no Facebook, and no T.V. God’s Word has to be priority in our lives if we want to strengthen our faith.
Have you heard the saying “a verse a day keeps the devil away?” It’s a start, if you’re not exercising your faith in this area, start small, then let God lead you from there.
Live Out His Word
We’ve done all that reading, studying, and note taking, now it’s time to start using our knowledge. Applying the Word of God to the lives we live, will deepen our walk with Him and strengthen our faith.
Practical application: I think our world would be a better place if the people who claim to be Christians actually acted like Christians. I understand this statement is incredibly blunt, but it’s honestly how I feel. Obviously, no one is prefect, but we have to make a commitment to grow in our faith and commit to living God first lives. I love the Gospel’s, I love getting to know Jesus, and understanding the life I am called to live. This is where index cards come in handy when studying scriptures. I write down verses I know I personally need to work on, and then intentionally start to apply them to my life. One day at a time, the goal is always to be better than I was yesterday.
Be The Light
You are the light of the world, so shine bright my darling friend. We are to be loving and caring towards each other. We are to be encouraging, and build one another up. We should be joyful people, who don’t spend our days complaining.
We should practice thankfulness and be forgiving. Refer back to Mark 11:25, Jesus stated that when we pray we must not hold anything against anyone, but we are to forgive, so our Father can forgive us of our sins.
We must be giving of our time, our talents, and our treasures. When people see you, let them not only see a person that is a believer in God, but let them see a person that exercises great faith in their lives. Let them see a role model for a God first life, let your actions draw people closer to God.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:18
Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
Philippians 2:14
Practical application: There are so many more verses I could share, but the point is simple. Wake up each day with the intention to be good and do good. Spread light, not darkness. It’s really that simple. Give compliments freely, smile kindly, give generously, don’t complain, speak only kind words, and never tear people down.
Above all remember to love God and love people.
FAITH OF GOD
report the receipt of.” You can only acknowledge something that you already have. We already have the faith of God, and it will begin to work when we acknowledge this.
The more you know about faith and how it works, the better it will work for you. If all you knew was that you have the same faith Jesus has, then that would remove hopelessness and motivate you. People would eventually see results if they just kept trying, but they give up easily because they believe they don’t have what it takes. That is not true. The Lord has given us everything we need, including all the faith we need. We just need to acknowledge what we have and begin to learn the laws that govern the operation of God’s faith.
Without faith it’s impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6), so our relationship with the Lord is dependent on it. Faith is what brings the things God has provided for us from the spiritual realm into the physical realm (Heb. 11:1). Our faith is the victory that enables us to overcome the world (1 John 5:4). Everything the Lord does for us is accessed through faith.
Listen to songs Who am I by casting crowns Here’s my heart lord Only Jesus Praise you in the storm
I’m n reborn Cristian daughter of God and through my journey with God my life is full of joy and happiness.There will be seasons that you will go through but with God by your side you will overcome it all.Repent and give all to God lay all things by the cross God is standing with open arms waiting for you to come to Him.Always remember He is our Provider,Way Maker,Miracle worker and Light in the darkness He is a true friend He will be there for you always He will never fail you on Him you can depend ant Trust.Have Faith in the one and only true God.
Remember how Noah was safe in the ark when the floodwaters came? While Noah was not perfect, God saw him as righteous because of his faith in God (Heb. 11:7).
When the flood came, everyone outside the ark died, but Noah and his family were protected and saved. Why? Because they were in the ark, which is a type of Christ, who is our salvation (Acts 4:12).
The ark didn’t have windows along its sides, only near the roof. The truth here is that God does not want you to focus on all the darkness, terror, and evil that are around you and in the world. He wants you to look up and know that His Son is coming back for you.
I want you to see something else: I believe there were times when Noah might have lost his balance and fallen as the storm waters crashed against the ark. But Noah fell in the ark; he never fell out of the ark.
Similarly, for the believer today, when the devil tempts you and you fall, you don’t fall out of your position in Christ; you are still in Christ. In the book of Proverbs, it says, “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again” (Prov. 24:16).
You see, a believer doesn’t fall in and out of righteousness. Our righteousness today is a gift from our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:17). This means that even though we may fail from time to time because we are imperfect human beings, we are still in Christ our ark and do not forfeit His blessings of protection.
Now, in case you are wondering, does this make someone want to live recklessly? Certainly not! I believe that knowing you are righteous in Christ makes you live responsibly and in honor to the Lord (Rom. 6:10–14).
The revelation of our righteousness in Christ produces righteous living (Titus 2:11–12).
In the first verse of Psalm 91, we find two names of God that bring comfort and strength to us when we feel afraid or weak. Each of the names of God has a divine attribute, and understanding and believing that He is each attribute will cause that attribute to flow into our lives.
The first name of God mentioned in Psalm 91 is “Most High” (Elyon), which means He is the Most High God and there is no one higher than Him. He is the possessor of heaven and earth (Gen. 14:19).
The verse goes on to refer to God as the “Almighty.” In Hebrew, it is Shaddai—the God who blesses you with more than enough, more than you can contain. Man has limitations but we have a God who is abundantly unlimited.
Now, the second verse of Psalm 91 contains another two names of God. Isn’t this so powerful?
When the psalmist declares, “I will say of the LORD,” he is referring to Yehovah or Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God. It is the holiest name of the Lord, the name Jewish scribes treat with great reverence.
Do you know that Jesus’ name in Hebrew, Yeshua, actually means “Yahweh saves”? It is not “Yahweh judges.” The name Jesus means “Yahweh SAVES.”
If you are broke, Yahweh saves. If you are sick, Yahweh saves. If you have enemies that are coming against you, Yahweh saves. Whatever saving you need, Jesus is the answer, for His name means “Yahweh saves.” Hallelujah!
The psalmist in verse 2 goes on to say, “My God, in Him I will trust.” Now, the word “God” here refers to Elohim, the God of power, the Creator. The God who created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1). This is our God! He is the One we put our trust in.
In just two verses, you find four names of God mentioned. Knowing, believing, and saying He is all these to us gives us protection in our everyday situations. He will deliver and rescue the one who knows His name. Hallelujah!
My friend, God is with you today because of His precious Son, Jesus. For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son, and His name is Immanuel. God gave us Jesus.
The presence of Jesus in your life is a free gift from God. There is no amount of good you can do to earn the presence of Jesus. There is no number of good works you can perform to merit His favor. His presence in your life is a free gift.
Now, because you did nothing to deserve His presence in your life, there is nothing you can do that will cause His presence to leave you. Once you have received Jesus into your heart, He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5)!
“But Pastor Lydia, when I fail, doesn’t Jesus leave me?”
No, Jesus is right by your side to encourage you and restore you to wholeness. You may say, “But I don’t deserve it!” That’s right. That’s what makes it His unmerited favor in your life.
There is a beautiful psalm that says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand” (Ps. 37:23–24).
When you fail, Jesus is there to uphold you. Unlike some of your so-called “friends,” He does not just take off. You can count on Him. He is a faithful, dependable, and trustworthy friend. Even when you have failed Him, He is right there with you, ready to pick you up and restore you to wholeness. Amen!
The Bible talks about a friend who “sticks closer than a brother.” That’s Jesus! friends, lean on His constant presence. Draw on His unfailing strength and support for you today
What are your eyes fixed on today? Are they focused on the darkness that is in the world? Or are they fixed on the Lord’s promises for your life?
My intention in this message is to turn your eyes away from the destruction you see every day, and to turn them to our beautiful Lord Jesus.
Do you know what Caleb’s secret to long life was? The passage above tells us that it was found in simply following the Lord.
Hebron was the name for one of the cities of refuge instituted by the Lord. In Hebrew, Hebron means fellowship or “association.” This speaks of intimacy, closeness, and connection with the Lord.
There is no formula to long life. The prayer of protection is not a mantra. What we need to note is the importance of having an intimate relationship with Jesus.
Our Lord Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Follow Him and find the path to a long and abundant life.
Don’t forget that everything Caleb experienced was under the old covenant. His renewal of youth and unabated strength and vigor were all experienced under the old covenant.
How much more should we be experiencing this renewal of youth, boundless energy, and length of days under the new covenant of grace that is established on better promises (Heb. 8:6)! Amen!
In a psalm that Moses wrote, it says, “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years” (Ps. 90:10). Some people have used this to teach that our expected lifespan is therefore between seventy and eighty years.
But it is important we interpret this psalm in the context of the children of Israel being in the wilderness and under God’s wrath. We have also seen that even under the old covenant, Caleb transcended this lifespan and was still going strong at eighty-five years old.
So dear reader—you who are under the new covenant—I encourage you to aim high. Don’t settle for living till just seventy or eighty years old, when God has promised, “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation” (Ps. 91:16).
Your satisfaction is the limit and according to your faith, be it unto you. I pray that as you stay close to our Lord Jesus, you will live long, live strong, and live under the protective covering of His wings.
Our love, prayers and deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Kurt Nersey and to the many others who have suffered greatly. A great man who was dear and close to our Lord’s heart. We pray for his wife Jolandie and all the beloved brothers and sisters during this difficult time and speak forth His grace, love and protection. Pause and take some time to pray for this family today. May His unconditional and sacrificial love bring hope and healing to every broken heart and to everyone who is hurting during this time.
Learning to see what Jesus sees is a powerful key in right believing. It involves replacing your wrong beliefs with right beliefs based on God’s Word.
When Jesus saw the man with the withered hand, He didn’t just see the withered hand, He saw that there was more than enough grace for that hand to be made completely whole. Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” The man did as told, and his hand was completely restored and made as whole as his other hand (Mark 3:1–5).
Now, you don’t say “stretch out your hand” to someone whose hand is obviously shriveled and disabled unless you see differently. Jesus sees differently from you and me.
That’s why we need to go back to God’s Word and learn to see what He sees. When Jesus sees a disease, a lack, or someone trapped in fear, guilt, addiction, and sin, He doesn’t just see the problem. He sees God’s healing, grace, and power superabounding in that area of weakness.
You too can change what you believe by seeing beyond what your natural eyes see. Press in to see what Jesus sees. In your very area of lack, struggle, or challenge, see Jesus super abounding grace all around your current situation.
Jesus says to you today, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Give all your weaknesses, failings, and mistakes to the Lord Jesus and see Him transform your weaknesses into strengths.
What you believe is powerful, so are you going by what you see or what Jesus sees?
You may not be able to stop negative thoughts from passing through your mind or unhealthy emotions such as fear gripping your heart but you can definitely anchor your thoughts and emotions on the unshakable Word of God. You can certainly ensure that you believe right regarding what Jesus says about you in His Word, which contains His precious promises to you.
The more you learn and believe right about Jesus’s love and what His Word says about your situation and your life, the more your thoughts will line up with His thoughts about you. You’ll begin to develop thoughts of peace and not of evil, thoughts of hope and a bright future (Jer. 29:11). And you’ll be transformed!
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!
Daniel 3:26–27
There is truly no other god who can rescue like our God. Whatever circumstances you might be thrown into, our Lord Jesus is the fourth man with you in the midst of the fire. Notice how He didn’t stand outside of the fire, but was in the fire together with the three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, when they were thrown inside for defying King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
This brings a whole new meaning for us when we read the verse, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6).
Our Lord doesn’t deliver you from afar; He is with you in the midst of your adversity. Call upon Him and He will answer you. When Jesus is with you, nothing can harm you!
Don’t you just love how the Word of God describes the three friends when they came out of the furnace? They were in the fire, but it had absolutely no power over them. It did not even leave a trace of smoke on them! Now, that’s a beautiful picture of God’s divine protection!
My dear friends, as you call upon the Lord in your day of trouble, my prayer for you is that the trial you are going through will have no power over you; it will not even leave a smell on you. Instead, I declare in Jesus’ name that you will walk out of that challenge in your life and the only smell on you will be the fragrance of the Lord Jesus (2 Cor. 2:14)!
And as the people around you witness how the Lord delivers you, may they come to know His wonderful name and give Him praise. Instead of being negatively affected by whatever trial you might face, I pray that you will receive honor and promotion just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Amen!
It is the Father’s love for you that gives you the power to overcome every mistake, failure, and sin in your life. The Bible puts it this way: “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace” (Rom. 6:14 ). Isn’t that beautiful?
Today you are living under the freedom of God’s amazing grace—His unmerited, undeserved, and unearned favor in your life. Grace gives you freedom. Freedom from lack, from fear, from addictions, from the torment of guilt, and from every curse and every sin! The more you experience the love and grace of your heavenly Father, the more you fall in love with Him and out of love with sin.
Did you know that the enemy has no hold over people who know their Father loves them? If Adam and Eve had believed in God’s love for them, the devil would not have been successful in tempting them. Unfortunately, they chose to believe the lie that the serpent had planted by portraying God as stingy and selfish, as if He was withholding something good from them.
That’s why I want you to be anchored in the Father’s love. You will be unshakable. You will have no desire to touch certain things, go to certain places, or be associated with certain people. You will keep away from negative influences because you trust your Father’s heart for you and believe that He only wants what’s best for you. You rest, knowing that He is watching out for you to protect you and insulate you from harm.
I’ve seen that children who are secure in their father’s love are able to say no to all kinds of temptations. This is because that vacuum in their lives is already filled. They don’t have to do things to win the approval of their friends when they can find absolute security, identity, and approval in their parents’ love for them and, most of all, in their heavenly Father’s love for them.
In the same way, when we trust in our Father’s love for us, we will have the power to say no to temptations. When you have an abiding revelation of just how valuable, precious, and righteous you are in Christ, it becomes increasingly easy to say no to sin.
The more righteousness-conscious you are and the more conscious of how valuable and precious you are in Christ, the more you will know that your righteous identity in Christ and sin don’t go together—and the more you will experience the power to say no to temptation.
Grace Came Ministry 