Let nothing that happens today, or has happened before, discourage you about tomorrow. Our words create things and tear things down. Pray that your words today would honor God and that the things you say might cooperate with what God wants to accomplish in you.
God’s plans for your life far exceed the circumstances of your day. Let God’s promises shine on your problems. Any troubles I encounter, I go straight to God’s Word for direction, encouragement & strength. Too many of us continue to struggle because we ignore the instruction manual, which is God’s Word.
I have learned that a closed Bible is no good. Like no good! A word for today. You realize that the size of the situation and the size of the need does not change the size of your God at all! The size of your problem will never change the dimensions of your God! What may be too big for you will never be too big for Him! With Him, all things are possible, and they are likewise possible for you too because He’s already told you that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! So, stop listening to the words of your adversary, and start listening to the terms of your Advocate! He is fighting with you, and for you, you will not lose! He ALWAYS Causes Us to Triumph!
Mark 6:1-6, “Jesus left there and went to His hometown, accompanied by His disciples. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed. Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given Him? What are these remarkable miracles He is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” HE COULD NOT DO ANY MIRACLES THERE, EXCEPT LAY HIS HANDS ON A FEW SICK PEOPLE AND HEAL THEM. HE WAS AMAZED AT THEIR LACK OF FAITH...” (AMPC)
I have friends who really love to fish! So, in their honor, I have got to tell you this great fisherman story. It seems that two men were out fishing in separate boats. And one was watching the other with growing curiosity because he would catch a fish, he would keep it, then he would catch another fish and he would throw that one away. And he just kept doing this, catch after catch. The strange part was that it was always the BIG ones that he threw away. The other fisherman could not help but wonder, what kind of fisherman is this? Well, finally, the man watching all of that could not contain his curiosity any longer, so he called out the obvious question, "How come you're throwing away the BIG ones?" The man answered, "Oh, because I only have an eight-inch frying pan!" Really?
Wouldn’t it have made better sense to simply buy a larger frying pan? One that made room for something BIGGER!
I guess if small is what you are prepared for, then small is all you will ever get. Well, that is what the people of Nazareth found out when Jesus came home. In Mark 6:1-6, the Bible says, "Jesus left and returned to his hometown with his disciples. The next Sabbath he taught in the Jewish meeting place. Many of the people who heard him were amazed and asked, “How can he do all this? Where did he get such wisdom and the power to work these miracles? Isn’t he the carpenter, the son of Mary? Aren’t James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon his brothers? Don’t his sisters still live here in our town?” The people were very unhappy because of what he was doing. But Jesus said, “Prophets are honored by everyone, except the people of their hometown and their relatives and their own family. “JESUS COULD NOT WORK ANY MIRACLES THERE, EXCEPT TO HEAL A FEW SICK PEOPLE BY PLACING HIS HANDS ON THEM...” (CEV)
The King James Version says it bluntly, "HE COULD DO NO MIGHTY WORK THERE BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF." WOW!
Look at Mark 6:5-6 “And He was NOT ABLE TO DO EVEN ONE WORK OF POWER THERE, except that He laid His hands on a FEW sickly people [and] cured them. And He MARVELED because of their UNBELIEF (THEIR LACK OF FAITH IN HIM) ...” (AMPC)
Let me tell you, it is a scary incident for those of us who are regular churchgoers. Because the people who knew the MOST about Jesus back then expected the LEAST and they got it! “…except that, He laid His hands on a FEW sickly people [and] cured them...” Can you imagine? Jesus (all-powerful) is during them, in their very presence, and all He could do was heal a FEW people! They had an exceedingly small frying pan, and it was not BIG enough for the kinds of things Jesus could do! NAZARETH WAS THE ONE PLACE JESUS WENT WHERE THEY HAD TO SETTLE FOR THE NATURAL AND MISS THE SUPERNATURAL. And the scary part is that today we are Nazareth! We Bible-believers, we are the ones who know a lot about Jesus, just like His neighbors in Nazareth. We analyze things just like they did. But those kinds of people are often so close, so used to Jesus, they put Him in a box, limiting Him to work the way they have always seen Him work before, or the way they think He ought to work. I will tell you; He will not stay in our limited little box! There is nothing Jesus cannot do, and yet, here, in His own hometown, among people He knew and those who knew Him, He could not do any more than heal a few folks! They missed out on receiving the “mighty miracles and mighty works” and instead their unbelief caused them to settle for receiving small from a BIG God!
“Disbelief” is defined as the “inability or refusal to accept that something is true or real; lack of faith.” In case you were unaware, this is NOT to be the mindset of believers! We do not have to question our God, and even when we do not always understand Him, we yet trust Him! We are NOT to be a people who walk in doubt, disbelief, or a lack faith! Quite the contrary, we walk BY faith!
2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we WALK BY FAITH [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus, WE WALK] NOT BY SIGHT OR APPEARANCE.” (AMPC)
As believers, our lifestyle, mindset, and conduct are all to hold the conviction of walking by faith! We do not focus on sight or appearance; we focus on our God! We do not allow disbelief to distract us!
Let this serve as our encouragement to trust God no matter what or who we are facing! Regardless of the tests, the diagnosis, and the financial struggles (God is still able to do something BIG on your behalf)!
We do not want to position ourselves where Jesus is “amazed, marveled, surprised and appalled” at our unbelief! Instead, let us pray that God increases our faith (Luke 17:5, “The apostles said to the Lord, INCREASE OUR FAITH (that trust and confidence that spring from our belief in God).” (AMPC); renews our hope (Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts, and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, To Give You Hope In Your Final Outcome.” (AMPC); deepens our trust (Proverbs 3:5-6, “Lean on, TRUST IN, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” (AMPC); and strengthens our conviction (Hebrews 10:35, “Do Not, Therefore, Fling Away Your Fearless Confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward.” AMPC)
Let this be the season of not just renewed faith, but increased faith. We lived by our mustard seed faith long enough in many areas of our lives. And do not get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with mustard seed faith! (Matthew 17:20, “He said to them, Because of the LITTLENESS OF YOUR FAITH [that is, your lack of firmly relying on trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have Faith [That Is Living] Like A Grain Of Mustard Seed, You Can Say To This Mountain, Move From Here To Yonder Place, And It Will Move; And Nothing Will Be Impossible To You.” AMPC) Yes, mustard seed faith can move mountains, but our faith should be growing and not stagnant at the same level as when we first believed! We need a faith that grows and levels up! Romans 1:17, “For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both Springing From Faith And Leading To Faith [Disclosed Through The Way Of Faith That Arouses To More Faith]. As it is written, the man who through FAITH is just and upright shall live and shall live by FAITH.” (AMPC) Last year will be the LAST YEAR that we walk in fear instead of faith! Whether there is a layoff; a diagnosis; the loss of a loved one; the car wrecks; the lights are shut off; WE WILL WALK BY FAITH, AND WE’LL EVEN WALK IN INCREASED FAITH AS THE MONTHS GO BY!
Let us cry out collectively this year, “LORD, HELP MY UNBELIEF!” Mark 9:24, “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF.” (KJV)
Mark 11:23-24, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted and thrown into the sea!’ AND DOES NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART [IN GOD’S UNLIMITED POWER] BUT BELIEVES THAT WHAT HE SAYS IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE, IT WILL BE DONE FOR HIM [IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD’S WILL]. For this reason, I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], BELIEVE [WITH CONFIDENT TRUST] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.” (AMPC)
Romans 4:18-22, “[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, HOPED IN FAITH that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, so [numberless] shall your descendants be. HE DID NOT WEAKEN IN FAITH when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah’s [deadened] womb. No Unbelief Or Distrust Made Him Waver (Doubting Doubtingly Question) Concerning The Promise Of God, But He Grew Strong And Was Empowered By Faith as he gave praise and glory to God, fully satisfied, and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised. THAT IS WHY HIS FAITH WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS (RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD).” (AMPC)
In 1 Corinthians 13:13 Paul describes faith as the third of the three greatest qualities, after love and hope. Yet these three qualities seem to be drying up on the vine today.
Many of us know who the greatest characters in the Bible are, and these include the Lord Jesus, Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, and John the Baptist. Aside from the biggies, there are also other Bible figures worth noting for their faith, even though they only had brief appearances.
These people exhibited such great faith that even the Lord Jesus was outspokenly happy with some of them. Do you want to learn from these people? Here are some Bible characters who had short appearances in the Bible but showed great faith.
God expects His people to live by faith. But what does live by faith look like? These examples of faith found in Hebrews chapter eleven will encourage your heart and strengthen your confidence in God.
Hebrews 11 is an incredible chapter detailing what faith is, what faith does, and what faith can do for you. It overflows with precious truths about faith.
This portion of Scripture is known as the Hall of Faith.
These testimonies are patterns of faith meant to encourage us to believe God.
God has given us examples of faith. These testimonies of what faith did in others’ lives are powerful illustrations of what God can do through your faith.
Faith is central to the Christian life. Without faith, we cannot please God. With faith, we can move mountains! Through faith, we accomplish everything from the ordinary to the impossible.
What is faith? Bible faith is belief in God and His Word. Here is a simple definition of personal faith: “Faith is the measure of your personal confidence in God.”
Faith is the noun form of words like “believe” and “trust. “The Christian life begins with faith and lives by it daily. Through faith, we are saved, sanctified, and serve.
Noah Taught Us Faith Can Save Our Families. Hebrews 11:7
God told Noah to build an ark to save his family and the animals. Why? Rain and floods would overtake the Earth killing all that was not in the ark. There was only one problem. It had never rained!
Noah believed God and saved His family. Your faith can save your family, as well. Believe God. Trust Him in your daily life. Your family will be blessed.
Abraham Taught Us Faith Can Guide Our Steps. Hebrews 11:8–10
Sara Taught Us Faith Can Do The Impossible. Hebrews 11:11
Abraham Taught Us Faith Can Empower Us To Obey In The Most Desperate Situations. Hebrews 11:17–19
Joseph Taught Us Faith Looks Beyond This Life. Hebrews 11:22 “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.”
Before Joseph died, he reminded the children of Israel that God would deliver them, restoring them to the promised land. He told them to take His bones to bury them there. Joseph’s entire life was a life of faith. His faith in God brought him safely through tremendous trials. Perhaps, this is the sweetest token of His faith. He didn’t want to be buried in Egypt. He believed that God would deliver the people and wanted to go home. Faith teaches us to look beyond this life.
Moses Taught Us Faith Can Overcome The World. Hebrews 11:23–26
Moses was a miracle child saved from death by his parent’s faith and the tender heart of an Egyptian princess. He grew up in the palace of the wealthiest and most powerful country on the planet. Moses had the best teachers and countless opportunities. He had every pleasure and comfort life had to offer.
Ultimately, by faith, he chose God over the world! He became the greatest leader of men, other than Jesus Christ, in History. He led 2-3 million traveling Jews for 40 years with no technology. Through faith, we can overcome the world too. Faith is the victory!
1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.”
Rahab Taught Us Faith Can Change Lives For The Better. Hebrews 11:31. Faith changed her life and her family’s destiny. Today, she is known for her faith rather than her old profession.
Faith can change your life for the better! Regardless of your past, a moment of sincere faith can alter your direction and change your destiny!
David
David’s storied life displays the mountains and valleys of the faith-life. He accomplished the impossible, lived through the unbearable, did the unthinkable, and trusted God through it all. The Book of Psalms gives us an intimate look into the heart of faith. You can read about David’s life in 1 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles.
These examples of faith are powerful reminders of what God can do in your life! There are examples of faith all around us if we take the time to notice.
Who did God use in your life to grow your faith?
Examples of faith show us what faith can CONTINUE. Hebrews 11:39–40 “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
When a past testimony effects change in us, God rewards both the one who left a testimony and the one who follows the pattern. Their ministries are made complete by our obedience. God has given us many examples of faith. These testimonies of what faith did in others’ lives are powerful illustrations of what God can do through your faith. They convict us of our doubt and encourage us to trust God more. Whose example of faith has changed you?
Remember You Have A History with God. You have seen His faithfulness over and over down through the years. He will look out for you. When you put God first, even a Bad Month is a Blessed Month. Now, With All That Said, I Have a Few Questions for You:
Is your faith still alive and well? Is it still growing? Are you still feeding it? Are you still nurturing you? Are you still walking in it? Are you still working in it? Are you still living in it? Does Your Faith Still Have a Pulse?
Faith Works If You Work It! Asking is One Thing- Believing Is Another!
Genuine Faith Says: “I Don’t Care Where I Have to Go, Whatever God Says, I’ll Do It!” Real Faith Needs No Explanation In Order To Act! The Faith That God Responds To Does Not Require Understanding Of The Orders, Just Obedience In Carrying Them Out.
Today, be encouraged! No matter what you face, God is there to face it with you, and He will ALWAYS be BIGGER than anything you face! So whatever requests you need to make of God this season, don’t hold back!
Many Of Us Have Faith, But This Is The Season Of Faith Expansion! This Is The Season That Our Faith Is Going To Grow To The Point That We Simply Believe God No Matter The Situation Or Circumstance. Our Faith Will Be Unwavering And Unmovable! We Will Not Allow Doubts; Fears; Lack Of Faith; Nervousness; Panic Attacks And Anxiety To Shake Our Faith! This Year, this season, or at any time.
Remember the opening story? It is not that the fisherman did not catch BIG fish, he just did not make sure he had a frying pan BIG enough to accommodate the catch! This my friend will be your Rehoboth year! This will be your season of God Making Room for your Blessings! Genesis 26:22, “And he moved away from there and dug another well, and for that one they did not quarrel. HE NAMED IT REHOBOTH [ROOM], SAYING, FOR NOW THE LORD HAS MADE ROOM FOR US, AND WE SHALL BE FRUITFUL IN THE LAND.” (AMPC) Pay attention, God made the room, but Isaac named it Rehoboth! It is time you start speaking by faith your Rehoboth! For not only will God make room for you this year, but you will be fruitful as well! You will receive the blessing with a bonus, and all you must do is BELIEVE!
Blessings
J.P. Olson
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