Strong Faith

Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see - Hebrews 11:1.

Strong faith believes God's promises

God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? - Numbers 23:19.

Strong faith depends on God's help

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand - Isaiah 41:10.

Strong faith never fear

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go - Joshua 1:9.

Strong faith does not doubt God's power

For with God nothing will be impossible - Luke 1:37.

Strong faith does not walk by sight

For we walk by faith, not by sight - 2 Corinthians 5:7. 

Strong faith is rooted in God's Word

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God - Romans 10:17.

Strong faith perseveres

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart - Galatians 6:9.

Strong faith produces obedience

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going - Hebrews 11:8.

Strong faith trusts God

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him - Psalm 28:7.

Strong faith gives glory to God

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God - Romans 4:20.

                                                     

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let our faith be strong in all situations. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.  

Be Filled With The Spirit

                                                Be filled with the Spirit - Ephesians 5:18.

Teaches us all things

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you - John 14:26. 

Gives us power 

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth - Acts 1:8. 

Leads us to holiness

But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God - 1 Corinthians 6:11.

Equips us for ministry

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills - 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.

Produces character

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law - Galatians 5:22,23. 

Brings boldness

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness - Acts 4:31.

Fills us with hope

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13.

Guides us

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth - John 16:13.

Gives us freedom

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom - 2 Corinthians 3:17.

Gives us new life

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you - Romans 8:11.

Helps us in our weaknesses

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered - Romans 8:26.                                                                     

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us be filled with the Spirit. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Lay Hands On The Sick

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover - Mark 16:17,18.

              The Lord Jesus healed many those who were sick by touching them and laying hands on them and recovered them. He said that when believers would lay hands on the sick, the sick would recover. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed - Luke 4:18.

Peter's mother-in-law healed

When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him - Matthew 8:14,15.

Leper cleansed

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy - Matthew 8:3. 

Two blind men received their sight

And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened - Matthew 9:28-30. 

A deaf and mute man healed

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly - Mark 7:31-35.

Two blind men received their sight

Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him - Matthew 20:19-34.

The Son of the Widow of Nain raised to life

And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother - Luke 7:12-15.

                                                                      

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for giving us power to lay hands on the sick to recover them. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

I Have Seen Your Tears

I have seen your tears - 2 Kings 20:5.

God sees our tears

God saw the tears of Hannah and answered her prayer

In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.  So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.” - 1 Samuel 1:10,20. 

God saw the tears of Hezekiah and heard his prayer

Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord - 2 Kings 20:3, 5.

God stores our tears

David says that God keeps track of our wanderings, stores our tears in His bottle and hears the voice of our weeping.

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? - Psalm 56:8.

I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly - Psalm 6:6-10.

God wipes away every tear from our eyes and turns our weeping into Joy

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes - Revelation 21:4.

Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy - John 16:20.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning - Psalm 30:5.

                    Let us thank God who sees, stores and wipes away every tear of us and turns our weeping into joy.   Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them - Psalm 126:6. You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living - Psalm 116:8–9.

                                                                                         

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You have seen, stored and wiped away every tear of us. We thank You for turning our weeping into joy. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

More Than All We Ask Or Imagine

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us - Ephesians 3:20.               

The lame man  asked Peter & John for money  

         A man who was lame from birth was carried to the temple gate called Beautiful where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer, he asked them for money. One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money - Acts 3:1-3. 

Expected to get some money but received healing

                The lame man who expected to get some money from them received healing. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong - Acts 3:4-7. 

Walked and praised God 

                 The lame man who received more than what he asked or imagined walked and praised God and all the people were greatly amazed. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed - Acts 3:8-11. 

                May God immeasurably bless us more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts - Isaiah 55:8,9.                                                                                                       

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for blessing us immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

The Unwavering Faith of Abraham

                        He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had                                        promised He was also able to perform - Romans 8:20,21.

               Abraham did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, what He had promised He was also able to perform. He is called the father of many nations because of his unwavering faith. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations - Genesis 17:5.

By faith, Abraham obeyed God when he was called to go out to the place and went not knowing where he was going

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God - Hebrews 11:8-10. 

By faith, Abraham believed that God can give life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb - Romans 4:16-19. 

By faith, Abraham obeyed and offered up Isaac as he believed that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense - Hebrews 11:17-19.

                                                                                                             

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us not waver at Your promise through unbelief, but be strengthened in faith and give You glory like Abraham. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Love One Another

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another - John 13:34-35.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; 

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 

10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us love one another as You have loved us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.