That's the Truth

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
2nd Timothy 3:16 NLT

I talked with a woman whose husband decided he no longer wanted to be a husband and full-time father. A man who at one point walked with the Lord... or at least gave a very good impersonation of one who did. In the course of providing Scripture with consequences for the different scenarios, she would reply, "But he doesn't believe that. He doesn't believe that will happen."

And I know what she says is true: He doesn't believe there will be any consequences as long as he provides materially for them.

However, you have to ask yourself. If it comes down to what the Word of God says or what you believe, which do you think God accepts as Truth? 

Let me explain something. It doesn't matter if you and hundreds, thousands, or even millions of other people don't believe it; if the Word of God says it, then it is Truth. You not believing it does NOT make it untrue, nor does it change God's mind.

And that's the Truth.

Prayer:

Father,
           Purify our hearts and minds! Cause Your righteousness and Truth to rise up within us and make us more like You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Right Atmosphere

When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country. He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?”
And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
Matthew 13:53-58

This was written by my Pastor, Alan Neel.

What an intriguing passage. Up to this point in Jesus' ministry, He performed incredible miracles in every town. But, when He went home He encountered an atmosphere of unbelief. An atmosphere of unbelief is a place where the consensus is more doubt than faith. And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him.

While pondering this passage, I began to wonder about all of the homes of [my] friends, relatives, and fellow Christians. The question I pondered was whether these homes present to Jesus an atmosphere of faith or unbelief? Do we believe in Jesus the Messiah, the ONE who is capable and able to perform the impossible? Or do we just trust an historical figure because we are really not sure what lies beyond this life?

I am motivated and challenged because I desire my home to present an atmosphere of faith to Jesus, a place where nothing is impossible, and the Son of God has full authority and reign. Do you believe that Jesus is bigger than ALL the current challenges in the world? Or do we create an atmosphere of fear and doubt? ALLOW JESUS TO BE THE SON OF GOD IN YOUR HOME! ENABLE AN ATMOSPHERE OF FAITH!

Check Up

While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar.Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John..."

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”
Luke 1:11-13, 18 NLT

Zechariah was a priest. He had served in the temple a long time. Verse 7 tells us that both he and Elizabeth were very old. He had years of life experiences that he had allowed to shape his thinking and his beliefs. Somewhere along the line, what he believed based on those life experiences had redefined his faith. 

We've all done it. Think about your prayer life. Do we pray BELIEVING or do we pray hoping or do we just throw some words up in God's general direction, wishing He would, but figuring He probably won't... based on our life experiences? 

The struggle we tend to have with true faith is when what we've experienced in life is different than what the Word of God says about us. Are we able to set our face like a flint (Isaiah 50) in spite of the trials and tribulations and words that come against us?  Do we choose to take God at His Word? His Word tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). 

Whether we're new in the Lord or have been serving Him for years, is our faith in God's Word and what HE says about the situation? Or is it in the situation and how we figure it will probably end up based on our own experiences? Have we let our faith become watered down with tears of disappointment? Lost loved ones? Chronic illness?  Let's do a heart check. Do we need to repent and realign our hearts with His? 

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for any and every time we have chosen to believe circumstances over the Truth of Your Word. Clear our minds, O God. Give us clean hands and pure hearts as we earnestly follow You. Help us to see with spiritual eyes Your plan and purpose for everything in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Based on Belief

The town of Hebron was given to Caleb as Moses had promised. And Caleb drove out the people living there, who were descendants of the three sons of Anak.
Judges 1:20 NLT

When the twelve went to spy out the Promised Land, they ALL brought back the grapes. All twelve reported to Moses as in Numbers 13:27, This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces."

Then the ten succumbed to their fears and reported what they believed, based on what they had seen - giants, the sons of Anak. Joshua and Caleb reported based on what they believed - the Word of the Lord. He'd promised them the land, and they believed God. It didn't matter who or what occupied the land; they knew and believed that God was greater.

Caleb believed God and 40-plus years later went back into Hebron (see Numbers 13:22) where the descendants of the three sons of Anak STILL lived, and he defeated them and the land of the north was given to Caleb as had been promised. 

Do we believe God is greater? Greater than what we see, hear, feel? Do we? It's important to acknowledge and choose what we believe - to determine if we're going to believe God no matter what we see, hear or feel. What we believe WILL determine our actions and the outcome of our lives.

What are your beliefs based on? 

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for aligning ourselves with anything other than Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

100% Sure +

God is not a man, so he does not lie.
    He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
    Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
Numbers 23:19 NLT

We have all been let down by someone in our lives, at one point or another. Maybe it wasn't intentional - someone just forgot what he or she promised. But maybe it was on purpose (that hurts more). Maybe it wasn't within the time frame that was expected - that can lead to misunderstandings and might even break a trust. We wouldn't be as quick to trust or believe the next time, would we? Thank God, HE'S not like that!

One of the most basic, foundational Truths that ALL Christians believe is that God does not lie. Would you agree? Our Promise for Today assures us of this very Truth, right? Right?

As I was reading other passages today, I was convicted to the depth of my soul! How many times have I been fearful or afraid to do something that I believed God asked me to do or wanted me to do?!? Afraid of what - people's opinions? Fear of failure? Did God say it? If so, then why didn't I believe it and act on it? 

How many times have I not walked in the measure of faith He supplied to all of us? How many times have I allowed my perception of a situation to determine my actions rather than my faith? How can we be sure?

1st John 4:16-18 tells us, And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

God has told us numerous times to not fear. HE is love. It is HIS perfect love that drives out fear, according to His Word. Of that, we can be 100% sure!

Prayer:

Father,
          As it is written - the words of Your only begotten Son -Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Let the Truth of Your Word pierce our hearts, rightly dividing between soul and spirit. Cause our hearts to cry out as the child's father in Mark 9, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* He Can! Can you?

... if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
 " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
Mark 9:22b-24 NIV

We want to claim a walk of faith, but when was the last time we checked the reality of it? What does it mean to walk in faith? It means we don't have all the answers in front of us. We reduce God to our level of ineptitude by our unbelief and then want to blame Him when our prayers are not answered. In our minds, we define God by our self-righteousness rather than define ourselves by His true righteousness.

Maybe we don't know where the money's coming from for that bill that is due or for groceries, but we can know that God is true to His Word. And if we are in covenant with Him, He will supply all of our needs in glory by Christ Jesus. That's His Word, not mine. 

Sometimes, we don't know why people get sick but we can know how they can get well. Jesus took the stripes on His back to purchase our healing. He is the Healer. He sends His Word and it can heal. 

Sometimes, they don't get well. Sometimes they die. Titus tells us we have this Truth - His truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.

It's not a pick-and-choose situation. We can't just pick the ones we like and forget the rest. Addison Road did a song called, "What Do I Know of Holy?" and it depicts this whole scenario of confining God to our finite-ness. Limiting Him by who we are and/or what we believe. Negating His promises by our words of unbelief - our view of Him as too small, as not enough... 

Have you thought about who He is? Who God is doesn't change just because our circumstances change or our feelings change or because our friends say so. His sovereignty is not diminished by our inability to believe. However, what we receive IS limited by what we believe.

Can we be forgiven? Can we be made new? Can He heal? Can He provide? Can He restore? Can He remove the stain of sin? Can He empower us to overcome?  He can and He will... Can you believe?

Prayer:

Father,
          Shine Your light of Truth into the deepest, darkest places of our lives. Root out unbelief. Your Words are alive and powerful! Quicken them in us, Father, so that we may fulfill Your purpose in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen