The Power of Faith.. Craig Denison Ministries

 The Power of Faith

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is the undercurrent of everything we do as followers of Jesus. Without faith we lose all that Christ died to give us while here on earth. It is by faith we access the peace, joy, guidance, love, and purpose that comes from restored relationship with our heavenly Father. As we seek an increase in faith in response to God’s faithfulness this week, may you experience a greater depth of intimacy with your living, Almighty, and loving heavenly Father.

Scripture:“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” Hebrews 11:30

Devotional:

The Holy Spirit loves to move with power in response to faith. Hebrews 11:30 tells us, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” Hebrews 11:32-33 says, “For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—Who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.” As we conclude this week on living by faith, I believe God would fill us with a fresh revelation of his power. Let’s open our hearts and minds to receive all that God would reveal to us about his power and invite him to work in our midst in faith today.

We serve the Creator of all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 says, “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” And throughout Scripture we see God using his power in response to the faith of his people. Whether it be the walls of Jericho tumbling down into rubble or the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful jumping to his feet, God clearly moves in powerful ways when his people live by faith.

Jesus even promises in Matthew 17:20, “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” If we have the smallest amount of faith, Jesus says, “Nothing will be impossible” for us. The God who formed every mountain, valley, river, ocean, and person has told you that he will fight on your behalf in response to your faith.

David was an incredible example of a child of God filled with the faith and powerful work of God. David was constantly in need of God’s help. From stepping up to slay Goliath in faith to escaping pursuers, he exemplified what it was to live constantly in the power of faith. David wrote in Psalm 3:1-6, “O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” David knew of the power of God when he asked for God’s help. So great was his faith in God’s ability and desire to come to his aid that he found rest and security in the face of

You are the child of the Most High, all-powerful God. May your life be marked by the power of your faithful heavenly Father.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the power of faith.

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” Hebrews 11:30

“For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—Who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.” Hebrews 11:32-33

“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

2. Where do you need the power of God in your life? Where do you need the help of your heavenly Father?

3. In faith ask God to move in mighty, specific ways. Come before your heavenly Father boldly and ask him to make his reality, power, and love known in your life.

There is no pride in living your life in line with God’s word. It isn’t haughty or selfish for you to have faith for God to work in your midst. God loves you and longs to help you. He has perfect plans to work in and through every circumstance in your life. Have faith in the love, mercy, and power of your God today.

Extended Reading: Psalm 3

God Heals All Wounds..KIA STEPHENS

 God Heals All Wounds

KIA STEPHENS 

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

My new read was different from most of my nonfiction books.

It was clinical in nature, written by a psychotherapist and filled with a bunch of words I had to look up. It had been recommended to me by my husband early on in our marriage, but it took me 18 years to finally read it. Initially, I reasoned it wasn’t for me, until life led me to it.

Then I couldn’t put it down.

Reading this book felt like a cross between therapy and intense research. With each page, I was learning more about myself. Eventually, I was struck by a single, numerical list: 20 needs that should be fulfilled in the life of every child. If unmet, these needs have the potential to create wounds in unsuspecting adults. They had done so in me.

I held my breath as I read through the list of needs: safety, validation, guidance and many others. Those words described needs I missed. Then I thought about the circumstances surrounding my unmet needs: my single mother, my absent and alcoholic father, and me.

It all felt so overwhelming. I was a 42-year-old woman attempting to process wounds I was still discovering.

But God was not surprised.

He already knew His children would incur wounds in this life. He knew what we eventually discover: In a broken world, with broken people, sometimes we will get cut. I believe this is why God inspired the psalmist to pen the words of Psalm 147:3: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Verse 2 of this psalm lets us know that the psalmist is specifically referring to the exiles of Israel, but these words are applicable to all believers. God is communicating His concern for every brokenhearted individual.

In Psalm 147:3, God is reminding us that His power is unlimited. He is mighty enough to heal all wounds no matter when or how they occurred in our lives. Our pain is not beyond His tremendous power. He is the Great Physician, able to reach into our pasts and heal our souls.

The scripture says, “He heals,” meaning this healing is ongoing. It is not a one-time deal but rather a supernatural act that can occur over and over in the lives of the brokenhearted. For as much and as long as we need healing, God’s compassionate care is available to us.

The Hebrew meaning for the word “brokenhearted” is defined in relation to the inner person, encompassing the mind, will and emotions. Thus, the psalmist reminds us that God is capable of healing all types of wounds.

If our wounds are physical, He can heal them.
If our wounds are mental, He can heal them.
If our wounds are emotional, He can heal those, too.

God not only heals the souls of the broken; He also binds up our wounds. He takes the time to tenderly bandage the wounded places in our lives so we can be made whole. This level of tender care communicates several truths about God:

God cares about those with broken hearts.
God’s power to heal is infinite.
God loves His children deeply.
God is capable of healing all wounds.

I have seen these truths in my own life. God has taken the little girl who grew up with a single mother and an absent father, and He is making her whole. God, my heavenly Father, is teaching me how to look to Him to meet every unmet need from my childhood.

In Him, there is safety.
In Him, there is validation.
In Him, there is guidance.
In Him, all our needs are met.

He does not abandon us with our wounds. God steps into our lives, heals our broken hearts and binds up every wound.

Dear God, thank You for Your tender care for the brokenhearted. Help me to trust and believe that You are able to heal every place in my life where I have been wounded. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Call to Serve..Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Call to Serve

Dr. Charles Stanley

Galatians 5:13

Jesus commanded that we serve one another, but obeying this mandate in humility is not natural for us. Sure, there are times we like to help others. But service that involves self-sacrifice--especially for someone we deem undeserving--much more difficult to do.

What does it mean to serve? Consider Christ's example. He gave up everything in heaven to live among us, subjecting Himself to dishonor and human frailty. And He loved even those who rejected Him. Think about how He humbled Himself and washed the disciples' feet at Passover. This was a disgusting, lowly task that a slave might be assigned--far from anything a king should do. He even knew these men were about to abandon Him but served them anyway.

Ultimately, Christ gave His life for us. And He did so while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8). Serving others was His lifestyle--part of who He was and what He did. As His followers, we should strive to be like Him.

Therefore, service involves first dying to our selfish attitudes and motives. Only then can we live to glorify Christ. Jesus said that the greatest commandments are to love God wholeheartedly and to love others (Matt. 22:37-39). Ironically, it is only when we humbly serve others that we experience God's fullness in our own lives.

Many try to achieve happiness by striving after their own desires. The result? Tired, unsatisfied people. True contentment happens only when we walk closely with Jesus. He shows where we can humble ourselves and take care of others. These actions, done through His strength, will be blessed.

Jesus Is Praying for You..by Lynette Kittle

 Jesus Is Praying for You

by Lynette Kittle

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” — Romans 8:34

Growing up it was comforting to know my grandparents and parents were praying for me. Many times their prayers were taken for granted but as they have passed away, I’ve become more aware of just how much their prayers meant to me.

Knowing they were daily interceding for me provided me with a strength, security, confidence, and support that God was leading in my life.

Just like their prayers encouraged me through life, I’ve realized there is another who is always praying for me, a risen Savior who is daily interceding on my behalf.

Hebrews 7:23-25 states, “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

If like me, you’ve experienced the loss of loved ones who you knew were interceding for you on a daily basis, or if you’ve felt alone at times thinking no one cares or is praying for you, realize that Jesus is at the right hand of God praying for you.

As 1Timothy 2:5 explains, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”

His ascension to Heaven did not stop His ministry to you. Along with paying the price for your sin, He is alive and serving as your advocate before the Father.

And why might you need an advocate? Because as 1 Peter 5:8 describes, you have an adversary, the devil, who is seeking to devour you.

Still you can rest knowing Jesus is pleading your case before the Father. 1 John 2:1 states, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

Furthermore, Hebrews 9:24 describes how, “Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; He entered Heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”

Jesus has not taken His priestly duties lightly, but rather has carried His love, concern, and ministry to you to the very throne room of God.

A Prayer to Taste and See the Lord’s Goodness..By Tiffany Thibault

 A Prayer to Taste and See the Lord’s Goodness

By Tiffany Thibault

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who trusts in Him.” - Psalm 34:8

There is something special about attending an event where just appetizers are served. Each one is uniquely displayed, a visual treat that promises a special culinary experience. Guests carefully choose the ones that catch their eye, that promise to satisfy. Those who choose to pass by and not taste the treats will never know how good they were or know what they're missing. 

Our Bible verse says in Psalm 34:8 - “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Our verse tells us to taste. The word taste in Hebrew is “ta’am” which means to perceive -  an action word. How silly it would be to put appetizers on our plate and never taste them. When we eat our food we hold it, sample it, chew then swallow it, allowing all the flavors to cross over every taste bud, telling our brains exactly what it is that we are tasting. What if we were to approach our time in the Bible this way, with pleasure and enjoyment?

Our verse tells us to see. The word 'see' in Hebrew is “ra’ah”. This word tells us to intently look at, to study. It is not just being an observer; it is actively choosing and learning. Just as no one puts appetizers on their plate to simply look at, our Bible should be studied as something we desperately need. 

This verse: “taste and see that the Lord Is good” is an opportunity to know that truth for ourselves. Unless you pick up that appetizer off your plate and taste it, you will never know if it is good. This verse is an invitation to experience Him, to savor Him, to choose Him as we learn to taste and see that the Lord is good. We must know it for ourselves. This entire Psalm 34 tells of God’s goodness to those who take refuge in Him. It says He cares for our every need, He provides us with a good and long life, He is with us in our troubles and He saves us from our enemies. He is provider, protector, sustainer, healer, our peace, our hope, our salvation. The Lord can be trusted with your heartaches and every one of your struggles. He desires that we experience Him fully and that requires action on our part.

The second half of our verse says this: blessed is the one who trusts in Him.

This word 'trust' in Hebrew means “to flee for protection; to confide in.” To trust in the Lord means to run to God for protection and to confide in Him.  To “trust” means we must place our hearts and every situation into God’s capable plans. He alone is our answer and our protection. Let’s taste and see that the Lord is good. Let’s trust in Him and seek Him for help in all our troubles. Our verse gives us a promise that as we actively look to Him, we can trust Him. That promise is found in the word “blessed.” Strong’s concordance says that the word blessed means “happy”. So this Bible verse actually says:

Taste and see that the Lord is good; Happy is the one who trusts in Him.

This verse tells us that we can trust God for our happiness. When we intentionally taste and savor the Lord’s Word, we will see His goodness in every area of our lives. It will revive our souls, strengthen our faith, and allow us to face our most difficult situations.

All those hard things, the trials that drain you, the pain that is wearing you down, we can take heart because the Lord is good. He asks you to come, to taste His Word, to see He is good. He helped us in the past because He is good. He is working in your life today even if you cannot see it, because He is good. Allow His joy to fill your beautiful soul. Let the happy He fills you with, be the reason that others turn to Him. 

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for being good. Thank You for the promise that I can be happy as I trust You. Open my eyes Lord as I read Your Word and think about Your goodness in my circumstances. Help me to taste Your truth and see how You are working in my life. May my life and the joy you fill me with, encourage those around me to taste and see that You are good. 

In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, 

Amen

The Power of the Spirit...By Emma Danzey

 The Power of the Spirit

By Emma Danzey

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

For the Spirit God Gave Us
Those of us who have accepted Jesus as Savior have the wonderful gift of having the Holy Spirit reside in us. Jesus says in John 15:26, “I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me.” Right before Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8. The fact that God gave us His Spirit should blow us away. We should be in awe that the Lord has sealed us and provided His presence with us always. Before the Holy Spirit was sent, the Lord would select certain people for the Spirit to rest upon them for a temporary amount of time. Now, we live in the days when His Spirit is in us always and forever. He has permanent residency in our hearts.

He Does Not Make Us Timid
The Spirit of God does not make us timid. This means that feelings of fear, inadequacy, and insecurity do not come from God. In life, we are all faced with different lies in our heads. We can either take those thoughts captive to Christ, or we can believe them and live out timid lives. Although we have the Holy Spirit, there is a difference in being saved and living a Spirit-filled life. Choosing to daily surrender to the work God wants to do in our hearts and through our days means that we are filled with the Holy Spirit to live. We seek the ways of the Spirit, not the flesh. We acknowledge that the enemy and our flesh are against us and want us to be timid, but that is not who we truly are in Christ.

Power, Love, and Self-Discipline
These three beautiful characteristics come from the Holy Spirit. When we think about power, we remember that Romans 8:11 says, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” It is so easy to forget this fact on a daily basis. The same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead now lives within us. This is no small truth, this is life-changing. We can remember that if Jesus could defeat sin and death, we too can defeat our battles. 

When we ponder the love that the Holy Spirit gives us, it is indescribable. 1 John 4:18 says, “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” There is no fear in receiving the love that comes from the Holy Spirit because He is perfect love. He never lets us down, never has a hidden or selfish agenda, He is faithful. 

Lastly, the Holy Spirit gives us self-discipline. When we think on our journeys of sin struggles, the gift of the Spirit reveals sin in our lives and sanctifies us to look more like Christ. This means that we are constantly growing and being convicted in different areas. I once heard it said, “The Holy Spirit convicts but never condemns.” There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, however, we are fully aware that the Holy Spirit shows the unholy parts within our hearts and lives and helps us to be refined into the men and women that He has called us to be. We are able to have self-discipline not because of our own strength, but because of His Spirit within us. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? If so, are you living a Spirit-filled life? Take some time to thank God for His presence and ask him to help you in any areas in which you are timid. Ask Him to remind you of the power, love, and self-discipline that you have access to through Him. 

Further Reading:

• Acts 2:4
• Romans 8:26
• Galatians 5:22