Pastor Stephen Dedman

And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Are you allowing your circumstances to determine your joy, or are you allowing Christ to determine it?

Context
Paul commended the believers in Thessalonica because they had received the gospel during a difficult season. Their faith was not built on comfortable circumstances. They faced affliction, yet they continued to follow Christ and demonstrated a supernatural joy that could only come from the Holy Spirit.

Application
It is easy to follow Jesus when life is going well. The real test of our faith comes when obedience becomes difficult. The Thessalonians show us that hardship does not have to steal our joy.

Notice that Paul did not say they received the Word without affliction. They received it in the much affliction. Their circumstances were painful, but their joy was deeper than their circumstances.

Christian joy is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of Christ in the middle of trouble. When we surrender our circumstances to God and allow the Holy Spirit to work within us, we can experience joy even when life isn’t joyful.

Truth For The Day
Your circumstances may change, but the joy of the Holy Spirit does not have to.

Pray
Lord, help me to follow You faithfully even when life is difficult. When affliction comes, remind me that my joy does not have to depend on my circumstances. Fill me with the joy of the Holy Spirit and help my life point others toward You, especially when I am walking through difficult times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What is something you may be holding onto that Jesus is asking you to place completely in His hands?

Context
A rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what he needed to do to have eternal life. He had kept many of the commandments and believed he had done everything right. But Jesus revealed something deeper: the man’s possessions had become more important to him than following Christ. Jesus wasn’t simply asking him to give away his wealth; He was asking him to surrender whatever stood between him and complete devotion.

Application
Following Jesus requires more than outward obedience. It requires a surrendered heart. Sometimes the thing Jesus asks us to release isn’t money. It may be our plans, reputation, comfort, control, relationships, or ambitions. Anything we value more than Christ can become an obstacle to following Him.

God isn’t trying to take something from us, He is calling us to something greater. Earthly treasures eventually disappear, but what we invest in God’s kingdom has eternal value.

Truth For The Day
You cannot fully follow Jesus while holding tightly to anything He is asking you to surrender.

Pray
Lord, help me examine my heart and recognize anything I value more than You. Give me the courage to surrender whatever You ask of me. Teach me that nothing I possess compares with the treasure of knowing and following You. Help me trust You enough to let go and follow wherever You lead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What situation are you facing today that you need to stop limiting God in and begin trusting Him with?

Context
Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:20 come at the end of a powerful prayer. He has prayed that believers would be strengthened by God’s Spirit, that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith, and that they would understand the incredible love of Christ. Paul then reminds them that God is able to do far beyond anything they could ask or even imagine.

Application
We often limit God by the size of our circumstances, our resources, or our own expectations. We pray, but sometimes we only expect God to do what seems reasonable to us. Ephesians 3:20 challenges us to remember that God is not limited by our limitations.

This does not mean God will give us everything we want. It means His ability is greater than our understanding. He can work in ways we cannot see, open doors we never expected, change hearts we thought would never change, and accomplish purposes far greater than anything we could have planned.

Whatever you are facing today, don’t measure God’s ability by your circumstances. Measure your circumstances by the greatness of your God.

Truth For The Day
God can accomplish far more than I can ask, imagine, or understand.

Pray
Lord, help me to trust You beyond what I can see and understand. Forgive me for limiting You by my circumstances and expectations. Remind me that You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ever ask or imagine. Strengthen my faith and help me surrender my plans to Your greater purpose. Work in my life according to Your power and for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.