Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Faith

Call Upon Me

Faith, Trust

Call Upon Me

And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.
Psalm 50:15

A Right Way of Thinking

The theme of Psalm 50 specifically deals with our view of God and how a wrong view of God can lead to a wrong way of thinking.  It primary deals with our giving to God, financially.

The scene is portrayed in a courtroom where God is the judge and He gathers the faithful ones to the stand (vs. 5).  It’s as if God’s people are the defendants on trial.  The people were giving but foolishly thought God needed their sacrifices and it insulted Him (vs. 8).  God reminded them that He didn’t need anything because He owns everything (vs 9-13).

Three things are listed in verses 14-15 that will establish a right way of thinking.  First, every gift (tithe and offering) must be offered up to God with a heart of thanksgiving. Everything belongs to God and He gives to everyone liberally.  It shouldn’t be an issue to give back to God a portion of what He has given to us.  Second, vows are to be paid to the Most High as a way of keeping our promises made to Him. An example might be, “God if you will let me out of this speeding ticket, I will give $100 to someone in need.”  Paying a vow expresses knowledge that God fulfilled His obligation. Third, call upon the Lord in the day of trouble.  We need to acknowledge that He is in control of all things.  He will delivers us and we praise His great name.

Give with gratitude, keep your promises, and call out to God for help.  These things please the Lord and gives Him glory.

Prayer

Pray and glorify God for His amazing grace!

Teach Me To Do Your Will

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

Teach Me To Do Your Will

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
Psalm 143:10

God’s Will and God’s Way

Learning something new can be challenging at times.  But once you discover how to do something new it can be rewarding and great.  Learning to do God’s will can be challenging but the reward is worth it all.

In Psalm 143 David is crying out to God for assistance.  It’s a desperate cry for help indeed.  But right in the middle of this song, David seeks to know the will of God because he knows it is the best thing.  He knows that God is in control of all things but he wants God to reveal His will to him.  Obviously he knows he is going through this storm for a reason but he wants God to show him what he needs to learn from it.  This is the best attitude to have when we face difficult and trying times.  Instead of praying for God to remove our trials we should face them with a perspective that God is trying to teach us something.

Just think about all of the challenges that David faced during his life.  He was the youngest and smallest of his brothers but still knew he had a purpose.  He took on the biggest and strongest giant and experienced victory.  He committed many sins but found forgiveness through God’s love and grace.  He lost a child who was only a few days old but knew the child was with God in Heaven.  The list can go on and on but David was always aware that God was deepening his faith and increasing his spiritual strength.  That is how we need to look at our own life.

Prayer

As you seek to learn God’s will and way for your life, count it all joy when you suffer for the cause of Christ.

You Have Been Healed

Faith, Salvation, Trust

You Have Been Healed

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:24‬ ‭

Take Up Your Cross Daily

Many people wear a cross as jewelry to symbolize their love and devotion to Jesus. Indeed a picture a cross makes us remember Jesus and the forgiveness of sins. The empty cross even proves He is alive and forever our Redeemer.

2,000 years ago the cross meant much more than forgiveness. Crucifixion was the most horrible and gruesome way to die. It was the suffering that was so brutal to the victim upon the tree. If we were to go back in time and visualize the suffering and shame that Jesus endured upon the cross we probably wouldn’t consider it as art and jewelry. Instead we would remember it as a tragedy and horrific death of the person who took our place and satisfied our debt of sin.  If we really focus on the cross it would make us live a more righteous and holy life as we consider what Jesus went through on our behalf.

Peter is not referring to a physical healing but instead a spiritual healing due to our sin nature.  Jesus has given us a spiritual healing that sets us free from the wages of sin and from the burden that it brings.  As a Christian consider yourself healed from the sickness of sin.  Just as leprosy and blindness was considered to be brought about due to sinful behavior, we are healed from the dreadful effects that sin brings into our life.  We all seek physical healing from our Lord but the death of Jesus upon the cross graces us with spiritual healing for eternity.  Consider the cross and die daily to your sin and submit to the authority of Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Lord, I give myself as a living sacrifice and submit to your ways and to your will. You are my Master and Savior.