Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Trust

What Is This

Faith, Trust

What Is This

Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:27

 

Man Of Wonders

When Jesus spoke people listened. They were amazed at what a great teacher He was.  He spoke with authority and people respected Him. Jesus made people think and gave them a reason to act upon what they heard. He is the greatest teacher ever known.

We learn many things when we study the life and ministry of Christ. His teachings were full of grace and full of wisdom. He astonished even the religious leaders with great knowledge.  But most of all, His teachings were associated with miracles that left everyone in awe.  Mark 1:27 doesn’t emphasize so much what He taught as much as how He taught.  John Mark wants the reader to know what a great teacher Jesus was.  When Jesus showed up to the synagogue it was something special for those who were present.  Jesus didn’t just preach and teach the Scriptures, He called people to a personal response.

Today we have many Bible teachers and preachers who proclaim the Gospel of Jesus with authority and wisdom.  Many are great scholars of God’s Word and share great witness of the power of the Holy Spirit.  But no one compares to Jesus.  We still are able to listen to His authority and wisdom by reading and studying the gospels.  It is important for a Christian to know Jesus and to understand how He taught.  His teachings are still the same.  We learn from Him everyday.

Prayer

Lord, teach me and make me to be the person you want me to be.  Give me wisdom to understand your Words and help me to respond the way you want me to.

 

Not My Will

Encouragement, Trust

Not My Will

Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.
Luke 22:42

God’s Will

As Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before He was to be crucified, He was intensely praying for God’s will to be done.  Divinely, Jesus knew what needed to be done but on the humanity side He was dreadful of what was to come.  This verse points to the fact that Jesus was fully man and fully God.

Jesus was praying for God to remove the cup of suffering.  He was praying if there could be any other way besides the cross then let it be.  But if not, then the will of the Father is best.  Jesus wanted the will of God to be done, perfectly.  This should be our prayer as well.  We should pray for God’s will to be done in our life not matter what.  No matter what suffer, loss, or anguish we must face it will be for the Lord’s sake.

Sometimes we don’t fully seek the will of God for our lives.  We seek was pleases us the most and when we face a mess we turn to God for help.  God’s will is always best for us but it’s not always the easiest.  We too may face suffering and shame in our walk with God but in the end we should always remember that if it is God’s will then it is the best way.  It’s hard sometimes to agree to have God’s will to be done in our life but we should yield our will and way to His.  Since God knows all things and He knows the future then we need to pray the same prayer that Jesus prayed.

Prayer

Lord, today, nonetheless, not my will, but yours, be done.  I submit to your will and way for my life.

My Shepherd

Salvation, Trust

My Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:1‬ ‭

Perfect Provision

The biblical shepherd knew everything about his sheep.  He knew what they wanted to eat and when they needed fresh water to drink.  He also knew the area well enough to guide the sheep in the right direction for the perfect food and water.  The sheep grew to trust the shepherd to meet their needs.  A good shepherd always gave his sheep the best.  The condition of the sheep was a reflection of the shepherd.

The Lord is our Good Shepherd.  (John 10:11)  The Psalmist was convinced that he would never “want” for anything because the Lord would always provide the best.  Just as the sheep need a shepherd so we need the Lord, our Good Shepherd, to meet our needs.  He provides everything we need just in time.  We do not need to worry of the Lord is going to provide, we just need to follow His lead and trust Him.  The Psalmist gives us a perfect illustration of how the Lord loves His sheep.  Even to die for us.

Is there something you are “wanting”?  It may be that you have turned your focus off the Lord and turned to a worldly perspective.  God’s economy is not the same as the world’s economy.  When our desires are distracted by a worldly attraction our sense of “wanting” changes.  We never need to “want” what the world has to offer.  If we keep our minds set on Christ and heavenly things, we will never “want”.  But if we place our passions on the things of this world we will find ourselves lacking because the things of the world will never satisfy our souls like the Lord does.  Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, I know you give me everything I need.  Help me not to want what the world has to offer but to desire your perfect provision.