Pastor Stephen Dedman

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Hope And Healing

Encouragement

Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
Isaiah 35:4

Isaiah prophesied about a time of judgment that would bring them to their knees but then God would strengthen them, raise them up, and save them. The people of Judah had committed adultery against God but God wanted to reveal His love to them.

Always remember God only chastises those whom He loves. He straightens our crooked paths and puts us back on track. He does this because He wants what is best for us.

Hebrews 12:12-13 says, “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.” The writer of Hebrews quoted Isaiah 35 while driving home the point that after God’s chastisement there is hope and healing.

Just like ancient Judah, we need hope and healing in our country today. We need every believer strong and courageous. We strengthen ourselves when we walk with the Lord.

Even in our present trials, we have the hope of Jesus Christ to help us overcome our fearful hearts. The hope that we have is in the confidence that God will save us and redeem us.

Are you progressing in your walk with the Lord today? Are you strengthening yourself in the Father’s love? God is actively seeking you to do His great work.

Pray

Lord, I need your strength today to do fulfill Your great will. Help me to overcome my fears and failures with Your hope and healing. Help me to encourage others to progress in their Christian walk as well.

Jesus Forgives

Faith, Salvation, Trust

“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:10‬

God does not grade on a curve. There are no divisions or levels of sin. Someone who told a little white lie is just as guilty as the person who committed murder.

The “godly” person who sinned only once yesterday is just as guilty as the “wicked”one who sinned a hundred times. All sin is ultimately the same in God’s eyes. However, we tend to categorize sin and expect God to treat us accordingly.

We all need God’s grace and mercy through Jesus Christ. There is no one who is too far from being saved. The Bible says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”‭‭(Romans‬ ‭3:23‬). Jesus died on the cross for everyone. Even the most evil person you can think of can be saved. No one is ever out of God’s reach.

God does not see people as liars or murderers. He sees people in need of grace. So that means everyone is eligible for His salvation.

Now let’s get a little personal. Are you carrying any shame or guilt from sins from the past? God did not set a limit on the size or quantity of sins He was willing to forgive. He sent Jesus to save us all.

Jesus will save anyone. He saves all people and He saves all sins. We all can turn to Him in faith today and be saved and forgiven of all our sins with no limits and no exceptions. Bring your sins to Jesus and trust the promises of His love.

Pray

Lord, forgive me of my sins. I confess that I have fallen short of the glory of God. Thank You for giving me salvation.

Staying On Mission

Salvation, Trust

“Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us; and, God has visited His people.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:16‬

In Luke 7:11-17 Jesus stopped a funeral procession when He saw a widowed woman who was just moments away from laying her only son to rest. This woman had lost her husband and lost all hope of any future because her only son had died. But when Jesus saw her He felt compassion for her. He touched the casket and told the dead man to get up. Immediately and miraculously the man sat up and began speaking. The large crowd was amazed at what they saw but most importantly verse 16 says they glorified God because they recognized Jesus as God.

This passage of Scripture gives us a perfect portrait of how a church is to minister to people. We must realize that the church is who represents Jesus in today’s society. We must see the needs of others and reach out and touch them with compassion and love. When the lost are touched with the love of Jesus, they come alive, spiritually. A church will glorify God when they are on mission and ministering to His people. We can’t miss any opportunities of serving people. And we can never lose our focus of the mission.

An encouraged church congregation can be effective in fulfilling its mission. A discouraged church will not be effective. Every church needs faithful members using their God-given gifts. Members who are not using their gifts are wasting them. Compassion brings people together and to the cross of Jesus. If a church is not loving people it’s not a real church.

Are you fulfilling the command of Jesus and making disciples? We must do the work of Jesus while we still can. The day is soon coming when God will gather His church and it will be too late for the lost to be saved.

Pray

Lord, make your church a place and people who are just like You. Help me to be the hands and feet of Jesus.