Pastor Stephen Dedman

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What’s Weighing You Down?

Encouragement, Faith

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
Hebrews 12:1

Do you have any distractions in your life? Who doesn’t, right? The devil desires to keep us distracted so that we aren’t aligned with the will of God.

When we allow distractions to overcome us we allow our minds and hearts to stray from God’s plan and purpose. To stay on course means we must guard ourselves from becoming distracted. Most of the time we aren’t even aware that it is happening.

The New Living Translation says, “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1b) This terminology helps us to see that anything that weighs us down, especially sin, will keep us from achieving the perfect will of God.

We need to “strip off” whatever is distracting us. What distraction is keeping you from being one with God?

Our relationship with God through Jesus Christ should be the most important relationship in our life. Jesus said the most important commandment is to love God with all of our hearts, soul, and mind and then we are to love others.

When our hearts are focussed on God and the things of God we will do what God expects. Is Your heart in the right place?

It’s easy to get distracted when we are weighted down with sin. When we focus on holiness, we stray from sin and other distractions.

Pray

Lord, forgive me and keep me from sin. I confess my sin to You. Give me strength to stay the course and keep myself holy and pure.

Standing Before The Throne of God

Salvation, Trust

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7:9‬

Can you imagine a crowd of people so large that couldn’t be numbered? The largest stadium in the U.S. is Michigan Stadium, nicknamed the “The Big House”.  The seating capacity is 107,601. Even though that is a large crowd, everyone can be counted.

When Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000 men there may have been a larger crowd of about 20,000 people including the women and children. The Scripture says they sat in groups of 50.

The multitude that John saw in his vision around the throne of God was not able to be counted by man. However don’t forget that God knows how many stars are in the sky and the hair on our heads are numbered. 

What makes today’s verse so special is the correlation of Gods promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:2, “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”‭‭

And later when Abraham was seeking God for a son the Bible says, “And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.“” Genesis‬ ‭15:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

That great promise of God is fulfilled in Revelation 7:9. John sees the great multitude of saints around the throne of God. What a great sight to behold!

It should excite us to know that one day soon we will be standing around the throne of God. We will be clothed in white robes and singing praises to Jesus. Read verses 9-12 and try to imagine what a glorious day that will be when Jesus we shall see. God is faithful and true to keep His promises.

Pray

Lord, we thank you for promising us an eternity in Heaven with You. Give us the vision and mindset of Heaven so we can take our eyes off this world.

Faith Leads To Action

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew‬ ‭16:16‬

What we choose to do and say today proves what we believe to be true about Jesus. Our faith in Jesus speaks louder than words. If our faith is weak, our life choices reflect it.

Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:13‬) He wasn’t asking this question because He didn’t know the answer, instead He was asking to make the disciples think.

So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?””‭‭ (vs.14-15‬) Then Peter responded with the most profound statement of his life. “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”

Jesus asked this question while in the distance behind him was a landscape of false gods and idol worship. Caesarea Philippi was a region that was said to be the birthplace of the god Pan, the god of nature. There was also a temple built of white marble to the godhead of Caesar.

It was if Jesus intentionally sat against the background of various religions and demanded the disciples to declare Him as the One True God. And that is exactly what Peter did.

We have the same opportunity today. In your backdrop of life is a mixture of idols and false gods that compete with Jesus Christ. And it is as if Jesus is demanding for you to proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. You may not say the words but your actions prove what you believe.

We can look at our bank account ledger and notice what we believe to be most important in our life. The way we spend money and what we spend money on prove to be a major factor of what is most important.

We can say with words that Jesus is the One True God but the way we live out our faith is what matters most. Are you living our your faith in Jesus Christ? Do you trust Him to be your One True God? Do you serve Christ in a way that points others to Him? Let’s be like Peter and declare that Jesus is the Son of the Living God.

Pray

Lord, I believe in You as the One True God. Remove any and all idols that stand in the way of serving you only. I trust You and know you are in control of all things.