Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: bible

It Is I

Faith, Trust

It Is I

But He (Jesus) said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:20‬

No Need To Fear

After Jesus fed the 5,000, the people who witnessed the miracle wanted to make him their king.  Jesus swiftly slipped away into the mountains to be alone.  The disciples got into the boat and set sail across the lake.  A storm was brewing and the waves became rough due to the high winds.  They rowed for about three to four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water.  They became frightened as He came near the boat.  They thought it was a ghost.  Jesus spoke to them and they recognized His voice and gladly received Him into their boat.  The Scripture then says immediately they were at the shore.

There are some interesting truths packed into this event.  First, after every victory there is a valley awaiting.  Don’t be disappointed because the Lord is always with us regardless of where we are.  He is with us in our good times and with us in our suffering.  Second, the Lord’s presence makes for peace.  Jesus appeared during their struggles and spoke a peaceful word, “it is I; don’t be afraid.”  The Lord always provides peace and comfort during our trying times.  He will allow us to build strength and faith but He will never neglect us.  Third, the Lord’s power over nature.  Jesus walked on the water.  Some want to discredit the Lord walking on the water.  We must never forget that the Lord can do what He pleases to do.

Trusting the Lord during good times is easy.  Trusting the Lord during hard times is difficult.  Our faith in the Lord is what pleases Him the most.

Prayer

Lord, let me see You for who You are.  I want to be in Your presence and feel Your peace.  Help me to overcome my trials and suffering with your grace.

Rejoice In The Lord

Encouragement, Trust

Rejoice In The Lord

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3:18‬

 

God Is In Control

Habakkuk was experiencing some very tough economic times. Verse 17 tells us what was happening.  There were no figs on the trees, no grapes on the vines, no oil to cook with, no crops growing and no animals for meat. This simply means there was nothing to eat or drink and the future was not very promising.  People would panic if that were to happen today.

Habakkuk remained positive and faithful as verse 18 shines rays of hope. Habakkuk knew God was the source of everything. He knew that God is the Creator and Sustainer and could make anything happen. He knew God had everything under control. If God wasn’t going to allow the earth to produce then somehow everything would work out in His timing.  That’s why he says, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord and take joy in the God of my salvation.”  Even in the worst case senerio he knew he would be saved, even if he died.

Don’t focus on your circumstances. Focus on praising the One who controls everything. Circumstances can change quickly.  There was not a lot of food, but Jesus fed 5,000 men.  There was no wine at a wedding feast but Jesus saved the best for last.  To rejoice in the Lord when things are not going well means you know that God has something great in the works.  People all around you may be down in the dumps and depressed but you could be the one who brings hope and encouragement as a solution. Your attitude and actions reflect how you trust God.

Prayer

Praise God for what He has provided and you will not dwell on what you are lacking. God will provide what you need. Thank Him in advance.

No Doubt

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

No Doubt

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬

Casting out all fear and doubt

Satan uses tools of fear and doubt to keep us from doing extraordinary things.  God gives us power, love and a sound mind to do things that glorify Him.  But sometimes we limit God because of the fear and doubt we possess in our minds.

In Matthew 17:14-21 a man came to Jesus and begged for his son to be healed from demonic convulsions associated with epilepsy. Previously the man brought his son before the disciples but they couldn’t heal him. Immediately Jesus cast the demon out and the boy was healed. The disciples asked why they couldn’t cast it out and Jesus replied, “Because of your unbelief.”  He said if they had mustard seed-sized faith they could move mountains and nothing would be impossible for them. The problem wasn’t with their faith.  They had faith.  The problem was with their unbelief or doubt.  He gave them a solution: “this kind (of unbelief) does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” 

The devil plants seeds of doubt into our minds subconsciously and sometimes we are not aware of it.  We must protect our minds and be sure of what we are hearing and seeing is full of truth and not lies of Satan. Jesus said to fast and pray.  Fasting and praying starves the flesh of self desires and feeds our souls with the Spirit of God.

Is there anything ungodly that you should eliminate by fasting and praying?

Prayer

Pray in the Name of Jesus to have all fear, unbelief and doubt removed from your mind and replaced with God’s power, love and truth.