Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: christ

You Are The Church

Encouragement

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.
Jude 1:20-21

For many church is a building and a religious organization. But the church is not about religion. It is not just about preaching, teaching and singing. The church is much more than traditions, rituals, or observances. The church is the Gospel of Jesus Christ lived out through believers. 

Church is about serving and sharing the gospel through acts of kindness and love wherever Christ followers may go. As we each have our own testimony and message of Jesus Christ, the church becomes a deployment opportunity in every community. The church is more than just words, its action.

When we build each other up in the faith, we are living out the gospel in our world. Living in a fallen and broken world is not easy so that is why we need each other. We thrive off of each others faith in Christ. Strong faith keeps people going in difficult situations.

One way we can build each other up in faith is through prayer. As we are told in today’s scripture, “pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.” As we pray, the Holy Spirit gives us boldness and courage to be messengers both in word and in action. 

Pray for the people who surround you. Pray for the people who lead you. And pray for God to use your life as an example of Christ’s love.

Pray

Lord, help me to live out the gospel of Jesus in this evil world. Let the light of Jesus shine and give encouragement to others. I lift up my brothers and sisters in Christ to be bold and courageous. 

In It To Win It

Encouragement

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

This one verse is given as a message of hope. God’s design for human life is for us to succeed and not fail. However, fear will keep a person from accomplishing the best things God has to offer.

Satan uses fear and doubt to keep us from doing and witnessing extraordinary things.  Satan does not want us experiencing God’s power and love. Instead, he will try to paralyze our faith.

God gives us power, love and a sound mind to do things that will allow us to succeed.  We are capable of doing powerful things through Jesus when we put our faith to the test. Without Him we are nothing.

If we fall into Satan’s trap of fear we will give up and give in and Satan wins. God has given us everything we need to win. We have victory through our faith in Christ.

Is there any fear that is keeping you from living an extraordinary life? Is your unbelief keeping you from witnessing God’s great things? Remove that spirit of fear in Jesus’ name.

Prayer

Lord, I pray in the Name of Jesus to have all fear, unbelief and doubt removed from my mind and replaced with God’s power, love and truth. Give me the knowledge of what I can do through Jesus.

Do You Have Hope?

Encouragement

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:4‬

There is so much power in the Word of God. Not only is the Bible for our learning, but it gives us the hope and assurance to face each day with confidence till the Lord returns. 

When we are comforted with Scripture we have assurance that everything will work out as God designs. The reason why a person wouldn’t have hope is because they are lacking in the area of hearing and reading the Word of God.

There is a story in Luke 24 about two disciples walking down the road to Emmaus. In their minds, Jesus had failed in His mission and everything was doom and gloom. He had been crucified, and He was gone. They had set their hopes on Him thinking He would redeem Israel. They were very disappointed that it ended so tragically.

As they were walking along the road, a stranger joined them. They didn’t know who it was, but it was Jesus.

Jesus asked them why they were so sad. So they began sharing Jesus with Jesus. And they weren’t doing a very good job of it. 

They said, “We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to redeem Israel”. Then Jesus gave them a summary of all the Old Testament passages that pointed to Him. As He spoke their hope was restored. And when they sat down to eat with Jesus, they realized it was Him. Then He suddenly disappeared.

So how did Jesus restore their hope? He comforted them through the Scriptures. Of all people, we who are followers of Jesus should be filled with hope and joy. Are you filling yourself with hope straight from the Scriptures? Are you rejoicing that one day you will be in the presence of Jesus?

Pray

Lord, give me hope through your word today. Give me a word that will set my heart on fire for you. Let me meditate on it and let it live in my heart.