Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: christ

A Promise Of Hope

Encouragement

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2

The message of the Bible is a promise of hope for those who believe.  This blessed hope gives mankind a deep and fulfilling meaning to life.  Someone who does not have hope will miss the true meaning of life.  

It’s exciting to know that God has great and wonderful things in store for those who believe in His Son, Jesus. We may not be able to fully grasp it now but one day we will know.

Daniel 12:2 gives the best understanding of what the future holds.  He writes, “some will enjoy everlasting life but some suffer shame and everlasting contempt.”   We plan our future by what we believe today.

Hope in Jesus Christ is what gets us through the trials and sufferings of this life. While we may not enjoy life here on earth, there is a day soon approaching that we will be in perfect peace.

Until we are in the presence of God, we long for the day we see Him face to face. Don’t let the things of this earth get you distracted, disappointed or discouraged. Keep your mind on the things above which are promised to those who believe in Jesus.

Do you live in the hope of seeing Jesus face-to-face soon? It’s not a “hope so” faith, it’s a “know-so” faith.

Pray

Lord, I praise You for the blessed hope and grace that You have given me through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to keep my eyes on the heavenly things and keep my thoughts on things above. Encourage me today in Your word.

The Purpose Of Serving God

Trust

For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:36‬ ‭

David had a servants heart. He was committed to being a servant for God. David learned how to please God in every situation.

The key to David’s life was doing what God purposed him to do. When David faced his final days of his life he could look back and smile with confidence knowing he lived his life for the glory of God. That is an amazing testimony. 

Throughout the Bible we read about men and women who were servants for God. They did what God purposed for them to do. Their purpose was to please God.

The greatest servant who gave Himself entirely for the purpose of God was Jesus. In His humanity, He gave His life for the sake of sinful man. God, the Father, was well pleased!

Are you a faithful servant for God? As Christians it is our ambition to serve as Christ served. We are to humble ourselves to the point of being servants for others.

Your purpose in life is to be a servant of God.  Search and see who you can serve today. Be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who need the love of God.

Pray

Lord, allow me to serve and minister to someone who is in need.  Show me what they need. Give me a servant’s heart to be a blessing to someone else.

Tell The Good News

Faith, Trust

And He did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭5:19‬

Mark 5:1-20 is a dramatic miracle of Jesus healing a demon possessed man.  As an outcast and mad man, he was chained hand and foot in a nearby cemetery.  Everyone was scared of this man because of his uncontrollable strength and reckless behavior.  He was a beast!

But when he saw Jesus, everything changed. He ran and fell down and worshipped Him and the demons begged to be cast into a large heard of swine.  Jesus gave the command and instantaneously the two thousand demon possessed pigs ran off a mountain and drowned in the sea.

The people who saw this dramatic event were terrified and demanded Jesus to leave their town.  As Jesus got in the boat to leave, the man who had been possessed begged to go with Him but Jesus wouldn’t allow it.  

Instead Jesus told the man to go home and tell all his family and friends about what had happened. Verse 20 says he did and everyone marveled. They were amazed because he had been made new.

Later in chapter 6 Jesus was able to return and was greatly welcomed.  He performed many other miracles because of one man’s testimony of how much the Lord had done for him.  

There is power in sharing what the Lord had done for us.  You never know what kind of impact it will make. Just by telling someone what the Lord has done for you may change their life.

Pray

Lord, put someone in my path today that I can share the many things You have done for me. I am so thankful for all that You have done. Let my attitude prove my thankfulness.