Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: grace

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. 

Anger Makes You Foolish

Encouragement

Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:9

People are entertained by conflicts. Especially when it’s reality drama. They are thrilled when someone gets what they deserve. It’s very sad but it’s true to say that some people like to watch others suffer. That’s why TV drama series are so popular.

It’s easy to get angry and lash out toward others. We see people act like fools because of their anger and bitterness. We must be careful that we never let our anger get the best of us.

As Christians we are called to be set apart from the rest of the world. However, if we fill our minds with the filth and garbage of reality TV, gossip, and drama, we tend to engage upon it.  There comes a point in time when the Holy Spirit urges us to stop feeding on the negativity and start feeding on positive thoughts and actions. 

Evil surrounds us in every direction and it will eventually entice us if we allow it. Evil thoughts and actions result from a heart full of anger and an unforgiving attitude.

But on the opposite spectrum, when we fill our hearts and minds with encouraging and uplifting spiritual things we produce holiness and righteousness. 

If you want to have less anger in your life you need to feed your heart and mind with grace and truth. The more you mature in the Word of God the more you will control your emotions of anger.

Instead of dwelling on the things that make you angry try focusing on the good things God has done for you. When you count your blessings one by one the things that make us angry will fade away.

Prayer

Lord, take my focus off the negative things of this world and allow me to see the great things You are doing in my life.  Help me to resist the temptation to sin in my anger.

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.