Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: grace

A Life Of Victory

Encouragement

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:17

God did not send His Son for us to be defeated. However, many Christians live a defeated life. The devil defeats them mentally everyday and they allow the devil to have that kind of power over them.

As believers we have been delivered from the bondage of death and we walk in the newness of life. We died to our old lives and now we are alive in Christ. That means we have authority over the devil. We have victory over the devil.

We have the choice to live a victorious life everyday. We often focus on the future life in Heaven being victorious and perfect but it can be that way for us here and now; once we believe it. Jesus raised us up into a life of victory.

Whatever you’re facing today, just know that you are not defeated. Have a change of mindset. Get it in your mind and in your heart that Christ demolished and crushed whatever is limiting you from living victoriously today.

Jesus stood up and rebuked the winds and the waves and they obeyed. So can we! John 14:12 says, “Most assuredly, I (Jesus) say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

Pray

Lord, You have given to me all that I need to live a victorious life here today. Help me to have the wisdom and understanding of Your word and truth that will set me free from the bondage of the devil.

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.

New Life In Jesus

Trust

“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

John the Baptist tried to prepare people for the coming Messiah but many would not listen.  They held tight to their false religion. Sounds a lot like today’s world, doesn’t it?

Some of the Jews did not keep the Law of God as they were commanded to do. Some of the Jews repented but others, especially the religious leaders, were too prideful to repent.  They thought they were good people.

Jesus’ message was similar in nature but instead of trying to keep the law, He wanted people to turn to Him in a personal relationship.  He wanted people to trust Him for forgiveness.

Jesus preached a message of grace and peace that could only be found through Him. They needed to trust in Him as the Messiah. 

We too need to trust in His saving grace. It’s not until we have an experience with Jesus that we seek His righteousness. Zacchaeus is a wonderful example of a changed life after experiencing Jesus in a personal way.

Some people look at salvation as having to give up something they really like. However, our salvation through Jesus is something we’ve gained. We’ve gained eternal life, forgiveness of sin, peace, and hope. And it’s all a gift through faith.

Are you trying to hold on to something of your old life before Jesus?  

You will never enjoy all that God has in store for you until you give up and surrender everything to Jesus.  It will be obvious by the way you live if you’ve experienced a new life in Christ. 

Pray

Lord, I trust in You for forgiveness and eternal life. Replace my heart of stone with a new heart that loves and obeys You. Let my life prove that I’ve been saved and redeemed.