Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: jesus

Living In Hope

Faith, Trust

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1:3‬

Are you dwelling in the living hope of Jesus Christ? We have hope through Jesus’ death and resurrection because he defeated sin on the cross. Jesus’ last words on the cross were, “It is finished.” His final words give us a living hope only found in Him.

The hope that we have is based upon the fact that Jesus is coming back soon. When Jesus comes all things will be made new. This earth will be dissolved and a new earth will be created for our good. Until Jesus comes back we patiently wait for the glorious day to appear.

Some days we let the worries of the world get the best of us. We sit and sour over things that sometimes are meaningless. If we dwell in the living hope of Jesus our mindset will give us a positive outlook on life. Our hope in Jesus will give us courage to face opposition of the enemy. And our assurance of Jesus’ return will Make for a great anticipation of good things to come.

Until the day Jesus comes back we honor and praise His wondrous name. We live our life in a way that brings glory to God. We set ourselves apart from evil and resist the devil. We live every day like it is our last day here. We desire to hear Jesus say, “good and faithful servant.”

You may be faced with a dilemma today but rest assured in the blessed hope of Jesus. He will see you through to the end. It may not be the outcome you were expecting but God has a purpose and a plan just for you. Will you trust in His blessed hope today?

Pray

Lord, thank you for giving me hope and assurance. I praise you and honor you for who you are. As I go through this day, help me to see what you have in store for me.

What Has God Done For You?

Encouragement

‘For You, Lord , have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.’
Psalms 92:4

The New Living Translation says, “You thrill me, Lord, with all You have done for me!” The psalmist unashamedly proclaimed how God’s wonderful works made him glad. God delights in making us glad.

What has God done for you lately? It doesn’t take long to inventory the blessings that God has graciously given to us. Sometimes we just need to pause for a minute and reflect on all that the Lord has done for us.

It’s easy to get caught up in the negativity of the world and only ponder the bad things that are happening around us. So just stop what you are doing and think about the good that God has done and watch how He makes you glad.

With gratitude and thankfulness we praise the Lord. God gets all the honor and glory. This is what delights the heart of God. God is glorified when we “triumph in the works of His hands.” Those who are thrilled by God have a vibrant sense of joy. They easily sing unto the Lord.

Don’t ever be ashamed to speak up and speak out for the wonderful things that God has done. We need to hear more testimonies of how God is working and moving in the lives of His people. We need to hear about the good things that God is doing and how He is working all things out.

Pray

Lord, You thrill me everyday. Every breath I take and every moment I live is for your glory. Use me today to make a difference in someone’s life.

A Word For The Church

Encouragement, Trust

“Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:31‬

We have insight through Scripture of what the early church experienced as they spiritually grew and prospered. Many times we try to create ways for our churches to prosper but the model for ministry is laid forth through the New Testament, especially in the book of Acts.

Churches today don’t need new programs or events to draw people to their church. They need the power of God intervening through the work of the Holy Spirit. We need to get back to the basics of what the Scriptures set forth as an example of how a church can prosper.

Acts 9:31 gives us 4 specific ingredients that are proven to make the power of God come alive. First, we notice that the church experienced peace. We should promote peace with one another in fellowship. People gravitate to places where there is peace.

Second, we see that the early church was edified. The word means to build up. Specifically the church was a place of encouragement. People were encouraged when they met together. They were full of joy and peace and it caused them to be encouraging to one another.

Thirdly, we read that the church was walking in fear of the Lord. The new Christians reverenced God and were convicted of their sins. God can only bless what is right. If His people are not confessing sin and striving for holiness and righteousness we are hindered from growing and prospering.

Last, we see the church was comforted by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus to come as our Comforter. The Holy Spirit guides and directs us to the things of God so we can be purposeful. We all have a purpose and God calls us to do His will.

These 4 ingredients stand as a model for what it takes for us to grow and prosper as a church and individuals. We all play an important part in the work of God.

Have you discovered what your purpose is as a follower of Christ? Are you part of a church that is purposely growing and building the kingdom of Heaven?

Pray

Lord, give us peace and let us be built upon the foundation of Jesus. We serve and honor you as our Lord. Let Your Spirit strengthen us to do a work that is greater than us.