Pastor Stephen Dedman

Tag: jesus

Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Faith, Trust

“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:39‬

After He finished a long day of teaching, Jesus instructed His disciples to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was in the boat and He used the water to amplify His voice so the large crowd could hear Him. As soon as they launched out into the deep, Jesus began to nap.

As soon as they began crossing the lake they encountered a mighty windstorm. The waves were so big they were crashing over into the boat. When great fear set in, the disciples awakened Jesus and asked, “Do you not care that we are about to drown?”

Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and waves and then there was a great calm. Jesus turned to the disciples and said, “why are you so fearful? Do you not have faith?” Now they were afraid because Jesus had just commanded nature and it obeyed Him.

Jesus demonstrates His power as an example of who He is and what He is capable of doing. But He has to move us out of our comfort zone. As long as we remain in our familiarities we don’t need faith. But as soon as we feel uncomfortable and desperate, the Lord can work wonders.

We must be willing to go where Jesus wants us to go and do things that are beyond our capabilities. This is when we witness the mighty power of God in our lives.

Can you get out of your comfort zone and speak to someone who doesn’t know Christ? Can you go where you’ve never been and trust that Jesus will guide your every move? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to please God with your faith?

Jesus wants to use you to do things that are much greater than what you can do yourself. Trust Jesus and place your faith in Him.

Pray

Lord, I want to please You with my faith. I desire to be used as a tool to build Your kingdom. Let me witness Your power and majesty.

Pray For One Another

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
‭‭1 Timothy 2:1

Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night and had friend or loved one on your mind?  That person was placed on your heart for a reason. God places people on our hearts and minds so we can help them and bless them.

Our prayers can actually bless others. We need to take time to pray for those who come to our attention and pray without hesitation. When we pray for others we are helping them get blessed.

Paul wrote a letter to Timothy to address some of the issues that were happening at the church at Ephesus.  One of the issues facing that church was prayer. The church was divided between the Jews and Gentiles who had complete different attitudes concerning spiritual matters such as salvation and blessings.  

So Paul instructed Timothy to instruct the church, the people of God, to pray for each other. It’s our responsibility and privilege to pray for one another.  Everyone needs prayer.

You need someone praying for you as well. That is why it is important to surround yourself with faithful praying people.  Other people can pray blessings into your life.

There is nothing more wonderful and amazing than to witness an answered prayer.  It’s important to pay attention to what others around you are going through so that you can pray for them specifically.  

Sometimes a generic prayer just isn’t enough.  We need to pray earnestly for the needs of others.  Pray for their salvation if they are lost.  Pray for their health if they are sick.  

If they are poor, pray for their wealth.  Pray for their strength if they are weak.  If they seem hopeless, pray for their faith to be strengthened.  Pray for them as the Holy Spirit directs you to.

Who is on your mind today as you pray? Reach out to that person and ask them how you can pray for them.

Pray

Lord, I pray for those who You put on my mind and heart. Thank You for allowing me to be part of their blessings. I pray that people are praying for me as well.

Virtue Of Love

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:2‬ ‭

There is great power in the virtue of love.  It is a characteristic of a Christian.  The apostle Paul knew how important it was to exemplify true love toward others.  He also knew that without love he was nothing.

In the previous chapter, Paul discusses spiritual gifts that are given to Believers by the Holy Spirit.  In this verse he mentions three of them.  Prophecy refers to the ability to declare God’s Word with power.  Knowledge involves the deep understanding of God’s Word.  Faith is the ability to trust God for great and mighty things.  These three gifts are given by the Holy Spirit but without possessing love a person is “nothing.”

You can be intelligent, wealthy, and talented but if you don’t love you have nothing and are nothing. You could be a great doctor or lawyer or even a superb teacher, yet if you lack love, you are nothing.  

God considers love to be one of the main characteristics that a Christian can possess.  Jesus set forth the best example of love.  He continually showed compassion to everyone He encountered.  

This is the kind of love that we are to show everyone around us.  We are to study God’s Word and to be wise but we are to show love as well.  Love makes us be the person who displays the light of Jesus and shows the world who Jesus is.  Do you have love?

Pray

Lord, help me to express love to everyone I encounter today.  Teach me to love everyone, even my enemies. Let my love be an example of who You are.