“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!””
Mark 9:21-24 NLT
What do you think when you read Jesus’ words, “Anything is possible if a person believes”? Does your mind immediately try to present “evidence” that this is certainly not true concerning you?
Now, God works through our faith. But this faith is not some nebulous quality directed towards some particular desire or need. The faith, the believing, Jesus is referencing in our opening scripture, is faith in Him, believing in Him.
Faith is believing that God is Who He said He is and that He will do what He said He would do.
Sometimes we don’t receive what we had in mind, or we don’t receive it the way we had in mind. However, believing in the Lord comes along with the understanding that He is good, ultimately doing what is best for us, in the way that is best for us. But make no mistake, failure to believe in Him, will never bring what we need and/or want.
We know that Jesus did not do many mighty works in His own hometown because of their unbelief.
“Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.”
Mark 6:1-6 NLT
Child of God, let’s quit making excuses for our unbelief. Let’s repent of our unbelief. Then let’s do what the man did in our opening scripture: Let’s ask the Lord to help us to overcome our unbelief. Only then will we see great and mighty miracles.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”
Galatians 6:7-10 NLT
Years ago the Lord gave me a prophetic word in which He warned that a spirit of weariness, even malaise, would soon come over His people like a blanket. Sadly, I have been seeing this come to pass over the last several years.
Face it, we are constantly being bombarded with one calamity after another. While at the same time, the spirit of deception and wooing from the world system has ratcheted up to never before seen levels.
We are faced with overwhelming levels of hopelessness and despair matched only by the full court press of the enemy to get our eyes—and hearts—set on the things of this world.
The confluence of a flood of crises, with a flood of debauchery, has produced the tsunami of helplessness, hopelessness, and despair we are seeing. Therefore, many Christians seem to be settling in to “going through the motions” in terms of their relationship with the Lord.
Remember, one of the signs of the Last Days is that “because iniquity will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12).
Let us ask the Lord to forgive us for getting our eyes off of Him and allowing ourselves to become weary in well-doing.
Friend, we may do a lot of things in a halfhearted manner. God forbid that one of those things is our service for the Lord.
Remember, God is faithful. For those who continue to look for and hasten His coming, He will provide an endless flow of supernatural strength and energy!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
“Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.”
Psalms 73:1-5, 16-19 NLT
Let’s face it, at one time or another, we all grapple with what seems to be unfair results, consequences, or reward. You may look at people who seem to be arrogant, haughty, and yes, evil, and yet they seem to prosper, while you struggle.
First of all, we have to face the fact that anything we have allowed to move us away from our peace in God through Jesus Christ, has been made an idol, or greater than God. That having been said, the oh-so-human-reaction of resentment for the prosperity of the wicked, is only looking at a “slice” in time. In that one small slice, in that moment of our own struggle, it looks like the wicked have the upper hand.
The fact is, we are living an eternal existence. Additionally, God is a just Judge. Therefore, we know that He will even up all the “scores.”
Malachi tells of a time when the Lord reproved the children of Israel for saying terrible things about Him. When they questioned as to when they spoke terrible things about Him, the Lord responded that they had accused Him of being unjust by allowing evil people to do well while they suffered.
““You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins? From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.’””
Malachi 3:14-15 NLT
Then the Lord shared a truth, a truth we must all remember, lest we become discouraged.
“Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.””
Malachi 3:16-18 NLT
The Lord reminded them that when all has been said and done, those who have spoken faith, even in the midst of struggle, even in the midst of things they don’t understand, will be richly rewarded.
Child of God, our goal has to be to keep our eyes on the Lord, doing what He has spoken. We MUST leave what other people—good or evil—receive, or how it seems their lives are going, to the judgment of God.
Let us repent for our accusations, whether manifested in word, thought, or deed, questioning the goodness of God. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to purge our minds and hearts of all resentment regarding what seems to be “unfair.”Let us focus on the abundant grace, mercy, and kindness, we have already received through Jesus Christ. And let us look with hopeful expectation to the One Who will give to everyone according to their works.
““Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.””
Revelation 22:12-13 NLT
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!