BIBLE STUDY WEEK IV (8/6/13)

 

A STUDY ON EXPERIENCE OF A FRESH EXPLOSION OF FAITH

(By Beth Moore)  "A Taste of Believing God"

This is Chapter IV

 

 

 

I can do all things through Christ:

 

 

Philippians 4:13: (NKJV)

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

 

 

AUTHORITY IN CHRIST CONFESSION:

 

 

I recognize and believe that there is only one true and living God who exists as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I recognize that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. I believe that He came to destroy the works of the devil and that He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public display of them having triumphed over them.

I have been created in the image and likeness of God. I have been given dominion over all the earth and over every living thing. I will be and do all that God has destined for me because I am His handiwork created in Christ Jesus for good works.

I have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son therefore; Satan has no power over me.

God has redeemed me from the control of darkness and He has seated me in heavenly places with Christ, far above all rule, and authority and dominion. In obedience, I will take up my authority, speak God's Word, and rest in the power of His Word.

For I will present my body as a living sacrifice to God – holy, devoted, and consecrated to please Him, which is a part of my spiritual worship to Him. I will not be conformed to this world's way of thinking, but I will continually be transformed by the renewing of my mind. For I have the mind of Christ.

I have been made to be a kingdom and priest to serve my God and to reign and rule on the earth.

Therefore, I will rise up in the authority of who I am in Christ Jesus and I will exercise that authority in my sphere of influence. I also take authority over every demonic assignment against my life. I push back the enemy in the name of Jesus. For the word says if I resist the devil he will flee from me.

I am a child of the Most High God and I declare that because of God's unlimited resources, I will be empowered with inner strength through his Spirit; Christ will make his home in my heart as I trust in him; and my roots will go down deep into God's love and keep me strong.

 

"For I declare that His mighty power is at work within me, to accomplish infinitely more than I might ask or think. So, I choose to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. I put no confidence in the flesh, for the weapons of my warfare are not carnal or of my flesh, but divinely powerful to the pulling down of strongholds."

 

 

In this chapter Beth talks about three of my favorite guys, Joshua, Abraham, and David.  These guys made the Hebrew 11 hall of faith.   Quoting her now, "I was surprised and somehow refreshed to think that a measure of their challenge to walk by faith was likely found in continuing to believe what God said about them in spite of fears and failures."  Can we say that about our lives today?   Isn't it encouraging to realize we're not alone in our struggles?  This is one of the reasons I wanted to do a study on this book, because of my struggle now. I realize I am not alone, and desire to connect with others who feel this pain too, so we can encourage one another in God's Word.   Joshua's life helps us understand and accept our fourth statement of faith:  I can do all things through Christ.  Through the might of the living God, Joshua did what he knew he could not do.  Like us, he was told in advance he'd be able.  We might call it preassurance rather than reassurance.  

 

Let's look with Beth on this preassurance in Joshua 1:1-9:

 

  "1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,

² Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

³ Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

⁵ There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

⁶ Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I swore unto their fathers to give them.

 

⁷ Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

⁸ This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

⁹ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. 

I shared this one because I just love Joshua's life as a strong person, but then if it were not for God, he couldn't have done what he did, amen.  We need God to help us do all things in our lives too, so we can be like Joshua, not super-man, but a strong person in the Lord.  And, we must remember what the Word said,

Zechariah 4:6  (KJV)

^"Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.  Yes, it is by the Spirit of God; Joshua couldn't do it by himself, but through God."

On page 46, Jesus told His disciples not to be afraid in the storm, the reason wasn't the removal of their frightful circumstances but the presence of their Savior.  "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" (Matthew 14:27).  I enjoyed this to, "Remember, faith is never the denial of reality but it a belief in a greater reality.  In other words, the truth may be that terrifying or terribly discouraging circumstances surround you.  The reason you don't have to buckle to fear and discouragement is the presence of God in the middle of your circumstances.  Great!  Call upon Him to step His One and Only shoes onto your territory and take over like the commander of the Lord's army (Joshua 5:15).  Hear Him say to you the words He said to Joshua: "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." That place, that circumstance, is holy because God stand on it with you. You don't have to fill His shoes, Dear One.  Take off your sandals and walk barefoot in His wake.

Beloved, whether or not you want to admit it, God gifted you out of His glorious grace and for His name's sake.  Christ has spoken over your life as His present-day disciple: "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:8).  Perhaps, like me, you have grievously failed God in the past. Perhaps, like me, your prior confidence was unknowingly in your own ability and determination to stay on track."  I typed that because I do get off track sometimes, I feel so many time I have fail God. Isn't it strange that we all feel that way! I agree.  Beth said, "we don't have to sin grievously to feel that we've failed. So true my friends. We don't have to sin grievously to feel like we've failed. Sometimes all it takes is feeling like we've proved ineffective and untalented too many times to try again. I have been encouraged to hold on to God's unchanging hand, because I can do all things through Christ Jesus my Lord as I have faith in Him, and in His Word. This week I have listen to the DVD of the whole Bible, and it has blessed my spirit so much. God's Word help me to accomplish God's plans for my life as Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

 

Questions:

1.      How can you be mighty in your generation?

2.      Why do we so often balk at the task?

3.      How can we overcome the feeling of failing God?

 

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK 3 7/30/13

A STUDY ON EXPERIENCE OF A FRESH EXPLOSION OF FAITH

(By Beth Moore)  "A Taste of Believing God"

This is Chapter III

 

 

I Am Who God Says I Am:

 

 

For years I have been taught that the book of Ephesians gives us the profession of a Christian. I am who God says I am!

 

 

I am blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly place in Christ (Eph. 1:3)

I am chosen by You, my Father (Eph. 1:4)

I am holy and without blame (Eph. 1:4)

I am Your child according to the good pleasure of Your will (Eph. 1:5)

I am excepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6)

I am redeemed through the blood of Jesus (Eph. 1:7)

I am a person of wisdom and prudence (Eph. 1:8)

I am an heir (Eph. 1:11)

I have the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ (Eph. 1:17)

I am saved by Your grace (Eph. 2:5)

I am seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6)

I am Your workmanship (Eph. 2:10)

I am near to You by the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:13)

 (Eph. 2:13)

I am a new creation (Eph. 2:15)

I am of Your household (Eph. 2:19)

I am strengthen with might by Your Spirit (Eph. 3:16)

I allow Christ to dwell in my heart by faith (Eph. 3:17)

I am rooted and grounded in love (Eph. 3:17)

I speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15)

I am renewed in the spirit of my mind (Eph. 4:23)

I am Your follower (Eph. 5:1)

I walk in love (Eph. 5:2)

I am light in You (Eph. 5:8)

I walk circumspectly (Eph. 5:15)

I am filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18)

 

 

 

That is just a few to mention.  How can we let Christ dwell in our hearts?  I see here that it's by faith that we allow things to happen in our lives.  Beth speaks of that faith.  This faith is a taste of believing and taking God at His Word.  We are who God says we are, and we can do what God's Word says we can do.   We as individual Christian have to believe that!  I have read the Ephesians' Declaration for months during my devotional time. I read it every morning for months, so I could get it in my spirit. When I feel like the enemy is trying to make me believe God don't care or God is angry with me, or even my faith has weaken, then I read this over and over again each morning while I do my devotion.  It's a blessing!   Beth says, "Believing I am who God says I am necessitates choosing what God says over what I feel. Glory to God!  When I was young and foolish, I always worried about what people thought of me, always. That play a negative part in my life for years. I start to feel what others thought about me was true until God revealed this to me. I am what God says I am!  Not what people say I am. What a different that made in my life. Listen to what Beth says here, "If I'm really serious about believing God, I have to believe God about me."  Let's look at this on page 31, "So, who does God say we are? Who are you in Him? If we've received Jesus as our personal Savior, the sum of our identity is found in First John 3:1: "Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God's children." And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn't know Him. Amen!

 

 

1 John 3:1: (KJV)

 

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."

 

I love the KJV, because it speaks to my spirit-man more than others versions do.  I want to read a couple of other versions, ok.

 

 

1 John 3:1 (NASB)

 

"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."

 

 

1 John 3:1 (AMP)

"See what [^[a]an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him."

 

I almost took out the parentheses, but then they really explain the statement more, (recognize, acknowledge).

  

And one more;

 

1 John 3:1 (WYC)

"See ye what manner charity the Father gave to us, that we be named the sons of God, and be his sons. For this thing the world knew not us, for it knew not him [For this thing the world knoweth not us, for it knoweth not him]. 

 

I want to explore the explorer Joshua a little.  She mentions him concerning something I never would have noticed now. I believe in my studies of the bible I have known this, but it's good to explore again. Joshua's old name was Hoshea which means "deliverer" while Joshua means "Jehovah delivers." She went on to say, "If I were chosen by God to lead a grasshopper people into a land of giant opposition, I'd want to know He, not me, was the true Deliverer.  I'd like to suggest that Joshua not only needed to know who he was but he also needed to know who he wasn't" That is so true!  "He wasn't God, neither are we!"

 

 

At the end of chapter three, she talks about Simon Peter. "Peter believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, just as Abraham.  Sometimes the hardest biblical truths to accept are about us.  Believe you are who God says you are and fathom the double blessing of God crediting it to you as righteousness. I know that is easy said, then done. But pray to the Father for support and help through His Holy Spirit.

 

 

Prayer:

Father, You are wisdom personified.  Please forgive me for my short coming, for the times I have failed to believe Your Word about me because I look away from it. Pride lured me into thinking I could handle situations over my head and my thinking, instead of choosing to believe Your Word and listening to You. I choose to think that I am who You say I am. I long for wisdom, Lord, that I might reflect Your true character, and live my life as the person You say I am, in Jesus' name I pray, amen.

 

 

 

Questions:

1.   Who does God say we are?

2.   Why did Christ pray specifically for Simon Peter's faith not to fail?

3.   Name a few truths Beth mentioned about us.

BIBLE STUDY: WEEK 2 (7/23/13

 

A STUDY ON EXPERIENCE OF A FRESH EXPLOSION OF FAITH
(By Beth Moore)  "A Taste of Believing God"

 

This is Chapter II

God can do what He says He can do:

The past few years that I have been a Christian has really convinced me that God can do what He says He can do, and my faith in Him has blessed me because He has answer my prayers continuously, He has kept this nation from going under, because of the few faithful ones that are praying; He has allowed us to see Him move on our behalf. God can do what He says He can do, and that is a true fact; let's look at what Beth has to say about that on page eighteen.
In the first paragraph I like what she says, "Most biblical tiles for God inseparably connect who He is to what He can do. For instance: as Savior, He saves; as Deliverer, He delivers; as Redeemer, He redeems; as Master, He assumes authority; as Bread of life, He provides; and as Almighty, He exerts divine strength. In short, God can do what He says He can precisely because He is who He says He is.  That blessed my heart! 
 

I wanted to understand these words (cessationism and sensationalism).  My computer didn't recognize the word cessationism.   I looked it up and this is what it says, "In Christian theology, Cessationism is the view that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues, prophetic utterances and faith healing, ceased being practiced early in Christian Church history. Cessationists gene rally believe that the miraculous gifts were provided only for the foundation of the Christian Church during the time between the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, c. 33 AD, as described in the 2nd Chapter of Acts, and the fulfillment of God's purposes in history, usually identified as either the completion of the last book of the New Testament (Book of Revelation), or the death of John the Apostle, the last of the Twelve Apostles. The counterpart to Cessationaism is Continuationism which teaches that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit have remained available for use by the church ever since Pentecost. Disputes over Cessationism versus Continuationism have since led to denominational schisms within the Church."   Then I looked up the word sensationalism, and it says this "Sensationalism is a type of editorial bias in mass media in which events and topics in news stories and pieces are over-hyped to increase viewership or readership numbers. Sensationalism may include reporting about generally insignificant matters and events that don't influence overall society and biased presentations of newsworthy topics in a sensationalist, trivial or tabloid manner.
Some tactics include being deliberately obtuse, appealing to emotions being  controversial, intentionally omitting facts and information being loud, self-centered and acting to obtain attention.  Trivial information and events are sometimes misrepresented and exaggerated as important or significant, and often includes stories about the actions of individuals and small groups of people, the content of which is often insignificant and irrelevant relative to the macro-level day-to-day events that occur globally. Furthermore, the content and subject matter typically doesn't affect the lives of the masse and doesn't affect society, and instead is broadcast and printed to attract viewers and readers.
   
 I am going to read more now; As I read more I saw where she said that, "Sensationalism suggests that everything possible is also probable, while cessationism accepts only the presently probable as the presently possible.   Either extreme is wildly offensive to God!"  I felt she would say that after reading this far.  Ok, listen to this, "perhaps the most serious offense of sensationalism is its overwhelming tendency to be man-centered rather than God-centered, prioritizing what God can do over who He is."  Well said, Beth!

This is a good little book!  Beth gives us some scriptures in this chapter, and I want to explore them now.  Let's look at them now.  Start with………………..

Matthew 16:4:    "Wicked and adulterous generation."
If the modern body of Christ is set on cessationism or sensationalism, our choice is whether we'd rather be an unbelieving and perverse generation or a wicked and adulterous one. Both options share a commonality; Experience over faith is their underlying problem.  Sensationalism seeks an experience, and cessationism believes only what it personally sees and experience. 

As said earlier, either extreme is wildly offensive to God.  She also shared these scriptures too………

Hebrews 11:6: " But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Daniel 3:17: "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king."

Mark 9:23:  "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth"

Luke 1:37: " For with God nothing shall be impossible."
James 4:2: "Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not."

Matthew 9:29: "Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you."

I really enjoyed what she said on page 21; Beloved, God is "Wonderful" (Isaiah 9:6). In fact remove the wonders from God, and you can no longer call Him wonderful, AMEN! The wonderful factor of God still exists!  We must believe Him, not just believe in Him.
If I've missed sharing some good points, please feel free to share anything you get after you have read the scriptures, or the book. Thanks.

This was a good point for me on page 23 second paragraph, "Please don't misunderstand that believing God only involves believing Him for dramatic miracles. If we don't include believing Him for the miraculous, however, can you imagine the tragedy of all we could miss?"    Read on page 25 through 27, which raps up chapter II for us.   This is so important for us to remember, "We are surrounded by a dying and depraved world, mounting violence and the threat of mass destruction, disease, plague, enticing false religion, and a surging fury of satanic assault and seduction."  Those really describe our world today!   We are desperate for the wonders and miracles of God. We need Him to show His mighty arm and tell the world that He is alive, active, and very much with us.  I love that statement!  Then she ends it by saying this, "Believe that God can, Beloved. He is still in the miracle business."   I don't know about you, but I have really enjoyed this little book!  See you in chapter III

QUESTION:

1.   How do you know God can do what He says He can?
2.   What kind of Christian do you want to be?
3.   Will  you share a miracle with us today

BIBLE STUDY: WEEK 1 (7/16/13)

 

A STUDY ON EXPERIENCE OF A FRESH EXPLOSION OF FAITH

(By Beth Moore)  "A Taste of Believing God"

 

This is Chapter I

 

 God is who He says He is.
 
In chapter (1) "God is Who He says He is"  shed some light on my faith, because if God is who he says he is, then we are who He says we are, and we can have
whatsoever we say according to His Word.
 
 Scriptures:
 
  I read (Gen. 15:7; 17:1-2, Ex. 3:6-8; 3:14; 6:6, 8).  This is on page 9-10.  Knowing is so important. 
 
I have learned and still learning each day to put my trust in Him through knowing Him and Who He is in my life. That is why we must have a personal relationship with Jesus. "Know that the Lord is God"   I had to know in my knower that God was Who He said He was, I had to believe Him for myself, I had to change my percept  on Who God was in my life.
 
"Your Perception of God Controls Your Life"
 
 I enjoyed this chapter reading.  She talked about the patriarchs Abram and Moses, (Geneses 15:7, 17:1-2; Exodus 3:6-8, 3:14, 6:6,8). God constantly kept His identity and subsequent ability fresh in their minds. He kept reminding them of Who He was. "I am the Lord" Knowing that God is who he say He is, He is YHWH, our covenant Maker, He is Elohiym, The God over all creation.  In other words, you and I have got to know, not just hope or think that the One who cut covenant with us through the torn flesh of Jesus Christ is the same One who sits upon the universe's throne, having spoken the worlds into existence.  Surrounded by a society that spouts many gods but at best nobly agrees to equate them, you and I can know that the Lord is God.  Question, Why is this important?  Christ was concern about His disciples knowing Who He was; In Caesaria Philippi, Christ gathered His disciples around Him and asked them two vital questions that beg answers from us as well,  First, Christ asked, "Who do people say the Son of Man is? (Matthew 16:13).  Christ knew the potential power of popular opinion.  This is a good book!  Who we believe God is greatly affects our eternal destinies!  We must beware of recreating an image of God that makes us feel better. That's for sure; If in our pursuit of greater knowledge God seems to have gotten smaller, we are deceived.  Wow!  We must be careful. 
 
Then there is one more question, "Who do you say I am?  (Matthew 16:15-20)
" He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ."
As we consider God as Whom He says He is, we're wise to ask ourselves the question: Who do I say God is?  Many people and factors can influence who we've come to believe God is: That is so true, Beth!
 
In her last statement in Chapter one, Beth says this, Beloved, God invites us to participate in kingdom authority under the rule of His righteous will.  He extends staggering power to those willing to think with the mind of Christ rather than the mind of man.  God will also empower His children to bind untold evils and strongholds if we'd believe Him and cooperate with Him.  Where does this kind of existence begin?  With biblical answers to the pivotal question, "Who do you say that I am?"  God is looking for stewards willing to bind their own unbelief in the mighty name of Jesus and loose a fresh anointing of faith.
 
Questions:

1.  What your perception on God?
2.  What was revealed to Peter?
3.  What is revealed to you?

BIBLE STUDY: INTRODUCTION

A STUDY ON EXPERIENCE OF A FRESH EXPLOSION OF FAITH
(By Beth Moore)  "A Taste of Believing God"
 
 

 

Introduction:

My first question was "What is Faith?"

 

Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
In her introduction, Beth said, "God spoke to her heart and said, "You believe in Me, Beth. Now I want you to "believe me." That is faith to me!

Let's Pray:  "Father God, we come to You in praise and worship to You.  Father, in the name of Jesus, we approach the throne of grace boldly and confidently. May the Word of God come forth accurately and in love during our study? We ask You to anoint each person that participate with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of this study, so each can share what You give them through Your Holy Spirit.  We pray that as we study, we will have ears to hear the wisdom and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Let's start with that, because that statement was a blessing to my heart!  You know, this is how God speaks to us; well, I know He speak to me that way.  I could just hear Him.  Once upon a time I was hanging out clothes where I was living with an elderly woman who had a dryer, but wouldn't let me use it; I was out there hanging out those clothes just complaining away.  I heard God say in my spirit, "Claudia, you asked me to send you to a far-away country to help the, needed, but you are complaining about hanging out clothes because she has a dryer, and want let you use it."  How can you go to those far-away countries, and live among them the way they live and can't even hang out clothes on a line?  I was so shock!  You may say, why did you say that?  I just heard it that way. A true statement.  Listen to it again, "You believe In Me, Beth. Now I want you to "believe me!"  
Yes, we all believe in God, even the devil believes in God, amen.  That is what Jesus told his disciples. I enjoyed reading the introduction.   When I read it I was thinking about faith, "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" Also its weapon for us to use as in Ephesians 6………………..

Shield Faith What we see are Satan's attacks in the form of insults, setbacks and temptations.  But the shield of faith protects us from Satan's fiery darts.  With God's perspective, we can see beyond our circumstances and know that ultimate victory is ours.  Glory to God!  Let's examine FAITH.

What is the different between faith and believing?

Faith: Noun  (notice this)
1.    Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
2.    Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

Believing: Verb (notice this)
1.    Accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of: "the superintendent believed Lancaster's story".
2.    Accept the statement of (someone) as true.

In Beth's introduction, she talk about faith is the way believers jump on board with God and participate in countless wonderful things He has a mind to do. Faith happens when believers believe.  She challenges us to grow in faith as quoted from Apostle Paul.  As we study this book we will find the five-step as follow……….

1. God is Who He says He is
2. God can Do What He says He can do
3. I Am Who God says I Am
4. I Can do all Things Through Christ
5. God's Word Is Alive And Active In Me

 

A STUDY ON BETH MOORE'S BOOK

A STUDY ON EXPERIENCE OF A FRESH EXPLOSION OF FAITH

(By Beth Moore)  “A Taste of Believing God”

My first question was “What is Faith?”

Hebrews 11:1

Introduction/Chapter I

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

n her introduction, Beth said, “God spoke to her heart and said, “You believe in Me, Beth. Now I want you to “believe me.” That is faith to me!

Let’s Pray:  “Father God, we come to you in praise and worship to you.  Father, in the name of Jesus, we approach the throne of grace boldly and confidently. May the Word of God come forth accurately and in love during our study? We ask You to anoint each person that participate with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of this study, so each can share what You give them through Your Holy Spirit.  We pray that as we study, we will have ears to hear the wisdom and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s start with that, because that statement was a blessing to my heart!  You know, this is how God speaks to us; well, I know He speak to me that way.  I could just hear Him.  Once upon a time I was hanging out clothes where I was living with an elderly woman who had a dryer, but wouldn’t let me use it; I was out there hanging out those clothes just complaining away.  I heard God say in my spirit, “Claudia, you asked me to send you to a far-away country to help the, needed, but you are complaining about hanging out clothes because she has a dryer, and want let you use it.”  How can you go to those far-away countries, and live among them the way they live and can’t even hang out clothes on a line?  I was so shock!  You may say, why did you say that?  I just heard it that way. A true statement.  Listen to it again, “You believe In Me, Beth. Now I want you to “believe me!”  

Yes, we all believe in God, even the devil believes in God, amen.  That is what Jesus told his disciples. I enjoyed reading the introduction.   When I read it I was thinking about faith, “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Also its weapon for us to use as in Ephesians 6………………..

Shield   Faith      What we see are Satan's attacks in the form of insults, setbacks and temptations.  But the shield of faith protects us from Satan's fiery darts.  With God's perspective, we can see beyond our circumstances and know that ultimate victory is ours.  Glory to God!  Let’s examine FAITH.

What is the different between faith and believing?

Faith: Noun (notice this)

1. Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

2. Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof

Believing: Verb (notice this)

1. Accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of: "the superintendent believed Lancaster's story".

2. Accept the statement of (someone) as true.

In Beth’s introduction, she talk about faith is the way believers jump on board with God and participate in countless wonderful things He has a mind to do. Faith happens when believers believe.  She challenges us to grow in faith as quoted from Apostle Paul.  As we study this book we will find the five-step as follow……….

1. God is Who He says He is
2. God can Do What He says He can do
3. I Am Who God say I Am
4. I Can do all Things Through Christ
5. God’s Word Is Alive And Active In Me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where am I going?

 

 

Have you ever felt like your life was just stale?  Felt like there was nothing in it.  I know it may sound strange, but some times that is how I feel, even though I know God’s Spirit is in me.  Believe me, it’s not God or His Holy Spirit, I have come to that knowledge of truth.  I do recognize that the problem lies within me, and the decisions I make.

 

Let me share just a little of my testimony of faith here.   I truly believe God has been with me since I can remember, but I didn’t respond to His Spirit.  And there is evidence in my life that points to God Himself, the Great Creator!   I can see God’s unchanging hand in my life down through the years.   On one occasion I was without a job for over three years, and I prayed to God for doors to be open for me to get a good paying respectful job.  This was during the 1990 census.    I responded to the ad for an administrator’s assistance.  I was very nervous about applying for this type of job with no experience.  I desired and needed this job bad.  I prayed and ask God to help me, mostly to give me strength to go and apply for this job.  I needed boldness to walk in that office and talk with this person, which was the administrator.  I fasted and prayed before I went.  I dressed properly and walked in that office like I had years of experience, and that was with the help of the Lord.  The administrator asks me to have a seat, I sit and the first thing he asked, did I have experience?  I didn’t lie, first of all I was trusting God for the job.  I said no, but I truly believe I could do the job.  He just looked at me.  He asked me, how fast you type.  I told him and he sit up a time for me to take a typing test.  I was so nervous!  I took that test but didn’t type as fast and accurate as I should have.  My next appointment with him was even more nervous.  I walked in and he asked me to have a seat, I sit and he said, “Claudia, if I give you this job would you prove yourself faithful and be here as needed?”  I said, yes sir I will.  I had the job because God provided for me, it was not because I had years of experience.   These are times when I knew God was with me, and when I get in situations and when I feel like I do today, I stand firm on God’s Word.  Yes, today I felt stale, but I am so sure in my inner-man that God is with me and He will provide, and He will see me through this pocket of time. 

 

 The question was “Where am I going?”  This is when the Word of God has to take effect in our lives.  Scriptures such as, “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:19).  Back during the interview I stood on this scripture, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strength me.” (Philippians 4:13).  Where am I going?  Where is my life headed now?  What am I to do now?  These are questions that come to my mind.  The ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in my life now is to take care of the elderly.  I do it with all my heart and strength, because God is leading me.  God is my way!  My life belongs to Him and only to Him.  My heart, spirit, and soul are pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:14).  God’s Word is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrows, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).  This why we must trust in God’s Word with all our hearts; and lean not unto our own understanding.  We must acknowledge Him in all our ways, so He can direct our path, and make it easier for us when time like these come upon us.  We must not be wise in our own eyes, we must fear the Lord, and depart from all evil.  God is righteous and want righteous people to live for Him. Please don’t forget that God love you and He sent His only begotten Son to die for your sins, so you wouldn’t have to live in or under condemnation.  We are told that once we receive Jesus as our Savior, then we no longer live under condemnation.  Read Romans 8:1, it says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”  I am living for the Lord, therefore, I am pressing each and every day for the Kingdom of God.  When my life gets upside down, then I look inside my spirit and I connect with the Kingdom of God.  The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  (Romans 14:17).  Right now I am on my way to the Kingdom of God in my inner-man, so I can find that peace and joy.   Finally, my friends,  I say to you, when you are in a dark place of confusion, and you know Jesus is your Lord and Savior, reach within and find that peace and joy, and trust God always.  Now for those who don’t know the Lord, then please accept Him today as your Savior and He will see you through hard times.  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you always and forever.  

 

You Are loved.