If You Had The Faith You Could Do The Impossible

"When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before Him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him." "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." Matthew 17:14-21 (NIV)

Approximately one year earlier, Jesus had given His disciples the power to heal the sick and to cast out evil spirits and demons (Matthew 10:1 & 10:8) and they had been successful at doing so. This demon they were not able to cast out of the boy. Their faith was not sufficient, they had "so little faith." According to John MacArthur their problem was a failure to make God the object of their confidence rather than their own gifts and abilities.

Some of our problems require that we have more faith in addition to prayer and fasting. Some of our prayers are not answered because we have doubts to begin with, or because we ask for things that are not according to His will. We must believe, have faith, fast and pray, and God will answer our prayers. "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22 (NIV) "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." 1 John 5:14 (NIV) "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

I Will Lift Up My Eyes

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from The Lord, The Maker of heaven and earth." Psalms 121:1-2

In this sin sick world that we live in, we need to recognize and acknowledge that God is our helper, our keeper, our protector, and our preserver. We need to keep our eyes lifted up and focused upon Him.

As we journey through the uncertain circumstances of life, we need the help of The Lord. We must trust in The Lord in times of trouble (health, financial, relationship, or whatever) and when we think that all is fine. From day to day, from minute to minute, from moment to moment, we need The Lord. We can't make it on this journey without Him.

Now When I am Old And Greyheaded

"Now when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to every one that is to come." Psalms 71:18

Do not discard or disregard the "seasoned" senior saints, there is a lot of wisdom tied up in all those years that could be useful to the world. For we have seen, and experienced, and learned a lot during our Christian walk that could benefit the younger generations. We can truly testify, based upon our trials and tribulations, about the strength and power of The Lord and what He has done in our lives.

Listen when the elderly speak, you just may learn something. God is not through with us old folks yet, and with His help there is still kingdom building work for us to do. That is why we can pray this old man's prayer. We need God's help to guide our tongue as we speak to the next generation.

God Is Awesome!

My God is awesome!!! There is nobody greater. He is not to be played with.

My God is omnipotent, all powerful, (Revelation 19:6), omniscient, all knowing, (Matthew 6:8) and omnipresent, everywhere all at the same time, (Matthew 28:20).

He made me (Psalms 139:13-16), He knows me (Psalms 139:1-6), He loved me (John 3:16 & John 15:9), and He still loves me (Hebrews 13:8). "I love Him, I love Him, I really love The Lord." He deserves all of our praise, honor, worship, and glory.

"... My heart standeth in awe of Thy Word." Psalms 119:161

A Powerful Prayer For You

For all of you who are going through something that appears to be more than you can handle, I pray for you as Paul did, "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit ..." Ephesians 3:16

From time to time we all need help, more than that which can be provided by our fellow man, we need His help and strength. May God strengthen, energize, revitalize, empower, protect, and sustain you through whatever, as only He can.

The Power Of Prayer # 2

The apostles Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison for casting the demon out of a damsel.

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God; and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." Acts 16:23-26

After seeing what happened, the keeper of the prison led them out, took them to his house, washed their wounds, fed them, and he and his whole family were baptized.

God can make the impossible, possible. He can make your enemies your footstool. He can turn those who were beating you down into someone who helps you to move up a little higher.

Jesus said, " With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 He also said, "... All things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23

Again, we are only as powerful as our prayers. "Little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power; no prayer, no power." (Unknown) God still hears and answers prayers.

The Power Of Prayer

"Peter therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto
God for him." Acts 12:5

There is power in prayer. When the church is on one accord, there is power in corporate prayer.

After Herod the king had killed the apostle James, he had the apostle Peter arrested to kill him also. While Peter was in prison, the church prayed without ceasing unto God for him. Peter was chained between two soldiers, with guards posted at the door. An angel of The Lord came to Peter, his chains fell off, and the angel led him past the guards and out of prison. Acts 12:1-12

God can make the impossible, possible. Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 He also said, "... All things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23

We are only as powerful as our prayers. "Little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power; no prayer, no power." (Unknown) Prayer changes things. God still hears and answers prayers.

Repent And Pray, Money Can't Buy This

"And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands The Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive The Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." Acts 8:18-20

Money can buy a lot of things but money can't buy the gift of God.

Simon was a well-known user of sorcery and when he saw what the apostles could do, he also wanted that power. However, when Peter pointed out the sin in his heart and told him to repent, there is no record that he repented of his sin. He asked Peter to pray that he would not have to pay the consequences for his sin. Acts 8:24

Unfortunately there are people who join the church because they want to avoid the consequences of their sins and going to hell. They do not truly believe and their thoughts, words and actions reflect their unbelief.

Based upon our sinful thoughts, words, and actions, maybe more of us should pray and repent as Peter told Simon to do. "Repent therefore of this wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." Acts 8:22

Be Not Ashamed Of The Gospel

The Apostle Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ..." Romans 1:16

After his conversion, Paul had a lot of bad things to happen to him, but he remained ready to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He knew that God's word was powerful.

The gospel is powerful and effective because it brings with it the omnipotence of God. Only God's power can overcome man's sinful nature and give him a new life. It can deliver man from his lost state, from willful sinful ignorance, from evil self-indulgence, from the wrath of God, and from eternal separation from God, punishment and damnation.

Spread the word of God. Don't be ashamed to tell people about Jesus Christ and the gospel. Jesus said, "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:33