The Power Of Belief (Part 4)

External Belief (continued)
Mark 11:22-24 NKJV
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Abraham believed God, and said to sight, “Stand back!” and to the laws of nature, “Hold your peace!” and to a misgiving heart, “Silence, thou lying tempter!” He Believed God. - Joseph Parker

Daniel 6:23 NKJV
Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

Matthew 8:13 NKJV
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

Matthew 9:27-29 NKJV
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”
And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”

Mark 16:16-18 NKJV
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

The Power Of Belief (Part 3)

External Belief
A second set of passages below describes belief in action that radically changes other people’s lives. With the help of the Holy Spirit, belief is set into motion and accomplishes great things for God’s Kingdom. The Trinity is unleashed and at our disposal even if our belief is small or seemingly insignificant. If we as Christians truly understood and tapped into this incredible, inexhaustible power that we have been given, we could significantly transform the world! “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NKJV)

Last thing, belief/faith is a precious gift from God. It is meant to be shared and exercised daily. A few questions to ponder. Are lives being eternally changed because of our belief in our Savior, Jesus Christ? Are we utilizing this gift to its greatest potential? If not, why not? Is our belief strong enough to conquer our fears, our doubts, our weaknesses, our pride? Do we need to step back a little and ask our Heavenly Father for stronger internal belief, to lay down an even greater foundation of faith?

I pray that we will experience transformation in our lives. - JSS

Luke 1:44-46 NKJV
For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

Mark 9:23 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

The Power Of Belief (Part 2)

Internal Belief (continued)
John 11:24-26 NKJV
Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Romans 1:16 NKJV
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Romans 10:8-10 NKJV
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Acts 4:32 NKJV
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

The Power Of Belief (Part 1)

Internal Belief
The following scripture passages speak first of incredible internal transformations that have and will occur when hearts are open to believe in Jesus and His Heavenly Father. Lives change for all eternity! - JSS

John 3:14-16 NKJV
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 5:24 NKJV
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

John 6:35 NKJV
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

The Power Of Belief (Introduction)

Do you ever struggle with belief in God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, His Word, salvation, His grace? I think we all do at one time or another. Sometimes it’s difficult to believe because faith isn’t always easily seen or definitive like most things in our world. If things can’t be experienced directly through our senses of sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing, then we have a difficult time embracing them. Belief is less real to us, therefore, we tend to dismiss it as important or relevant or try to explain it away based on our circumstances. The Bible gives a different view of belief.

The Bible describes belief or faith based on internal and external properties. Internally, it is real and personally transformative. Externally, it is also real but publicly transformative. Both seem incredibly valuable to God and both help to bring about His Kingdom on Earth. They are cyclical in nature and are interdependent. In other words, belief in God and the advancement of His will begins internally and then becomes external to others which then becomes internal again and so on.  For example, when the Word of God is presented it just doesn’t fall on deaf ears. No, it penetrates a person’s heart and communes with their soul. Isaiah 55:11 NKJV confirms this,

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the things for which I sent it.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV further states, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” - JSS

Whom Have I In Heaven? (Lyrics)

V. 1
Whom have I in heav'n above? Only Thee, my Savior;
Whom have I on earth to love? Only Thee, my Savior;
Who my wounded heart can heal, Who my every sorrow feel,
Who the light of joy reveal? Only Thee, my Savior.

V. 2
Who has led me all my days? Only Thou, my Savior;
Who deserves my highest praise? Only Thou, my Savior;
In my weakness Who is strong, Who has loved and loved me long,
Who should claim my noblest song? Only Thou, my Savior.

V. 3
Who my inmost thoughts can read? Only Thou, my Savior;
Who for me doth intercede? Only Thou, my Savior;
Who my secret thoughts can know, Who such tender mercy show,
Who can make me white as snow? Only Thou, my Savior.

Music by: William Fiske Sherwin, 1877.
Words by: Frances Jane (Fanny) Crosby, 1877.
This Hymn is in the Public Domain.

Instructions From A Father (Part 2)

Proverbs 1:8-10 NKJV
My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;
For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.
My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.

I like the fact that both parents are mentioned in the above passage. Both parents are needed in the process of teaching their children. Both parents are equally engaged. Furthermore, although not addressed directly, I believe the personality differences of both parties is allowed and plays a key role in teaching. In other words, a child who receives different perspectives of truth is better because of it. - JSS

Proverbs 3:11:12 NKJV
My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Instructions From A Father (Part 1)

Proverbs 4:1-9 NKJV
Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you.
Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”

The Psalmist is passing on to his children words and instruction that he received from his own father. His words are not hollow or lack substance. They are an amalgamation of lifetimes of experience. His instruction has been tested by the fires of adversity, doubt, fear and so on. “Get wisdom! Get understanding!”, he cries. Why? Who is the one speaking here? Most likely it is Solomon. Solomon saw so much value in wisdom that it was the sole thing he asked for from the Lord (1 Kings 3:5-12, 2 Chronicles 1:7-12). He knew he would need it to properly govern God’s people as their King. God, in turn, blessed him not only with great wisdom but also with wealth, possessions and honor like none other.

Asking our Heavenly Father for wisdom pleases Him. Applying wisdom pleases Him. Obeying his instructions and commands pleases Him. And passing on His truth to the next generation for their salvation brings pleasure to Him as well. - JSS

Instructions For A Father

Psalms 78:5-8 NKJV
For He established a testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers,
That they should make them known to their children;
That the generation to come might know them,
The children who would be born,
That they may arise and declare them to their children,
That they may set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments;
And may not be like their fathers,
A stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that did not set its heart aright,
And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Proverbs 23:24 NKJV
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who begets a wise child will delight in him.

Proverbs 13:22 NKJV
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

Proverbs 13:24 NKJV
He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

Proverbs 19:18 NKJV
Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction.

Proverbs 29:17 NKJV
Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.

Ephesians 6:4 NKJV
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

God, Our Loving Father (Part 3)

“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”

God, Our Loving Father (Part 2)

Luke 15:11-31 NKJV
Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.  And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

God, Our Loving Father (Part 1)

The story above is one of my favorite parables in the Bible. I say this because it deals with a dynamic relationship between a father and his two sons. It is usually titled in reference to the prodigal son but it could just as well have been titled in reference to the father.
The father shows unwavering love, patience and forgiveness toward his sons, particularly to his prodigal son. He is faithful. He longs for his sons return and does not condemn but rejoices upon his return. The father is a reflection of our Heavenly Father and the sons mirror both the unsaved (prodigal son) and the saved (older son).
I believe Jesus is telling us that our Heavenly Father yearns for a deep and lasting love-relationship with us. He doesn’t need our love, our relationship, but it’s almost as if He’s modeling the reality of how much we need His. Furthermore, He doesn’t excuse our sin and rebellion, but they seem far removed compared to His redeeming grace. So, as we read this story, maybe we should consider a different point of view; a father’s perspective. It may give us a greater appreciation of our Heavenly Father and His incredible mercy and grace. - JSS

Only A Dad (A Poem)

Only a dad with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame
To show how well he has played the game;
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.

Only a dad with a brood of four,
One of ten million men or more
Plodding along in the daily strife,
Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
With never a whimper of pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd,
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
Silent whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a dad but he gives his all,
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing with courage stern and grim
The deeds that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen:
Only a dad, but the best of men.

Words by Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959)
This poem is in the Public Domain.

David J. Schroeder, Sr

The Chief Cornerstone (Part 2)

Acts 4:11 NIV
Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

1 Peter 2:6-8 NKJV
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,“Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

Ephesians 2:19-22 NKJV
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The Chief Cornerstone (Part 1)

Jesus Christ is described throughout the Old and New Testaments as the chief cornerstone. He is the critical stone within the foundation of all creation and salvation rests on Him alone. All stability and strength resides in Him. He establishes a "plumb line" or guidelines for us as Christians to follow. We are living stones and He has assembled us. We are a body of believers, an example, "a holy temple in the Lord", a Church, with a purpose to help establish His Kingdom here on earth. - JSS

Isaiah 28:16 NKJV
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.

Zechariah 10:3-5 NKJV
My anger is kindled against the shepherds,
And I will punish the goatherds.
For the LORD of hosts will visit His flock,
The house of Judah,
And will make them as His royal horse in the battle.
From him comes the cornerstone,
From him the tent peg,
From him the battle bow,
From him every ruler together.
They shall be like mighty men,
Who tread down their enemies
In the mire of the streets in the battle.
They shall fight because the LORD is with them,
And the riders on horses shall be put to shame.

Matthew 21:42 NKJV
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the LORD’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

Suffering In The Flesh (Part 2)

[Suffering] acts as a stimulus to growth, offers the opportunity to learn humility, and reveals a greater depth of human experience and a richer understanding of the meaning of being human. - Kristine Rankka

Suffering is a wonderful fertilizer to the roots of character. The great object of this life is character. This is the only thing we can carry with us into eternity… To gain the most of it and the best of it is the object of probation. - Austen Phelps

John 15:2 NKJV

…He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

We can endure, transcend, and transform the storminess when we see the meaning and mystery of it. - Sue Monk Kidd

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Suffering In The Flesh (Part 1)

1 Peter 4:1-6, 12-16, 19 NKJV
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

The Prayer Of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

The Repentant Thief (Part 2)

I would like to present some further observations about this repentant criminal.
The first thing we notice right away was his strong and immediate rebuke toward the other criminal. It seems he didn’t even allow Jesus an opportunity to respond. His heart was set on proper reverence for God and His justice. He said, “Do you not even fear God?” He didn’t say, “Do you not even fear the Roman Empire or the Pharisees or even the blood-thirsty mob?” The Roman Empire was the apparent executioner but the repentant thief had a greater sense that their final judgement fell under God.

The second thing we notice is that this repentant criminal understood and accepted who Jesus really was. The Roman penalty, physical death for his crime, was clear but what about his sin and the penalty of eternal Hell? He desperately turns to Jesus. In faith, he recognized Him as the Son of God, the Savior of the world, perhaps as God Himself. “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” He believed Jesus was the way unto salvation, but didn’t presume acceptance based on his belief. He showed incredible humbleness to only ask that Jesus simply remembers him. He doesn’t even ask to be fully forgiven and accepted into Heaven,  just remembered. This was enough for Jesus: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” What incredible mercy and grace in exchange for some faith and humbleness!

There are two lessons that we can draw from this account. 1. Humbleness, faith and trust in Jesus deeply plant themselves into the heart of God and lubricate His will to extend His amazing grace. 2. If we relentlessly blaspheme and resist Jesus/God, He will undeniably give us what we justly deserve; an eternal hell.
I pray that we follow the way of the repentant sinner.

The Repentant Thief (Part 1)

Luke 23:32-33, 39-43 NKJV
There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

As I was attending a church service this past Sunday, the pastor chose this passage for his sermon message. He mentioned that although it’s not indicated which side each of the criminals were on relative to Jesus he believed that the repentant thief was on the right. Part of the reason he believed this was because he looked up the meanings of the words “right” and “left” for this passage. He said, “right” is translated, “ready to receive” and “left” means “second best”. This makes sense since the repentant thief was ready to receive mercy and forgiveness and the other criminal was not. - JSS

Just One Touch (Lyrics)

V. 1
Just one touch as He moves along,
Pushed and pressed by the jostling throng,
Just one touch and the weak was strong,
Cured by the Healer divine.

Refrain
Just one touch as He passes by,
He will list to the faintest cry,
Come and be saved while the Lord is nigh,
Christ is the Healer divine.

V. 2
Just one touch and He makes me whole,
Speaks sweet peace to my sin sick soul,
At His feet all my burdens roll,
Cured by the Healer divine.
(Repeat refrain)

V. 3
Jut one touch! and the work is done,
I am saved by the blessed Son,
I will sing while the ages run,
Cured by the Healer divine.
(Repeat refrain)

V. 4
Just one touch! and He turns to me,
Oh, the love in His eyes I see!
I am His, for He hears my plea,
Cured by the Healer divine.
(Repeat refrain)

V. 5
Just one touch! by His mighty power
He can heal thee this blessed hour,
Thou canst hear though the tempests lower,
Cured by the Healer divine.
(Repeat refrain)

Music by: J. Howard Entwisle. Words by: Birdie Bell, 1897. This hymn is in the Public Domain.

Charity

What am I to do? I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good work, therefore, any kindness, or any service I can render to any soul of man or animal, let me do it now. Let me not neglect or defer it, for I shall not pass this way again.
- An old Quaker saying

Don’t compromise your character.
Don’t betray trust with a brother.
You are the only true gift you can give.
Hand yourself over honestly, unconditionally,
And with the deepest conviction to love.
- JSS

Proverbs 3:27-28 NKJV
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.

May everything I do today leave Your fingerprints, because that is why You created me! - JSS