Tag Archives: Faith

The key to success or failure lies in doing things at the word of Jesus

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The key to success or failure lies in doing things at the word of Jesus

AT THY WORD

Luke 5:5, “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”

LUKE 5:1-11

Peter and his companions had been working hard all night. Their efforts had not produced even one fish. They had given up and were headed home. But Jesus told them to try it just one more time.

It would have been easy for Peter to reject Jesus’ command. After all, Peter had been a fisherman all his life. Jesus was just a preacher. What did He know about fishing? Yet something, or rather someone, caused Peter to try just once more.

Many people are like Simon Peter and his partners. They have done all that they know to do and yet they’ve come up empty-handed. This breeds a despair and hopelessness that causes many people to quit trying. Yet, just one word from Jesus could make the same tasks that have been unproductive on our own bear great fruit.

The key to success or failure lies in doing things at the word of Jesus. Peter said, “at thy word I will let down the net.” God‘s words always get results.

Today, make sure your efforts are directed by God and you will experience the results that have eluded you in the past.

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Faith pleases God

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Faith Pleases God

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1

From the very first line of the Bible, God requires us to have faith. He doesn’t go into elaborate detail about who He is or how He created everything. God doesn’t lay out His case as a logical legal brief. He just states plainly, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Once you read these words you are compelled to either walk in faith and believe the Word of God or choose to dismiss it.

It’s clear that it takes faith to believe the Bible, because there are many unanswered questions. God wastes no time trying to talk us into believing His Word. The ability to believe God’s Word is a gift of faith from Him (Ephesians 2:8).

If you find yourself questioning the reality of God’s Word, then you need faith. How can you get faith? “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

Read the Word of God, listen to the Word of God, repeat aloud the Word of God, meditate on the Word of God and sing God’s Word. This will allow faith to come-for without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

Further Reading

•Hebrews 11:6

•Proverbs 3:5-6

•Romans 8:24-25

God Bless

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Faith! Be willing to admit to God where you have taken a wrong turn

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Faith! Be willing to admit to God where you have taken a wrong turn

Make your request known to Him

One of the things the people of Israel overlooked was the fact that when they grumbled against Moses, they were really grumbling against God. More than likely, none would admit to this. If asked, they would totally deny it, and so would we. After all, Adam failed to take responsibility in the Garden of Eden. When God asked Adam why he had disobeyed, Adam began to blame the woman God had given him. The best thing you can do today – especially if God has caught you grumbling – is to take responsibility.

Many of our dads would tell us, “When I talk to you, stand up like a man.” That is good advice for a generation that seems bent on creating excuses for their acts of violence and anger. Be willing to admit to God where you have taken a wrong turn. Then pray that He will guide you back to a safe place – a place where you can prosper and grow in every area of your life.

For years, the Israelites had complained about their Egyptian bondage. Finally, God began to move them and set them free. However, no sooner had the waters of the Red Sea settled behind them than they began to grumble. First, they needed water to drink. Later, their issue was a desire for meat.

When they reached Marah, they found a pool of water, but it was bitter, and thoughts of replacing Moses filled their minds. Isn’t it a little odd that after they witnessed God’s mighty deliverance, they would fail to believe He had the ability to provide for their every need? However, instead of calling out to Him for help, they threatened Moses.

The next time life turns rough and seems ragged along the edges, refuse to become mad at your spouse, children, or even your superior at work. God holds your very life within His hands, and He knows your every need. Make your request known to Him, and He will provide sweet water – enough to refresh and renew you.

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God has plans for your life. Remember God’s faithfulness

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God has plans for your life. Remember God’s faithfulness

A man attending a Bible study requested prayer because he had gotten a promotion at work. While he was ready to rejoice over his new position, he also felt apprehensive. A woman who had been with the firm much longer would now report to him. He said, “I know God has placed me in this position. However, this is going to be a bitter pill for this woman to swallow.”

Most of us dislike taking medicine. If it is bitter, it is even worse. Many of us also have found ourselves in similar situations. We may have received a promotion and placed in charge of a group of people who have been with the company longer than we have. Or perhaps a new manager, whom we feel lacks ability, steps onto the scene.

Regardless of the scenario, remember that God has a plan for your life. He has chosen this point in time for you to shine and not to appear dark and gloomy. He may place you in a role of leadership where you are forced to make decisions you never thought you could or would make. Or He may have allowed you to be bypassed for a promotion you believed was yours.

At times, each one of us can view life from an unrealistic perspective. We see ourselves climbing social or corporate ladders without hitting a snag or facing many problems. In our dream, if we do come up on problem areas, we tell ourselves that we are equipped to handle each one. However, we can’t, and God knows it. He allows us to face extreme difficulty in order to teach us that we need His help and strength.

A bitter person becomes critical and unwilling to work with others. A godly person accepts God’s will, knowing that up ahead there will be another opportunity for him or her. When God asks you to swallow a bitter pill, be willing to do it. In the end, this one act of surrender could turn into a tremendous source of blessing and hope.

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The challenges you face today is directly related to the joy you will experience in the future

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The challenges you face today is directly related to the joy you will experience in the future.

When the storms of life hit, we are often tempted to run for cover. When they continue indefinitely, we struggle to find encouragement. When the rain and the wind gather strength until they turn into what seems to be a hurricane, we find ourselves saying, “I can’t do this any longer,” the truth is this: we can’t, but God can.

He is the only One who can help us victoriously fight through the battles of life. Nothing can provide the type of strength that He provides, especially when we feel overwhelmed and discouraged. He stands beside us, and He never retreats.

Daniel never worried about being cast into the lion’s den. He knew that the Lord would provide the help and protection he needed to make it through the night. Some of the people who read these words are fighting a battle with a life-threatening disease. It is an unseen enemy from a human standpoint but not from God’s. He knows exactly what we are facing and how it is affecting our lives.

There is an incredible sense of peace that comes from learning how to rest in the Lord and allow Him to take care of your troubles. This does not mean that you abandon the fight and just give up trying. It means that you shift the focus of your effort from yourself to God. This is where the true victory is gained.

The apostle Paul faced many life-threatening situations. At one point, he debated whether it was better to ask God to allow him to go home to heaven where he would have unending peace and glory in the presence of Christ or to continue living the earthly life God had given him. Paul chose the latter. As much as he longed to see the Lord in heaven, he loved having the opportunity here to tell others about God’s unending, unconditional love and forgiveness.

The challenges you face today is directly related to the joy you will experience in the future.

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Faith A demonstration of God’s Word

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The Redeemed Christian Church of GOD.
HOLY GHOST CONGRESS!
Theme: A NEW THING.
Date: 12-17 Dec, 2011.
Venue: Redemption camp, KM 46, Lagos Ibadan expressway, Nigeria.
You are invited!

Faith. A demonstration of God’s Word

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)

The Scripture above is the best definition of faith you can get. God had to define it for us because He knew we weren’t going to get a better definition in the world. A substance is a real physical matter that you can touch or relate with. If faith is the substance of your hope, it means faith is a real thing; it’s the tangible expression of your hope.

The Bible tells us of Father Abraham, who “being not weak in faith, considered not his body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Romans 4:19-20). Abraham tangibly expressed his hope by giving praise to god; he didn’t allow his physical condition to discourage him. If there’s no substance or tangible expression to your hope, then there is no faith.

Faith is the evidence – the title deed of things not seen. A title deed is a legal document proving your right to a property; it maybe a piece of land or a house. This document authenticates your claim to the property. The same way, the Word of God is enough proof that you have what God has given to you. It doesn’t matter if others don’t believe you because they can’t see it, you already have the evidence and that’s what matters! Amen!

Confession

My faith is strong and operative. I refuse to cower in fear or timidity when faced with challenges or adverse situations, but I rise to the occasion, knowing that I am what God says I am and I have what He says I have and can do what He says I can do, in Jesus Christ Name! Amen!

www.christembassy.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

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The Prayer Faith

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THE PRAYER
OF FAITH

And Jesus answering said unto them,
Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto
this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not
doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he said shall
come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he said (Mark 11:22-23)

The prayer
of faith is one of the different kinds of prayer and it has it peculiar rules
and requirements. This prayer involves making a request to God and speaking to
circumstances without having any doubt in your heart. When Jesus said here,
“Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22), some marginal references show us that it
actually reads “Have the faith of God”. In other words, Jesus said, “Have the
God-kind of faith; the supernatural faith that God applies.”

The word
“believe” in the opening scripture is a verb formed from two Anglo-Saxon words.
The first part means, “to accept that something is or exists”, and the second
part means, “to act like it is.” Bringing them together gives the meaning “to
accept that something is or exists and to act like it”, thus making the word
“believe” an action word that bring about possession. The “believer” therefore
is “a possessor”, not one living only in the realm of hope.

Mark 11:23
says “Whosoever shall say unto this mountain…….” This means anything is
possible by your declaration of faith. As you issue commands in faith without
doubting, you can have whatsoever you say, praise God! The prayer of faith is
prayed about things that concern you or are under your authority.

In the prayer
of faith, there must be a specific desire, a faith utterance, a definite belief
in your heart that gives no place for doubt, and the assurance that what you
say must surely come to pass. Pray this prayer often and watch your life take
an upward and irreversible turn.

CONFESSION

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for
Your Word and its ability to produce for me what it talks about. Today, I speak
forth Your Word with faith in my spirit. As I speak and believe that those
things I say will come to pass, I will have whatsoever I say, in Jesus Christ
Mighty Name I pray! Amen!

 

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

May Our God The
Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus
Christ Name, Amen!

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Exercise Your Freedom Of Thought, Conscience And Faith

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EXERCISE YOUR FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE AND FAITH!

And he began to speak
boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took
him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly (Acts
18:26).

As a believer in Christ Jesus you have a right to boldly
declare your faith at every given opportunity without reservations. You must
never be shy or intimidated to publicly proclaim the Name of Jesus Christ.

On October 1st for example, the country’s
Independence Day anniversary was celebrated in various public places across the
country. At the different venues, they probably had religious men come forward
to pray for the country. But when a Christian minister is invited to pray at
such events, it’s an opportunity for him to testify of Christ to his state and
indeed the whole nation by praying in the Name of Jesus Christ. There had been
some however who had such an opportunity but wouldn’t pray in the Name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, so as not to offend “other” religions. How sad!

God gave you His Spirit to live in you and embolden you, so
you’ll never be timid or intimidated to proclaim Jesus Christ openly. Acts 1:8
says “But ye shall receive power, after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of
the earth.”  That’s how Jesus’
disciples, who were once timid, became firebrand ministers of the Gospel; they
received the Holy Spirit.

If you’re asked to pray or speak anywhere as a Christian,
don’t be ashamed to speak in His Name. Remember the Words of Jesus: “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me
and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall The
Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the Holy
Angels” (Mark 8:38).

We are blessed to be in a country where even the
constitution entitles us to the freedom of thought, conscience and faith,
including the freedom to manifest and propagate our faith or belief in worship,
teaching, practice and observance. We therefore have no excuse not to preach
the Gospel with all fervency like we should. Start exercising your God-given
freedom to preach the Gospel today!

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father,
thank You for the freedom I enjoy, not only as a citizen of your glorious
Kingdom, but also of this great nation of Yours Nigeria. I exercise my freedom
of thought, conscience, and faith today without reservations, knowing that
whosoever the Son has made free is free indeed, in Jesus Christ Name! Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper
Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name,
Amen!

 

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Through Faith, We Understand That The Worlds Were Framed By The Word Of God

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THROUGH FAITH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORLDS WERE FRAMED BY
THE WORD OF GOD

And he said unto them,
cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast
therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fish
(John 21:6)

On a certain occasion, after His resurrection, Our Lord
Jesus appeared to His disciples as they were rounding off an unsuccessful
fishing expedition. The disciples had toiled all night at sea and caught
nothing. When Jesus appeared to them in the morning, He asked if they caught
anything, and they reply was negative. Jesus then said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship
and you shall find” (John 21:6). The Bible says, “…they threw the net out and could not pull it back in, because they had
caught so many fish” (John 21:6 TEV).

Now, the big question is: “Where did all the fish suddenly
come from?” The disciples were professional fishermen, and knew all the
intricacies of fishing, yet they couldn’t catch any fish, until the Master gave
the Word. The fish came from the Word of The Master! The Bible says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped
for. The evidence of things not seen…….through faith, we understand that the
worlds were framed by the Word of God”(Hebrews 11:1-3). The fishes were
framed by the Word of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

In Genesis 1:20 the Bible says God spoke and commanded the
ocean to swarm with fish and all sea life, and the water brought forth fishes. Now,
Jesus, the Living Word of God, speaks again and His Words go out to frame the
fishes. Here, we learn that we can speak the creative word of faith to negative
circumstances and effect a change. Our words, like the words of the Master,
have creative ability, because as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).
No wonder the Bible says you shall have whatsoever you say (Mark 11:23).

This is one of the secrets to a worry-free life; knowing
that your words can create the realities you want to see in your life. All you
need do is think and talk the Word. Keep talking and calling real what God has
said concerning you, even in the face of unfavourable circumstances. That way,
you’ll effect changes in your job, finances, family, business, academics,
health or character; changes that are consistent with the will of God for you.

CONFESSION

The creative Word of
God is in my heart and in my mouth today, prevailing in my life and effecting
changes in the circumstances around me to conform with God’s Will for my life. I’m
a success and a victor forever, because The Word of God is my life, and it has
delivered to me an everlasting inheritance in Christ Jesus! Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper
Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name,
Amen!

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Let Us Run With Patience The Race That Is Set Before Us, Looking Unto Jesus The Author And Finisher Of Our Faith

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LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US,
LOOKING UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH

Wherefore seeing we
also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witness, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and
finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)

In life, you must never compare yourself with others;
rather, run your race and be the best of you. The Bible talks about “the race”
that is set before us; thus you’re not called to run someone else’s race.
Hence, it’s needless to engage in any kind of unhealthy rivalry or competition
with others. You’re only permitted to compete with yourself and outdo your
past. Never allow yourself to be discouraged when it seems as though those
around you are making more progress than you are; you’re not running the same
race.

That someone else is succeeding doesn’t mean you’re failing:
it all depends on individual aims, targets, and objectives. Success is
relative, and is measured at different stages. Take for instance, two men who
are building their houses. While one lays a not-too-deep foundation and starts
erecting a bungalow, the other one takes his time to dig deep because he wants
to erect a five – storey building. The former may finish his building and even
start living in it while the latter is yet digging his foundation.

Now, the first man may even jeer at his colleague and
mockingly ask him, “Hey! Are you still digging? I’ve finished building my own
house!” but what he doesn’t realized is that they aren’t aiming for the same
thing. The fellow who spent a long time digging knew that his foundation had to
be deep enough to support the tall building he intends to put up, for the
higher you want to build, the deeper your foundation ought to be.

At the end, when both houses are built, the difference will
be clear between the two buildings. So in life, focus on your race! Compete
only with yourself based on God’s plan for your own life. When you have this
consciousness, your life will be full of rest, and you’ll learn to measure your
success through the Word.

PRAYER

Dear, Lord, thank You
for showing me how to run with patience the race that you’ve set before me. My
gaze is on You Lord Jesus and my energies are focused on fulfilling Your plans
and purposes for my life; I refuse to compare myself with anyone else, but
measure my success in life with Your Word. Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

O Lord save Your Nations
Nigeria and Israel from all their enemies to Your glory alone in Christ Jesus,
Amen!

 

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