"Why Are You Afraid? Do You Still Have No Faith?"

Matthew, Mark, and Luke give an account of a day when Jesus and His disciples got in a boat to cross over the Sea of Galilee when suddenly a great storm broke out. The waves and winds were tossing the boat to and fro. Water was getting into the boat and they were in real danger. Mean while Jesus was resting taking a nap. Luke says that the disciples woke Him up shouting, “Teacher, don’t You care that we’re going to drown?” (Luke 4:38)

When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then He asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. ‘Even the wind and waves obey Him!” (Luke 4:39-41)

Is this you? Is your life in the middle of a storm? Are the cares of this life tossing you around and making you feel unstable in your faith? Are the winds causing you to panic and forget that Jesus is in the boat and everything is going to be ok? He does care! When you go through deep waters, He will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. ” (Isaiah 43:2)

Jesus asked them “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” These guys spent intimate time with Jesus. He spoon feed them the Word of God. He personally taught them about kingdom matters. They saw Him do many miracles, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. What would it take for them to reject fear and put all of their faith in Christ Jesus? What will it take for us to be sure without a doubt that He will never leave us or forsake us?

Jesus is our Savior. He died a brutal death for us so that we could have peace not like the world gives, but that peace which surpasses all understanding as we trust in Him to see us through every situation. Remember the words in Isaiah 53:5,

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

He suffered so that we could have freedom in Him. We don’t have to be fretful Christians. We are supposed to be sure without a doubt that our Lord is faithful. We are to be at peace knowing that our Lord is on our side no matter what. We are supposed to be at peace knowing that no weapon formed against us will prosper and that we can overcome all things through Christ who strengthens us and empowers us by the power of His Holy Spirit.

To the reader who has been fighting against the lies of the enemy. To the reader who has been fighting anxiety and fear about you calling or the changes that are to come in your life. To the reader who has allowed the storm to wear them down and has almost lost hope I say, “Be still and know that He is God.” In the name of Jesus I rebuked the wind and the waves in your life and I say, ‘Silence! Be still!”

Our Lord is saying to you right now, “Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]” John 14:27

Be encouraged…

Sincerely,

Trophy of Grace

I Believe Lord Help My Unbelief

Crosspost from WeUsed2bu

God knew what He was doing when He directed the writing schedule for WeUsed2bu and faith was the subject that was decided on for June. I have had a faith testing and stretching month. I am delighted that it was determined that I would write, “I believe, Lord help my unbelief.” This is an on-time word for me for sure. I pray that whoever needs to read this does, and may it minister to whomever God wills it to.

There is a story in the bible about a father who brings his son to Jesus to be healed. His son had been tormented by a demon since he was a small boy. The father heard about Jesus’ healing power, and decided to take his son to what I imagine he must have considered their last hope.

So they brought the boy to Jesus. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.

“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.

He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:20-24)

Have you ever been to that point? I have! To the point where you have been suffering so long that you cry out to the Lord, “Jesus, please have mercy on me and help me. I know that you can help me! I know that anything is possible if I believe, but I am tired. I want to believe. I DO BELIEVE, but help my unbelief!”

It is ok to be in that place, as long as you don’t stop believing. You would be worse off if you had given up trusting the Lord, and run away from the One who does the impossible. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to a mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” But without faith it is impossible to please God. Unbelief will hinder our ability to receive His miracle-working power in our lives. (Matthew 17:20-21, Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 13:38)

No matter how long we have to go through a season of trouble or testing, we need to trust that the Lord will work everything out for our good. Even if we suffer for doing what is right, God will reward us for it. So we don’t need to worry or lose hope. We need to instead worship Christ as Lord of our life, and leave our burdens with Him. We need to truly cast all of our cares on Him, and then we will have peace that surpasses all understanding protecting our minds and hearts even in the middle of our trials. Sorrow will not last forever. One day we will be healed and we will also see the fruit of our longsuffering, IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP and give in to unbelief! (Psalm 55:22, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 3:14-15, Galatians 6:9)

We need to be like the woman with the issue of blood. I love her story because she did not give up, even after 12 years of constant bleeding. The doctors gave her so many negative reports. I am sure that they told her that she would never be healed. She would be an outcast for the rest of her life because of her disease, and she was broke from spending all of her money on these physicians that could not heal her. Then she heard about the Great Physician, and her hope was renewed! She did not allow unbelief to hold her back. She allowed what faith she had left in her to turn into strength to help push her through the crowds of people, just so that she could touch Jesus’ cloak. She believed that He was so powerful that if she could just touch the hem of His garment that she would be healed. She was right! Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment. (Matthew 9:19-22)

Now is not the time to give up! We have to confess our unbelief to the Lord and ask Him to help us. He will! He will give us the faith we need to make it through whatever our circumstances are. We need to be diligently seeking Him and depending on Him for healing and deliverance, no matter how long it takes. He is faithful and true to His Word. This is what we have to hold on to. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. When we get to the point when we are tired and worn out, then we must cry out, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief!” Be encouraged!

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!” (Ps. 30:5)

Satan's Meeting

I don't normally do this but this was too good not to share. It's something to think about it..Here's a pass it along email that I received..Thanks brother Sean.

Satan's Meeting

Satan called a worldwide convention of
demons.

In his opening address he said,
"We can't keep Christians from going
to church."
"We can't keep them from reading their
Bibles and knowing the truth..."
"We can't even keep them from forming
an intimate relationship with their savior."

"Once they gain that connection with
Jesus, our power over them is broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let
them have their covered dish dinners,
BUT steal their time, so they don't
have time to develop a relationship
with Jesus Christ.."


"This is what I want you to do," said
the devil:
"Distract them from gaining hold of
their Savior and maintaining that
vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons
shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials
of life and invent innumerable
schemes to occupy their minds," he
answered...

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and
borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for
long hours and the husbands to work
6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day,
so they can afford their empty lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with
their children."

"As their families fragment, soon,
their homes will offer no escape from
the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that
they cannot hear that still, small voice."

"Entice them to play the radio or I-Pod
whenever they drive." To
keep the TV, DVDs, CDs and their PCs
going constantly in their home and see
to it that every store and restaurant
in the world plays non-biblical music
constantly."

"This will jam their minds and break
that union with Christ."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines
and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the news 24
hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with
billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail,
mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and
every kind of newsletter and promotional
offering free products, services, and false hopes."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the
magazines and TV so their husbands
will believe that outward beauty is
what's important, and they'll
become dissatisfied with their wives. "

"Keep the wives too tired to love their
husbands at night."
"Give them headaches too! "

"If they don't give their husbands the
love they need, they will begin to
look elsewhere."

"That will fragment their families
quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them
from teaching their children the
real meaning of Christmas."

"Give them an Easter bunny so they
won't talk about his resurrection
and power over sin and death.."

"Even in their recreation, let them be
excessive."
"Have them return from their recreation
exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature
and reflect on God's creation.
Send them to amusement parks, sporting
events, plays, concerts, and movies
instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual
fellowship, involve them in gossip and
small talk so that they leave with
troubled consciences."

"Crowd their lives with so many good
causes they have no time to seek
power from Jesus."

"Soon they will be working in their own
strength, sacrificing their health
and family for the good of the cause."


"It will work!"
"It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their
assignments causing Christians everywhere
to get busier and more rushed, going
here and there.

Having little time for their God or
their families.

Having no time to tell others about the
power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil
been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!!!!!

Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

Please pass this on, if you aren't too BUSY!

His Ways & Thoughts Are Higher Than Ours

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

I really don’t try to figure out any more why our heavenly Father allows certain things to happen in our lives or in those closest to us. I don’t need to know when circumstances will change or when will the unjust receive justice. I have learned to trust Him in every situation, especially the ones I don’t completely understand. I know that He is sovereign, omniscient, and omnipotent and that is all that matters to me.

He has shown me over and over again that no matter what happens in our lives He is always in control. He is never taken off guard by our problems or ‘situations’. We have to learn that even if something in our lives happen that seems unjust or unfair He can use it for our good. Sometimes we will have to walk through the situation and other times the Lord will provide a way of escape. Either why whatever He allows He has our best interest in mind.

If something tragic happens we must know with all of our hearts that He allowed it for reasons beyond our understanding. Let us not be angry or bitter towards God. We must remember that His plans for us are ALWAYS for good not for evil and to give us a future and a hope. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He will be our strength when we go through the storms of life. He never allows us to go through trouble, trials, sorrows, or any change without promising to be with us. (Jeremiah 29:11-13, Hebrews 13:5)


“When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:2-3

We have to remember that His ways of doing things, His way of bringing about change in us and around us, His way of helping us produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is sometimes beyond our understanding. His thoughts are nothing like our thoughts and His ways are far beyond anything we can imagine. So why do we even question Him? Can we really even grasp His reasoning and purpose?

We have to learn to be ok with trusting Him especially when we don’t understand what’s going on around us or why He allowed certain circumstances. His faithfulness, mercy, and compassion toward us is unending so we should not be afraid of change. Our Lord in all of His wisdom causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose. So why should we fear or fret? (Romans 8:28)

Let us remember that everything is only for a season. We will not have trouble or trials forever. So let us not get tired in doing good and trusting Him. We will reap a harvest of blessing if we do not give up prematurely. (Galatians 6:9)

Be blessed brothers and sisters and know with all of your hearts that our heavenly Father is by your side all the time.

Beware Of The Religious Spirit

Matthew 9:9-13 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Matthew 9:9-13)

Brother and sisters do you know that you are sinner? As long as we are living in these sin craving bodies and on this sin infested earth we will be sinners. That is why we need Jesus every day. You are probably saying I know this Lisa, this is nothing new to me. But do you really know this? We must realize that although we have changed certain things in our lives and left addictions, habits, attitudes, or whatever vices behind none of us is without sin. None of us have arrived at place of perfection or are sinless. If we think we are standing strong, we must be careful not to fall. This is a dangerous place to be. (1 Corinthians 10:12)

In Matthew 9 the ‘religious’ people stood by and saw Jesus doing a work in disreputable sinners’ lives. He was spending time with them because they knew they were sinners and they needed Him. They didn’t deny who they were. Who they were and what they did made them realize that they needed the Savior more. Jesus called Matthew a known tax collector to be one of the disciples. Tax collectors were known for being greedy and taking more money than they were supposed to. Yet Jesus told Matthew to get up and leave the booth to follow Him.

The religious people were so caught up with their own sacrifices and rituals that they were not showing mercy to those that needed it most. Jesus told them, “I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices”. That same religious spirit exists today and we must beware of it. That spirit will try to creep into our hearts and make us think that we are so righteous and saved. It will bring a spirit of pride with it. Then the knowledge that we have about the Word will just make us feel important and religious, but it will not strengthen the church. Love is what strengthens. (1 Corinthians 8:1-3)

This spirit will cause us to look at other people and say, “I can’t believe they do this or that” or “I would never do that” or “They got what they deserved”.

Brothers and sisters..I pray that we have not become so ‘saved’ that we have allowed a religious and righteous spirit to creep in to our hearts. This will only push people away from receiving the Truth and we are in danger of falling and becoming one those that we criticize.

“Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18

When we see the Lord doing a work in disreputable sinners we should rejoice and ask the Lord how we can serve these individuals. We should not be behind their backs discussing their waywardness. Instead we should ask how can we help them. How can we build them up? How can we show them the love of Christ? This is what we are called to do. We are not to be like the religious Pharisees who thought themselves so great because they knew the Word. Brothers and sisters if we don’t truly love others we will gain nothing. Walk in love..

Don't Despise This Season

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

I want to encourage someone reading this who is in the fire of many trials. Don’t despise this season. It will only be for a little while. There is wonderful joy ahead if you do not give up. Don’t be afraid. Our Lord is with you every step of the way. He has not left you alone, I promise. The fire is just a test. It is meant to refine you. When you come out of this you will not even smell of smoke. Just stay close to Him in the fire.

Recently I was reading the story again in Daniel about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were thrown into a blazing furnace because they refused to worship king Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue. Right before they were thrown into the fiery furnace the king had them bound up. I received a revelation that sometimes right before some of us go into the fire we are all bound up by something. Maybe it is hidden sin, unforgiveness, unsurrendered areas of our lives, bitterness, anger, hopelessness, or maybe slavery to debt. Whatever it is that has us bound wants us to bow down, surrender, and worship it. In some cases we have given in and these strongholds have become our little gods that we are serving, whether we realize it or not. (Daniel 3:16-23)

Now the king had them thrown into the blazing fire and to his surprise instead of hearing screaming and tormenting agony he looks in and sees FOUR men, UNBOUND, walking around in the fire unharmed and the fourth man looked like a god. (Daniel 3:24-25)

We may often times go into the fire bound but praise God it is the refining and purifying fire that burns off whatever has us bound up. While in the fire is when we learn to draw closest to the Lord for comfort and strength. Then we begin to see what really matters the most in our lives. Those hindrances that had us captive are not what we want to be bound to any more so off in the far they go.

The fire is meant to make us stronger and to build up our faith. Just the other night I was lying down to rest for the evening and I turned the station to TBN. There was man singing and he said, “If I didn’t have a problem I would not know that God could solve them”. No one likes to be in the fire, but we don’t have to despise these seasons. They are opportunities for us to see God’s faithfulness. In the fire we see our Lord’s protective power and His miraculous provisions. Going into the fire allows us and others to see God’s goodness.

Now back to the story of the three young men. The king was amazed! He shouted to the men in the fire, “Servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” Everyone there saw that the fire had not harmed them. Not a hair on their heads were singed, and their clothing were not even scorched. In fact they didn’t even smell of smoke! The king made a decree forbidding anyone to talk against their God and he confessed that there is no other god who can rescue like this. Then the king promoted them to even higher positions in the province of Babylon. (Daniel 3:26-30)

Not only does our faith get built up in the fire but our trials can become a testimony to others as well of God’s faithfulness. When they see how we allow the fire to refine and make us stronger they will rejoice and put their faith in God too. They will have hope when they are going through the fire also.

The last point I want to make is that sometimes we have to go through the fire before our Lord promotes us to higher positions. To whom much us given much is expected and we are given responsibility based on our abilities. Through the fire we learn endurance, patience, longsuffering, and all the other fruits of the Spirit. If we are going to be used by God we have to go through the refining and purifying fire, so don’t despise this season.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4

Be blessed brothers and sisters…