What To Do Now When You Do Not Know Why

What to do when you prayed and the loved one passed away. I dedicate this teaching to those who has had a loved one pass away from cancer or Covid 19. In particular this message came the day after a 10 year girl who loved the Lord, her family, her church and went to heaven. She had a brain tumor. It was a twelve month battle. The Lord spoke to my heart when I woke up that Sunday morning on January 10, 2021 – He spoke this word to my heart. “What To Do Now When You Do Not Know Why”. There are several things that the family, my family, and our church family began to do to help us and I trust it may help you or someone that you may know. I said I refuse to let this shipwreck my faith in God. God is not the author of sickness and disease. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. John 10:10. Because we know God’s will for healing is found in III John 2. I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.

In times when loves ones pass away it is so important to stay connected to God and His Word and to each other by praying for and with each other. I encourage you to have a moment to be silent. Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalms 46:10 I know in the quiet moments I experience God’s love, His presence, and His comfort. I choose to find a song that will Glorify God and lift up my heart. The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God and I will exalt Him. Exodus 15:2 The psalmist stated The Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me. Psalms 42:8. “What to doWhat to do when you do not know why” I have decided that I’m going to continue to say “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. Hebrews 13:6 The Lord will help me one day at a time. One moment at a time. He has grace for you in each passing day. I will see His goodness in the land of living. Psalms 27:13. I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence come my help? My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The God who is my helper and comforts me. It is my prayer that you will allow Him to comfort you.

Christ Is The Reason For The Season

This year has been a year like no other. The one thing that is constant is God. The Word of God states in Malachi that God changes not. The Hebrew writer stated that God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Our trust, hope, and security is in God and His Word. May our heart and hope be anchored in God. So I encouraged you in this season let us remember that Christ is the reason for the season. I trust this Word will speak to your heart and blessed you in the midst of it all- Jesus is Lord.

Christ is Truly The Reason For This Christmas Season

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

C– Call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13

H– Help. God sent His only Son because we needed divine help to overcome sin, shame, guilt, condemnation, sickness, pain, sorrow, grief that was brought by Adam and Eve through disobedience in the Garden of Eden.

Psalms 121:1-2  I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

R– Reach out to mankind. Christianity is about God reaching out to humanity. We need to recall to mind what God has done and presently doing for us everyday.

Lamentations 3:21-24 This I recall to mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your Faithfulness. ” The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, ” Therefore I hope in Him!”

I-Inside. Jesus reduced Himself to a single seed inside of Mary which is called the virgin birth.

Luke 1:30-32 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

1 Peter 1:2 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

S-Set (fixed). Our affection should be fixed on the things of God.

Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

T-Thankful.

I Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

M – Mighty.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

A – Amazed.                                                                                   

Luke 9:43 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples.

S-Savior.     

Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

John 4:42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

Faith To Rest In God’s Promise

Hebrews 4:1-5, 8-12

Therefore, sense a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear that any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed faith in those who heard it. For we who have believe do enter the rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath They shall not enter my rest, “ although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place:” They shall not enter My rest.”

For if Joshua had given them rest, then he would not after it has spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also cease from his works as God from his. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edge sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, And the joints and marrow, and as is discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

God has already made provision for us. The word fear in verse 1 is not referring to be fearful but rather be cautious.

The Word of God is design to profit us as we comply with the directives. Those who believe are those who apply the Word. Therefore, We enters into the rest. Unbelief is not having confidence or any commitment in doing the Word that you have heard. The rest in the the finished work of God. God did not rest because he was tired He rested because he was finished and completed his work.

Faith is not trying to get God to move or do something. God has already done everything we need for our life and well-being. Our attitude and faith in the present must be different now because we believe it’s already done. Faith does not move God. Faith is not what we do to get God to move. God has moved independent of you, prior to you even existing, prior to you even having any needs. Faith reaches out an appropriate what God has already promised and given us in His Word. Because we believe It’s already done we receive instructions to obtain what He has already said in his Written Word. We don’t read our bible to get God to move. We read our bible to renew our mind to what He has finished. Our faith is in our response to God – not God responding to us. Christianity is not what I do for God is what God has done for you and I. We are responding to what God has already done through his son Jesus Christ.

We work to enter that rest in trusting and relying on God’s Word that it is already done. That does not mean we sit and do nothing- it takes effort to renew our mind to God’s Word and cast down every negative image, thoughts of fear, doubt,and unbelief. For example some people see healing as I am going to be healed rather than what the Word has stated about healing.Isaiah 53 verse five..He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. Also in I Peter 2:24 the scripture states Who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we having died to sins might live for righteousness by his stripes you were healed.

For example some people see healing as say “ I am going to be healed” instead of saying what the scripture says “ I am healed”. Your fight is not trying to get healed but to keep and defend the healing that Jesus has already given you. Enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Christ came that you might have life and have it more abundantly.

I want to encourage you whatever battle or faith challenge you are presently facing – by God’s grace fight the good fight of faith, He made you are a Conqueror and you are a winner in Christ Jesus. I stand with you in your fight of faith. Christ has already won the victory for you.

Faith in God’s Protection

Psalms 91:1-16 (NKJV)

He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.”

Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings shall you trust; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

You should not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noon day. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. only with your eyes show you look, and see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You should tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has no My name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.”

What Is Your Response

My response determines how things return will turn out. When face with life situations that are not favorable let your response be according to I Thessalonians 5:18. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. You’re not thankful for the situation but in the mist of the situation I give thanks for this is the will of God.

I engage the the power of thanksgiving towards the fulfillment of my desired result. The Hebrew writer stated For you have need a patient, that after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. Hebrews 10:23

I am encouraged in the Word of God to have faith in God. Mark 11:22. God and his Word is inseparable. John 1:1 So when I have faith in God I have faith in his Word. God’s Word is quick and powerful. Hebrews 4:12

My faith in God’s Word will lie dormant or inactive when I respond or give a natural response in dealing with the challenges of life.

Faith in God’s word is my positive response to what God has already done. What God has already done for you and I was given all things that pertain to life and godliness. II Peter 1:3

Faith in God’s word It’s not something I do to get God to respond. Faith in God and his word is my response to what God has already done and promised in his Word. Faith does not necessarily move God, but moves us in position to receive what God has already provided by grace.

Our faith appropriates what God has already provided. By whom we have access by faith into this grace we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Choose a faith response because all things will work out for our good because we love God. Ronans 8:28

Faith is….

Faith Is acting on what I believe. I need an appropriate action to what I believe. To corresponding made to be in one accord; to be consistent; to agree. My actions should be particular actions that are in agreement with the word of God.

Hebrews 11:1

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

Faith is the bridge that enable us access and bring the blessing from the unseen realm into the seen realm.

Faith is a living force drawn from the living Word, to produce living proofs.

Faith is the force that comes out of your heart and not your head. Romans 10:10

It’s Always To Soon To Quit

I grew up knowing the scriptures. However the scriptures became so impactful in my years of being in college. I remember this promise as I was taking some challenging courses that I needed to pass to obtain my college degree. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I remember the emotional battle and wanting to quit and throw in the towel.

I thank God the scripture and the prayers of my loved ones helped me overcome. Are you facing or in a heat of a battle right now emotionally, financially, relationally? Do you feel like caving in, quitting, throwing in the towel and giving up. I want you to remember and let Philippians 4:13 come alive in your heart today because He that begun a good work in you shall complete it unto the day of Christ Jesus. It’s always to soon to quit!!!

Success is For You

Everything does not come easy for everyone that has experienced success in their life. Some of the qualities that it takes to be successful are determination, diligence, discipline, hard work, focus, and commitment to name a few. Have the kind of commitment that when tough challenges come you don’t quit. The good news is you have what it takes to be successful. Make up your mind today that quitting is not one of your options. Where you lost your mental resolve in your battle it’s not over for you. You may have lost the round as it were in boxing. Yesterday ended last night. Today is a new day. Get back in the ring. This time you are going to finish the fight.

Fight the good fight of faith. You have a mentality of a finisher and not of a quitter. You can take it and you can make it. I know you can because you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Philippians 4:13

Romans 10:9-10

Travailing Prayer

Travailing prayer is not an emotional led prayer. Travailing prayer is a spirit led prayer. Most of the time it is a birthing prayer. It births something you’ve been carrying in your heart that God wants to deliver.

It’s a level of intensity marked by the Holy Spirit to bring to pass through prayer a promise, healing for someone’s body, deliverance from bondage or saving of a person’s soul. Travailing and intercessory prayer together produce the results of the Holy Spirit. We may be sense a great desire to pray for a person, ministry, city, or nation. As we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit he can pray through us to cause that need to be met. This intercession can be experienced for a few minutes, several hours, several weeks, or months, etc.

Hebrew word (yalad) which means to give birth to something, time of delivery, or intense labor.                                                                                                                                                                     Isaiah 66:7-8                                                                                                                                 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

⁸ Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

⁹ Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God

Hebrew Word (telah) It involves an intense labor to bring something.

Genesis 35:16.                                                                                                                                     And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

I Thessalonians 2:9

Galatians 4:19

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Passion Week?

Passion week also known as Holy Week is the week from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday. Passion week is named because of the passion where Jesus Christ voluntarily went to the cross to pay for the sins of all mankind. Jesus Christ truly demonstrated His passion for us and the suffering he willingly went through on our behalf.

Passion week begins with the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday where Jesus rode on the back of the colt as prophesied Zechariah 9:9. The four gospels share the biblical account of the memorable events of Passion Week. We should be passionate about our worship to Christ and about sharing God’s love to others.

Passion Week Readings

Matthew chapters 21-27

Mark chapters 11-15

Luke chapters 19-23

John chapters 12-19