Tag: christianity

Some believe the Christians of this generation were not meant to acquire the workings that were given to the apostles. “Those feats were supplied only for the apostles, to gather a new church” they say. But I believe what Jesus tells us. Maybe He was speaking to the apostles at that time, but then followed with more general notes of encouragement. “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he shall do also” (John 14:12). “Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). “These signs will follow those who believe…”(Mark 16:17). And in Daniel we read more encouragement: “God has promised: Those who know their God shall be strong [in faith] and carry out great deeds” (Daniel 11:32).

Andrew Murray put it this way: Scripture teaches us that in all God’s leadings of His people faith has everywhere been the one condition for the manifestation of His power. [“Let it be done unto you according to your faith” (Matthew 9:29).] Faith is the ceasing from all nature’s efforts and all other dependence; faith is confessed helplessness casting itself upon God’s promise and claiming its fulfillment; faith is the putting of ourselves quietly into God’s hands for Him to do His work. [“The battle is not ours, but the Lord’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15)].

Now faith has to be in God’s all-encompassing power, His all-encompassing love, His all-encompassing wisdom and kindness. If you have faith in your faith to believe — so what, we can be sure that even demons have that. But faith in the God you serve — THAT faith can moves mountains. With Jesus beside me, the Holy Spirit dwelling in me. and God the Father directing me — I can do anything He needs done. This is my faith, and I will not be moved!

So each one of us, “however fitful your spiritual life has hitherto been, however unfavorable your natural character or your circumstances may appear” (Andrew Murray), we are called to be Christians. And being Christian means following Christ — walking in His direction, following God’s path, relying on the Spirit of God to empower and correct and teach. Every moment of every day (as long as it is called NOW) has a touch of eternity in it. I, for one, am plugging myself into that eternal strength and wisdom and love.

Let each be fully convinced in his own mind (Romans 14:5). 

Jesus said to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper, and cast out demons — to give as freely as I have received (Matthew 10:8). I must follow my Lord Jesus’ commands.

Jesus said; “He who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also, and even greater works than these shall he do because I go to the Father.” (John 14:12)

Jesus told us: “I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for anything in My name and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)

Jesus gave me power and authority to drive out demons, and to cure diseases; and He has sent me out to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2).

Christ Jesus has given me authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm me. And I rejoice — not that the spirits must submit to me in Jesus’ name, but that my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Luke 10:19-20)

My speech and my preaching is not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstrations of the Spirit and of power, that other’s faith should not be in the wisdom of man but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). The kingdom of God is not in words but in power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

You are the God who performs miracles. You display Your power among the peoples (Psalm 77:14). I will remember Your deeds, O Lord my God. Yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all Your works and consider Your mighty deeds (Psalm 77:11-12). Is anything too hard for our Lord God? (Genesis 18:14)

The Lord our God said: “Is there any limit to My power? Now You will see whether or not My word comes true!” (Numbers 11:23) You are the Lord, the God of all mankind. Nothing is too hard for You (Jeremiah 32:27).

Jesus Himself said: “What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). “All is possible to Him who believes” (Mark 9:23). “For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Therefore to the God-loving, God-trusting heart, all things are possible!

Don’t be afraid — only believe (Luke 8:50). Jesus Himself said: “Don’t be afraid! Just trust in Me!” (Mark 5:36)

The Lord is with me. I will not be afraid. (Numbers 14:9) I do believe this — that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world — and I will see the glory of God ! (John 11:40)

Jesus told me all these things through His Word so that in Him I may have peace in this world. I will probably see trouble, but I take heart for He has overcome the world (John 16:33) and I through Him.

Lord, According to Your Word, love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy [or grow jealous]. It does not boast [or make itself important]. It is not proud [or display haughtiness]. It is not rude [unmannerly or act unbecoming of Your ways, Lord]. It is not self-seeking [or insistent on its own way]. It is not easily angered [not touchy or fretful]. It keeps no record of wrongs [or pays attention to any suffered wrong]. Love does not delight in anything evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects [the rights of others]. It always trusts [and is ready to believe the best of others]. It always hopes and bears up under all things. It always perseveres and endures all things without weakening. God, Your love never fails [in giving others peace]. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Father, I acknowledge to You that I don’t begin to possess this kind of love on my own. The only way I can experience and express love like this is to surrender my heart to You, and ask You to empty it of all its fleshly contents and make it a vessel of Your love. Use my heart to love the unloving and those who have hurt me, dearest Lord God. I am desperate for You to work a miracle in and through my heart.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). The love of God has been poured out into my heart by the Holy Spirit who has been given to me (Romans 5:5). Above all things I strive to put on love — Jesus’ kind of love — which is the bond of perfection (Colossians 3:14).

The goal of our instruction is love — which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5). The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love — we serve one another in love (Galatians 5:6, 13). Love does no harm to its neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of God’s law for all men (Romans 13:10).

My every action must be done with love (1 Corinthians 16:14). This I pray: That my love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment (Philippians 1:9).

Lord Jesus, You commended the woman, “Her many sins have been forgiven, for she loved much” (Luke 7:47). Gracious Lord, help me to love much!

I put on the full armor of God so I can take my stand against all strategies and tricks of the devil. [I participate – for it is really Jesus who does the work.] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:11-12). Father, I acknowledge that the devil is always at work in the darkness. I must not be naïve and deny how much he desires to take control of this season of my life. Therefore remind me, please, to put on the full armor, so when the day of evil comes, I will be able to stand my ground. Please don’t let me forget I have a very real enemy who wants me in bondage. Help me to discern his schemes and take my stand against him in the power of Your Holy Spirit.

I stand my ground therefore, having tightened the sturdy belt of truth around my waist, having put on the breastplate of righteousness; and having shod my feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, I take up the shield of faith [my strong faith] and I quench every fiery dart the wicked one brings against me. I put on the helmet of salvation, and take up the sword of the Spirit — the Word of God — that I may fight the good fight (Ephesians 6:13-17).

I continue to build my life on the foundation of my holy faith, and continue to pray as I am directed by the Holy Spirit. I live in such a way that God’s love can bless me as I wait for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus, in His mercy, is giving me. All glory to God, who is able to keep me from stumbling and who will bring me into His glorious presence, innocent of sin and with joy (Jude 1:20-21, 24).

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence… When I am still, I know You are God (Proverbs 14:26). You are my loving God, and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer; my shield in whom I take refuge, who suppresses [evil] people under me (Psalm 144:2).

Dearest Lord, work for us; for nothing restrains You from saving by many or by few (1 Samuel 14:6). All those assembled will know that the Lord God doesn’t save by sword or spear, for the battle is the Lord’s (1 Samuel 17:47).

Father God, how I pray that You may count me worthy of Your calling, and that by Your power You may fulfill every good purpose of mine and every act prompted by my faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11). A man can receive nothing unless it is given to him from heaven (John 3:27).

Whatever I do in word or deed, I do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17). God has promised: Those who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits (Daniel 11:32).

Lord, what would You have me do? (Acts 9:6)

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor [for whenever I give dignity to the downtrodden, I spread the good news of the gospel]; He has sent me to comfort the broken hearted [for whenever I give of myself to those who feel need, I give comfort], and to announce captives will be released and prisoners will be freed [for whenever I help someone to avoid sin, I help release that soul from bondage] (Isaiah 61:1). Jesus, You are in heaven now, seated in the heavenly realm. I understand that I am Your eyes and ears, Your feet, Your hands — that to get Your work done, it is up to us — the Body of the Church — to do it. And so I pray, Please empower us and embolden us.

I fight the good fight for what I believe. I hold tight to the eternal life God has given me, which I have confessed (1 Timothy 6:12). I throw off everything that hinders and [especially] the sin that so easily entangles, and I run with perseverance the race Christ Jesus marked out for me, looking away from distractions to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

I keep myself in the kingdom of light, in love, in the Word; and [in so doing] the wicked one cannot harm me (1 John 5:18). I submit myself to God; I resist the devil in Jesus’ power, and the devil must flee from me. I draw near to God, my Father, and God draws near to me (James 4:7-8). God said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” So I say with confidence: The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Hebrews 13:5-6)

I set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved (Psalm 16:8). Because of Christ Jesus and my faith in Him, I am able to approach God with boldness, freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12). I have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus, my Commander (Hebrews 10:19). Let us approach the Throne of Grace with confidence so we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our times of need (Hebrews 4:16), for grace teaches us how to live in freedom.

May God Himself, the God of Peace, sanctify me through and through. May my whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord, Christ Jesus; the One who called me is faithful and He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

The Word of God tells us war is raging in the heavenly realms over our lives (Ephesians 6), and often we don’t realize the contest that may be waging over us at any given moment. At first we are of little threat to the evil one because we do not know truth. Once the Word springs to life in our souls, however, we go from ‘being of interest’ to ‘being of concern’ to the devil. ‘Success’ describes how we handle relatively manageable challenges that any unbeliever could manage just as well. ‘Victorious’ describes how we live as overcomers in the midst of satanic opposition! You know what the devil can do. Are you ready to stand and learn to fight?

In the name of the Lord Jesus, my Savior, I put on the whole armor of God that I may be able to stand against the tactics of the devil. For I wrestle not against [mere] flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. I take unto myself the full armor of God that I may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all I can, to remain standing (Ephesians 6:11-13).

I stand, therefore, with God’s truth like a belt around my waist (Ephesians 6:14). Your Word, O my God, is truth (John 17:17), and contains all the weapons of my warfare, which are not carnal but are powerful through God to the pulling down of all strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).

I have on the breastplate of righteousness, which is faith and love [to protect my heart]. My feet are ‘sandaled with readiness’ for [spreading] the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:14-15). In Christ Jesus I have peace (Ephesians 2:14), and pursue peace with all men (Psalm 34:14). I am a minister of reconciliation proclaiming the good news of the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:18).

I take the shield of faith, wherewith I am able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. I take the helmet of salvation [holding the thoughts and purposes of God’s heart in my heart], and I wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:16-17). In the face of all trials, tests, temptations and tribulations, I cut to pieces the snare of the enemy by speaking the Word of God. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Thank You, Father God, for providing the armor. I will pray at all times [on every occasion, in every season] with all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and I will stay alert and watchful in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18). My power and ability and sufficiency are from You, God Himself, who has qualified me as a minister and a dispenser of Your new covenant of salvation through Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).

Because God is with me, I will be strong and very courageous. I will be careful to obey all the law God gave me, and I will not turn from it to the right or to the left, that I may be successful wherever I go… He has commanded me: Be strong and courageous. I will not be terrified, nor will I be discouraged, for the Lord my God will be with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:7, 9). He has promised.

The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect me from the evil one… And I will never tire of doing what is right (2 Thessalonians 3:3, 13). When I hope in You, O Lord my God, my strength is renewed. I will soar on wings like eagles. I will run and not grow weary. I will walk and not grow faint (Isaiah 40:31). My God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29). You, O God, refresh the weary and satisfy the faint in heart (Jeremiah 31:25).

I truly thank You, O Lord Jesus, my gracious Lord who has given me strength; that You considered me faithful, appointing me to Your service (1 Timothy 1:12). I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). O my Strength, I will sing praises to You for You are my stronghold, my defense, the God who shows me loving-kindness (Psalm 59:17).

I love You, O Lord, my strength! You are my [unmoving] Rock, my [surrounding] fortress, and my [ever-present] deliverer. You, my God, are my rock in whom I take refuge [from all my weariness]. You are my shield [from all unpleasantness] and the horn of my salvation [from all my difficulties], my [glorious] stronghold. I call to You, O Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies (Psalm 18:1-3).

I do not grieve [pout or feel depressed], for the joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation [in all things]; He is my God and I will praise Him; my Father-God and I will exalt Him. (Exodus 15:2).