Doses of Faith

  Jesus sent out 35 pair to go into cities to heal the sick and proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand. They were sent out to prepare peoples’ hearts for what was to come after Jesus’ resurrection. They obeyed with no questions. They went without packing extra clothes. They went out in faith without stopping to “salute” anyone. And, they returned rejoicing.     “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through your name.”     Jesus replied, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”     Through faith, they healed the sick, proclaimed Jesus’ message, and returned rejoicing. Rejoicing because God was with them and rejoicing because all were subject to them though the name of Jesus. Jesus rejoiced with them. Also, Jesus tells them to not rejoice that “the spirits are subject to you,” but “because your names are written in hea...

     This morning as I looked over Luke 10, the scripture for the adult Sunday School Classes lesson, I wondered if the lesson will be taken in and used. How many classes will just teach and listen, then simply go about their daily business without a thought of the great message in Luke 10? How many will “seek” to obey? Seekers, are you listening?      Jesus had many followers seeking, listening, and watching, not just the twelve disciples. In Luke 10, Jesus chooses 70 followers to go out in 35 pairs to go to every city and place. He had 70 people who were faithful and had faith in him, the Son of God. Jesus starts out with 3 commands, pray, go, and carry. Pray for the Lord to send out laborers. Go, “I send you as lambs among the wolves.” Carry nothing with you except what you have on you. Jesus is not promising them an easy journey and is not finished with his instructions.      Jesus’ next command is important. ...

Luke 7:32 "We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not weep."      As tears ran down my face, I listened to our missionary's story, and I felt compassion and sick for the way Christians are being treated in other countries.  A child is placed in children's home after the government has parents murdered.  The parents were members of the opposing party.  Then, at age 16, she is sold into an arranged marriage where her husband beats her.  After he abandons her and her son, she manages to find work to support her child.  Later, she finds God and forgiveness.  She never knew her parents were murdered.  No, not until the man hired by the government came to her and told her.  He asked for forgiveness.  How dare he!!  Then, God lead her to the way for healing.  She followed Jesus, and she forgave the man.  Without forgiveness, hate, stress, and despair grows....

As the New Year starts, I find myself not into making resolutions.   I’m looking back at my mistakes and what separates me from God.     The year was a year of ups and downs.   Why?   The reason is that I became self-absorbed.   In each instant, I made a crisis over something that I could have taken care of with little effort, if only I had.   There were two and I let them drag on for months.   Satan knew my weakness and I fell into the trap.   So, there are no resolutions to break, just repentance on my knees.      As I repented, I saw how foolish I was.   Oh!   How I wish I could see what I was letting into my life.   It was self-pity.   I have no hard feelings, but I regret my feelings of being abandoned.   I’m healthy with a good mind, and I don’t need to be taken care of.   I’ve always been independent, energetic, and strong willed.   It was foolish to think of myself needing ...

      Most of us don’t plan to follow after temptation. Sometimes, we are conditioned by who we are associated with or by who we chose to follow. Other times, circumstances and bad things that happen to us can cause us to be self-centered or full of bitterness. Satan knows us and is waiting for the moment to deceive our minds and hearts, and he is waiting to have victory over us.    Satan was there with Jesus in the wilderness as Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights. Jesus was not alone. In Luke 4:1, it says that “Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” Jesus had a helper and comforter. Jesus promised to give us this same helper and comforter. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, he said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you.” (John 14:26) When ...

     While studying the lesson for today, my eyes were opened to more than the lesson was portraying.   The Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts when we open our hearts to the Holy Scriptures.    When my studies don’t have a lesson for me, I feel as I need to search my heart, mind, and soul to find the reason.   The devil always takes every circumstance to tempt us and turn us away from God.   He wants to clog our whole being with the things that will separate us from God.   So, we need to be watchful and stand firm in our faith (1 Cor. 16:13) as we “put on the whole armor of God, so that we will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Eph. 6:11)         In Luke 4, after Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, he is tempted of the devil.   Now, I pull out my American Standard and NIV to compare with the translations.   The NIV says, “For forty days he was tempted by the devil...