Shield of faith

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Ephesians 6:10-11 NKJV

We’ve all read the passages about the Whole Armor of God. We’ve heard it preached from time to time. Not to minimize any part of the whole I do want to focus on:

“above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

Ephesians 6:16 NKJV

God says “above all, taking the Shield of Faith” and then mentions the “fiery darts” or arrows. 

In battle fiery darts (arrows) were not used just to kill. As they were shot into enemy camps or villages they were used to set fire to whatever they stuck into. They were as much of a psychological weapon as a physical one. Fires would start and spread causing chaos, fear, and disorientation. They were used to stop the opposition from advancing and escaping. This might have been a medieval tool but it’s still being used today. 

The enemy is firing arrows into the world all around us. Into our families, homes, jobs, and lives. Through social media, television, music, the news, and the political talking heads everything in the world today seems upside down, backwards and distorted. 

We get distracted and disoriented focusing on this wide spread chaos and feel like we are pinned down with nowhere to go. Morality, truth, right and wrong, justice, fairness, family, and love have all been set ablaze. 

We are constantly being distracted from the truth and the reality of what is really going on.

It’s a kind of mental conditioning that lulls you into believing that things aren’t that bad. 

Some people call it “drinking the kool-aide”. The Bible says:

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!”

Isaiah 5:20-21 NKJV

We can get so distracted by all the fiery darts and arrows being shot into our lives and smoke and fire breaking out all around us that we lose sight of the reason for the distraction. The frontal assault, God warns us about this: 

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

I Peter 5:8 NKJV

But God says:

“Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

I Peter 5:9 NKJV

The Bible IS the Word of God. It’s timeless, it’s the Living Word, and it’s always relevant. God saw all of this unfolding from the beginning of time and wanted us to be prepared and well-armed.

“knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.””

II Peter 3:3-4 NKJV

As if ripped from today’s headlines God said:

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

II Timothy 3:1-7 NKJV

It’s everywhere you look just as God said it would be. This is your call to arms! This is where the battle lines are drawn. The enemy has been exposed and his plans discovered. 

Today reset your focus on God. He is your King, Commander, Father, Healer, Source, Strength, Shelter and Provider. He will lead us out. 

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””

John 16:33 NKJV

“that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

I Corinthians 2:5 NKJV

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

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

“So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20 NKJV

Today I pray that you take up the Shield of Faith. The Faith that can move mountains. The Faith that can snuff out the fiery darts and bring your focus back to your Source, Jesus and the Word of God. He will lead you out. He will touch you and heal you. He will give you peace in the chaos. He will give you hope in the storm. I pray God through the Holy Spirit would increase your faith and your shield would grow. That you would turn off the noise and remember the things of God. Focus on the Truth and what is right:

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.””

John 8:32 NKJV

Christians it’s time! 

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Ephesians 6:13 NKJV

Strap up your shield you mighty men and women of God the battle is at hand! 

In Jesus Name -Amen

May the Lord Bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

In Jesus Name - Amen

-        Pastor Doug

Arise, Shine!

“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”

Isaiah 60:1 NKJV

The Bible tells us to meditate on God's word day and night:

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Joshua 1:8 NKJV

But, it's not enough to know the Word, we must be doers of the Word. If Christ lives in us and we abide in Him then it would only be natural that it would show outwardly. Like hair color or eye color or facial features that we get from our Mom or Dad. Sometimes people will say that a person walks or talks like someone they are directly related to. It's family traits that carry on through generations. 

God should have the same effect on His children. We should remind people of Who we belong to. We should strive to reflect Jesus to the point where people know Jesus in the way we speak and act. We should reflect His words and heart so those around us feel His presence when we are with them. 

The moon doesn't create its own light, it reflects the sun. In the same way we should reflect the Son, Jesus.

““You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV

Today I pray for favor, for the expanding of territories. I pray for healing and health. I pray for a fresh anointing on your life. I pray for peace, strength and comfort. I pray that you will be a living testimony to the greatness of God. I pray that He would so fill you with the Holy Spirit that you are incapable of holding it all and it would run over, spill out, and reflect Jesus in you for all to see. 

In Jesus Name- Amen

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. 

In Jesus Name - Amen

-Pastor Doug

No Condemnation

One of the biggest attacks brought against the people of God is the lie that you’re not good enough. The devil plants the seed of this lie in our minds to make us walk in self-condemnation and doubt. People feel inadequate, believing they are not good enough to be a Christian. Some even walk away from the faith.
But it is a lie and a big one at that.

”There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.“
Romans 8:1 NKJV

The truth is that by and of ourselves, nobody measures up to the standard of God. The scripture tells us,

”As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”“
Romans 3:10-12 NKJV

We must learn that when we come to Christ, God does not condemn us. In Jesus Christ, we are reconciled to God, and we have peace with God since He forgives our sins. God accepts people as they are and where they are.

1 ”Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.“
Romans 5:1-11 NKJV

You are good enough because God has said so. Faith in Jesus Christ makes you good enough.

It is by faith and the grace of God that you are saved and by which you will receive the gift of eternal life. It is not by works of any kind or any personal goodness that you may desire or perceive others have that you do not.

The basis of salvation is faith, and your faith in Jesus Christ makes you good enough.

31 ”What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“
Romans 8:31-39 NKJV

You are a child of God, one of His elect, and as the scripture says, “Who shall bring any charge against the elect of God?”

Nothing can separate you from the love of God. Nobody can condemn the people of God because God said so.

5 ”which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.“
II Thessalonians 1:5-8 NKJV

You are made worthy by God in Jesus Christ by faith, and no one can change that. Your worthiness is not earned, it is given to you by God, and nothing and no one can take it away.

If God is for us, then who is powerful enough to stand against Him and say you’re not good enough?

8 ”For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.“
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV

Do not fall for the lie that you are not good enough. It is an attack of the devil to try to take you away and separate you from the love of God and Jesus Christ. Instead, accept that God has made you good enough and give Him thanks for His love and this astounding gift.

Remember always that you are a child of God. God has made you good enough, and not even you can say the opposite.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

In Jesus Name - Amen

Maybe you are unsure where you stand with God. Maybe you’ve never really given yourself to Him or maybe it’s been a long time since you have and you just want to be sure. We all have issues. We are all broken in some way. We all fall short every single day. We are all sinners. Today, let’s start fresh. Let’s give it ALL to God once and for all and receive the precious free gift of salvation.

Pray with me:

Lord God, I thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ.
I believe that He died and rose again just for me. Lord, I repent of my sin and I turn to You.
I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

• Pastor Doug

The way that seems right

”There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. “

Proverbs 16:25 NKJV

There comes a point in most people’s lives when they have to come to grips with the fact that their way of doing things is just not working. For some it comes in time for them to course correct and others are lost forever. 

”Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! “

Luke 15:11-17 NKJV

Notice the course correction “But when he came to himself”. When he found himself in dire straits feeding hogs while he himself was starving, he snapped out of the delusion that his way was the right way.

Why do we wait so long before we decide that God knows what He is doing? 

”“Your ways and your doings have procured these things for you. This is your wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reaches to your heart.”“

Jeremiah 4:18 NKJV

Let’s look at Thomas:

”Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. “

John 14:5-6 NKJV

Thomas knew Jesus. He just didn't realize Jesus was The Way. Likewise, people today know portions of God's Word but don't realize that God's Word is their way to victory. 

People cry out for God to speak to them while their Bible lays unopened on their nightstand. God has spoken to us through His Word. We must believe it and receive its truths as The Way to victory.

”O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. “

Jeremiah 10:23 NKJV

”Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. “

Psalms 119:105 NKJV

The Word of God was written under the direction of the Holy Spirit. It was not written for “head knowledge”, but to the innermost part of our hearts. This is why some people find the Bible so hard to understand. They are trying to comprehend it using only their mind. The Word of God has to inspire our hearts before it can enlighten our minds.

”I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. “

Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV

A new Spirit:

”For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”“

Luke 12:12 NKJV

”If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. “

Galatians 5:25 NKJV

”For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. “

Romans 8:14 NKJV

It’s time to get serious about God. Time to quit relying on what you think you know and really get to know about God. 

Dig into The Word and really listen to what God has to say about you and your situation. 

”For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. “

Romans 8:15-17 NKJV

God wrote a book, just one. 

”All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. “

II Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV

If your way of doing things isn’t working, isn’t getting you where you need to go, you have reached the crossroads. Continue in the bondage of believing you can do this on your own or surrender to Jesus and be free.

”Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, “

I Peter 5:6 NKJV

”Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. “

Romans 8:26-27 NKJV

There IS freedom and victory in Jesus!

”Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. “

John 8:36 NKJV

All the answers are in The Word. Seek and you WILL find!

”“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “

Luke 11:9 NKJV

Come to yourself! Snap out of it!

”Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. “

Isaiah 30:21 NKJV

”In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. “

Proverbs 3:6 NKJV

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

In Jesus Name - Amen 

-        Pastor Doug

Barrel of monkeys

Did you ever have or play the game Barrel of Monkeys? 

The game is simple. You pour out the barrel full of plastic monkeys on the table. Each plastic monkey has hooks for hands. Players hold one arm of a monkey and use the other arm to build a chain of monkeys, one at a time. The intent is to make the chain as long as you can.

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

John 19:30 NKJV

The fact of the matter is, the war is over as Jesus said “It is finished!” Once and for all the atonement for our sins was made through Jesus The Son of God. 

“Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Luke 10:2 NKJV

Our job, our mission is a mop job to rescue as many as we can. We are the laborers wading out into the harvest of humanity to rescue and recover.

Jesus said:

““What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”

Luke 15:4 NKJV

Reaching the “lost” is our primary mission. 

“And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

Luke 15:5-7 NKJV

In the bible, there’s a story about a tax collector named Zacchaeus. In biblical times, tax collectors were despised and considered to be some of the worst sinners, selfishly making money from whoever they wanted.

“Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.”

Luke 19:2-3 NKJV

“So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.””

Luke 19:4-5 NKJV

Zacchaeus encountered Jesus' kindness and later in this story, Zacchaeus says:

“Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.””

Luke 19:8 NKJV

Jesus replies:

“And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.””

Luke 19:9-10 NKJV

As Christians we are called to be like Christ. We are called to love, forgive and accept those who are lost. To search for and rescue the lost sheep and bring them into the fold. We are called to plant the seeds of salvation and introduce people to Jesus.

We are called to leave no one behind, just like Jesus did to Zacchaeus! For many of us, it would have been so easy to overlook Zacchaeus (literally and socially) but Jesus shows us a great example of how we can make sure no one gets left behind - even the most unpopular person.

Just like in the Barrel of Monkeys game we are called to reach out to the lost, pull them out of their present situation and lift them up. There is a great quote from the movie Backdraft where two firefighters are hanging over a huge hole in the floor of a burning building and below them the next floor is engulfed in flames. 

The hero has one hand holding onto a steel beam and the other hand is holding onto the other fireman as they dangle above the raging inferno. The hero (Kurt Russell) says “If you go, we go”! 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

John 3:16-17 NKJV

Our job is to hold on! Hold on to Jesus and reach out with our other hand and rescue others. Jesus will Never let go!

We must bring the good news of Jesus and how He is the hope of the world. So, I encourage you to step out in faith and make His Name known during times where there is a loss of hope. 

Be the guiding light that brings people out of the darkness. We know our God, and we trust in Him wholeheartedly because we know He has gone before us and that His love never fails. 

During times of uncertainty, we must remember that God holds us in His hands, He will protect us and therefore we need not be fearful or afraid.

“Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.”

Psalms 73:23 NKJV

And:

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;”

Psalms 46:1-2 NKJV

Lord, thank You for being our immovable rock in a changing landscape. You are constant and You are good especially when our circumstances are inconsistent and uncertain. We depend on You. 

We proclaim the Truth of Your Word over our lives and into the lives of others. We look to You for provision and peace. Help us to share the Hope we have in You to a world seeking the truth. 

Give us the opportunity and strength to reach out and rescue as many as we are able for the Glory of Your Kingdom in Jesus Name - Amen

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. 

In Jesus Name - Amen

-        Pastor Doug

Time under tension

Time under tension is a basic principle for strength training. Keeping a muscle under a load or tension for a duration of time with no rest will cause the muscle to eventually fail. Over time the load has to be increased to reach the same point of failure due to the increase of strength and growth of the muscle. 

God made our bodies to rise to the occasion. The harder the body works the stronger it gets and the better it performs. 

There is no man made machine that can do that. Our bodies adapt, grow, and get stronger the more we subject them to time under tension and increased load.

Keep what I just said in your mind as you read this:

“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.””

Matthew 13:31-32 NKJV

The mustard seed is the smallest of all the seeds. But when it has grown; or rather, as it grows the seed overcomes a lot of adversity (time under tension). 

Birds will eat the seed, small animals will eat the tender shoots, and storms will come. Rain, wind, flood, drought, you name it. But if that little seed endures it will continue to grow and become a strong tree. 

“So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20 NKJV

In Matthew 13 we see the picture of the fully developed mustard seed as a tree. Time under tension and overcoming adversity, it grows.

In Matthew 17 Jesus brings us back again to the “smallest of all the seeds” when He compares the amount of Faith in God we need to do great things.

Mustard seed faith is only the beginning but we have to have at least that much to get growing. What does that even look like when Faith grows?

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

II Peter 1:5-8 NKJV

The Amplified Version says it this way:

“For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”

2 Peter 1:5-8 AMPC

What is Faith then?

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

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

Faith can move mountains, faith can heal, faith can save, faith can strengthen, and faith casts out fear and doubt. Faith overcomes, faith endures. I urge you to read Hebrews 11 the Faith chapter. 

“And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

Luke 17:5-6 NKJV

Faith grows through adversity. Through adversity we see God move in our lives and Faith grows. 

The more we are in tune with all the times God has blessed us, protected us, strengthened us, healed us and helped us the more our Faith will increase. “The evidence of things not seen” that’s God working in the background:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28 NKJV

Know that the adversity you face now, whatever IT is, God IS using it for your good and to grow your Faith in Him. God has a plan for you and your life. He IS preparing you for the next level and strengthening your faith. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;”

Proverbs 3:5 NKJV

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

In Jesus Name - Amen