“…all things are possible to him who believes”. (Mark 9:23)
Everything – how much is it? Is everything a little? Or is it all from time to time? Everything is everything!
You will say – it’s easy to say so, but how to believe when circumstances do not change and a miracle does not happen?
Yes, sometimes it’s not easy to believe. It is much easier to be discouraged and doubtful than to trust God and His word. The easiest way for us to avoid disappointment is to do the best we can. Jesus set a condition for the boy’s father: “For him who believes, all things are possible.” Jesus seemed to be saying: “The healing of the boy does not depend on Me, but on you and your faith.”
If you start something with the consciousness of hopelessness, then your business is already hopeless, but when you start something with faith, you make it possible. Why? Yes, because at least you will start it. But, unfortunately, a feeling of impossibility lies like a curse on many people. That’s why miracles don’t happen.
The boy’s father came looking for Jesus Himself. But since Jesus was on the top of the mountain, he had to make his request to his disciples. And they greatly disappointed him. His faith was so broken that when he came to Jesus, he first said: “Help me if You can”. So often in our lives this “almighty” “if” arises again and again. If there is time, if I am in the mood, if I succeed… Our “if” paves the way for disbelief and disappointment. But, thank God for God! When our faith is shaken, all we need to do is come to Him for help. a When he came face to face with Jesus, his faith flared up again: “I believe! – he shouted, “and if there is still any doubt in me, take it from me and give me firm faith.” Very often we do not receive from a church or from a person what we expected. Sometimes people and the church can disappoint us. But if we wage our struggle with Christ, He will never disappoint us.
If you doubt today, if you lack faith, believe me, God does not condemn you! Christ has already come to meet you and, like Peter, extends a helping hand to you. He is not interested in you drowning in your disappointment and disbelief. Yes, He will ask you: “you of little faith! Why did you doubt?”This is not a reproach – it is a call to trust Him when doubts begin to overcome you. This is a call to shout when you are in pain and difficult:“Lord! save me”. When you are drowning, this is not the time to judge yourself and accept defeat. This is the time to gather what little faith you have and cry out to God. Even a little faith is enough for God to answer you and pull you out of sin and circumstances!
The Apostle Paul tells us: “I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)
You will tell me: “Well, it was the Apostle Paul, he was really cool.” But what Paul himself says is that he said that he can do anything, not because of his toughness, but because he believes in Christ.
Faith is not philosophy and correct beliefs. Faith is alive and constantly growing.
How to strengthen faith and help it grow?
Psalm 1 has some very good advice for you and me:
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, and does not stand in the way of sinners, and does not sit in the seat of the wicked, but his will is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night!”
A happy person is a person who understands that whoever he behaves with will be like him. If your communication and environment are exclusively non-believers, then you yourself will become an unbeliever. If these are people who are constantly dissatisfied and complain about everyone, then you will be the same. If these are people for whom theft and deception are in the order of things, then you yourself will steal and deceive. Your faith will not be strengthened by communicating with non-believers; your faith will be strengthened by being in a congregation of believers. When you don’t miss services, you go to a home group, get mentored, and mentor someone yourself.
Your faith will be strengthened when your will is subject to the will of God. How? Through reading His word, through consciously submitting your choices and deciding what the Lord tells you. You need to think about this, you need to set aside time for this, day and night.
Many people want to be successful, but success does not come on its own. Real success comes to those who believe in God and fuel their faith through proper communication and prayer. Success comes to those who choose God’s word and His laws as the basis of their faith.
Maintain and increase your faith, and faith will preserve you!
Our God is the God of a new beginning, and He is always moving forward!
He says to you today:“And He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And he says to me: write; for these words are true and faithful.” (Rev. 21:5)
God is faithful, His word is true! All we need to do is believe Him and rely on His word.
When answers to our prayers are delayed, it means that a kind of “interest” is accruing, and the answer will come with an increase!
Hebrews says that we inherit the promises through faith and patience! Faith is confidence in God, patience is the ability to overcome difficult situations. When you have this confidence in God, in His heart, you attract God’s promises into your life!
To achieve the goal, the promise, we must look at the final destination where we want to go! Don’t look at where you are now! It is very important to write down the words of God into our lives, read them, meditate, warm up these promises! Get a word from God! Personally for your life!
InIsaiah 54:1-3God says:
1.“Rejoice, O barren, unbearable; shout and shout, you who have not suffered from childbirth; for she who is forsaken has many more children than she who has a husband, says the Lord.”
What are we talking about here? We may experience futility and disappointment in our lives. And God tells us to celebrate the victory and the answer even before it manifests itself physically! Celebrating victory initiates a process of spiritual growth that is much faster and greater than the natural process. When we rejoice and celebrate His goodness, God gives us fruitfulness that will surpass natural fruitfulness!
2.“Expand the place of your tent, enlarge the covers of your dwellings; don’t be shy…”
Add, build another room for your “child” who doesn’t exist yet. Prepare yourself for the increase, for the breakthrough. Imagine if Jesus came to you personally and told you that this year you will be multiplied and blessed by Him! So what, you would just sit and wait and do nothing? Do your part, prepare for a breakthrough!
Like Cornelius in Acts, actively wait for an answer from God. Continue to pray, continue to give alms – serve the people who are near you. Believe the word that God has spoken to you. Call your relatives and friends. Invite them to a group, invite them to church services. It is here that they will hear the words through which they will be saved.
There is a wonderfulPsalm 23:5. And in it the Lord, through David, says:
3.“You prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies; anointed my head with oil; my cup is overflowing”
In the midst of the greatest conflict and struggle of your life, turn your attention away from what the enemy is doing and find the table God has prepared for you. Find a place of peace and fellowship with God right there. And stay there, eat at His table in the midst of everything. This is what God is saying, that He has prepared His table for us in the sight of our enemies. Don’t look at the disease now, start looking at God. Don’t look at the need for money or a job now – start looking at God. He has set the table for you, He wants to give you back the joy of life and give you completeness, in the midst of trials!
God is the word! And He has something to tell you! Get a word from God for yourself this year regarding all areas: health, finances, vocation. And meditate on them until you begin to think in accordance with these words, until they become part of you!
Set goals for yourself. Set God’s goals and the Lord will help you achieve them. Believe that at least one person will be saved through you this year. Pray about it, testify, invite family and friends to church. Be like Cornelius – actively expect fruition!
May this year be the year of the greatest breakthrough in your life!
Have you ever wondered why Christians read the Bible?
Some people say that all believers are required to read the Bible, but the obligation to do something usually repels a person rather than attracts him. We read letters from loved ones not because we have to, but because we love them. Usually, such letters bring us closer, force us to maintain an emotional connection with this person and get to know him better. The Bible is a letter from the One who loves you more than anything.
The Bible is not only love letters, but also the most important instructions on many life issues. I read God’s Word because for me it is the most powerful motivator on earth. Through reading, I become much calmer, learn self-control, discipline, hard work and determination. The Bible teaches me how to build my life correctly, how to strengthen family relationships, how to find peace in my soul in the midst of problems and trials.
Sometimes, I lose the desire to read the Bible, but by following a Bible reading plan, I keep myself in optimal shape. I hope this plan will help you too. Read the Bible every day. In order to read 3 chapters a day, you will need 10-20 minutes. Imagine, 20 minutes of your time, and your life will be transformed and filled with God’s presence.
With love in Christ
Pastor of the Church of “God’s Glory” Alexander Koltukov.
“If you abide in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”(John 15:7)
The Bible reading plan can be downloaded in pdf format here.
Are you planning? How important are your plans to you? Are you ready to do everything to make your plans come true? These are very important questions to answer for yourself. If you don’t plan anything ahead today, then circumstances and people will dictate what you do and how you live. And even if you plan today to achieve something in the new year, then in this case you will have to pay the price for your plans to become a reality.
Why do I say this because God himself plans and plans thousands of years in advance. And He not only has good plans, but He also does everything He can to make those plans come true! Read the rest of this entry »
So 2016 has ended and 2017 is beginning. Something happened in the past year, but something remained at the level of plans and desires. If you don’t plan anything ahead today, then circumstances and people will dictate to you what to do and how to live. And even if you plan today to achieve something in the new year, then in this case you will have to pay the price for your plans to become a reality. Read the rest of this entry »
Merry Christmas, friends! Seek first the Lord Jesus Christ in your lives, and all the gifts of Heaven will be added to you and your families! Jesus, thank you for Your life in us and for us!
Do any of you wish God didn’t answer your prayers? If yes, then today’s sermon is not for you. Today I would like to talk about how to receive an answer to prayer.
It’s no secret that we don’t like being rejected. It is important for us to be heard and even more important is to receive answers to our questions. If one of the people ignores us or simply does not answer our questions, then this may offend or disappoint us. It is unlikely that we will ask such a person for anything else and, most likely, next time we will not ask him. Read the rest of this entry »
November 13 is the International Day of Prayer for Orphans. The Lord teaches us that “pure and undefiled piety before God and the Father is this: to look after widows and orphans in their afflictions.” Perhaps there will always be orphans in society, but it is up to people of good will and, in particular, Christians to reduce their number. Read the rest of this entry »
