Flames of Faith

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What does all of this mean? It means that the Gentiles were not trying to be acceptable to God, but they found that he would accept them if they had faith.  It also means that the people of Israel were not acceptable to God. And why not? It was because they were trying to be acceptable by obeying the Law instead of by having faith in God. The people of Israel fell over the stone that makes people stumble,  just as God says in the Scriptures,

“Look! I am placing in Zion

a stone to make people

stumble and fall.

But those who have faith

in that one will never

be disappointed.”

Romans 9:30-33

Faith is the foundation of a life that is pleasing to God. When I first heard about faith as a child I somehow thought that faith and believing were the same. They are not. Faith must be preceded by belief for how can you trust someone that you don't really believe exists. But the Bible says that even the demons believe and tremble. I can know full well that God exists and even see His power working in the world around me and never come to trust and depend on Him.

Trust and dependence are the two major pillars of Faith. Remember the story of Jesus and the disciples in a storm. Jesus was asleep in the boat when the storm began to rage. Even though Jesus was with them in the boat, the disciples began to fear that they would drown. When faith begins to fall away it is replaced by fear. When you find fear rising up in your heart instead of trying to be brave fan the flames of faith and trust in Jesus!

When your need seems to be greater than your harvest it is time to depend on Jesus to provide the things that you need. It is easier for a poor man to see the provision of the Lord than for a man who has everything he needs stored in barns and bank accounts.

Don't confuse believing in God and having faith in Jesus Christ. There is not a demon in Hell that doesn't believe in God. But no one will be in Heaven unless they have faith in Jesus! Once you come to believe in God you are standing at the door of faith. If you believe it is time to take the next step of trusting in and depending on God about and for everything in your life! That is faith and that is the kind of faith that will usher you in to the presence of God forever!

"Lord Jesus, it is easy to believe that You exist, but it is hard to trust You for everything in my life! Help me today to take another step of faith in trusting in and depending on You. And may You be glorified forever. Amen."

Which Criminal Are You?

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Two criminals were led out to be put to death with Jesus. When the soldiers came to the place called “The Skull,” they nailed Jesus to a cross. They also nailed the two criminals to crosses, one on each side of Jesus.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don't know what they're doing.”

While the crowd stood there watching Jesus, the soldiers gambled for his clothes. The leaders insulted him by saying, “He saved others. Now he should save himself, if he really is God's chosen Messiah!”

The soldiers made fun of Jesus and brought him some wine. They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”

Above him was a sign that said, “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals hanging there also insulted Jesus by saying, “Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and save us!”

But the other criminal told the first one off, “Don't you fear God? Aren't you getting the same punishment as this man?  We got what was coming to us, but he didn't do anything wrong.”  Then he said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into power!”

Jesus replied, “I promise that today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:32-43

There were two criminals that were crucified with Christ that day. These two criminals represent all mankind. One of these men insulted Jesus while the other one called out to Jesus for mercy!

In a real sense, everyone is crucified with Christ. We are all guilty of sin that makes us worthy of Hell. When we see Christ on the Cross next to ours we either rail at Him or cry out for mercy. If you are the criminal who shouts at Jesus and mocks Him when you die you will be with Him no more, forever. But if you ask Jesus to remember you when He comes into power, then you will be with Him in paradise and in Heaven forever!

In a real sense you don't stand at the foot of the Cross. Instead you hang on a cross next to Jesus. As you are dying for your sin you have a choice. You can curse The Lord or beg for His mercy! There really are no other options. Both criminals died that day with Jesus. One was saved and the other one was lost.

Today you are hanging on a cross next to Jesus. What will you say to Him?

"Lord Jesus, I thank You that You were not ashamed to die as if You were a criminal. I have suffered because of my sin, but You suffered to set me free from sin forever! Remember me when You come into power! Amen!"

Rainbow in the Storm!

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After this, I looked and saw a door that opened into heaven. Then the voice that had spoken to me at first and that sounded like a trumpet said, “Come up here! I will show you what must happen next.”  Right then the Spirit took control of me, and there in heaven I saw a throne and someone sitting on it. The one who was sitting there sparkled like precious stones of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne.

Revelation 4:1-3

The rainbow that God placed in the sky as a sign of His promise never to destroy the whole earth by flood again was not the first rainbow. Around the throne of God there is a rainbow that looks like an emerald.

So when you look at a rainbow in the sky you can think of God's promise, but also the throne room in Heaven where, as far as we know, there has always been a rainbow surrounding the throne.

The brightest rainbows here on earth appear when you look at the storm that has passed with the bright sun shinning behind you.

There is a rainbow that has only been seen for about the last 100 years which appears around the shadow of an airplane flying above the clouds. These rainbows are in a complete circle and sometimes are called "the glory." If you have not seen one, look for "the glory" the next time you fly.

Remember at the end of the storm, if you look with the light of the Son shining back on the storm that has passed you will see the "Glory" of God.

"Lord, thank You that after every storm here on earth I can see Your Glory. Help me Lord to see not only the rainbow, but help me to see You in everything that happens here on this earth. Jesus You promised to be with me always and so by faith I will look for You in the storm not just after it has passed. May You be glorified forever! Amen."

Rich People

 

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Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life. Instruct them to do as many good deeds as they can and to help everyone. Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have. This will lay a solid foundation for the future, so they will know what true life is like.

1 Timothy 6:17-19

The wealth of this world can be easily lost. You may know that right now the US stock market is at an all time high. That makes many people feel like they are very wealthy. But one really bad session and those "rich" people can lose it all. It has happened before and everyone knows it can happen again.

These verses tell rich people not to trust in their wealth, but rather to have faith in God. A very good friend of mine was rich and then lost it all. In fact he lost it more than once. He would lose his wealth and then work to get it back. Although it is not popular to say, but some rich people work hard to become rich and they often do it more than once. But now my rich friend is richer than he ever was when he only had money. I have watched him over the years turn his heart from money to God. It has been an amazing transformation as he has come to know what true life is like!

And if my friend happens to be reading this I would warn him against the temptation of pride.

So here are three things that rich people should do: Have faith in God, do as many good deeds as you can to help others, and be generous and share what you have. Those three things will lay a solid foundation for the future.

And if you are not rich, I would warn you not to envy followers of Jesus who are rich. A very wealthy believer once told me that having lots of money must be seen as an awesome responsibility rather than a blessing.

"Lord Jesus, I thank you that I am rich, not in this worlds goods, but rich because I know You. My Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills and I am His child. Help me today to seek You and not the wealth of this world! Come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen."

PERSONAL NOTE: I want to remind you that I am putting together a companion website for this blog.  It is at www.billsteensland.com.  And I really appreciate responses you make to these blogs.

Give it to Jesus!

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Jesus called his disciples together and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been with me for three days, and they don't have anything to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry. They might faint on their way home.”

His disciples said, “This place is like a desert. Where can we find enough food to feed such a crowd?”

Jesus asked them how much food they had. They replied, “Seven small loaves of bread and a few little fish.”

After Jesus had told the people to sit down, he took the seven loaves of bread and the fish and gave thanks. He then broke them and handed them to his disciples, who passed them around to the crowds.

Everyone ate all they wanted, and the leftovers filled seven large baskets.

Matthew 15:32-37

When you follow Jesus Christ the question is not "Do I have enough to do the job He has called me to do?" That question really is irrelevant.

When you follow the Lord the only thing with which you must concern yourself is this: Have you given what you have to Jesus? It doesn't matter how much you have, it only matters whether or not you have given what you have to Jesus!

I believe Jesus is still in the business of multiplying the "loaves and fishes."

Like a tiny "mustard seed" Jesus takes what you give Him and grows it into a mighty witness for Him! Sometimes He does that so that we can see it happening, but often Jesus will use your witness in ways that are never known to you. One simple act of faith can take hold and become a family tradition that echoes down through the years to those who come after you. There may be multitudes of your descendants who are drawn closer to God because of your dedication to walk with Him yourself.

When you give what you have to Jesus, you can trust Him to multiply it for His glory and to fulfill the needs of others. Your job in the process is simply giving even the smallest thing that you have to Him.

"Lord Jesus, I am poor and weak and I don't have many "loaves and fishes." But I give what I have to You and trust that You will multiply it. Lord, I have been trying to multiply it myself instead of just giving it to You. So here it is Lord. Take it and do with it as You will. And may You be glorified forever! Amen."

God Controls Every Nation

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The Lord All-Powerful has made this promise:

Everything I have planned will happen just as I said.

I will wipe out every Assyrian in my country,

and I will crush those on my mountains.

I will free my people from slavery to the Assyrians.

I have planned this for the whole world, and my mighty arm

controls every nation.

I, the Lord All-Powerful, have made these plans.

No one can stop me now!

Isaiah 14:24-27

In this world of great turmoil and strife it is more than comforting to hear The Lord say "I have planned this for the whole world; and My mighty arm controls every nation."

It is foolish arrogance of rulers, kings and presidents to believe that they can change the destiny of the world by stopping the use of fossil fuels! They are but pawns in the chess game of good and evil and will be controlled by God so that the End of all things is precisely as He predicted it.

Do not fear the rulers. Only fear God who controls every nation on earth!
The final six words of verse 27 of Isaiah 14 are very important. God says "No one can stop me now!"

Those who fight against God will not win. Those who oppose the Creator of the Universe will fail in the end. Those who say "there is no God" are foolish beyond belief.
Remember this: The ride may be rough and even scary, but the one in control never makes a mistake. He will carry you all the way to the end and bring you safely to your home in Heaven.

"Lord Jesus, help me to believe that all this wickedness and evil that I see in the world today exists only because You have allowed it have are using it for Your purpose. I trust you Lord. Help me to trust You more. Amen.”

The Day of Judgment!

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I saw a great white throne with someone sitting on it. Earth and heaven tried to run away, but there was no place for them to go.  I also saw all the dead people standing in front of that throne. Every one of them was there, no matter who they had once been. Several books were opened, and then the book of life was opened. The dead were judged by what those books said they had done.

Revelation 20:11-12

The Day of Judgment is a fearful thing. God knows every evil thought you have ever had as well as every evil deed you have done! There is no way to hide from God. Even the "earth and sky" will try to run away from God's judgment, but there will be no place to go!

Imagine standing before any judge and everything you have ever done wrong is part of the charges against you! When you are charged with a crime here on earth it is usually one thing you have done wrong. At most you might be charged with several crimes, but not with everything you have ever done wrong! The Day of Judgment before God will address every sin you have ever committed. What a fearful thought!

But there is hope and that hope is in Jesus alone! When you come to Jesus and give your heart to Him an amazing thing happens. If you are "in Christ" when you go to the Day of Judgment it will be declared that the penalty for your sin has already been paid! No matter what the sin, there is no greater penalty than the death sentence.

We sometimes think of Jesus paying our debt and I that is true as well, but Jesus also suffered our punishment. All sin will be punished. Will yours be covered by the blood of Jesus on the Day of Judgment or will you try to justify yourself before God?

"Lord Jesus, I thank You for suffering and dying for me and paying the price for my sin. Jesus, I owe You everything. And I give You everything I have and everything I am. I give You my heart and mind and strength again today. Amen."

PERSONAL NOTE:  I want to thank you for visiting this blog.  I usually get up by 3 am local time to prepare it.  It is one of the highlights of my day.  I am currently developing a companion website billsteensland.com where you can get more information and interaction.  I would love to hear directly from you.  May God bless you!