Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (emphasis mine)
Making a disciple is more than leading someone in the sinner’s prayer. It includes teaching and supporting them in their faith. Making a disciple is a tall order and not one that someone can easily accomplish alone. The Church must work together, each one doing his part. We must ask ourselves: Am I doing my part?
“Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?” Lamentations 3:37 NIV
Although some view declarations as a way to manifest desired outcomes, that’s not what the Bible teaches us. They say, “Start building your faith today by speaking these declarations of faith for your finances, healing and relationships.”
The concept of making declarations, particularly affirmations and decrees, is strongly associated with New Age spirituality.
But as the verse above says, we cannot speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it.
For a more in-depth study of this topic, please see these posts from Reasoned Cases for Christ:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
Comments: We like to think of ourselves as mature Christians. Or, at least we want to be one. This is how that happens: Trusting God and what He has said in times of difficulty.
In His Love, Cindy
Before you go, please see my page Who Is Jesus? Hundreds of people have viewed this page! Have you?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 Read full chapter
“When the Galatians trusted Christ, they were freed from the law’s yoke of slavery – in which people try to gain God’s favor by carefully heeding His rules… It seems our default position is to try to work our way to salvation… We are saved by grace through faith” (and not by works!) Jeremiah Study Bible Notes
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11-12
A Prison Story
A prisoner talked about the huge impact made on a rough group of fellow prisoners and himself by none other than a nondescript janitor who had worked for years at the prison. This little woman spoke to those hardened men as she held her broom and her words were used by God to pierce their hard hearts with the Gospel.
He said, “Because that janitor, a woman without a title, without a stage – she delivered a sermon that still gets me choked up. She didn’t come to save us. She came to serve. And in doing so, she became the loudest gospel I’d ever heard.”
“That little prison janitor touched toughened hearts through her acts of service. Her stage was a prison meeting room, holding her broom and mop, her dirty bucket of water sitting beside her.” Patty
God loves using the weak things of this world to confound the mighty.
Read Patty’s excellent post, Burping and Serving HERE.
In His Love, Cindy
Before you go, please see my page Who Is Jesus? Hundreds of people have viewed this page! Have you?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Before you go, please see my page Who Is Jesus? Hundreds of people have viewed this page! Have you?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
My son was scheduled for back surgery the next day. Consumed by an irrational fear, I went up for prayer on Sunday morning. Sobbing, I told my pastor that I had never been this afraid.
When I returned to my seat, my heart cried out: Lord, I might give my own life for another person. But, I could never give up my son to die.Never! Never!Never!For a moment, I felt the pain that losing my son would bring.
Suddenly, my focus turned to the Father and the cost to Him. I realized that what the Father did, I could never do. Then I remembered John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world thathe gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV
How did I ever read these words without being deeply moved by the Father’s willingness to sacrifice His only son? How can others read these words and remain indifferent?
This is probably the most famous Bible verse the world has ever heard. You may see it on a sign at a football game, on billboards, on clothes, or on bumper stickers. And if you attend church, you may have heard it hundreds of times.
Only when the fear of losing my own son invaded my emotions did I understand the incomparable cost to the Father. I realized the enormity of the sacrifice God had made by giving His only son.
But there is much more to the story. Not only did Jesus die, He suffered a cruel death.
“They spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?” Matthew 26:67-68
“Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.” Matthew 27: 27-31
“When we realize the expense God paid in forgiving our sins, we are immediately humbled by the power of such a display of love.” Jack Hibbs, from his book, LIVING IN THE DAZE OF DECEPTION
Perhaps, we should reflect more often on what the Father did. He gave His only Son for you and me, so great is His love.
P.S. My son’s surgery was a complete success. When he woke up from the anesthesia, he was pain-free for the first time in many months. Thank you, Lord, for answering my prayers.
In His Love, Cindy
Before you go, please see my page Who Is Jesus? Hundreds of people have viewed this page! Have you?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
Thank you to all those people who, by serving God, have influenced our lives for Christ.
In His Love, Cindy
Before you go, please see my page Who Is Jesus? Hundreds of people have viewed this page! Have you?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
Real Christian Women 