Saturday, February 28, 2015

Week 9 of 52 - Faith is knowing that Jesus Christ is the one who baptizes us with fire and the Holy Spirit

Faith is knowing that Jesus Christ is the one who baptizes us with fire and the Holy Spirit -Lord increase our faith


Again I encourage you as you embrace this prayer of faith that you weigh it in your heart, meditate upon it and even journal it. Say it out load as our brains are stubborn, they only believe what they hear. Remember your expectation is that through this meditation that God will hear and answer your prayer.


This weeks prayer is important because it embraces the supernatural side of our faith. Some times we are temped to think of Christianity as merely a philosophy. On one side it is a philosophy in that it dictates how we view the world, but on the other side it is a supernatural, life altering encounter with The God of All Creation and He doesn't want to leave us unarmed, unaware or unprepared.

The Holy Spirit is important in that He resides in every believer. He empowers the believer to do more that is humanly possible. First the Holy Spirit is a seal that says we belong to God, second, it is the Holy Spirit that grants us gifts so that we can be a blessing the family of faith. All spiritual gifts serve to help others. They are not for our personal benefit outside tongues which in one manner edifies our own spirits. Another reason we need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit is so that are minds can be opened to the deep spiritual things of God that are revealed in the Bible and only available to those who are reborn. He reminds us off all that the Lord Jesus has taught us when we need it and the Holy Spirit works in both believers and pre-Christians by convicting us/them of sin and righteousness.

Lord, we thank you that You baptize us with your Holy Spirit and empower us to live the life You did. Lord, increase our faith.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Week 8 of 52 Prayers of Faith faith is know knowing that Jesus Christ is our soon and coming King

Faith is knowing that Jesus Christ is our soon and coming King - Lord increase our faith


Our faith in Jesus Christ encompasses the past the present and the future. What He has done in the past affects our present and He has promised his return. There is a day that all Christians can look forward to when the King returns.  

When Jesus was on the earth the Jewish nation was waiting for a king who would restore Israel to it's rightful position among the nations - no longer a occupied land ruled by a foreign and pagan people. Jesus was not what they were expecting, but He is who God had planned for all people. God's heart is that all people would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, repent and enter into his rule and reign.  

Until He returns we are called to be ambassadors of that Kingdom, ministers of reconciliation until in the fullness of time He returns. Jesus is our soon and coming King. We must take this by faith - faith in the Word of God, and faith that Jesus is who He says He is and that He will keep his word and return for us.

As usually I encourage you to journal this prayer and meditate on this in the coming days and consider what it means to you to believe by faith the Jesus is coming again.

Lord Jesus we believe that You are our soon and coming King - Lord, increase our faith.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Week 7 of 52 Prayers of Faith - Jesus our Shepherd whose voice leads us to good places

Faith is: knowing Jesus is the Good Shepherd and following his voice - Lord increase our faith

As usual recite the prayer, meditate on the significance of it and journal what God is revealing to you by his Holy Spirit.

Jesus IS the good shepherd and He says that his sheep will not follow another shepherd because they do not recognize any other shepherd's voice. Yet in this day we are surrounded by voices all claiming that we should follow them. Some say that money is the answer, others education and still others say you should please yourself. But Jesus is the one who saved us, knowing all of our sinful inclinations and all the sins that we have committed. He also died for all the sins committed against against us, so that we don't have to live in the full consequence of our hurt and pain.

But the benefit of Christ's gift requires that we follow him. We cannot say that we believe in him and not obey him. Our obedience is the key to unlocking all that Christ has for us. When we listen to his voice and follow his ways, we live out the life He has always wanted for us. We may think that we know what's best for us, but Jesus IS the way. He is the source of everything good and right and true. Only by following his lead, going where he calls us can we really experience the new and abundant life that He promised us.

Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd, help us to hear and follow your voice - Lord, increase our faith.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Week 6 of 52 Prayers of Faith - Jesus is the way, the truth and the life

Faith is knowing that Jesus Christ is the only true way, truth and life; there is no other way to God the Father - Lord increase our faith

I was born in Canada, but pretty much raised in America. Here we have an independent, self-determinate kind of mentality. We think that we can do it. That is part of why America is so prosperous but there is a down side. Because of our independent nature, we all think that we know what is best for us. We think that no one else can show us what is good for us. Now I admit that I have over stated things a bit, but I think if you talk to people in other countries (as I have) you will find that there is a love-hate feeling about us. They love how prosperous we are and would like to be like us, but they hate how superior we can be when talking to others - as if our way is the only way.

When Jesus said the He is the way the truth and the life, He was saying that God has a better way. It's not the American way, its not the British way and it is most definitely not the Russian way. His way is a way that depends upon spiritual principles. And we can trust his way because He is our Creator and Savior. His ways are not the ways of capitalism or communism or even democracy. His ways are about living every day for God and with God, so that our circumstances matter less and our character matters more.

His ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts. We cannot confuse our expectations and reasoning for God's. In fact some of his ways seem counter intuitive. In God's economy, it is more blessed to give than to receive. In God's relationships, we always forgive and we are even empowered to love our enemies. In God's order the servant of all is the greatest not the most popular or the most powerful.

Lord, you are the way the truth and the life. Lord increase our faith


As always I encourage you to meditate on this thought and to journal it, praying/requesting that God would increase your faith.

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Week 5 of 52 Prayers of Faith - The Holy Spirit

Faith is knowing Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit so that we might live for Him and by Him
Lord increase our faith

Before Christ left the earth, he promised that he would send us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes our faith super natural. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts us of sin and righteousness. He gives us supernatural gifts so that we can help one another. The Holy Spirit renews our spirit, helping us to become new creations empowered to live out the intent of The Law - Living in and walking in God's love. The Holy Spirit is also our counselor (The Paraclete). He advises us in moral choices and gives us the words to defend ourselves when accused for our faith. Christ has not left us alone, He is with us in the person of the Holy Spirit and we must take that on faith in order to receive the full benefit of that relationship.

Lord, we accept and believe that you sent us the Holy Spirit so that we can live for you and by you.
Lord Increase our Faith