Tag Archive | faith

True Reverence

May17

And if you call upon Him as [your] Father Who judges each one impartially according to what he does, [then] you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence [on the earth, whether long or short].

You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold,

But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot.

It is true that He was chosen and  foreordained (destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation of the world, but He was brought out to public view (made manifest) in these last days (at the end of the times) for the sake of you.

Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.

1 Peter 1:17-21 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

Am I walking through this life with true reverence for God?
Is my life fruitful?
Do I recognize that my life has been purchased with the precious blood of Christ?
Is my faith and hope centered and resting in God?

🌹Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
Psalms 26:2 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Hope of The Glory of God

May5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2

We can rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated, jubilant in the hope of the glory of God! How can we have this hope?

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
Romans 5:3-‬4 NASB

I want to look at just one portion of this verse where it speaks of hope. . .

“We exult in our proven character knowing that proven character brings about hope.”
Romans 5:3-4 NASB

I was so excited when the Lord opened my eyes to this portion of the verse. I pondered how proven character brings about hope.

As I have examined myself over the years of my life I have seen many flaws to my character. I am a flawed character. But God. . . He stepped into my life, brought me salvation and then started working on my character with the help of His Holy Spirit living in me. God’s work in me has changed me. When I look at myself and see a different person than I was, that brings me hope. God changing me into the person He created me to be. The growing pains have been difficult but worth it when I see how God is sanctifying me. Not by what I have done but by what He has done in transforming me. My proven character came by the work of the Holy Spirit in me. That is hope.

🌹and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:5

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Faith in the Faithful God

Apr11

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11 NASB

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
Hebrews 10:23 NASB

For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37 NASB

🌹“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”
Jeremiah 32:27 NASB

‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, amen.
Jeremiah 32:17 NASB

How’s your faith? Does it go beyond the belief that Jesus is your Savior? Is it a faith that sees you through the good, the bad, the ugly, the devastating, the hurt of this world, the pain. . . ?
Does your faith bring you to the foot of the cross everyday with a surrendered heart, trusting God with your day?
He waits with open arms and a listening ear for you.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Holy Week – Tuesday

Apr4

The withered fig tree:

As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.
Mark 11:20‭-‬22 NASB

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Matthew 21:21‭-‬22 NASB

Confrontation with the religious elite:

They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?” And Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me.”
Answering Jesus, they *said, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Mark 11:27‭-‬30‭, ‬33 NASB

Jesus follows up with several parables in Mark 12

Judas . . . . The Plot

The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people. And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.
Luke 22:2‭-‬6 NASB

Back to Jesus . . .

As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples *said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”
As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
Mark 13:1‭-‬5 NASB
Jesus continues in Mark 13:6-37

🌹Jesus spent three years building a relationship with His disciples, especially with those closest to Him. Do you wonder how Jesus felt in leaving them? As yet I don’t think the reality of Jesus dying was even on the disciples radar. But Jesus knew what was coming for each one of them. I can’t help but believe Jesus was heartbroken over what was about to happen to His disciples’ world – their confusion, desperation, doubt, brokenness and hopelessness over what was about to take place. Not only was Jesus carrying His own burden and anguish but also the same for His disciples. And soon Jesus was to carry the burden of sin for all mankind.

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving Your creation so much that You feel our pain, our anguish, and understand. I pray we would keep our eye on the Lamb, staying focused, and remembering and trusting Your teachings, Your word. Amen.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Road to Triumph Pt. 1

Mar27

He (Jesus) entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.
When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly (rejoicing).
Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19:1‭-‬2‭, ‬5‭-‬6‭, ‬8‭-‬10 NASB

Was Zaccheus convicted in the presence of the Almighty? He confessed that he would make restitution, and this was according to the law. Jesus sought out Zaccheus, just as He seeks out and saves all who are lost. By the law we are convicted.

because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:20 NASB

By faith we are saved.

🌹For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Romans 4:13‭ NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon 

God of The Impossible

Mar10

But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
Acts 2:24 NASB

Jesus, our Savior rose from the dead because it was IMMPOSIBLE for Him to be held in its power! If death cannot hold Jesus from accomplishing the Father’s plan through obedience, what does that say to us who believe?

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
2 Corinthians 9:8 NASB

We have everything we need in abundance to sufficiently accomplish God’s will in our lives. He has a plan for each of His children and will abundantly supply for His glory in the church and in our Savior Jesus Christ.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20‭-‬21 NASB

The key to the abundant working of God in our life is to ask, believing.

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36 NASB

With God all things are possible!!

And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26/Mark 10:27/Luke 18:27 NASB

For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37 NASB

Recommended reading: Acts 25-36

🌹And 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 seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Unwavering Belief

Mar9

yet, with respect to the promise of God, he (Abraham) did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
Romans 4:20 NASB

Abraham contemplating his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and considering the deadness of Sarah’s womb; did not — listen — did NOT waver in unbelief when it came to God’s promise to build a nation of descendants from him and Sarah.
(Romans 4:19)
That is faith. God keeps His promises. Every One of Them!! God can do the impossible.

It is not up to us to fulfill His purpose in us, for we are feeble, wretched, sinful, weak people. But . . . God. He will work in and use those who believe, those who surrender their will to His will. Those who trust in His Word.

So, let us not waver in unbelief, but grow in faith, giving glory to God as He works in and through us. His will be done.

And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”
Mark 9:23 NASB

“I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2 NASB

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 NASB

🌹Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Therefore

Dec9

“Practice these things and you will not stumble“: 2 Peter 1:10

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence (virtue), and in your moral excellence (virtue), knowledge,
2 Peter 1:5‭ NASB

Applying all diligence! The New Testament for Everyone says, “you should strain every nerve”. Our faith is fragile. Faith isn’t a one time decision, it is a constant that needs nourished. Nourished with truths that distinguish right and wrong so we can express and convey right conduct, walk in righteousness. Jesus is our righteousness and His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2 Peter 1:3/Colossians 2:3 NASB

Apply the Word of God. God’s word is the moral compass of moral virtue. In the Word of God is the knowledge of the righteousness of Christ. I believe that God’s word has the power to transform our moral compass and fill us with the knowledge of Jesus Christ. To know Him is to love Him.

🌹Are you diligently reading God’s word on a daily basis?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Prayer For You

Nov28

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14‭-‬19 NASB

🌹I am praying God will use this prayer for you today. Even though I may not know you, God does, and I hope this prayer of blessing is bestowed on you.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Continuous Prayer

Nov1

pray without ceasing;
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB

Jesus spoke about prayer, modeled prayer, and is the recipient of our prayers along with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We are to pray at all times and not lose heart because God will bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night. God will bring about justice quickly for us – the faithful in prayer. Faithfulness in prayer increases faith.
Prayer unifies the body of Christ. Praying for one another, with one another in one mind continually devoting ourselves to prayer. And we each have the gift of the Holy Spirit who helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Luke 18:1/Luke 18:7‭-‬8/Acts 1:14/Romans 8:26‭-‬27 NASB

🌹Let us give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and pray always for one another.
Colossians 1:3 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon