Be Faith Filled

Bread

The Lion Loosed

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11:1-2 (NIV)

21 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Matthew 21:21-22 (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Luke 8:47-48 (NIV)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Mark 9:14-24 (NIV)

22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Mark 11:22-25 (NIV)

7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)

21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Lamentations 3:21-24 (NIV)

Butter

The Lesson Learned

“Faith draws nourishment from the root of Christ. This taught David to fight, and Paul to preach. Faith draws out the fullness of His grace. Faith enables us to be as meek as Moses, patient as Job, and as zealous as David. Comfort your soul in the Lord and seek His favor through faith. As you grow from faith to faith, you will grow from strength to strength in His graces, till by degrees you will attain to the fullness of maturity in Christ.” Samuel Ward

“God tries our faith so that we may try His faithfulness.” Anonymous

“Sometimes our difficult circumstances make it seem impossible for God to fulfill His promises. When we find God’s promises unbelievable, as did Abraham and Sarah, God has exposed the boundaries of our faith – boundaries He means to expand. Learning to rest in the promises of God occurs in the crucible of wrestling with unbelief – seasons, sometimes long seasons, when everything hangs on believing that God ‘gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Abraham and Sarah ‘grew strong in (their) faith’ because God pushed them to believe more than they thought was possible. For the sake of our joy, he does the same for you and me.” Jon Bloom

“Faith raises the soul above the difficulty, straight to God Himself, and enables one to stand still. We gain nothing by our restless and anxious efforts… It is therefore true wisdom, in all times of difficulty and perplexity, to stand still – to wait only upon God, and He will assuredly open a way for us.” C.H. Mackintosh

“Live by faith. Rejoice through faith in the Lord. It is the neglect of this exercise that will allow discouragement to erupt, and Satan to interrupt your happiness and spiritual cheerfulness. It will cast you int the dumps and into mourning. What good is faith if it is not used? Keep your faith and it will keep your joy. Is it not fitting for the righteous to rejoice? What is a Christian but one who is joyful? Men wonder to see a rich man with all of his heart’s desire in a fit of heaviness, but much more if one knows that all will work for his good, and if Christ is his Friend, and God his Shepherd. Can you be sad when you have all the treasures in heavenly places? Our treasures are out of the devil’s reach forever and ever. Show me your faith by your joy. Use your faith, and have joy; increase your faith and increase your joy.” Samuel Ward

“To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.” George Mueller

“A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.” D. L. Moody

“As a weak limb grows stronger by exercise, so will your faith be strengthened by the very efforts you make in stretching it out toward things unseen.” James H. Aughey

“Faith tackles great obstacles. Small boats do fine in a calm, and ordinary men can stand up to a light breeze, but when a heavy tempest blows, and wave after wave crashes, nature yields, the spirit faints, a heart fails. To stand up against such storms and to live and reign is the work of faith. This faith has the Word as its compass, and Christ directing the helm. The greatest adversities are but the exercise and lustre of faith. Men glory when they can tame the tigers, but what is that compared to faith that makes shame, poverty, sickness, persecutions, banishment, yea, death itself calm and bearable? Christians have great advantage because of their faith. Their only error is the lack of skill or failure to use the shield of faith when a dart comes suddenly upon them. Consider this medicine for your faith to drink in comfort: not the slightest trouble befalls you without the overruling eye and hand of God. He is not only our wise God, but a tender Father. He knows what you are made up and measures out exactly every cross unto us as a chemist measures grains of medicine.” Samuel Ward

“We don’t have to let our emotions rule us. I’ve learned the peace of God can transform our pain. I never found relief in begging, demanding, or scolding God. I only found relief in prayers oftrust. This kind of prayer meant I had to turn over my problems to God. It was the only way to make a difference in my difficulties. I’ve discovered that the prayer of trust is the real prayer of faith.” Linda Evans Shepherd

“By faith we stand, by faith we fight, by faith we overcome.” Samul Ward

Heart Savor

The Lion Roars

  • We are never to be lacking in zeal but keep our spiritual fervor serving the Lord.
  • We are to be zealous for the Lord’s great Name – through His power for His glory.
  • Create in me a pure heart and a steadfast spirit Oh Lord.