Where Is Your Faith?
Stacey Lunsford
Arise & Shine For Jesus Ministry
Arise & Shine For Jesus ~ A Titus 2 Hospice For Women
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Luke 8:22-25
Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them: LET US GO OVER UNTO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE. And they launched forth.
But as they sailed, he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, WHERE IS YOUR FAITH? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! For he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
*Life Application KJV Summary for Like 8:22-25
*When caught in the storms of life, it is easy to think God has lost control and we are at the mercy of the winds of fate. In reality, God is Sovereign. He controls the history of the world and our personal destinies. Just as Jesus calmed the waves, he can calm whatever storms you may face.
Adversities come in and out of our lives. We live, we love, we laugh and we cry. We walk, we run, we stumble and sometimes we fall, but we should never give into negativism. Standing tall, we hold our heads up high and we look to the hills from whence cometh our helpbecause our help comes from the Lord, who made the Heaven and earth, Psalms 121:1-2
Out of all of the storms that you have been in, who delivered you? Who heard your cry? Who stopped the waters from overflowing you? Who stopped the flames from kindling upon you? Isaiah 43:1-3 says, "But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah 43:1 tells us that God that created us. He caused us to come into being. God also formed us. He gives the shape and determines how we will be molded. God tells us to fear not. He doesn't want us to be distressed or afraid of impending pain, danger, evil, etc. Not is an adverb used to express negation denial, refusal or prohibition to forbid. Here, God is telling us that we are to deny all kinds of fears. It is forbidden to fear. We have nothing to fear anyway because we have God.
God created us, so He knows everything about us. God knows that we are His children. God will protect us. In Matthew 10:31, God tells us to Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than the sparrows. Think about it! God takes care of the many sparrows that have no one to care for him or her or to give them shelter; they are totally dependent on God. Confidently they live each day trusting God, flying high in the sky, nesting in the tree branches knowing that God will supply all of their needs. If God is telling us to fear not because we are more valuable to Him, than the many sparrows that He cares for, what won't He do for us? That is so awesome!
My favorite fear verse is found in Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will shew to you today: For the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. In this verse Moses is telling the people to:
1. Fear not
2. Be still
3. See the salvation of God
4. And to wait on God
No matter what or who your Egyptian may be, bills, job, sickness, broken heart, your husband left you, your children are out of control, you were raped, or maybe you had an abortion, what ever you are facing, God is telling you to fear not. Don't be moved! Don't get stressed! Don't focus on the problem. Focus on God. Refuse to be intimidated by your circumstances. Refuse satan's attempts to torment and harass you. Rest peacefully in God's word in Isaiah 43:1, Fear ye not for I have called you by your name. You belong to me. You are mine. God chose you, you did not chose Him. That's why you belong to Him. Apart from God, we can't do anything but with God all things are possible.
By faith, Peter walked on the water.
By faith, Shadrach, Meshach and Abenego came out of the fiery furnace unharmed.
By faith, Daniel slept peacefully in the lion's den.
By faith, Noah and his family were the only human beings to escape the flood.
By faith, a young boy named David, killed a giant named Goliath.
By faith, the woman with the issue of blood was healed as she touched His Garment.
By faith, Moses said no to his high position in Egypt and said yes Lord, to His low position in the desert, where He prepared Moses to do His Will.
What ever your storm may be: lust, pleasure, pride, alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, Jesus is the answer and the only way out! As you step out in faith, your situation may not change, but he will change you within the situation. The places you used to go to, your friends will still go, but you will be at prayer meeting. The things that you used to do, you will not do them as much as you used to, because God is delivering you. He is cleaning you up on the inside and as you continue to trust in him, you gain a better understanding of the following scriptures:
2 Corinthians 5:17,
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
In this text we learn about conversion. Conversion means to change, to change one's beliefs or attitudes, to make different in some particular way, to alter. Picture an old beat up car that is not very pleasant to look at because the paint is peeling, it has several dents from being in accidents and it's running a little sluggish. You can't afford a new car, so you take your car to be serviced. After examining the car, the mechanic tells you that you need a tune-up. He can knock out all of the dents, remove the peeling paint and give you a new paint job. Believing that your mechanic can give your car a new look, you agree to have the car repaired.
You pick up your car and can't believe that it is the same old beat up car that you left, a few days ago! It looks like a brand new car and since the tune-up, it's running great! You didn't need a new car after all. Satisfied with the changes that were made to your vehicle, you pay your bill and drive away happy. When you came to Jesus, you were just like that old beat up car. After being hurt betrayed, mistreated, used, abused, mixed up and confused, you received many dents in your heart, that changed your disposition. For those of you who were physically abused, the scars are visible on your face and so is your pain.
Where you used to stand tall holding your head up high, your shoulders were drooped and your head was hung low. The shame and guilt that you were carrying made you feel so unworthy. That is until you met Jesus that's when your life started to change. That's when you started to stand tall again and your shoulders were rounded with pride. When you accepted Jesus Christ into your heart, you believed that Jesus could knock out your dents, remove your peeling paint, give you a tune-up and a brand new start. Unlike the mechanic who fixed your car in his garage, Jesus is doing His work right in the middle of the situation that you are in. Your situation may or may not change but God is changing you in the midst of your situation. Therefore, you are able to accept what God allows because you gave Him permission to do the work that He needs to do in your heart and in your life. The good news is that your bill has been paid in full. When Jesus Christ died on the cross at a hill called Mount Calvary, He died for you and He died for me.
Isaiah 43:18-19
Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Here, we learn about commitment. Commitment means to make a pledge or a promise. To give in trust, to charge. We must give up the self-life and deny ourselves on a daily basis. As we die to self (our old fleshly nature) it's no longer our will that we desire to fulfil but the will of Our Heavenly Father.
God is telling us not to remember our old life, our old thoughts, our old sins, our old way of walking and talking. Our past should stay in the past. God has forgiven us and we need to forgive ourselves. Consider means to think carefully about something, to reflect on, to bear in mind. In this text, God is telling us not to think carefully about our past. God is telling us not to reflect on what once was. God is telling us not to bear in mind the hurts and pains of yesterday. Yesterday is a canceled check! How many times have you rehearsed the pain that you have endured?
In a sermon entitled "The Life Of An Overcomer," by Patricia Ashley of Ashley Ministries, she said the following:
"Our hope is not in our circumstances and the atmosphere that we are living in but our hope is in a living Jesus. We are living in a day where it is time for the church of God to arise. "It is time for the Jesus in you to stand up. It is time for your life to be counted. It is time for us to move out of the realm of our emotions. It is time for some of us to get well! Some of us carry our wounds like they are a badge of honor. Instead of us being known as virtuous woman of God. Instead of us being known as women who love, honor and fear God. We are known by our issues; we are bound by the things that have been done unto us. But God is calling for women today who will arise. God is more grieved and hurt, that you want be healed, than He is that you were ever wounded."
Stop hurting God, let it go and let God take control!
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.
Tribulation is grievous trouble, a severe trial or suffering. Cheer is a shout of encouragement, approval or show of enthusiasm. As you go through your trials, God is telling you in His word to Shout! He is telling you to be encouraged because He is in control. God rescued you when you accepted His Son Jesus Christ into your life. He already told you in Isaiah 43:1 that you belong to Him so start acting like it. Stop murmuring! Stop complaining! Stop being the victim and start living the victorious life that God has blessed you with!
Here is what the New International Versions has to say about trials and temptations in James 1:2, consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. Start shouting now! Start singing now! Start worshipping the Lord now because your victory is in your praise! 2 Corinthians 6:2 for he saith, I HAVE HEARD THEE IN A TIME ACCEPTED, AND IN THE DAY OF SALVATION HAVE I SUCCOURED THEE: BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION. Take a look at the word BEHOLD. Divide it in half and you have BE / HOLD. Take the d off of HOLD and you have hol, (whole). God wants you to BE WHOLE!
Corinthians 6:1, 3- 4
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor or righteousness on the right hand and on the left.
By honor and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open to you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, ye are straitened in your own bowels.
Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I WILL DWELL IN THEM, AND WALK IN THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. Wherefore COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, AND TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING; AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU; AND WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAITH THE LORD ALMIGHTY.
Don't receive God's grace and do nothing with it. Use it before you loose it! Don't let anything stop you from coming to Christ! Don't let anything stop you from working for Christ! Don't let your behavior or careless actions become another person's excuse for rejecting God. Stand still and be strong. Be comforted by God. Don't let your circumstances control you. Refuse to compromise yourself. As believers, we should avoid situations that would cause us to forget our loyalties. Don't lock yourselves in personal or business relationships with unbelievers. Resist the sin around you and be ye separate. Don't give up! Don't give in! Stay close to God!
Romans 8:35-37
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, FOR THY SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER. NAY, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US.
In order to be a more than conqueror, you must have a situation that you need to overcome. Remember Jesus words, "Let us go over unto the other side of the lake". The storms are going to come and you will overcome them, if you keep the faith! By Faith, God is going to use you in an awesome way! You are worthy! You are wanted! You are a winner! You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Stacey Cheryl Lunsford
© Copyright 2000
Written on 9/21/98
Revised on 7/13/2000
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REFERENCES
New International Version Bible & King James Version Bible
Courtesy of The Bible Gateway A Service of GospelCom.net
Life Application Summary of scriptures courtesy of
Life Application Bible - King James Version
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Stacey Cheryl Lunsford is the publisher and director of administrative services. If you have a testimony that you would like to share, contact me at
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