‘Faith’
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” Luke 5:20
We visited this passage a couple weeks ago. I want to take a different approach today.
Imagine you and three others carried a friend to Jesus and there was no room for you. So, you and your determined pals climb up on the roof hauling your parapeligic compadre. You dig a hole in the roof and lower him down. This is no easy task these guys pulled off.
After all that work you hear the master say, “Your sins are forgiven.” Wait a minute. We were looking for healing.
We are so attached to this physical life we often miss the importance of the spiritual. Sometimes our heavenly Father is doing something so much bigger than physical healing. Sometimes the paralyzing events in life free us to become what God truly desires for us.
I thank God that Jesus did heal that young man because in doing so He showed He has power to forgive. (Vs 24)
Sometimes He doesn’t heal. Then He says, “My grace is sufficient.”
Today carry your friends to Jesus but trust Him with the outcome. Trust Him to do what is truly best.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.
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Eph 6:17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Eph 6:17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
1Jn 4:8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1Jn 4:10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
There is a comedian who uses the statement, “Put a helmet on!” as a way of poking fun at people who do or say silly things.” Truth is we all get silly if we listen to the lies of Satan and let them take control of our thoughts. So God has provided a Helmet of Salvation for us.
One of the biggest things Satan uses in his relentless attacks is a simple question, “Hath God Said?” Then he continues by trying to explain away what God “hath said”.
This is why the Helmet of Salvation is so very important. Rom 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
The Helmet of Salvation is the truth that God is who He says He is and that He loves us and that we are His children if we have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
Some trial comes into our lives and Satan is right there saying, “If God really loved you…” That is when you had better have that Helmet of Salvation on. Here is a good and simple way to put it on right now if you haven’t already done so today.
Sing it with me…
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so
A child’s song? Really, Brother Steve? Yes a child’s song with the most precious and powerful message ever proclaimed. Sing it until you believe it so much that no matter what comes into your life you truly believe that God loves you and that He will work all things together for your good. Rom 8:28.
Today sing it, believe it and share it.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.
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(NLT) Luke 18:1-8
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. [2] “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. [3] A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ [4] The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, [5] but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’” [6] Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. [7] Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? [8] I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Here are some choices for dealing with a difficult situation:
1. Give up on God and His word and try to fix it yourself.
2. Complain to others how God just doesn’t meet your needs like He does for others. (Perhaps, this one comes with these motives; maybe those I complain to will fix my problem, or misery love company.)
3. Just give up and accept that this is your lot in life. It will never get better.
4. Keep on praying, keep on believing, keep on proclaiming the goodness of God our Creator, Friend and Father, and keep on looking for His answer to arrive.
Jesus promised an answer for those who cry out to Him day and night. The term quickly here is misunderstood to mean something will happen soon. That goes against the fact that we are to continue asking night and day, which implies the asking goes on for quite awhile. So, the “quickly” is that when it happens it will be quick justice.
The point is, keep praying for the answer until it comes. Keep looking to God to do what only He can do. With that in mind, if you have been given wise council follow it. Do your part.
Today pray, act wisely and righteously and wait on the Lord.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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John 17:20 ”I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in Me through their message.
John 17:21 I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one—as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent Me.
John 17:22 ”I have given them the glory You gave Me, so they may be one as We are one.
John 17:23 I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me.
John 17:24 Father, I want these whom You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they can see all the glory You gave Me because You loved Me even before the world began!
John 17:25 ”O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know You, but I do; and these disciples know You sent Me.
John 17:26 I have revealed You to them, and I will continue to do so. Then Your love for Me will be in them, and I will be in them.”
In John 17 we find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane praying for us. He makes it clear that He is praying for us in verse 20.
Wow, Jesus Christ prayed for you. He prayed for me. His desire in this prayer is that we would be one in Him and the Father with one another.
Father God, Great Creator and Master,
Work in our hearts and minds. Make us one in You and Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit You have sent to work this out in us. Show us if there is any unforgiveness in us. Grant us the gift of repentance in regards to all who have hurt us. May the world see us loving one another in such perfect unity that they will know You sent Jesus and they too, will believe and be saved.
Through Christ Our Lord,
Amen!
Love in Christ,
Brother Steve
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I don’t use snopes. I use truthorfiction.com. However, when it comes to truth there is really only one we can fully rely on, that person being Jesus Christ. After all He is the way, the truth and the life.
Most of this stuff that gets sent out over the internet as a BIG WARNING is hype. Truth is Christ promised we would have trouble in this world and along with that promise came this encouragement, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Further more, many types of emails that go out with, “if you care let all your friends know” plastered on them are meant to spread fear. Jesus said, “(NLT) Matthew 10:28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” We are also told in 2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Other such emails are sent to make us angry about something. Eph 4:26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, Eph 4:27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
Here’s another one. “If you love Jesus you will send this to 10 people in the next 30 seconds.” My love for Jesus is not measured in the emails I send. It is measured in whether I’m keeping His commands. Some wishy washy email that only speaks of God’s love but says nothing of His justice and the need for repentance is only going to spread a false sense of security to people who are already complacent in their relationship with God almighty. You want to show Jesus you love Him? Push away from your computer, come out of hiding and love some real people you can see. Share with them the Gospel. Share your food and clothes with them. Visit the nursing home, the hospital and the jail. Go out into the streets and talk to some homeless folks. Give a smile to the check out clerk at the store who is moving a little slow. Say, “God Bless You!”, instead of griping how long they took. Show the love of God.
So, Truth is, I ignore a lot of these forwarded emails. Yes, I hit delete without even opening them. Father, God can be trusted. Pray, write your congressmen and senators, but speak with grace and truth, not bitterness and anger. Share your faith with people face to face.
Feel free to save this and send it to those people who insist on filling your inbox with all their fears, guilt trips and rants. Or you can delete it. There are no miracles waiting to happen one way or the other as a result, except that some may find you unreasonable in your trust of almighty God and may remove you from their spam list.
Oh, one more thing, please don’t send me those forwarded emails. Someone will no doubt write me and say, “But you like getting jokes, don’t you?” Yes, yes I do. Pro 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. So send on the good CLEAN jokes.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.
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(NLT) 1 John 5:21
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
We are created with a God sized hole in our lives. Though many things will try to fill that place, none but God can fill it correctly and adequately. Only God is sufficient.
So, what is first in your life? Who is first in your life? Is there anything that pushes God off the throne of your heart?
You see, when you chose to become a Christian, in your heart you believed that God raised Jesus from the dead, and you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. (Rom 10:9) Do you confess Him, Jesus Christ, as Lord? If so, then is He Lord of your life? If He is Lord of your life what things, people, situations, thoughts, desires, etc., are clamoring for control of your life?
What things do you need to lay aside to truly give Christ the throne of your heart, mind and body?
You may be saying, “Isn’t this my life to live as I please?” 1Co 6:19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
There is no safer, calmer place to be than in the middle of God’s will with Him at the controls of your life.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr.
1Co 6:19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,
1Co 6:20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body
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(NLT) Mark 2:2-5
Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, [3] four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. [4] They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. [5] Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
(NLT) Mark 2:11
“Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
Notice what moved Jesus to act on this man’s behalf, (Vs 5) “Seeing their faith”. Their faith showed by their action that they truly believed Jesus could help their friend.
(NLT) Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Do your prayers for others show “roof ripping” perseverence?
I have a friend who has been so beat up by every turn of life that her faith is presently paralyzed. She can’t get herself to Jesus right now. Her friends must carry her in prayer.
On Fridays I usually have a prayer for you. Today I’m asking you to put your armor on and pray for “Steve’s friend”. Father knows her name. I’m asking you to pray with “roof ripping” perseverence for my friend and any of the people you know who feel paralyzed by Satan’s lies.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.
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(NLT) 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. [2] For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. [3] When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. [4] But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. [5] For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. [6] So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. [7] Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. [8] But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. [9] For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. [10] Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. [11] So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
There are many scary things taking place these days. Numerous times I’ve heard, “Is the oil leak in the gulf a sign of the end?”
My answer: Well, if it is are you ready for the end?
Does it frighten you to the point you can’t function?
Or are you protected by the armor of faith & love?
Do you have the confidence that God, who has promised life to those believe in Him, is faithful?
Today live in the light as He is in the light.
(NLT) 1 John 1:5
This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.
He is faithful and He can be trusted. Believe.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
There is an old song that says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, then the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace”.
How are we to live the faithful life?
1. Turn your eyes on Jesus.
A. He started our faith.
B. He will complete it.
2. Turn your mind to all that Christ endured. Have you suffered for your faith? Have you been nailed to a cross? Notice Christ endured the hostility. Now He is seated with God in the heavenlies.
3. Turn your weary heart and mind to rejoice in the strength Christ offers. Be encouraged.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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1Peter 1:2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace. 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. (NLT)
How are you handling the trials of life? The fiery trials you face test your faith.
I’m reminded of Yukon Cornelius on Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. He would toss his pick-ax into the air and then test it for gold by licking it. Now whether one can taste gold or not Yukon’s reaction was always the same, “Nothin’”.
You either have gone through trials, are in one right now or soon will face one. If God were to speak out about the results of your fiery test what would be the conclusion? “Nothin’?”
Do you take Peter’s suggestion above and look forward to the joy ahead? Vs 6. Do you rejoice in your salvation with inexpressible joy?
Can you, do you believe Romans 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
Today focus on the joy ahead and let that guide you into inexpressible joy now, no matter what you are going through.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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