LOVE IS OUR DRIVING FORCE

1 Corinthians 13:13 - And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Here it is folks… the very last day of our 21 days of prayer and fasting. I have said this to you all over and over that I truly feel that this time, that we have set apart for Him, will accomplish something much bigger than you can possibly even imagine.

We have studied faith, hope, and this past week Love. Abiding in all 3. But Paul went on to say that “the greatest of these is love”. Why? Because true love needs to be the driving force for everything that we are and everything thing that we do in this world.

Let’s read:

Mark 5
1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”
8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?”
And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

We read earlier this week that God is love (1John4:8). This story right here is the epitome of Love in Action. A story of Jesus leaving the multitudes behind, crossing the sea in the middle of the night, through a raging windstorm just to get to 1 man, who was alone, broken, and hurting. Why did He do it?  LOVE

Remember Love is unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. Love isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from the will and as a choice. Love requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return… It is completely unconditional.  This was Jesus walking in what Paul called the “greatest” place that we are to ABIDE in.

This man, that was found alone living in the tombs, was now completely free and ready to be a witness of the Lord all because of His encounter with Love.

Where were you when Jesus found you?

Where would you be if He hadn’t came to you?

In that place, you encountered real Love. This love needs to be the driving force for everything in our lives. It is the place where we ABIDE.

True Love Forgives

Agape love is unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. Agape isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from the will and as a choice. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return… It is completely unconditional.

Can you imagine how Peter must’ve felt seeing Jesus die on the cross knowing that the last thing he did was deny Him? He must’ve felt terrible! Thankfully the Bible says that “Love keeps no record of wrong” and our God truly loves us. After Peter denied Him not once, not twice, but three times, Jesus was crucified . After He rose from the grave He encountered the ladies at the tomb and He had very specific instructions for them: “go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He (Jesus) is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” (Mark 16:7)

He asked specifically for Peter…
Because true love covers a multitude of sin (1Peter4:7)

Let’s read:

John 21
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”



This instance right here was a beautiful picture of the Father forgiving and restoring one of His children. It brings us to the whole point of todays devotion. True love forgives…

In order to walk in true forgiveness we have to be forgiving people! If Jesus can forgive one of His closest friends that denied Him in what would be His darkest hour, when one would think He needed him the most, how can we not forgive others that have wronged us?

Our Father is very serious about unforgiveness and the grip that it places on us! He wants us free. It’s why He gave His Son…

How can we, who have been forgiven, not forgive?


His love drove Him to forgive and created this place of ABIDING for us, we must do the same for others.

Ask Holy Spirit today to reveal anyone in your life that you need to forgive. If forgiveness feels to difficult for you just ask Him how, and then do what He says.

There is Freedom in His love

Agape love is unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. Agape isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from the will and as a choice. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return… It is completely unconditional.

Let’s read:

Matthew 6
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not [l]arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.


Our heavenly Father truly wants us to understand that we are His beloved children. He doesn’t want us to worry about anything! He is a really good Father and has unlimited resources that are just sitting there waiting for us to tap in… the only way to do that… is through our belief system.

Most of the time our natural minds go to a place of self. “Will I have enough?” God is not concerned with that because He has an endless supply of everything. This is the point that Jesus was driving home in these passages.

Romans 8 says: “15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, (Daddy) Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”


Did you see that? Through the death of Jesus we were “adopted” into the family. These were legal terms used in these passages. We are “heirs” meaning everything that is my Fathers, is mine.

Luke 12:32 says “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

We have got to get this! Our Daddy loves us and has an endless supply that will sustain us in any and all circumstances and He truly wants us to ABIDE in this place of freedom!

Ask Holy Spirit today to reveal any areas in your life that you are focused on self rather than your Father. When He reveals that place, ask Him what His truth is over the situation and how to change the way you handle it.

His Love is Fierce

Agape love is unconcerned with self and concerned with the greatest good of another. Agape isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from the will and as a choice. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return… It is completely unconditional.

Let’s read:

John 11

11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” 12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him! 37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”
38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” 45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.

This is one of the most powerful events seen in scripture. Though Jesus loves all people, Lazarus was one of the men in the scriptures that the writers specifically documented as one that was loved.  The sisters were devastated to say the least, they had surrounded themselves with others that were grieving with / for them, a truly sad scene. Every one knew that Lazarus was dead. But Jesus…


As the word got to Him about His friend, Jesus immediately brought a word out that would change everything… vs 4 “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” - Others around Him may not have understood but it didn’t matter, He knew what would come soon.


From there Jesus traveled all the way to where they buried Lazarus. In His travels He came across all kinds of peoples emotions including doubt, fear, worry, sadness, grieving, and even unbelief. But Jesus was focused. His love compelled Him to continue forward when others were in complete despair. His love truly is fierce!

That word fierce can be defined as - “heartfelt and powerful intensity”. In the face of so much unbelief and misunderstanding  Jesus was locked and loaded. There was no stopping Him from getting to Lazarus. Death did not matter. The words Jesus released right from the beginning of this ordeal were guaranteed. “This sickness is not unto death”.

Jesus understood the Fathers love for His children. Remember, He only did / said what the Father was doing / saying. So when He released that word over the life of Lazarus it was because it was what God was saying.


We have to get away from human reaction and emotion and get Gods heart when we face difficult situations. What is He saying?!  Jesus knew… and the Fathers Love over His child (Lazarus) compelled Him to push through the opposition. The fierce love of God was on display as Jesus pushed through all of the opinions, negative declarations, and mindsets and came upon the place where His love was truly about to be put on display. The tomb.

How about us? Can we see beyond the mountains of unbelief that surround us every day? Can we look beyond the worry and doubt that begins to creep in when the circumstances look like all hope is lost? Can we truly see that the love of our Father is truly fierce and will not be denied its target?

He wants us to come to Him in all circumstances and get His heart for the situation. Then when we have that we should be able to look death in the face and say “Not today”.


We are to ABIDE in this heartfelt and powerfully intense love of God that will not be denied in the face of any opposition.

We are inseparable from His Love

Let’s read:

Acts 16

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly [d]annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Can you imagine this! Paul and Silas set this young girl free from the spirit that had hold of her and they were beaten and thrown in prison for it! There are many Christians today that don’t want to get involved in peoples other problems for fear of what might happen to them. This is the spirit of anti-Christ at work. It’s exactly the opposite of what Jesus would do. We have to remember we are called to set the captives free! Paul and Silas were fixed on bringing the love of God every where they went. They weren’t worried, they were focused on Jesus! Look what they were doing while in prison…

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.


They were praying and singing! How many of us can say that we are doing the same thing when we are going through hard times?! These 2 men of God knew something very special. In Pauls letter to the Romans he said, “ Romans 8: 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He was fully convinced that no matter what happened he could not be separated from the love of God.


We have to remember this! In all circumstances, no matter what is going on, we absolutely cannot be separated from the love of our Father. He is infinitely for us and unequivocally with us through all things that we may face.


This understanding of being inseparable from the Fathers love is truly an ABIDING place!

Love comes from the source!

Remember Agape love is unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. Agape isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from the will and as a choice. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return… It is completely unconditional.

Years ago I heard Papa say that this verse would mark my life forever. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8. For many years I have read and reread that verse and summarized what I felt it meant and have tried to apply the principles received of being love for others. Not until only recently has He begun to bring a whole new revelation of this verse to me.
He is… the very embodiment of unconditional love and He lives in us. He is love and He is the very source by which we love from.

Let’s read:

Jesus was praying for us….

John 17
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”


In vs. 25, Jesus said the world has not “known” You, but I have “known” You…. The word used here was one to describe intimacy. If you think about true intimacy - it is a personal private connection between 2 parties that produces life.

This is the very connection that Jesus paved the way for each of us to have with our Heavenly Father. He is the source of our love and that intimate connection is the only true place for us to receive and then pour out unconditional love from.


It is Gods heart, His true desire to have this intimacy with each one of us.


We are to ABIDE in this place of intimacy with our Father…

The Greatest is …. LOVE

1 Cor. 13: 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Here it is folks. The last week of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. We have been learning to ABIDE in the place of faith and hope. This week is something truly special. This week we will cover what Paul said what the “greatest” of all these places to ABIDE - LOVE

In order to truly understand it, you must first define it:

The Greek word used to for love is Agape. It could be defined as charity. However, we often think of charity nowadays as giving away money or things, which doesn’t encompass all of what agape is about. Agape love is unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. Agape isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from the will and as a choice. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return… It is completely unconditional.

Let’s read:

1 Corinthians 13

1 If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing.
3 And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value.
4 Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. 5 Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. 6 Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. 7 Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.

8 Love never stops loving. It extends beyond the gift of prophecy, which eventually fades away. It is more enduring than tongues, which will one day fall silent. Love remains long after words of knowledge are forgotten. 9 Our present knowledge and our prophecies are but partial, 10 but when love’s perfection arrives, the partial will fade away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I set aside my childish ways.
12 For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries[s] as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face. My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. 13 Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.


This is how Paul defined Love…


It is Gods heart for each one of us…


We are to ABIDE in this place of our Father’s unconditional Love…

Jesus Christ is our LIVING HOPE

Lets read:

Revelation 1:
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches [h]which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

Did you see that? John was seeking the Lord and finds more than he might’ve bargained for. He ends up in this full encounter with Jesus! I would imagine each one of us would have the same reaction as he did; “I fell at His feet as if dead”. But Jesus does something very special here. He lays His hand on him and says “Don’t be afraid…” He then reminds John who He really is. The One who has the “keys of Hades and Death”.

Jesus stood in the face of certain death that we were all heading for and said “Not on My watch”. This is the God that we serve! John was face to face in this moment with the one that was our true Savior. He was alive… the living embodiment of Hope.

With that revelation in mind John sits back up and follows exactly what Jesus asks Him to do. “Write the things which you have seen”. Why? Because what John was about to write would be read and bring revelations to millions and millions of people for years to come.

Jesus is before each one of us today inviting us into the same encounter with the same purpose. He loves each one of us so much that He put Himself up on that cross to bring us back into full relationship with His Father. How will we respond to this invitation is the question…


There is a powerful song that speaks about this very thing take a listen below … pay attention to the lyrics. POWERFUL STUFF.


How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain I could not climb
In desperation, I turned to heaven
And spoke your name into the night
Then through the darkness
Your loving kindness
Tore through the shadows of my soul
The work is finished, the end is written
Jesus Christ, my living hope

Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The king of kings calls me His own
Beautiful savior, I'm yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope

He is our living Hope, an eternal place to ABIDE!

You are Hope for others.

Let’s read:

Genesis 14 (MSG)
5-7 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him set out and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El Paran on the far edge of the desert. On their way back they stopped at En Mishpat, that is, Kadesh, and conquered the whole region of the Amalekites as well as that of the Amorites who lived in Hazazon Tamar.

8-9 That’s when the king of Sodom marched out with the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, that is, Zoar. They drew up in battle formation against their enemies in the Valley of Siddim—against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five.
10-12 The Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. When the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into the tar pits, but the rest escaped into the mountains. The four kings captured all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, all their food and equipment, and went on their way. They captured Lot, Abram’s nephew who was living in Sodom at the time, taking everything he owned with them.

13-16 A fugitive came and reported to Abram the Hebrew. Abram was living at the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and Aner. They were allies of Abram. When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken prisoner, he lined up his servants, all of them born in his household—there were 318 of them—and chased after the captors all the way to Dan. Abram and his men split into small groups and attacked by night. They chased them as far as Hobah, just north of Damascus. They recovered all the plunder along with nephew Lot and his possessions, including the women and the people.

There was some crazy stuff going on in these days. If you had a large group of soldiers, you could pretty much conquer and take all that you wanted.

After obeying God and blindly following His direction Abram was truly blessed. God had been expanding him and his family. So much so that a one point he decided it was time to split the family apart. Abram would go 1 direction with all of his family, servants, and livestock; his nephew Lot would go another direction.


Lot settled in the area of Sodom and began to grow even more. Everything was going great until that one day when these 4 kings came into town. They ravaged the whole city and took everything including Lots family and everything he owned. Can you imagine what was going through Lot’s mind? He had everything! Until the enemy came in like a flood and wreaked havoc on him. Now he was captured and probably thinking he might die soon.

We are surrounded by people every day who the enemy has completely wreaked havoc on. Through different situations and circumstances he comes in and does what he does. Steals, kills, and destroys everything.

In this story, word got out to Abram about what was happening. He was living in this beautiful town  building his life and living the promise that God placed on him, everything was going amazing until this day. Abram when hearing about his nephew makes the decision to put everything aside and go rescue him. You see Abram had the “X” factor. He knew that God had promised to be with him no matter where he went, so if he was going to save Lot… God was going with him.

Picture this in your mind. Lot is in chains or some sort of captivity somewhere thinking that he might die soon when all of a sudden he gets a glimpse of his uncle coming to rescue him… In that 1 second, HOPE ARRIVES. What once may have felt like things were in complete despair, was now turning to hope for a future once again.

Can you think of a situation that was going terrible for you and then... hope arrived?

That same hope that was there for you, is the hope that you and I represent to those we are surrounded by every day. The question is… Are we willing to leave our own comfortable little areas and truly be that Hope that others desperately need?

Abram was able to help Lot recover everything the enemy had stolen… We get that same opportunity every single day!

Is there some you know in your heart is struggling right now and just needs a little bit of hope?

Ask Holy Spirit what you should do about it?

This is a place of for us to ABIDE in, we are hope for others.

Our Hope is in Him alone

Let’s read:

The Prophet Isaiah said:

Isaiah 8
16 Bind up the testimony,
Seal the law among my disciples.

17  And I will wait on the Lord,
Who hides His face from the house of Jacob;
And I will hope in Him.

18  Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me!
We are for signs and wonders in Israel
From the Lord of hosts,
Who dwells in Mount Zion.


Isaiah would not be moved! He understood that in a day and age where everything around him was chaos his hope was in God and God alone!  

Just like Isaiah and God’s people, we are on Earth as representatives of God! Isaiah said “we are signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord”. You and I are to be walking signs and wonders for the King of glory!

The world we are living in is just like the days of Isaiah…. Chaos! Many people are looking to all different types of avenues to get them to a “deeper place” a “higher power”. They will look to all types of New Age stuff, tarot cards, paranormal witch craft, psychic readers all to have an experience with the supernatural. The only reason this is happening is because the church hasn’t fully realized who she is and what she carries!  

We have to begin stepping in these arenas to bring the truth of the Gospel!

What if someone was able to stay away from Reiki because they could come to the church to get healed?

What if someone could skip the tarot card reader because they could come to the church to hear from a prophetic voice?

What if someone could stop ghost hunting and come to the church to encounter Jesus in a real tangible way?

Understand… the church is not the building! It’s you and I, we are the church!

Like Isaiah our only hope is in God and His love for His people, it is an ABIDING place!

Hope protects our thoughts

Let’s read:

Paul said:
1 Thes. 5: 8 But since we belong to the day, we must stay alert and clearheaded by placing the breastplate of faith and love over our hearts, and a helmet of the hope of salvation over our thoughts. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath but to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. 10 He gave his life for us so that we may share in resurrection life[f] in union with him—whether we’re awake or asleep. 11 Because of this, encourage the hearts of your fellow believers and support one another, just as you have already been doing.

Paul was addressing the believers in the church about some end times belief problems that they were facing with some of the people around them. He brought to their attention who, and who’s they were and then called them to a new place. A place of surrender in their hearts and minds.

These believers had done everything correctly to this point (see Chapter 1). But just like the enemy does all the time, he was trying to creep in. Paul wasn’t having it! He is instructed them to put on the breastplate of faith and love and the “HELMET OF HOPE OF SALVATION” over their thoughts.

Paul knew their history, he knew what they were thinking. He knew that he needed to call their thoughts back to the place that they belonged… the place of salvation. The word used here in the original Greek is the word “soteria”it means “deliverance, preservation, safety, and salvation” Paul told them to let this be what protects your thoughts.

It’s the same place that we need to be in today. The enemy is doing everything he can to get our thoughts twisted and focused on the wrong things, because he knows what God can do with a fully surrendered life. So he will come at us every way that he possibly can and right now, especially with this pandemic going on. He is attacking the thoughts of people everywhere. He is in a constant state of trying to get us to partner with the lies that bring fear and confusion to our lives.


Here is a great way to look at this….

A thought, is not your thought, until you take possession of it.    

You should read that again….

Demons throw thoughts at us then accuse us of having these thoughts, all part of the plan to get us to partner with his lies. DON’T DO IT!


Paul told these believers to “possess salvation”. Deliverance, preservation, safety and salvation are ours! This is what Jesus accomplished on the cross! This is the hope that is to protect our thoughts.

Ask Holy Spirit to highlight a thought that you continue to have that is not from God. When He shows it to you, ask Him the truth about that thought. Then declare the truth over that thought. This will break that power of the enemy though that thought from this time forward!


This is an abiding place for us, thoughts must be filtered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Taking every thought captive to the knowledge of Christ. 2 Corinth. 2:5

Hope can be a resting place for the flesh…

Remember; Hope can be defined as “joyful, confident expectation and desire for a certain thing”

Let’s read:

Psalms 16: 1 Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. 2 O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” 3  As for the saints who are on the earth,
“They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”

4  Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips.

5  O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. 6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.

7  I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. 8  I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

9  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

David was a man that had many different challenges in his life. Some of them were his own fault and some were not. As time went on, David got to know God better and better. Not just who He was but also His character. When you know someone that close, you know what they will do in certain situations and circumstances. With the life that David lead, this was a necessity! There were times when David just needed to sit back and not do anything but let God be God.

Most of us have been taught that when circumstances go bad, we need to just put our heads down and work, work, work until things are fixed. Sometimes this is true. However, there are others times when Papa just wants us to sit back and rest while He handles everything.


Take a minute and ask Papa: Is there an area in my life that I have been working hard at that you want me to just sit back and rest in?

If He shows you an area. Ask Him, what resting in that situation looks like for you.


We are to ABIDE in this place of closeness with Him to where we understand when its time to work, and when its time to rest.

God’s plan is for us to have HOPE …

Let’s read:

Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The KJV reads “to give you an expected end”

God wants us to know and understand; who we are, Who’s we are, and why we are here. Many times people think that God is just sitting way up there in Heaven laughing at us as we try to figure things out. That is NOT who He is! He wants us to know things.

Jesus said:
John 15: 9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

Did you see that? Jesus brought the disciples from a place of being a servant, to the place of friendship. Why? “A servant does not know what his master is doing”. Think about this for a minute because this message needs to be received by every single one of us. No longer are we to be servants, (those who just do what we are told to do - punching a time clock if you will). We are FRIENDS - those who are on the inside, those who know the inner workings, those who know the heart of their friend. Thats some powerful stuff!


As a servant think of it this way, many people go to work and have their boss leave  a list of things to get done. As the day goes by they check off the boxes as they work though the list until it is complete, then they go home.

Now if a friend has things that need to be done most people would actually consider the personal side of things. They would pay closer attention to the details. They know what their friends likes and dislikes are and would pay attention to those things. They would understand the friends heart behind why they are doing what they are doing. This would make them focus even more on attention to detail.

Do you see the difference? Jesus has invited us to the inner circle. He wants to be close with us. He wants us to know what He is doing and why. It was His plan right from the beginning!

We’ve got to ABIDE in this place of friendship with Him. (In His inner circle).

Hope is in what we. can not see (Physically) …

Hope can be defined as “joyful, confident expectation and desire for a certain thing”

It can’t be seen in the natural, it can’t be touched in the physical, and cannot be explained in the mental. But it is truly powerful and He wants us to have it!

Let’s read:

Daniel 6: 6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”
The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.


Daniel was thrown into this pit with ferocious lions because he refused to bow down to a false God like the rest of them did. Scripture does not say that he was worried or that he tried to hide his lifestyle of thank to the one true God. It says that he did what was his “custom” since the early days. Daniel didn’t let the pressures or threats of men keep him from Abba. He alone is where Daniels hope was. He couldn’t see Him in the natural but had full assurance that God was with him.

Look at the story a little closer… Even the king had hope in God for Daniel. (vs.16)

That hope carried Daniel through all the way to his complete deliverance.


Paul said: Romans 8: 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.


Though Daniel could not see God in that pit (physically), He knew that He was there and persevered through it!

Think of 1 area of your life is lacking hope? God is there with you…

We are to ABIDE in this great expectation, even if it is unseen (physically).

Faith in the Storm

Let’s Read

Luke 7
22 Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. 23 But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

Notice the scripture says that “He got in the boat with His disciples and said Let’s cross over”. It was His idea!

Now more than ever God is calling us to a deeper place with Him. The events of this world are unfolding in front of our very eyes and He calling us to walk in a way that brings His love for people to the forefront of dire circumstances. Some people believe in “darker and darker” eschatology (study of end times) that states this world will get really really bad and then God will come. I personally do not believe this. I believe that when the world gets darker, the brighter we shine! (Isaiah 60).

There are going to be times that He calls us to go certain places, or do certain things, and we will run into hard situations along the way. In those places, our faith in Him is what will carry us through.


This is the faith that Jesus was asking the disciples about. Where is it? This is also the faith that He is looking for in us…

Luke 18:8 …when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

It's the place we are to ABIDE in. Faith that will carry us through any storm that we may face knowing that He is with us and will never leave!

Others are counting on our faith

Let’s Read

Mark 2: And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

What a powerful story! But something inside them drew them to carry that man all the way to where Jesus was. After seeing the place packed out with people, they carried this man up to the top if the house, ripped the roof off, and lowered this man down to where Jesus was. That is some real faith!

We are surrounded by people everyday who are paralyzed in one way or another. God has strategically placed His kids (us) in their path in order to bring them into a love encounter with Him. This paralyzed man would still be paralyzed if these 4 men didn’t have faith. But they did, and because they did they were willing to go above and beyond just to get this man into the path of Jesus.

This is the place we were meant to ABIDE in, where our faith is so strong, that others around us are able to encounter Jesus.

Faith builds expectancy, which attracts the power of God

Lets Read

Acts 14: 8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

Paul and Barnabas were were going about sharing the gospel when they came across this man. There was something very special here that caught Pauls eye. It says he “observed him intently” and could see that “he had faith to be healed”. This man had never walked a day in his life! It is most likely that this man had heard of the miracles that had been taking place as the disciples went throughout the region. Maybe the story of the man at the gate of the  temple had made its way here. (Acts 3). Either way, when he saw that they were coming to where he would be, faith just rose up in him, and he just knew that he was about to be healed. His faith drew the attention of Paul, which in turn brought the power of God and this man was ultimately healed.

The faith that was in this man brought expectancy. That expectancy attracted the power of God!

Let's see it again...

Mark 5: 25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” 29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” 31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” 32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

Did you see that? This woman’s faith, put a pull on the power of God! This is what God wants for us! He wants our faith to be so strong that we are expectant of Him to show up and show out in all circumstances.

This is the place we are to ABIDE in; faith that builds expectancy, which attracts the power of God!

Faith brings increase!

Let’s Read

Acts 16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

When Luke wrote the book of Acts he used a very specific word for “increase” it was the Greek word “perisseuo” which means “to abound, overflow, to overly exceed” Now reading that scripture again with this understanding changes everything.

It actually says that “as the disciples taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it caused their churches to be established in the faith, which brought about abounding overflow in the numbers of people coming daily.”

Move passed the subject of people here. Look at the principle: As we are established in faith, increase comes.

Matthew 14: 13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat. 17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus was established in faith. He understood Gods heart for people, and His desire to feed them. So as Jesus began to walk out His faith, increase came. Because of this, many were blessed!

This is the place that we need to ABIDE in.. when we walk in faith, increase comes!

Faith in the word of God

Let’s Read

Matt. 8: 5-13 - Faith in His word
5 And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, 6 and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” 7 Jesus *said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. 11 I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12 but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.

There was something very special about this encounter with the centurion that God wanted highlighted for each of us. The centurion knew that Jesus did not need to be there in person in order for his servant to be made well. How did he know? He understood authority. Jesus is the ultimate authority and when He speaks, whatever He says is a done deal. Jesus called the centurions willingness to just believe, “great faith”.  This is the faith that we are called to ABIDE in. To know that when God speaks, whether through the scriptures (logos) or to us individually (Rhema) there is a grace on what He speaks containing the power to carry His word out in our lives.

God spoke through the prophet Isaiah and said “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it produce and sprout, And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.

Paul said “ Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God” Romans 10:17 so we need set ourselves in a place where we can hear (ie. reading scripture, prayer time, worship, quiet meditation with Him, etc.) this is place where our faith will grow strong! From here, our faith becomes unshakable.

What He said will happen! This is a place for us to ABIDE in.

Righteousness is only obtained through faith

Let’s Read

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Jesus put a huge emphasis on “believing” in this conversation. You have to remember He was speaking to Nicodemus, a religious leader. Jesus wanted him to understand that a shift was taking place. It was no longer about what someone needed to do, (old testament sacrifices) in order to be clean. It was FAITH in Jesus as the “once and for all” sacrifice that makes us righteous before Him (not condemned).

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Paul could not have made it any clearer than he did here. He said “the righteousness of God is revealed” in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are not saved because of what we can do. We are saved because of our belief in what Jesus did. He made us clean (righteous) before God. We have been “justified” (Just as if I’d never sinned). There is power in that! As we grow in revelation and understanding, our faith grows stronger and stronger in Him.

We are RIGHTEOUS through our faith in Him. Its not through what we can do. We could never earn it on our own. It's His great love for us that made us free.  ABIDE from that place!

Let’s Read

Hebrews 11:1-12

1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

The writer of Hebrews was really trying to push a point here. He said “Now faith is…” Notice he didn’t say “faith could be” or “faith might be”. He said “FAITH IS” 2 very separate things: “Substance of things hoped for” & “Evidence of things not seen”. These are 2 very distinct features that we cannot miss!

The original greek word used here for “Substance” is “hypostasis” which means; a setting or placing under; that which has foundation, is firm; the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution.

The original greek word used here for “Evidence” is “elegchos” which means a “a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested”

This could be translated to say: Faith is an actual firm foundation that we can both rely and depend upon for things that are hoped for and it is rock solid proof of the things we just cannot see.

Take a look at how the writer went on to show this very principle in 3 different circumstances, in the next few passages through Abel, Abraham, and Sarah.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But 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 diligently seek Him. 7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

Which of these faith stories do you most identify with?

What is God trying to show you through that story?

In todays service the word ABIDE is highlighted. It is the basis of this entire 21 day fast.

1 Corinthians 13:13 -  “And now ABIDE in faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.


Faith as our firm foundation and rock solid proof is where we are supposed to ABIDE from!

This 21 Day Fast is strategic! 

We really feel that God is going to deposit something truly powerful to us both corporately and individually through these 21 days. God has made things very clear as we have been getting ready for this next season. He has strategically planned this out for this time. He has given us a blueprint on what to do and how to do it. Stay with us!

The ways you can take part:

PRAY - Jesus made it so clear just how important it was to pull away and spend time with our Father, this is vital for where He is leading us.

COME - We will be meeting corporately  (in the sanctuary) every night at 7pm through these 21 days for strategic prayer and worship. These services will be available on our website only for anyone that cannot be here in person. Please make every effort possible to attend.

PARTICIPATE - As stated earlier, this Fast is strategic... Therefore we will remain in step with our Father even in our reading. Papa has been so gracious to highlight even specific reading for each day of this 21 day fast. Please make every effort to digest what He is trying to speak to us both corporately and individually. This reading plan will be made available every morning through our church App. or on our website linked HERE

PREPARE
As was stated a couple of weeks ago the time is now to prepare for our fast. We don't want to just try to figure things out last minute. As we begin this fast on January 2, 2022 we want to be able to dive right in and focus!

How do I prepare for this fast?

I am glad you asked. We truly believe that what God is focused on getting us "in step" with Him. In order to do this, we've got to make sure that we are including Him in the conversation. It's simply sitting with Him in order to gain His thoughts, His ways, His desires for you and our church community through this time.  Let's make this real practical; in the coming days (prior to Jan.2, 2022) set aside a few minutes each day to sit with Papa and ask Him the following questions;

Father, what would You like me to fast during these 21 days? (often times we have a preconceived plan that we come up with - though God honors our hearts desire to sacrifice, He may have a different plan for you - sorry to say this but.... His plan is always better than ours!) What you fast is between you and Him only.

Father, is there anything going on in my life that will be a distraction for me through this fast? If so, what can I do to remove this distraction?  (Many things can distract us from being able to really dig in with Him. Unforgiveness, financial issues, family problems, job issues, etc. He has a divine strategy to deal with all distractions if we will just ask.)


Father is there anything else you would like me to do in preparation for this fast? (Once again, fasting without seeking His heart will be less effective than doing it with Him)


This is not an exhaustive list of questions for you to ask but rather examples of the types of questions that I believe, He wants us to ask. The whole point of a fast, is to get SELF OUT OF THE WAY. Its telling ourselves that God is more important than anything else! It's getting out of my flesh and into the Spirit.


Last but not least...

Commit, Commit, Commit!  Society has a way of looking at things through the lens of "instant results". That is not the way that this works. YOU CAN DO THIS! Even if you mess up along the way, don't be religious about it. Get right back to it and finish this through! There is something powerful about enduring to the end. Jesus said "By your endurance you will gain your lives" Luke 21:19