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Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

There was no rudder attached to Noah's ark. He was totally abandoned to the will of God.

Noah walked by faith. He had faithfully preached righteousness to a hostile people for 120 years. People in Noah's day were corrupt in the sight of God. The earth was filled with violence (Gen. 6:11-12). God reached His limit (vv. 12-13).

The fulfillment of the prophecy regarding the deluge must have confirmed a faith already strong. He had obeyed God, and God shut the door. Then God steered his ark; for he was on God's assignment.

God of all grace provided a perfect ark to save a chosen few. Just as only one door led into the ark there is only one door that leads into the Kingdom of God and eternal life.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The apostle Peter preached,

Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Perfect rest of the soul comes only in absolute abandonment to the will of God. Simple repose in the arms of God gives perfect peace. In that abandonment comes a peace with God that flows like a river.

Have you entered into the ark of safety and found that perfect peace?

Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

 

Is Your Hut Burning?

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on an uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, why didn't you save my hut?" He asked, despairingly.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground -- it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it. Here are words from the well of living water that will help to extinguish those fires of disbelief and anguish:

You may say:
"It's impossible" God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You may say:
"I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You may say:
"Nobody really loves me" God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You may say:
"I can't go on" God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You may say:
"I can't figure things out" God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You may say:
"I can't do it" God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You may say:
"I'm not able" God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You may say:
"It's not worth it" God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)

You may say:
"I can't forgive myself" God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You may say:
"I can't manage" God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You may say:
"I'm afraid" God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy1:7)

You may say:
"I'm always worried and frustrated" God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You may say:
"I don't have enough faith" God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

You may say:
"I'm not smart enough" God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You may say:
"I feel all alone" God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews13:5)

Prayer of David:
Lord, create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

(Hebrews 11:1 KJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

(Romans 10:17 KJV)
So then faith {cometh} by hearing, and hear- ing by the word of God.

(Romans 12:3 KJV)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think {of himself} more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

(Hebrews 12:2 KJV)
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of {our} faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Matthew 17:20 KJV)
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this moun- tain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

The Mystery of Faith

"Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."   1 Timothy 3:10

Open your Bible to the very first book and read the very first verse, it reads, "In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth." Now to the carnal man this is ludicrous. How can a man grasp the improbability of such an impossible task as to create the heaven and earth, and do it all out of nothing? Herein lies the mystery of Faith.

The simple truth is, man could never grasp the grand concept of creation by an eternal God. It is beyond our ability to understand. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33)

There is however a force greater than our understanding... Faith! We may never understand how God created all things, but we can know Him, and through our faith, we can believe that God created all things. "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." (Hebrews 11:3)

The Biblical definition;
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) This takes in the whole of the Christian walk with God. Every aspect of our walk in the Spirit is through faith. "For without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is..."   Hebrews 11:6

Faith is a gift of the Spirit;
"To another faith by the same Spirit..." (1 Corinthians 12:9) The Spirit of God gives us this wonderful gift of faith, however, we must receive it, we must embrace it, we must walk in it.

Faith is the fruit of the Spirit;
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith..." (Galatians 5:22-23) Fruit insinuates a process of growth and maturing. As the mustard seed, it starts small, but grows with time and care.

Faith is a process of growth;
"...faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) We have a responsibility to nurture our faith through much prayer and study of the Word of God. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;" (Hebrews 2:3)

Ultimately though, faith is a gift from God. He awakens us to it, He stirs it in us, and with our cooperation, He causes it to grow and mature for us. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) This is the great mystery of Faith.

Acting on our Faith,
Hebrews 11:13 says that, By faith, they saw the promises afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed them. Faith takes on action and action always brings about results.

Hebrews 11:33-38

    *  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
    *  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
    *  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
    *  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
    *  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
    *  Of whom the world was not worthy...

Faith must be motivated by Love,
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." (Luke 10:27) Without the proper motivation of love, faith has no effect. Because God is love, and our faith is a gift from God, love and faith are inseparable, in-fact, one cannot work without the other.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

    *  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
    *  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
    *  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
    *  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
    *  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
    *  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
    *  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
    *  Charity never faileth:

Mark 4: 35-40
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. and a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"




Sometimes it seems that Jesus is asleep during the storms of our life. The storm commands all our attention  and we forget that Jesus is in the boat. We want Him to act, to calm the storm and when He seems to do nothing we say, "Lord, do You not care?" But He is in the boat with us and Jesus says His presence is enough. We are to have faith in His presence.

He commands the storms, when they will arise and when He will say, "Peace, be still!" He doesn't promise smooth sailing. He promises to be in the boat. He asks us to trust in that. And when the storm comes we are to look to His presence and find our peace lest He should say to us, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?

It is not faith that Jesus will calm the storm but faith that Jesus is right there with us in the storm. The storm and its outcome is of His choosing. We are safe because Jesus is in the boat.

Simply beautiful!  I have always loved to read scripture pertaining to faith and the mighty powers of God.  Last year, my dear "big brother" passed away.  He was the first in my immediate family to die.  He left us suddenly and unexpectedly.  In my entire life, nothing has ever produced such a shock, or such intense pain.  It was as though the air collapsed, and my life was forever changed.  I just kept screaming...Lord Jesus! Lord Jesus! Lord Jesus! 

I have no doubt, Jesus heard me.  He wrapped His loving arms around me, and gave me a peace only He can give.  As Jesus told the woman with the issue of blood, "Thy faith have made you whole."  FAITH, oh what a blessing!  Sometimes I feel so filled with the love of Jesus, I just want to scream and shout!  THANK YOU LORD! YOU, AND YOU ALONE, ARE WORTHY TO BE PRAISED!   

It is extremely difficult to lose a loved one especially so if it is unexpectedly.



Amen! He is indeed the only one deserving our praise.

It reminds me of the poem "Footprints In The Sand."  It is so true, when we are at our lowest, He carries us. 

After my brother's death, so many people I didn't know, told of how my brother had witnessed to them and how instrumental he was in their decision to give their lives to Jesus.  I had no idea he had impacted so many lives.  One of his former co-workers said that he was the first person to actually take the time to tell him about Jesus.  He wrote in the online guestbook that my brother was the finest man he had ever known.  I can't express how comforting it was.  It made it easier to accept his death, because I then realized my brother's work here on earth was finished.  All I could think of was "well done, my good and faithful servant, well done."