Increase Your Faith

The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. Proverbs 16:20 (NET)

Pastor’s Commentary:

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. Jeremiah 17:7 (NLT)

How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust…Psalm 40:4 (NASB)

The Blessing of the Lord is released in our lives when we completely trust in Him, not the other way around. In other words, we cannot obtain the Blessing, and based on the results thereof, determine that we can trust God. So many people think that’s the way to success and prosperity. They believe they can live any kind of morally deficient life, rebel against God and His Word, and still enjoy the fruits of the Blessing.

But, trust (faith) comes by continually hearing the Word of God until we have confidence to obey and act on it. It’s the acting on or obeying of His Word that is, in essence, the Blessing. Moses said, “Carefully obey the Lord your God, and faithfully follow all his commands that I’m giving you today. If you do, the Lord your God will place you high above all the other nations in the world. These are all the blessings that will come to you and stay close to you because you obey the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2 GWT)

Determine today that no matter what you feel, see, or hear that is contrary to God’s promises, you will completely trust in the Lord. For the Scripture says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5 NASB) Selah!

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The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. Proverbs 19:23 (ESV)

The fear of the Lord leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger. Proverbs 19:23 (HCSB)

The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. Proverbs 19:23 (NASB)

Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm. Proverbs 19:23 (NLT)

The fear of the Lord leads to life, and such a person will rest easy without suffering harm. Proverbs 19:23 (GWT)

Pastor’s Commentary:

The fear of the Lord, also known as reverential fear, is complete and utter honor, respect, and reverence for God and for His Word. A person who fears the Lord is one who refuses to veer from the commandments, statutes, and ordinances of God no matter what the earthly consequences may be. Such a person has more reverential fear of God than he or she has fear of man.

Proverbs tells us over and over that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge. This means it is impossible to even begin a study of the Word of God without first establishing that whatever we discover in it, we must do; we are obligated to perform every Word without question. Then and only then can we begin to understand God’s Holy Word.

Sadly, one of the things most lacking today is a fear of God. I personally believe that is why so many Christians can sin readily without the ability to discern between that which is holy and that which is defiled. Some folks think nothing of going days without rendering prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord. I also believe one of the key reasons we don’t experience the move of God as frequently as we see in Scripture is due to a lack of reverential fear for God, His Word, and for His set men or women. Consequently, contemporary Christians understand less and less about Scripture and as a result have little confidence and trust in God’s Word.

Today’s Wisdom verse says, “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.” In other words, whoever possesses reverential fear for God will be satisfied in their life and will be able to rest without any concerns for their safety. They know and understand how much God loves them and rest assured that all of Heaven’s might and authority is available to them. No evil shall befall them!

Without reverence for God, however, such confidence is impossible to develop. Where the fear of God is lacking, natural and spiritual fear fills that void. Learning to honor God gives us the ability to boldly withstand every onslaught of darkness.

Make it your primary purpose today and everyday to honor God from your heart. When natural fear ceases to control you, you’ll know you have achieved the correct honor and reverence for the Lord in your life.

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…but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster. Proverbs 1:33 (ESV)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Wisdom is a spiritual force that produces many physical and practical benefits. Wisdom can be defined as the way God thinks and reasons, and His thoughts, as with all speaking spirits created by Him, are expressed in words. In other words, the Wisdom of God is the Word of God.

Read carefully what God says of His Word in Isaiah 55:11 (GWT): “My word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to me without results, but it will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do.”

The Word or Wisdom of God always gets desired results. In today’s verse, Wisdom promises complete security and peace to all those who listen. He says, “whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” Security is a basic human need. All people crave to be in environments where predictability is evident. In general, people don’t like surprises; we like to know what to expect.

When we embrace Wisdom and submit to Him wholeheartedly, we can predict the outcome of our lives. We can expect good even though evil and harm are all around us.

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Speak out for the one who cannot speak, for the rights of those who are doomed. Speak out, judge fairly, and defend the rights of oppressed and needy people. Proverbs 31:8-9 (GWT)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Religion that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and widows and not let this world make you evil. James 1:27 (CEV)

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Matthew 10:8 (NASB)

The Lord never intended for the church to be a separate and ineffective institution within society. On the contrary, He created us to be the anchor and foundation for it. Nor, did He intend for the world to dictate our boundaries or try to change us. Not at all! The victorious Church of Jesus Christ is God’s preferred government and designated change agent in the earth. In other words, He put us here to be world changers and not the other way around.

The reason He saved, sanctified (set apart) and filled you with His precious Holy Spirit was to make you a blood washed advocate for the powerless and needy, those seemingly voiceless and forgotten masses. Our job is not only to intercede prayerfully for those in need of a godly life solution, we are supposed to continue to grow until we can make a significant and material difference in their lives.

These are God’s instructions to the Church:

Defend the weak and the orphans; defend the rights of the poor and suffering. Save the weak and helpless; free them from the power of the wicked. Psalm 82:3-4 (NCV)

This is OUR mandate, not the government’s. God doesn’t look to world governments for meeting the needs of people, so neither should we. God is our source. He’s blessed us and made us a blessing to the world around us.

Continue to grow and develop as a disciple and imitator of Christ. The calling on your life is tremendous. Not only are the needy depending on you to be fully developed as a son of God (gender unspecific), so is the Lord.

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Every Word of God has proven to be true. He is a shield to those who come to Him for protection. Proverbs 30:5 (GWT)

Pastor’s Commentary:

My Word, which comes from My mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to Me without results, but it will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do. Isaiah 55:11 (GWT)

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. Luke 1:37 (AMP)

God’s Word is true (real) because His Word always works! Meditate on this immutable fact.

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A person’s fear sets a trap for him, but one who trusts the Lord is safe. Proverbs 29:25 (GWT)

Pastor’s Commentary:

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. Job 3:25 (KJV)

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

Today’s Wisdom verse demonstrates the drastic difference between faith (trust) and fear. Faith is a powerful spiritual force. One could argue that it is the most powerful. Faith is the shield that stops “all the flaming arrows of the evil one”, and without it, “no one can please God.” According to Hebrews 11:1, “faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen…” (NLT)

There is no substitute for faith, but there is a powerful spiritual reciprocal that produces equal, yet opposite results called fear. Fear is nothing more than perverted faith. It is the confidence that what we hope for will NOT happen and it causes us to have doubts about things we cannot see. Fear is dangerous!

It was the spiritual force of fear that opened the door for satan to Job’s life. Job himself said, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” That’s what fear does; it opens the door to what we dread and don’t want to happen to us.

Proverbs 29:25 states unequivocally that a person’s fear sets a trap for him. In other words, fear holds people back from the good life God has in store for all His creation. It stops folks dead in their tracks, so to speak, and they never achieve their destiny. They become trapped by this unseen force and are rendered frustrated and ineffective in the earth.

Fear is a despicable enemy! That’s why we must resist it and cast it down from our minds. Where fear exists, faith is absent, so the only way to combat fear is to build up one’s faith. The key to faith building is found in Romans 10:17, which says, “So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message that is heard is what Christ spoke.” (GWT) In other words, faith increases as we listen to and act upon Jesus’ anointed Word.

No matter what you’re facing today, refuse to let fear grasp on to you. Keep God’s Word before your eyes, in your mouth, and in your heart. Your faith will thwart any and all fears that try to lay claim to your destiny. Remember: the one who trusts the Lord is safe.

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Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat. Whoever chases unrealistic dreams will have plenty of nothing. Proverbs 28:19 (GWT)

Pastor’s Commentary:

The LORD will bless your barns and everything you do. The LORD your God will bless you in the land that he is giving you. Deuteronomy 28:8 (GWT)

The promises revealed in Deuteronomy 28 are both physical and metaphorical. In it, the LORD promised to bless Israel with many physical blessings as long as the nation obeyed Him. The promises outlined are as a result of the Abrahamic Covenant (the Blessing of Abraham), which God cut with Abraham over 400 years previously.

According to Galatians 3:13, everyone, regardless of ethnicity, who puts their faith in Yeshua the Anointed One is a partaker of this same Abrahamic Covenant. It says, “Christ paid the price so that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to all the people of the world through Jesus Christ and we would receive the promised Spirit through faith.” Since you are a Disciple of Christ, you have access to the exact same promises. The LORD promises to bless your storage places (barns) too; you’re blessed in everything you do as well; and He will bless your land or the specific assignment He has given you. Amen!

God has given each of us “land” or an assignment to accomplish. Today’s Wisdom verse says, “Whoever works HIS land will have plenty to eat.” [emphasis added] It is incumbent upon us to diligently work the God-given plan for lives. When we work that plan, we will enjoy abundant fruit and harvests for our efforts. Every need is met because each is strategically imbedded in the destiny plan for our lives.

If we begin to experience lack, we should evaluate this occurrence as the potential result of leaving the designated plan. Stick with the assignment God has given you. Don’t veer to the right or left of it. Everything you need, want, and desire will be discovered as you walk out God’s plan for your life!

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As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens the wits of another. Proverbs 27:17 (GWT)

Pastor’s Commentary:

This is one of the verses of Holy Scripture that changed my life forever. Consequently, it is among my favorite scriptures. It is an immutable fact that God uses many of the people around us to sculpt and develop us. He uses us to develop others as well.

One of the most effective lies from the pit of hell is the old “as-long-as-I-got-Jesus-I don’t-need-nobody-else” foolishness. Nothing could be further from the truth! Too many immature believers have bought into this lie and have relegated themselves to a life of fruitlessness and frustration.

Certainly fellowship with Jesus is paramount and above all other relationships, but Jesus Himself expects human beings to assist us in our personal development as disciples. That’s why as part of His resurrection ministry He gave us some very specific gifts in human form. Check out Ephesians 4:8;11-12 in the NLT:

That is why the Scriptures say, “When He ascended to the heights, He led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to His people…Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”

Clearly, all of these positions in the Church, also known as the ascension gifts, are filled by human beings, and not angels or other Heavenly beings. Christ gave us human or earthly gifts born again from above to properly equip us for His work.

We must keep this in mind the next time satan lies and tells us we don’t need our brother or sister. We do!

Failure to embrace this Godly development plan only hurts and frustrates us because we can never effectively live out our God-given destiny. Destiny and discipleship require development. Only when we’re properly developed can we enjoy a very fruitful life.

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Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. Proverbs 26:27 (GWT)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Don’t take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God’s anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, “I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord. Romans 12:19 (GWT)

Notice the word “whoever” in today’s Wisdom verse. It is used twice, I believe, to make a significant point. The word “whoever” is an all encompassing term. In other words, it is applicable to any and everyone. So, we could say, “Everyone who digs a pit will fall into it. Everyone who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.”

Now, notice that the motive for digging a pit or rolling a stone is not address; that means it’s irrevelevant. If we dig a pit for someone else’s demise, we will fall in it ourselves; if we throw a stone, we’ll be the one to get hit. Period!

If we do something purposely to injure another, we will also be injured. That’s why God warns us not to attempt to get our own revenge. There’s no way to do so without ultimately harming ourselves.

If you’ve been injured, mistreated, or abused, cast the care of that thing on the Lord and leave room for the wrath of God. Trust Him; He loves you too much to let someone put one over on you. God promises to vindicate you.

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Like a gold ring and a fine gold ornament, so is constructive criticism to the ear of one who listens. Proverbs 25:12 (GWT)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Open criticism is better than unexpressed love. Wounds made by a friend are intended to help… Proverbs 27:5-6 (GWT)

We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right. Hebrews 12:11 (GWT)

Constructive or otherwise, criticism is criticism. Consequently, many believers avoid even the smallest hint of it. But, without an honest evaluation or appraisal of our performance (criticism), neither growth nor development are possible. We simply relegate ourselves to a life of mediocrity and ultimately frustration.

We should have a trusted person or two in our lives from whom we receive unfettered criticism (I can’t stress the word “trusted” enough). We all need such people because they love us enough to tell us the truth. That’s why God puts these folks in our lives: to aid in our personal development.

As uncomfortable as it may be to be critiqued, it is essential. The best “You” you can possibly be is on the other side of constructive criticism. Embrace it and don’t reject it!

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