Month: October 2022

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SALVATION

Biblical definition of Salvation:
Isaiah 45:22 “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

Character study
Isaiah – Isaiah1:1; 2 Kings 19:2 – 20:19; 2 Chronicles 26:22; 32:20; Matthew 3:3;8:17; 12:17-21; John 12:3841; Romans 10:16, 20, 21
His name means YHWH (the LORD) is salvation. He is also known as the “Prince of Prophets” because of the account length and coverage of various subject matters, and the values it holds. Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
In Isaiah 1:1 we see that he was the son of Amoz. He received visions from God during the reign of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. They were the kings of Judah. He was married to a prophetess (8:3) and had two sons; Shear-Jashub – meaning “a remnant shall return” (7:3) and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz – meaning “quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil” (8:1-4). These names also symbolize Isaiah’s message to Judah and Jerusalem.  Very little is known about Isaiah’s life, but his inspired writings and prophecies are just as relevant today as it was in his lifetime.

Isaiah is known for his:
Call and Commission
In Isaiah 6:1-4 he saw God’s greatness, mystery and power. In v5 he recognizes his sinfulness before God.
In vv6-7 one of the seraphs/seraphim touched his lips with live coal and said that his guilt has been taken away and his sins have been atoned for. It wasn’t the coal that cleansed him, but God that forgave his sins.
In v8 God asks “Whom shall I send”? Isaiah responds with “Here I am. Send me!”
He had to tell the people of Israel, who believed that they were blessed by God that God was going to destroy them, because of their disobedience!
Isaiah’s message of divine judgment.
In Isaiah 1:1 – 39:9 he brings a message of judgment for both Judah and Israel because they were a sinful nation; loaded with guilt; evildoers; corrupted and have turned their backs on the Holy One.
Judah would be taken into captivity by the Babylonians.
Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming Messiah.
In Isaiah 9:1-7 he prophecies that a child will be born, who will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This “Child” who we know as the Messiah will reign on David’s throne; He will rule with fairness and justice for all eternity.
God uses Isaiah to bring comfort to Israel long after his death.
In Isaiah 40 – 66 he prophecies that God would comfort His people when they found themselves in Babylonian captivity.
Even though Isaiah did not live during the Babylonian captivity, as a prophet he was able to speak words of comfort to those who would experience difficult times in captivity.

What the Bible teaches about salvation.
Old Testament:
In 2 Samuel 22:1-51 – David’s Song of Praise – he says in v3 that God is “the horn (symbolizing strength) of his salvation.”
In 2 Chronicles 6:12-42, we read “Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication” It is interesting to note that he stood on a platform and then knelt before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. He asked God to hear his prayer for a variety of situations of which one was “sin” vv36-39. In vv40-42 he asks that God’s eyes are open and His ears are attentive to the prayers he has offered in the Temple.
Psalms 13:5;27:1; 37:39; 62:1, 2, 6 and 7; 85:4-9 91:16
We find in the Psalms the psalmists writing that the LORD is their salvation. The word “Salvation” appears twenty-three times in the Psalms. In Psalm 119 the word can be found in six verses i.e. 41, 81, 123, 155, 166, 174.
Jonah 1:1 – 2:10 God had given Jonah instructions to go and preach to Nineveh, but instead of going there, he ran away to Tarshish, boarding a ship bound for that port. Nineveh was towards the east, so he decided to go towards the west. Because of his disobedience, the LORD sent a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. When confronted by the sailors, Jonah tells them to throw him into the sea as it was his fault. In 2:9 Jonah declares: “Salvation comes from the LORD.”

New Testament:
In Luke 3:1-19 we read that: “John the Baptist Prepares the Way” In vv4-6 he quotes Isaiah 40:3-5 saying that they must “Prepare the way for the Lord.” Isaiah was prophesying that John would be the messenger telling the people to make their lives ready for the Messiah to come to them. The Gospel of Luke was written for a non-Jewish audience emphasizing that salvation is for all people – Jews and Gentiles alike.
Acts 16:25-34 While in jail we see that Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God (v25). In v26 there was a massive earthquake and all the doors flew open. When the jailer woke up and saw what had happened, he wanted to kill himself, but Paul called out for him not to kill himself. In v30 he asks what must he do to be saved.
v31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved – you and your household.”
Romans 10:5-13 Salvation is for everyone. We read in the Old Testament that the Law of Moses says for a person to be right with God requires obedience to all of its commands! Romans 10:9 says that when we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord we are saved.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says that when we belong to Christ, because of our faith in Him, we become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun. Because we have received this gift from God through Christ we should make it our task to reconcile people to Him.
Ephesians 2:8-10 states that we are saved by God’s grace when we believed; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Our salvation is something only God can do; we are His masterpiece and therefore, we must not take it for granted

Application:
Ephesians 2:8 We need to remember that our salvation and even our faith are gifts from God.
Our response should be one of gratitude, praise and joy. Because of these gifts, we need to help and serve others with kindness, love and gentleness.
God intends that our salvation will result in acts of service in our church, community, workplace and even our home.
Colossians 2:6-8 When we have received Christ Jesus as Lord we have freedom from human regulations through our life with Christ.
You can live for Christ by:
Romans 12:1, 2 Committing your life and submitting your will to Him.
Colossians 3:16 Seeking to learn from Him, His life, and His teachings.
Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:22 Recognizing the Holy Spirit’s power in you.

Conclusion:
Acts 4:11 Jesus is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22)
v12 Salvation is found in no else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Responding in Prayer:
Read Isaiah 12:1-6 – Songs of Praise for Salvation
We must come to God with a grateful heart – thank and praise Him – for saving us. Our gratitude should overflow so that we can share the Good News with others, asking the Lord to not only give us wisdom but also the courage to tell others what He has done for us!

(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)

Journal – Scripture/Prayer/Thoughts:

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OBEDIENCE

Biblical definition of Obedience:
Romans 1:5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for His name’s sake.

Character study
Hosea – The Book of Hosea chapters 1-14
He was one of the most obedient prophets in the Old Testament
His name means “salvation.” He is the first of the 12 Minor Prophets in the Old Testament.
In Hosea 1:1 we read that Hosea was the son of Beeri and he prophesied during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings of Judah, and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
His message was primarily for the northern kingdom of Israel, but he occasionally refers to the southern kingdom of Judah.
In v2 When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD. 
Hosea did not hesitate and he obeyed immediately. He married Gomer (1:3) and had three children whose names are symbolic and therefore prophetic messages.
His firstborn was named Jezreel, (1:4-5) and means “God Scatters” Hosea’s message was to King Jehu’s dynasty to avenge the murders he committed at Jezreel (2 Kings 10:1-11)
His second child was a girl named Lo-Ruhamah (1:6) which means “Not Loved”. God was no longer going to show love to the people of Israel or forgive them.
His third child’s name was Lo-Ammi (1:9), meaning “Not my people.” Because Israel was abandoning God, God in turn was leaving them alone and there will be no more blessings.

Hosea is known for his:
Obedience
God revealed to Hosea ahead of time that his wife would be unfaithful to him.  She had three children whose names are symbolic of God’s punishment of Israel for their unfaithfulness. Chapters 1-3 represent God’s relationship with His people.
In chapters 2-3 Gomer left Hosea to pursue her lusts, but Hosea found her, redeemed her, and brought her home fully reconciled.
The key verse in the Book of Hosea is:
Hosea 3:1 The LORD said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”

What the Bible teaches about obedience.
Old Testament:
Exodus 23:20-33 In this passage God gives Israel “A Promise of the LORD’s Presence”(NLT). The Lord promises that an angel will protect them on their journey. God was sending an angel to guard them on their way. All God wanted from them was to be obedient.
Deuteronomy 4:39-40 God commanded the Israelites on numerous occasions that He requires obedience from them when they have entered the Promised Land. For their obedience, they will enjoy a long life in the land God is going to give them.
In Nehemiah 1:1-11 we read the beautiful prayer Nehemiah prayed before the God of heaven. He was exiled to Babylon and received sad news about those who had returned from exile and were now in trouble and disgrace. He was also told that Jerusalem’s wall was broken down and its gates had been destroyed by fire. When he heard this news he wept, and for some days mourned, fasted and prayed. In his prayer, he recognized God’s holiness; he asked God to hear his prayer; confessed the people’s sins and his sins; and asked God to help him when he approached King Artaxerxes.
In Psalm 119:1-176 the word relating to obedience appears 30 times i.e. 119:4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
All the psalmist of Psalm 119 wanted to do was to be obedient to God’s laws.
Isaiah 1:1-20 Isaiah has “A message for Rebellious Judah”(NLT) The LORD reasons with the people of Judah and says in v19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; (In v4 “The Holy One of Israel” means the southern kingdom of Judah.)

New Testament:
Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32 tells us that as Jesus walked along, He saw Matthew (also called Levi) sitting at his tax collector’s booth. Matthew shows obedience when Jesus says to him: “Follow me” So Matthew got up and followed Him.
In Acts 5:12-16 the apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. From verses 17-42 the apostles meet opposition from the high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees. They were arrested and put in jail.v29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! There will be times in our life when we are faced with situations to choose to either be obedient to God or man. This is the time you must choose to obey God and trust His Word.
Romans 6:2-16 Paul tells the believers in Rome that they can become slaves of whatever they choose to obey – either be slaves to sin or choose to obey God.
To wholeheartedly obey God means to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” So many times we obey God’s commands “half-heartedly”. As we daily obey God wholeheartedly, He will give us the power to obey Him with all our hearts.
In Ephesians 6:1- 9, Paul gives instructions to children, parents, slaves and masters regarding obedience.
He says that the children should obey their parents as this is the first commandment with a promise.
As a child, we have to be obedient to our parents, while under their care. As an adult, we have the responsibility to honour our parents, all the days of their lives.
In Philippians 2:12-18 Paul writes to the Philippian believers that when they obey God with reverence and fear, God will be working in them giving them the desire and power to please only Him. He wants them to be shining as stars for Christ.

Application:
Many important people in the Bible are examples of obedience i.e. Moses, Joshua, David, Job, Daniel, Paul, Barnabas and most of all Jesus, who was obedient to the end, when He died for our sins on the Cross.
Our obedience to God is important to Him.
1 John 5:2-3 It proves to God our love for Him.
Hebrews 11:6 Our faith in God pleases Him because we acknowledge His existence. 
1 John 2:3-6 It demonstrates to God our faithfulness to Him.
1 Peter 2:12 Being obedient glorifies God in the world.
John 13:17 We will receive blessings from God when we are obedient to Him. 
Being obedient to God shows that it is not that we have to obey His commands, but because we want to.
Being deeply rooted in the Lord we can live a life of joy, being assured that we truly know God.
The NIV Bible sums up obedience for us in Psalm 128:1” Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to Him.”

Conclusion:
1 John 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. v4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 84:1-12 – A Prayer of Yearning for God’s Presence in your Life.
We all yearn to be obedient and faithful to the Lord, but we also have trouble being obedient and remaining faithful. Come to the Lord in faith, worshipping Him with praise, honour and glory. Confess your disobedience and be assured that the Lord’s forgiveness will bring true joy. Continue in adoration, praise and thanksgiving for all the Lord has done for you.

(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts:

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TRUST

The biblical definition of Trust:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and, and lean not on your own understanding; v6 in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Character Study:
Hezekiah:2 Kings 16:20 – 20:21; 2 Chronicles 28:27 – 32:33; Isaiah 36:1 – 39:8
He is also mentioned in Proverbs 25:1; Isaiah 1:1; Jeremiah 15:4; 26:18, 19; Hosea 1:1; Micah 1:1
In 2 Kings 18:1-3, we see that Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz and his mother was Abijah, daughter of Zechariah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-nine years.
He is commended in 2 Chronicles 29:2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.

Hezekiah is known for his:
Civil and religious reforms
2 Chronicles 29:3 In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the Temple of the LORD and repaired them.
In 2 Kings 18:3-4 we see that he did what was pleasing to the LORD. He broke down pagan shrines, smashed sacred pillars, and cut down Asherah poles. He also broke up the bronze snake, Nehushtan that Moses had made.
A personal growing relationship with God:
2 Kings 18:5-7 tells us that Hezekiah trusted in the LORD. He remained faithful and obeyed all the commands the LORD had given Moses.
His dedication to the LORD
In 2 Chronicles 30:1-9, we see that he reinstated the Passover. He sent runners throughout Israel and Judah, urging the people to return to God.
2 Chronicles 30:10-27 outlines the “Celebration of Passover.” In the end, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles.
He had developed a powerful prayer life.
In 2 Kings 18:19-25 and Isaiah 37:14-20 the Assyrian king’s chief of staff, Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem.
When Hezekiah received a letter from the hands of the messengers of Sennacherib’s chief of staff and read it, he went up to the LORD’S Temple and spread it out before the LORD. He prayed before the LORD asking the LORD to rescue them from the king of Assyria.
In Isaiah 38:1-3 Hezekiah became deathly ill and was told: v1b “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah then prayed, reminding the LORD that he had always been faithful. The LORD added fifteen years to his life.
Isaiah 38:9-20 When King Hezekiah was well again, he wrote a poem:” Hezekiah’s Poem of Praise.”
Weakness
Hezekiah’s foolish pride.
In 2 Kings 20:12-15, Hezekiah allowed his foolish pride to show an envoy from Babylon, everything he owned – all his royal treasuries. When confronted by Isaiah, he replied that what Isaiah had said was “good” because he thought there will still be peace and security in his lifetime!
This character trait shows that he had little interest or wisdom in planning for the future and in so doing, protecting for the future generation the spiritual heritage he enjoyed.

What the Bible teaches about trust.
Old Testament:
Judges 16:21-30 is the story about Samson’s final victory over the Philistines. Delilah, being a deceitful woman had finally deceived Samson to tell her where he gets his strength from. Tired from her nagging he confessed his secret. He was then captured by the Philistines who gauged out his eyes. When Samson was brought out to amuse the people he asked a young servant to place his hands against the pillars. Samson prays and asks the LORD to strengthen him one more time so that with one blow he could pay back the Philistines for the loss of his eyes. He trusted God and: v30b Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived
Psalms We see that the psalmists, especially David trusted the LORD.
See Psalm 9:10; 13:5; 22:4-5; 25:2-3;  28:7; 31:14; 33:21; 37:3-5; 40:3; 56:3-4; 112:7
Proverbs 3:1-35 gives us all the benefits of trusting the LORD and seeking God’s will in all we do.
In Isaiah 24 Isaiah prophesies about the “The Lord’s Devastation of the Earth” followed in Isaiah 25 and 26 by psalms of trust, praise and meditation. 
Jeremiah 17:5-10 When we trust in God the heading says it is “Wisdom from the LORD.”(NLT)
Jeremiah 17:11-18 shows Jeremiah’s trust in God.
Daniel 6:1-28 is the story of “Daniel in the Den of Lions.” When King Darius had Daniel brought out of the lion’s den there was not a scratch on him, because he had trusted God.

New Testament:
Matthew 18:1-6 When the disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus put a child among them. He warned them that whoever allows a child who trusts in Him – to fall into sin or turn them away from faith – it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea!
In John 2:1-24 many people began to trust in Jesus because of the miraculous signs he was doing in Jerusalem.
John 14:1-6 Jesus is the Way to the Father – v1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (NLT)
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 1:3-13 Paul writes to Timothy while in prison, to encourage him to remain faithful. Even though Paul was suffering, he was not ashamed, because he is convinced that God can guard what he has entrusted to him, until the Lord takes him home to eternity

Application:
Our Biblical definition at the start of this study says that we are to trust in the LORD with all our hearts.
We have all faced disappointments and at times find it difficult to trust God. That is why we must lay aside our plans and expectations and surrender to His plans, leaning on His understanding.
Psalm 55:1-17 Surrendering to God shows our commitment to depend on Him.
Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. It is not as easy as it sounds to shun evil. We need to get rid of those things that occupy our minds and pursue God.
Proverbs 3:9-10 Put God first in your life, honouring Him not only with your time spent in “Quiet time and prayer” but in everything, even your money.
Proverbs 3:11-12 There are going to be times when God needs to discipline us for our behaviour, our actions and our sins. When something “bad” happens we need to look at ourselves and admit that our words, thoughts, and actions are not pleasing to God. How do we know this? The more we are in the Bible, the easier it is to know that discipline comes from God.
John 14:26 We also have the Holy Spirit to guide/prompt/remind us daily. As we study the Bible, we can trust the Holy Spirit to plant truth in our minds, convince us of God’s will, and remind us when we stray from His Word.

Conclusion:
Jeremiah 17:7 But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.

Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 62:1-12 – A prayer of trust knowing God is in control.
David wrote this psalm during the days of his son Absalom’s rebellion.
We can wait quietly before God for our victory because we can pray: v2 Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken. When it feels as if our world is “falling apart” we can come to God, trusting Him to make a way where we see no clear way. We can pray so easily “LORD, I trust you with all my heart.” Remember God can see our hearts, nothing is hidden from Him.  With trust comes obedience, so we can ask the Lord to help us to “trust and obey because there is no other way.”

(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts:

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FAITH

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

Character Study:
Abraham – Genesis 11:27 – 25:34. He is also mentioned in Exodus 2:24; Matthew 1:1,2;
Luke 3:34; Acts 7:2-8; Romans 4:1-25; Galatians 3:6-14; Hebrews 2:16; 6:13-16; 7:1-10; 11:8-15
Abraham is called the father of the faithful in Galatians 3:26; Romans 4:11 and also “The friend of God” in
James 2:23. He was born in Ur of the Chaldeans but spent most of his life in the land of Canaan. His father was Terah; his wife – was Sarai whom God changed to Sarah; his nephew – Lot; his sons – were Ishmael and Isaac.
God changed his name from Abram – exalted father – to Abraham – father of many nations.

Abraham is known for his:
Faith in God
Hebrews 11:8-15 tells us that it was by faith that Abraham obeyed God when asked to leave his home and go to another land.  He believed in the promise of a son, even though both he and Sarah were well advanced in years. He was 100 and Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born.
Romans 4:18-21 Because of his faith, Abraham enjoyed the victory of faith.
Genesis 22:1-19 Abraham Tested.
Obedience to God
Genesis 21:8-14 Abraham sent Hagar and his son Ishmael away. God assured him that Ishmael’s descendants would also become a nation because he is Abraham’s son. In this way he showed obedience; whatever God wanted him to do, he did without questions or qualms.
Devotion to God
Genesis 18:16-33 Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah when three men visited him. When they were about to leave it says the LORD wondered whether they should tell Abraham that He was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, because of their wickedness. The LORD had singled Abraham out to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. In vv23-33 we see that six times Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah to not be destroyed.
Humility
Genesis 13:5-9 Abram and Lot separate. A conflict arose, between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen – because “their possessions were so great” that the land could not support both Abram and Lot. He allowed Lot to choose where he would like to settle. He regarded others better than himself.
Weakness
Abraham’s weakness was that when under direct pressure he would distort the truth.
Genesis 12:10-20 In Egypt Abraham instructed Sarai to say she is his sister when she appears before Pharaoh.
Genesis 20:1-18 He did the same when he deceived Abimelech by saying Sarah is his sister.
Genesis 20:12 And she really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her. (NLT)

What the Bible teaches about faith:
Old Testament:
Exodus 14:15-31 After their escape through the Red Sea the Israelites put their v31 “faith in the LORD.” (NLT)
In 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, we read the account of the war Judah had with the surrounding nations. When King Jehoshaphat was told of the impending war, he proclaimed a fast to seek help from the LORD.
In vv13-15 the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, a Levite, and he told Jehoshaphat. v15b ’Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’  In v20 Jehoshaphat encouraged the people of Judah to have faith in the LORD their God.
In Isaiah 7:1-9 the prophet has a message for Ahaz, one of Judah’s worst kings. He refused help from God and instead he tried to buy aid from the Assyrians with silver and gold from the Temple. (2 Kings 16:8)
When he heard that the armies of Aram and Israel were allies:  Isaiah 7:2b “the hearts of Ahaz and the people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.” Isaiah and his son Shear-Jashub (meaning of the name “a remnant will return) go out and meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. Isaiah tells him not to be afraid because the Sovereign LORD says it will not happen and it will not take place. His message to Ahaz from the LORD is that unless his faith is firm, the LORD cannot make him stand firm.
In Zechariah 8:1-23 the prophet received a message from God that He will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Even though it was the remnant of the people that returned from exile, the LORD promises that He will save His people from countries from the east and the west. God assures them that they will be His people and He will be faithful and righteous to them as their God. We as children of God also have the assurance that one day Christ will reign in His Kingdom on earth.

New Testament:
In Matthew 9:18-33 Jesus restored the synagogue ruler’s daughter to life; He heals a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years; He lets two blind men see again and He casts out a demon from a man who was demon-possessed and could not speak, v33b the man who had been mute spoke. – Jesus did this all, because of their faith.
In Romans 5:1-11 we read that we have been justified through faith and therefore have been reconciled with God; we are at peace with Him. This peace is only possible because Jesus paid the price for our sins through His death on the Cross. How wonderful to know that we can confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
In Galatians 2:11-20 Paul opposes Peter because before certain men (Judaizers – NLT) came to Antioch, Peter had been eating with the Gentiles. After they arrived he began to draw back, fearing those who belonged to the “circumcision” group; this made other Jewish Christians follow in his hypocrisy. Here we see that we are not justified by observing the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews 11:1-40 we read about some of the great heroes of faith in the Old Testament.v6 And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
James 5:14-16.When someone in the church is ill the elders of the church are there for support and prayer. The prayer offered in faith by those praying will be answered, but we have to remember it is God who heals and not faith. All prayers are subject to God’s will.

Application
Hebrews 11:6 says that it is impossible to please God if we don’t have faith. Every day we face all kinds of trials and temptations
For this reason we need to hold onto 1 John 5:1-5 which says that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God, has become a child of God.
Faith and endurance go hand in hand. When our faith is tested, endurance has a chance to grow.
When we face trials of many kinds, the Bible says that the testing of our faith develops perseverance. James does not say “if” trouble comes our way, but “when” it does God is faithful. We can believe He is right in the middle of our troubles, with us. James 1:2-12
Make prayer an integral part of your day. Colossians 4:2
Take time to write down your thoughts and prayers in a journal. At those times when it feels as if your world is falling apart, read previous thoughts and prayers you have written down. You will be surprised to read how many of your prayers have been answered!

Conclusion
Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Responding in Prayer
Read Psalm 30:1-12 – God is always faithful when earthly security is uncertain.
We have seen that our God is faithful. When we are faithless, He remains faithful. His anger lasts only a moment, but His favour lasts a lifetime.
Take time to exalt the Lord, sing to the Lord, and praise His holy name. We can thank the Lord for His faithfulness knowing at those times when trouble comes along we can cry for help because the One we love and worship will help us through the difficult times.

(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)

Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts: