Author: Pastor Kris Belfils

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Does God Order Our Steps? (5 Steps in our Walk in Life)

We are all on a journey. This journey is to the heart of God. This journey is to be more like Jesus more and more each day. It is to live our lives and follow God’s direction. This journey is to the purpose and destiny God planned for us. But how does one travel on this journey? Each one of us use a certain form of transportation as we go. It is the steps we take in our walk with God. We are all confronted with decisions and choices. We need guidance and wisdom to make the right steps.

Life is a walk. Each day we take steps. Our tomorrow is determined by the steps we take today.

One thing I’ve found out in my own walk: 

-When I am following God’s word and obeying His voice, I step correctly.

-When I try to do things on my own, or ignore God’s word, I end up taking the wrong steps, and find myself down a road I never wanted to be on.

Did you know that the words, “Path, steps, ways, walk, and go” can all express our journey?

Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

I like how the Contemporary English Version stats it:

(CEV)  “Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk.”

And the Message expresses it this way:

(MSG)  “By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.”

We all need a “beam of light on our dark path.” God is the light of the world! He is Light.

1 John 1:5 

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

Why not ask the God of light to show you where to take your next step? Stormie Omartian states in her book; “Just Enough Light For The Step I’m On:”

“Sometimes only the step I’m on, or the very next one ahead, is all that is illuminated for me. God gives just the amount of light I need for the exact moment I need it. At those times I walk in surrender to faith, unable to see the future and not fully comprehending the past. And because it is God who has given me what light I have, I know I must reject the fear and doubt that threaten to overtake me. I must determine to be content where I am, and allow God to get me where I need to go. I walk forward, one step at a time, fully trusting that the light God sheds is absolutely sufficient.”

Stormie Omartian

(Copyright 1999 by  Harvest House Publishers)

There have been many times in my life I didn’t know what to do in some desperate or troubled times. I would seek God and ask Him for direction. Sometimes He did not answer as quick as I would like. During the waiting time, I would love His word and walk in His ways. I did this because I love Him, not because I am obligated. There is pleasure in obedience. We worship God with our obedience. God honors our obedience and brings blessings to us. King David spoke about walking in His righteousness and how that pleased God;

2 Samuel 22:20 – 25, 33 & 34, 37 (TNIV)

20)“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I am not guilty of turning from my God. All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight…33)It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and causes me to stand on the heights…37)You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.”

One might read this passage and think David is full of himself, and pride and arrogance. We can have a critical eye and think David is full of self-righteousness. But these passages are not written from an arrogant heart. They are from a heart who knows he is walking in obedience to God’s word. David realized that God rewards and helps those who follow His laws. David wrote what He saw God do in his own life.

I write in my journal often. It is literally writing my heart to God. I look at David’s writings as his journaling to God. He poured out his thoughts and emotions, and expressed praise of what God had done in his life!

God does reward and direct the steps of the righteous!

Psalm 37:23 & 24 (KJV)

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

Rejoice for the steps of a righteous man or woman are ordered of God. God does order our steps as we follow and obey Him. We can be comforted to know that His rod and staff are there to correct and guide us (Psalm 23:4).

Good News; our Good Shepherd is always with us guiding our every step. If we start to veer to the right or the left too much, the Good Shepherd comes with His staff of guidance, and His rod of correction, and gently nudges us back on the path we are to take. Our job is to yield to His correction. If we don’t heed to His gentle nudges, God will use His rod and staff a little firmer until we change our direction, even if it takes breaking our legs (like shepherds have to do at times to the sheep) to bring the correction. He will help us heal and to stay on the right path if we yield to His correction.

We are such creatures of habit and so resistant to change that God sometimes has to shut off the way things were in our lives so He can bring us into the way He wants us to be. New beginnings don’t happen without something ending.

Steps in our walk with God

Step 1. Seek God’s will. 

If you don’t know what to do about a decision you are facing right now, seek God and ask Him for direction. Stop trying to figure it out with your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 & 6(NKJV)

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

We need God’s wisdom! Our own understanding or thinking can be wrong. Seek the Lord when faced with a major decision. Seek God’s wisdom in every area of your life.

King Solomon gave great advise to his son about wisdom and we should do the same.

Proverbs 4:10 – 12, 18, 26 – 27 (NKJV)

“Hear my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble… But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.”

Remember that the choices we make today will mold our tomorrow. Think about the steps you are taking today. Are they good steps? Are you stepping correctly?

Ask God to help you make good choices. We need to give up our control and allow God to have control of our lives. He knows what we need. He knows what steps we need to take and why, this is why we need to seek God’s will.

Step 2. Look for His direction. 

He will show you where to walk if you would just look for His direction. Sometimes God directs us through His word. Other times He directs us through hearing Him speak in our hearts. God uses people, places, and even things to direct us and get our attention.

God can place a thought in your heart and then confirm it by His word or by other ways. God will always confirm what He has been speaking to you. A friend might say something that pricks your heart to what God has said to you earlier. You might be driving down the road and you notice something and it brings to mind what God has spoken in your heart earlier.

There are never coincidences in a Christian’s life. Those so called, “coincidences” are really God speaking to you and giving you direction. Don’t overlook God’s confirmations and His flashes of light to bring vision to your path. You asked God for direction, receive it as an answer and take action.

Step 3. Obey what God tells you to do. 

We can find ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time simply because we didn’t do what God was telling us to do, or we neglected to ask Him what we were supposed to be doing before we made decisions. Or perhaps we asked Him, but we failed to wait for an answer before we went ahead and did what we wanted to do. So much grief can be avoided by living an obedient life.

We serve a God who will pick us up if we fall or stumble. God knows we have trouble hearing Him. He is patient with us. Remember; the closer you get to God, the easier it is to hear His voice! I encourage you to snuggle right up into His lap and rest there knowing He receives you and wants to be close to you too. When you are in God’s lap, and leaning on His chest, you truly hear His heartbeat, and know His voice. It is a safe place.

If we make a mistake and fail, God will not condemn us. That is the work of the enemy. When we make a mistake, and come to the Father for mercy, He will give mercy.

What ever you need from God today; be it direction, love, acceptance, wisdom, financial healing, emotional healing, or whatever you need, God will always receive you and listen to your cry for help.

Step 4. Never be in a hurry.

Don’t be in a hurry to make something happen in your life. That will only lead to a mistake. Steps take time. A baby never learns how to run first, they learn how to walk. Their steps are clumsy and unstable. That is the same way we are too. Don’t be ashamed of your “baby steps” you are taking right now. They will eventually lead to bigger steps and take you places you’ve never been before.

If I am pressured to make a decision, I see it as a “red-flag.” I’ve learned to wait and not make a decision under pressure. When in doubt… wait! It doesn’t hurt to wait a few hours, a day, or even longer.

Make sure while you are waiting that you don’t take things in your own hands. Too often people don’t wait for God’s direction. They think God didn’t hear or he is taking too long to answer, so they decide to take a step on their own, in their own wisdom. This is a wrong choice. The word “wait” use to be a four letter word to me. Well it still is, but it was hard for me to wait. I wanted the answer right away and I wanted it my way. But God requires us to wait sometimes. It doesn’t necesarily mean you did something wrong and the answer is “no.” We humans give up  too easily on God and waiting for His answer. Remember to not be in a hurry. God’s time table and ours can be two different things. Trust that God is working on your behalf. It takes time to work out the details for your miracle, especially if another person is part of your answer. God is working on their heart too. God weaves circumstances together, at just the right time, to bring our answer. You might be ready, but someone or something else isn’t.

God is not a God to pressure you into a decision. That is the character of our advisory, the devil. When God directs, He will allow you time to make a choice. Remember He is gentle and loving. He never pressures you to quickly make a choice.

God will direct your steps and show you what path you are to walk as you give Him control and desire what He desires. If you are confused as to what to do in a decision you have to make, now is the time to seek what God wants. Lay down your desires and listen and wait for God to direct you into what path your feet are to walk.

How do we know we are walking in God’s path for our life?

Deut. 8:6  (HCSB)

“So keep the commands of the LORD your God by walking in His ways and fearing Him.” 

Obey the Lord and His instructions of His word. This is walking in His ways. Do it with a loving heart to please your Lord. God will always bless an obedient heart.

Step 5. Take a step!

We can go from one end of the pendulum swing to the other. At one end we are in a hurry and step too quickly into something, and on the other end, we never take a step at all. God wants balance in your life. He wants to bring you to a place you are not one extreme or the other. Again, this is part of trusting God. It is also self-control.

Sometimes fear grips our hearts and it frightens us to not do anything. We are afraid of making the wrong choice. We are afraid of failing. But if God has shown you something to do, step out in faith and take a step, even if you are afraid. Joyce Meyers has a saying, “Do it afraid!” 

God will meet you in your act of faith and soon your fear will turn into strength to endure the unknown. It will feel awkward to step out in something you’ve never done before or walk where you’ve never walked before. I am sure Peter, when He stepped out of the boat onto the water, felt awkward. His flesh felt uncomfortable because he never stepped onto water before. Peter pushed past his fear, and pushed past what his flesh felt like. He took the first step and began to walk on water.

Your flesh will scream at you to STOP! Flesh wants comfort. Flesh wants its own way. When you die to your flesh, and press into what God has for you, you step into a repositioning of God. Joseph was thrown into a pit. It was not at all the dream he had of his brothers bowing down to him. What looked like a demotion, God was making it his first step in his promotion.

Remember baby steps lead to bigger steps. It was a process Joseph had to go through to see the dreams from God come to completion. In the meantime, he lived an upright life and loved the Lord in all he did. God does not look away from that. As a matter of fact, it draws God to us. Joseph’s steps were ordered of the Lord because he was a good man who followed His God.

I would like to share from my journaling I wrote when God was teaching me how to walk.

“The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord. I am righteous because of what Your Son did on the cross for me. I am Your righteousness.  I strive daily to follow Your will and continually ask You to show me what you want me to do in every area of my life. Therefore, I know my steps are ordered by You, and You show me the right path for my life. I desire to increase and not decrease. I desire your way, your path, your steps for my life because you created me and You know exactly what I was created for. I might have an idea, but truly You know all and I lean on and trust the One who knows all. I take one step at a time and I know you are there at every step. If I stumble, You are there to pick me up. I don’t have to be perfect to walk the path you laid out for me. I just trust You for each step knowing You light every step I am about to take so I can follow Your leading. I love You Lord for who You are in my life.”

Sin can tie God’s hands of direction

If you find yourself in sin, or in the middle of some bad choices/steps, God is there waiting to help you. God will show you where to step if you ask Him. He is waiting for you to repent and turn from your sin. You tie up God’s hands to help until you repent and turn to God for His direction. He can pick you up from the wrong path, and place you back on the right path, as you give Him back control of your life.

Take one step at a time as the Lord leads and directs you. Don’t get frustrated when you don’t see the entire path in front of you. We are in a “faith-walk.” Each step is a step of faith! Always know that God is there to make sure we stay on the right path.

You may ask, “Why doesn’t God illuminate the road before me so I can really see clearly? Remember that too much light is hard to take. It can blind our vision. No, God only gives us the right amount of light so we stay dependent on Him for the next step and not get overwhelmed with the road ahead.

We can trust God with our life. He sees clearly and see the entire road ahead of us. He knows what we need to stay on course. He has all the answers to our questions. Sometimes our questions seem unanswered. Can you praise God in the middle of unanswered questions? Can you worship God in the middle of the unknown? I say we can! This becomes a sacrifice of praise that God is looking for.

God will give you enough light for the step you are to take next in your life. Don’t be in too much of a hurry or you may take a wrong turn. So to answer the question; “Does God Order Our Steps?” the answer is, “Yes” as we trust and rely on Him to guide us and not try to figure it out on our own.

Enjoy the journey in this life and God will take you places you never dreamed were possible.

In His steps,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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Grow In Christ

If I were to ask you what God’s perfect will is for your life, what would be your answer? Monks have lived solitary lives to find out this answer. Theologians have searched and searched to find this answer. Have you ever wondered what God’s perfect will is for your life? I’m here to give you that answer!  It is not complex or unattainable, but very simple. God’s perfect will for your life is that He wants you to grow in Him. He wants you to be a flourishing plant that gives off much fruit and fragrance.

2Pe 3:18  (ASV) 

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

The word “grow” is also translated: “enlarge, increase, become greater” (Dictionary.com) This is what Christ wants for our lives. He wants us to grow, increase, enlarge, and become greater in our love and knowledge for Him. Not for knowledge sake, but to have the tools to become a mature Christian. He also wants to increase and bless us.

Psalm 115:14 – 15 (NKJV)

“May the Lord give you increase more and more. You and your children.”

CEV

“I pray that the LORD will let your family and your descendants always grow strong.”

There are some things we need to know that will help us grow straight and strong. One thing we need to remember is that it is natural to grow and increase. We all do it, even Jesus grew and increased with God and man.

Luke 2:52 (KJV)

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man..”

It is natural to increase…

Karissa, my youngest daughter, is growing up to be a lovely young lady and in time will become a beautiful woman of God. She is increasing. If we could take the time to watch a movie of her life we would see her as a baby in diapers and eventually toddling around on all fours. We would see pictures of when she started to walk, with her shoes untied, and hear her learn to talk, and grow into a young child. She would have school pics and vacation pictures showing the many stages through elementary school and through junior high and high school. She might go to college or grad school and find a wonderful job, maybe get married and have a family of her own.

It is natural to grow. It is healthy. It is not something Karissa tries hard to do, it just comes naturally. But….. what if she was still in diapers and toddling around on all fours at the age of fourteen? What if she still had her shoes untied and couldn’t talk like a fourteen year old? We would think something was wrong. We would see she was not growing correctly. It wouldn’t be natural to see Karissa sucking her thumb at the age of 30 or 40 would it? No, we see her increasing and growing in wisdom and stature, and in favor.

Lets look at Luke 2:52 again:

Luke 2:52 (KJV)

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man..”

The word “Increased” is translated in the Greek as: “to drive forward, to advance (in amount, to grow; in time, to be well along): – increase, proceed, profit, 

So to increase you are moving forward and advancing physically, spiritually, and emotionally in all areas of life. It literally means you are profiting by God’s mighty hand. He is bringing the increase.

Think for a moment at what God has given you. Think of how He has changed you from last year to this year. Think of all the changes you’ve gone through physically at the age you are now. It all came about naturally. You are not the same person you were last year at this time. You are different. If you are a Christian, and are growing in Christ, you will have matured since last year. If not, there is something wrong because it is natural to grow and increase. If not, you need to see what is causing your growth in Christ to be stunted.

1 Thess. 3:12 (Amplified Bible)

“And may the Lord make you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you,”

This verse is asking the Lord to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another. His kindness will help us grow in the areas we need it.

You might say; “Pastor Kris, how do I grow? How do I increase? How do I know I Am growing?” The Lord is kind and is always watching out for us. His kindness brings growth in our life. You will see clearer and understand things in life better. I always check my growth in Christ with my love level for Him and others. We will also look back and see we don’t think like we use to, or talk like we use to. We believe God will answer our prayers instead of giving up so quickly. If not, God, and His wonderful kindness, will help us to grow and become more like Him.

2 Pe 3:18

“Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen.” 

It is the wonderful kindness and understanding of Jesus that helps us to grow. God knows what we need as individuals to bring about growth. He is constantly watching for weeds that might grow around the plant to make sure they are weeded out.

I like how the author from “A Friend’s Heart” wrote about character and growth: “Character is developed over time. It is an accumulation of choices. It’s like planting a garden. You decide what to put into it. You can plant seeds of patience, peace, love, and joy. You can tend the garden of your heart, uprooting the weeds of envy, anger, and fear. Whatever you cultivate will bear fruit. Whatever you weed out will make room for better things to grow. Character needs to be cultivated not only when the sun shines, but also in the rain. In all seasons, God is there to help you make the choices that build strong character; God is there to give you the strength to do your best no matter what the circumstances.”

“Character and gardens both reflect how much weeding was done in the growing season.”

(A Friend’s Heart,” Nelson Books  Copyright © 2006)

In the process of growth we have to be aware of:

1.  Growth blockers

a. Comparing yourself to others – Every plant grows at their own pace, that’s what makes it unique. You might think, “I should be further along than I am.” We don’t know the plan for our lives, only God does. Allow yourself to grow at the pace you are growing and not at someone else’s pace. Give yourself permission to relax and enjoy where you are in your growth. God will bring you through to be that wonderful creation He created.

b. Sin –This will stunt your growth and allow weeds (sin) to grow. When weeds grow they take away the nourishment from the soil around the flourishing plant and rob it of life. It literally chokes the life out of a plant. This is what sin does in our lives. It chokes any growth and dries up any nutrients, and leaves only dried up, brittle pieces that only God can restore.

c. Hanging around the wrong people – They will cause weeds to grow. The wrong people will influence you and stop you from growing. They will distract you from what God has called you to do. They will take away your destiny and stunt your growth. Hanging around with the wrong people, ungodly people, will change you to be more like them. If you want to be more like Jesus, you have to be strong in the people you choose to be close to you. You might think, “I can be a good influence on them!” But, if you are weak in character, and worried about what others think of you, you will be influenced by them instead. Be strong and cut off wrong relationships.

2.  Keep Your Soil Healthy:

a. Forgiving others quickly – Unforgiveness will block growth! The more you think about what others have done to you, the more it grows in you like a weed. If you want to grow, you must forgive others.

b. Give Love often – Eph 4:15 (KJV)  “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Learn to love people right where they are in their growth. Love always builds people up, it never tears down. Anger always tears down and nothing good comes from being angry. It only puts people in bondage, including yourself.

c. Be teachable – Remember that you don’t know everything, nor have you experienced everything.  If you think and act like you know everything people will think you are arrogant and not want to be around you. Being teachable will allow you to learn and experience more in life. Being teachable will open the door for more. More of God’s favor! More opportunities! More open doors.

3.  Allow growth to happen

a. Let go of the past and reach for the future – Holding onto our past never brings growth, only torment. Your past is just that; “past!” Your past does not dictate your future. Allow God to heal your past and prepare you for your future, all at the same time during the present.

b. Let God pull the weeds out – Weeds are gathered and burned and that is what happens to the sin in our lives when we ask forgiveness. Christ’s blood takes it all away. It can be a painful process, but well worth it as time goes by. Getting rid of the “junk” in our life will make room for new growth. Too much clutter will prevent growth. If God is pricking your heart to get rid of some “garbage” you have been holding onto like sin, un-forgiveness, past regrets, shame, pain and hurt from people, allow Him to rake all the weeds out to clear up the good soil for new growth! It is well worth any pain the process might bring.

4.  Feed your spiritual body

We need to take care of ourselves.

a. Power Bars/Protein drinks – Body builders want to increase their muscle strength and growth. Muscles are made of protein and they need extra protein to grow bigger. A spiritual protein drink is spending time in prayer and Bible study. This will increase your spiritual muscle strength.

b. Eat right – Watch what you put into your spiritual body. Watch what you listen to, what you watch on TV, what you hear in conversations, and anything that will go into your body. Remember “Garbage in – Garbage out!” It is the same spiritually.

c. Get plenty of rest – Spend time resting in the Lord. Spend time fellowshipping with other Christians. Don’t get caught up in perfectionism, just relax and be. “Be still and know that I am God…” Be yourself and enjoy who you are. God did not create junk when He created you. He created potential and you have value.

d. Exercise often – Spend time worshipping the Lord. Listen to Praise and Worship music on a regular basis. The words will penetrate your spirit and you will benefit from it greatly. This allows your mind to focus on God and Who He is, and not your problems.

How to bear fruit

2 Peter gives us insight into what we are to add to our faith to bring fruitfulness from our growth.

2 Peter 1:5 – 8 (NKJV)

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren (useless) nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Add to Faith:

  1. Virtue
  2. Knowledge
  3. Self-control
  4. Perseverance
  5. Godliness
  6. Brotherly kindness
  7. Love

It is not enough to just have faith to grow in Christ. Virtue means: “Moral excellence; goodness; righteousness” (Dictionary.com) and a Synonym is integrity. To produce good fruit in your life, be a person of virtue and add to virtue “knowledge” of Who God is and what His word says. Follow it. Obey it. Ask God for wisdom to live your life right and to make good choices in all that you do. Add to knowledge; Self-control. We can have all the wisdom and virtue but if we lack self-control, it is all for nothing. Being able to control your desires and what you say or feel is important. Overindulging in anything is not good. We have to have self-control in what we eat, drink, how we talk to others, what we buy and how we spend our money. If we don’t, we will end up being morbidly obese, a drunkard, a person with no friends because of freely talking smack to others, and being in great debt with no money to pay our bills. Self-control takes discipline. It is dying to our flesh and walking in the Spirit of God. Add to self-control; perseverance. If we can’t persevere in life, we will never experience the reward of endurance. We will bolt at any that looks hard or uncomfortable. We need to add to perseverance; godliness. Some synonyms of godliness is “Holy, righteous, good” (Dictionary.com) Seriously, just focus on being like Jesus. We are all imperfect people. But striving to me more like Christ is the best role model and example there is. Don’t be a hypocrite and act godly but in your heart, and when you are by yourself, you do what you please. Pursue good things. To godliness add; brotherly kindness. It is easy to pursue being good and lack in kindness to others. God loved the world (people) so much that He gave His only Son to save the world (John 3:16). If God put people as a high priority, we should too. Be kind to others, even when they are being mean to you. God sees your heart and their heart all at the same time. Kindness goes a long way over being mean and harsh with people. Stay at peace with people and show kindness. Treat others as you would like to be treated, and add to kindness; love. This is what the world will know us by; love. They will know we are Christians by our love. Loving people will give you a more peace-filled life. You will not be in strife. Allow the love God has loved you with to pour out and love others. You will grow and be fruitful if you add all these wonderful character traits to you life.

Let us be a people who take care of ourselves, who show love towards one another, and strive to live a godly life. Allow yourself to grow in Christ. Let him mature your character, even if it is painful.

This is God’s perfect will for your life; To Grow In Christ!

From one growing plant to another,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com

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Pursue Peace (Part 1 of 2)

If you were to watch a beauty pageant today, one of the question the contestants would be asked is; “If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?” The answer most likely would be; “World peace.”  It sounds corny and too simple, yet most people don’t have peace. Countries, nations, and governments long for peace. Children to adults thrive on peace. How does one find peace in a not so peaceful world?

Do you have peace? If not, see what is taking your peace away. Unhealthy relationships? Low self-esteem? Wrong viewpoint on life? Striving in relationships? Walking down the wrong road? Go to the Prince of Peace (Jesus) and give it all to Him. You will always find peace there!

This is a two part message. The first; “Pursue Peace” and the second; “Peace Robbers!” Let’s look into why we need peace and from where is our source of peace, then we will look into what robs our peace and how to guard against it.

Why Pursue Peace?

1.  Prince of peace

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. If you want to know what peace looks like, look to Jesus. The word “peace” in this passage means: “safe, well, happy, friendly; welfare, health, prosperity, and favor.” (Strongs Hebrew and Greek Definitions – H7965)

Jesus is the essence of safety, being well or happy, spiritual prosperity and favor. He is for you and not against you. He wants you to succeed and not fail. He is your biggest cheerleader in your life. In fact, He is everything you need. He is the Prince of peace. Prince indicates royalty and authority, or His very make up of who He is: Peace!

I am sure you have heard the statement:  “Know God = Know Peace, No God = No Peace?” In this case, know Jesus, the Prince of peace and you will know what true peace really is.

Peace in the Webster Dictionary means:  “1.) a state of tranquillity or quiet: as a): freedom from civil disturbance, b) a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom, 2.) freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions, 3.) harmony in personal relations, 4.) a) a state or period of mutual concord between governments, b) a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, 5.)—used interjectionally to ask for silence or calm or as a greeting or farewell.”

The Lord gives us peace when we call out to Him. Peace in our life, community, thoughts and emotions, those who we have had enmity with, or anything or anyone we may have strife with.

2.  The Lord gives His peace to us

Isaiah 26:3, 4 (NCV)

“You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you, because they trust you.

So, trust the Lord always, because he is our Rock forever.” 

There is no one better to trust then God Himself. When we depend on Him, and trust Him He brings us His peace even in the middle of a storm.

John 14:27 (NKJV)

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

This verse is so powerful to show that God’s peace, and how He gives it, is not like the world’s peace. God’s peace is unshakable and all powerful. God’s peace comes even when the trial or storm is still present. The world’s peace comes only when the tragedy is passed. God’s peace calms and reassures us that He is in control and loves us. God’s peace is eternal and transcends all time and space. The world’s peace is flighty and unpredictable. It could be here one day (no war or turmoil) and gone the next. This is not true with God and His peace.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NCV)

“Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 

3.  Covenant of peace

Isaiah 54:10 (NKJV)

“For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed, Says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” 

We have a covenant of peace with God. He promises not to remove it from us. Yes, we can make bad choices or this world will try and take His peace away from us (See “Peace Robbers” in part 2) but God’s peace is always available for us to walk in daily.

Let’s look at the definition of the word peace again. Going back to the Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions, but taking it down to the primitive root (H7999): “to be safe (in mind, body or estate); to be completed; to be friendly; to reciprocate: make amends, end, finish, full, give again, make good, peace (-able), that is perfect, perform, prosper, recompense, render, requite, make restitution, restore, and reward.”

The covenant of peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ (Philippians 4:6 – 7). It washes away all anxiety that we may feel towards our circumstances. We feel safe and secure. We are complete in Him no matter what people or the world may say. A covenant is more then a contract. Covenant means to choose or be chosen, to be selected (Strongs H1262). We have been chosen to receive God’s peace. Why? The sacrifice of God’s Son has paid the price. The Prince of Peace has been crucified for you and for me. God never takes His covenants away. We can walk away from it, but it is our doing, not God’s. Therefore, If we fail to have peace, we have to look and see what is taking our peace away. We will discuss the “Peace Robbers” in our next session to better get a grasp on where our peace might have gone. In the meantime, we pursue and guard our peace every day.

4.  Peace guards and keeps us

Philippians 4:6, 7 (NKJV)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

Are you praying your anxieties away? This is what I do daily in my prayer time. Thoughts can overwhelm us and overtake us if we let them, that is why we have to guard our peace. Interesting, as peace will guard us and protect us as we cast our cares on God. A guard is placed in front of a castle or palace to protect those inside. Their job is make sure no one, nothing, gets into the castle that is not allowed. Peace is our guard. It’s job is to protect us from anything or anyone getting into our thought life that will take our safety away. Peace guards our hearts and prevents our emotions and even logic to overtake our thinking. Peace is a friend to wisdom. When we apply Godly wisdom to relationships, emotions, circumstances, or anything trying to rob us from our peace, we make better choices in dealing with all of these things and our peace is never robbed from us.

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)

“You will keep  him  in perfect peace,  Whose  mind  is  stayed  on You,  Because he trusts in You.”

It’s interesting because the word “Perfect” means complete, and the word “peace” can also mean complete. (See Hebrew and Greek definitions) You can also read “perfect peace” as “peace, peace.” In other words, Complete, safe, soundness, and over all lacking nothing is what happens when we keep our minds on God and what He can do. “You will keep him in perfect peace,” the word, “keep” also means “guard.” How awesome is it that God guards us in complete safety and soundness as we trust Him and keep our focus on Him.

Peace is extremely important for our health and over all life.

Psalm 4:8 (AMP)

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety  and confident trust.”

5.  Pursue peace

Hebrews 12:14 (NKJV)

“Pursue peace with all  people,  and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

If we want to have peace we have to pursue it. Just like if we want to have friends, or food, or anything we need in life, we must pursue it. Relationships are hard to maintain. When a man and woman get married, they have to work on their relationship to keep it going and to stay healthy. They have to pursue peace in their home and in their relationship or one or both will want to end the relationship.

Peace can be taken from us so easily that is why we have to pursue it.

Psalm 34:14 (AMP)

“Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for,  and  crave peace and pursue (go after) it!” 

Peace is like a rare jewel that we have to pursue and protect. It is precious. Do you thrive on chaos? Do you crave turmoil? No, we need to crave peace. Every day try and find peace, and if you are having trouble, look to see what is taking your peace away. Stress? Business? Relationships? Job? What is taking your peace away? Pursue peace in every area of your life. If you are constantly in turmoil, it will take a tole on your body and much more.

Romans 14:19 (AMP)

“So let us then definitely aim for  and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another.”

One of the biggest robbers of peace is being critical and judgmental. That is why we need to learn the art of encouraging and edifying others. It doesn’t take much to bring someone down with your words. Seriously that is the wimpy way of living. It takes a strong person, who loves people, to build others up with encouragement and love. This is what Jesus always did. He reached out to the sinners and tax collectors, the very ones the Pharisees rejected. When you encourage others, your life is more peaceful. When you judge others, your life is more in turmoil. So, make peace where ever you go and whoever you are with.

James 3:18 (NKJV)

“Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” 

6.  Be filled with peace to give hope

Romans 15:13 (AMP)

“May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.”  

Again peaceful people attract and hostel people repel. Peaceful people are hopeful people. Without hope, people give up. This verse talks about overflowing or bubbling over with hope. It is like joy, you just can’t contain it but have to let it out. Hope and peace go hand in hand. It is having that peaceful assurance that God is there, working things out for us, and has good plans for our lives. It is a sweet confidence (God confidence) in our everyday life. We are not here by accident. God does have plans for you and wants you to fulfill those plans. Being filled with peace is allowing God to calm all the anxieties and concerns in us. Knowing He will answer. Maybe not on our time table, but He will answer.

7.  Greet and send people in peace

In the New Testament the authors would either greet or conclude with a word of peace. Starting in Romans all the way to Revelations you will see this. They were trying to tell us something about peace. They were expressing the importance of having, keeping, and maintaining peace. Here are just a few:

Romans 1:7 (NKJV)

“To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be Saints:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Cor. 1:3 (NKJV)

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Cor. 1:2 (NKJV)

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Cor. 13:11 (NKJV)

“Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 

Live in peace. Choose to be peaceful. Choose to pursue peaceful relations. Choose, live, and dwell in peace. Peaceful people attract while hostel people repel.

Gal. 1:3 (NKJV)

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Gal. 6:16 (NKJV)

“And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”

1 Thess. 5:23 (NKJV)

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Peace” also means spiritual prosperity in the broadest sense. Submit your whole spirit, soul, and body completely to the sanctifying work of God, the God of peace. (New Spirit Filled Life Bible study notes)

2 Thess. 3:16 (NKJV)

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

Titus 1:4 (NKJV)

“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.”

Hebrews 13:20 (NKJV)

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete (perfect) in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

2 Peter 1:2 (NKJV)

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”

2 John 1:3 (NKJV)

“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”

Revelation 1:4b (NKJV)

“Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne…”

People need hope. People need peace. Let us be those who pursue peace within ourselves and with others. Showing hope to a hopeless world around us is our call in life. Let us be Peace Keepers and givers of peace. You will be more healthier if you do!

Don’t let any one or any thing rob you of your peace. Be looking for Part 2, Peace Robbers coming soon.

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com 

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Words Have Power – The Parable of the Prodigal Son (A Father’s Day Message and personal testimony from Pastor Kris Belfils)

Words are powerful. With our words we can speak life or death. With our speech we can put people in bondage or set them free. With the words we think or say we can bring healing or torment. James talks about the tongue being a rudder that steers the whole ship, or a bit in the horse’s mouth.

James 3:2 – 12 (Amplified Bible)

“For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature. If we set bits in the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about. Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze! And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man’s nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna). For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal, can be tamed and has been tamed by human genius (nature). But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God’s likeness! Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so. Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water.”

We can take a look at one of the parable’s of Jesus to see how much power words really have. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, there are three characters. Each one speaks words and acts upon them.

Luke 15:11 – 32 (Amplified Bible)
“And He said, There was a certain man who had two sons; And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that falls [to me]. And he divided the estate between them. And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and loose [from restraint] living. And when he had spent all he had, a mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind and be in want. So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. And he would gladly have fed on and filled his belly with the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better]. Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]! But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry, Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry. But his older son was in the field; and as he returned and came near the house, he heard music and dancing. And having called one of the servant [boys] to him, he began to ask what this meant. And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed that [wheat-]fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well. But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him, But he answered his father, Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends; But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that [wheat-] fattened calf! And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!”

This is the story of The Prodigal Son. Prodigal in the dictionary means, “Wastefully, or recklessly extravagant, giving or yielding profusely; lavish, lavishly abundant, profuse, a person who spends, or has spent his or her money or substance with wasteful extravagance.”

We act upon what we say:

1. Younger son spoke – Younger son dwelt on what was going to be his “someday.” He asked his father:

“… give me the part of the property that falls [to me].”( Luke 15:12)

The younger son had been thinking about this for some time and planned on asking his father for what was rightfully his… but this only comes when the father has passed away.

Action of his words:

“And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and loose [from restraint] living.” (Luke 15:13)

He wanted to go out and live his own life the way he wanted to live it. His actions reflected what he was thinking and again he acted upon it. He spent his money recklessly extravagantly. This is being a prodigal.

2. He came to himself

He spoke words to himself again:

“How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants.” (Luke 15:17-19 Amp)

Action of his words:

“So he got up and came to his own father.” (Luke 15:20 Amp)

He acted on his words and left for home. But this time he had “come to himself.”

We Come To Ourself

We come to our self when we realize we can’t make it on our own. We come to our self when we see that all our choices have made big mistakes in our life. We come to our self when we give up control and give it back to our Heavenly Father. We come to our self when we go to the Father and ask Him to forgive us of our wrong we have done.

We all need to “come to ourselves” from time to time. If we don’t we will lead ourselves astray. We will “self-destruct” without God! We, as sinners, are slow to come to our self and go back to God, but God is quick to run to us as He sees our brokenness and repentive heart.

3. The Father saw his son from a far off and ran to him.

The Father always was waiting and looking for the son to come home. He longed for him to be home. For the father to see him from a far off you know he was constantly thinking about the way-word son and looking for his return.

God always has His eye on us, waiting for us to move towards Him! You might feel far away from God tonight. You have distance yourself from Him for some reason and God has his eye on you, waiting for you to draw near.

I SAVED YOUR TRICYCLE

I want to talk about my own father right now. As a little girl growing up without a father figure in my life I suffered from many issues. Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of the future. Fear of what people thought of me. At the time I didn’t know or even understand how I was feeling. But I always felt there was something wrong with me and I somehow didn’t measure up to others. Perfectionist was my middle name. It was my goal to do everything perfect so people would like me. If I came across someone who disapproved of what I was doing I would be crushed and I tried every way possible to get their approval.

As I was growing up, all the men that were in my life were either absent, abusive, or disapproving. I never had a healthy male figure to look up too.

“There must be something wrong with me or my Dad would have come to find me!” I would say to myself. So I would live my life expecting people to not approve of me. In many cases it proved itself true when I started leading worship at the age of 15 in my own youth group and people would tell me, “I should be a man.” or “You don’t sing the songs I like.” “You shouldn’t be leading with a guitar, and women shouldn’t be ministers.”  I desperately wanted the approval of people, especially men.

As I mentioned earlier my mom and dad were divorced when I was two years old. Throughout the years, I had maybe four or five phone conversations with with my dad, and had seen him twice; once at his mother’s funeral and once at my sister’s wedding. The last time I talked with him was when my mom died in 1995. We really had no relationship with each other. In fact, I was angry with my dad for not making or keeping contact. We were told by our mom that dad had an affair. My mom planned, and succeeded, in leaving him without letting him know. She left so abruptly that all of our clothes and toys were left in California. Mom never really talked about what happened or why she felt he was having an affair. It was kind of a “taboo” subject. As far as I knew, dad never even tried to come after us.

My dad remarried and so did my mom. Life went on. I would find out little information about my dad through my uncle Bert Pence, my dad’s brother. Some of the things my dad went through were; a broken back (falling off a two story building), automobile accidents that left him with a metal pipe in his right upper leg, and several strokes that have effected his right side of his body.

The lady that my dad married passed away. I felt bad for the passing of his wife, but really didn’t care about what happened to him. One day in prayer, God brought my dad’s name to my mind. I hadn’t thought of him in a long time. I felt God was impressing on my heart to take care of my dad. I fought it. I thought, “Why should I take care of someone that didn’t take care of me?” But, I’ve learned not to fight with the Holy Spirit, and eventually I said I would take care of him. I called my dad on the phone, and he was shocked to hear from me. During the conversation I asked him if he wanted to come up to Spokane Washington and live with me. He said he was fine, and I left it at that. About a week and a half later, I received a phone call that he would like to move and be with me. Now, I was shocked! God asked me to do it, and I had to obey. An overwhelming love and compassion for my dad came over me. I hurried to find an apartment for him so it would be ready for him when he arrived in Washington State. I drove down to California by myself, in order to have room to pack all I could for him in my car. When I arrived at his apartment in California, I walked through the door and saw him lying on his couch. He was worse then I was told. He looked like an eighty-year-old man even though he was sixty-five. He couldn’t walk to me, so I ran to him and we embraced and cried. The last time I saw my dad, it was at my sister’s wedding, which was over 20 years before. He was strong and healthy then.

The car ride up from California was an eye opener for me. Dad didn’t know why mom left so quickly. I expressed what she told me, and immediately he denied it. At this point, I told him, “Dad, if you did or didn’t have an affair, I would’ve still come to get you.” He was a broken man. He cried. I think we both cried all the way back to Washington. He said he drove up to Spokane, right after mom left him, to find out what happened. He tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t talk to him. So, he went back to California because that was where his job was. I think he felt rejected and thought he didn’t have a chance.

Dad would tell me stories of when my sister and I were little girls. I was all ears. He would take us to the store, let us take anything we wanted off the shelves, and he would buy it. When he came home from work, he eagerly waited to see us and would play with us. He couldn’t wait to spend time with us. He bought us pretty dresses and toys just because he loved us. He would tell me how cute I was when I was a baby and how I grew to be a beautiful woman. Constantly on our drive home he would tell me how pretty I was. Throughout my life I never thought I was pretty. Ron, my husband, would tell me this, but I didn’t believe him. Hearing it from my dad though, really effected me.

At one point, dad looked at me, as I was driving, and said, “You know, I saved your tricycle. It’s been in storage all these years.” I couldn’t believe it. Dad kept my tricycle for almost 40 years? That touched me deeply. After all these years, he still had my tricycle. “I was waiting for you to come home, and wanted you to have it when you did.” He said, “I never touched your room or the clothes in it. I left it just the way it was.”

Eventually, he moved away from the apartment we all stayed in, that is when he put it all in storage. He said all this with tears streaming down his face. I could see he meant it. I could see the tricycle was important to him.

After arriving in Washington State, Dad lived in his own apartment for a few months, but was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer shortly after settling into his new place. At the time his doctor gave him less then six months to live. We cherished the time we had together. We would see each other several times a week. Every time I saw him, he would say his heart jumps, and he could not believe we were together. We both felt like we were kept apart all these years, and couldn’t believe we were finally together.

Having my dad back in my life brought so much healing in me. I didn’t realize the void I had without my dad. I always felt like something was wrong with me and therefore people didn’t like me. I’m sure it stemmed from my thinking that dad didn’t come after us or want anything to do with my sister and I. The truth about my childhood has brought closure to unanswered questions. The question of my dad having an affair haunted me all my life. Did he really have an affair? If he did, did he want to be with that person more then being with his two daughters? How can a father not have contact with his children for so many years? I have to say that my failure, and the steps I went through after it (See “The Garbage Man Always Comes On Fridays“), brought a softening in my heart for my dad. If he did or didn’t have an affair, it didn’t matter. Everyone needs mercy and grace. That is why I went and brought him to Washington from California. He was a broken man, full of many regrets.

I wanted to know if Dad believed in God and if he asked Christ in his heart as Lord and Savior. During one of our drives to the Doctor, I asked him, “Dad, have you ever asked Christ in your heart as Lord and Savior? He promptly said, “Twice! One time I was even baptized in the river.” This brought peace in my heart to know he did have a relationship with the Lord at one point in his life, but I felt God brought him to be with me to help him turn his gaze back onto Him.

My Dad lived in his own apartment for three months. He was very disabled and could hardly take care of himself. I had to make a decision to move him into an adult family home. He was only there for a month and a half  before he passed away. I was expecting him to live several more months. Our time together lasted only four months. I’m thankful we had it and a chance for closure.  Much healing took place in both of us. Only God could have brought such a timely reunion.

Thinking about my earthly father, and how he felt about me, I can’t help but think about our heavenly Father and how he feels about us. Just like my dad, God always remembers us. When we turn away from Him, He constantly loves and waits for us to come back. My dad told me about the many times he tried to come up from California to visit me, but was stopped because of some unexpected challenge. A car accident, or needing to bail out a stepchild from jail. Dad said that he bought an old muscle car and was going to drive it up for me to have. He soon found out one of his step sons were in jail, so he sold the car to get him out. Hearing how my dad lived and the choices he made makes me thankful for my mom and how I was raised.

God constantly wants to be with us; so much so, He gave the life of His only Son so that we could spend eternity with Him.

If you have turned away from God, He still loves you. He is constantly longing for you to come back. If you feel like you can’t come back because of what you might have done, His arms are wide open, and will take you just the way you are. He loves you. He’s waiting for you. He kept your tricycle!

Back to the Prodigal Son…

“I do not know that the prodigal saw his father, but his father saw him. The eyes of mercy are quicker than the eyes of repentance. Even the eyes of our faith are dim compared with the eye of God’s love. He sees a sinner long before a sinner sees Him…. He was resolve to come, yet he was half afraid. But we read that his father ran. []Slow are the steps of repentance, but swift are the feet of forgiveness. God can run where we scarcely limp, and if we are limping towards Him, He will run towards us. The father “saw” his son. There is a great deal in that word, “saw.” He saw who it was; saw where he had come from; saw the swineherd’s dress; saw the filth upon his hands and feet; saw his rags; saw his penitent look; saw what he had been; saw what he was; and saw what he would soon be. His father saw him.” God has a way of seeing men and women in a way you and I cannot understand. He sees right through us at a glance, as if we were made of glass; He sees all our past, present and future.”

C.H. Spurgeon (wrote in a sermon on the Prodigal Son)

The Father had prodigal love towards his son as he was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]. (Luke 15:20)

Other translations read:

“… fell upon his neck and affectionately kissed him.” (New Testament In Modern English)

His father extravagantly kissed him and loved on him. He was waiting and anticipating his son to come home. I am sure the father always had his son on his mind. Any loving father would.

His father showed more extravagant love for his son as he said to bring the best robe (festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. This signifies kingship, authority, rule and reign. I am sure the son didn’t feel like he deserved it. He knew what he did and where he came from. His father gave him all that, and a fatten cow to eat, and celebrate the homecoming with his friends. We act upon what we say!

The father spoke: 

“Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. And bring out that [wheat-] fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry, Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” (Luke 15:22 – 24 Amplified Bible)

When we stray it hurts the Father. The Father will mourn like someone is dead. He will ache in His heart until we come back like someone who has lost a precious jewel and longs to find it.

Action He took:
He lavished His love on the prodigal son and gave him even more than before!

The Father sees you! He knows where you have been. He knows what you have done. He knows what you have spoken, and He knows your name!

We don’t have to worry about the past. God has wiped it all away the moment we repent. We don’t have to worry about our future because God has prepared ahead of time what we will need. All we have to do is trust God with our lives and allow Him to be the Father.

Anger and jealously will make us act first…

4. The older son’s actions:

“But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in.” (Luke 15:28 Amp)

In this case, he took action before he spoke to his father. But his “actions spoke louder than words,” as the father pleaded with him to join in the celebration.

The older son spoke:

“Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends; But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that [wheat-] fattened calf!” (Luke 15:29-30 Amp)

The older son spoke with jealously and anger. He didn’t understand why his father would lavish so much love on his younger brother after all the WRONG that he did. It didn’t make sense to him. Mercy and grace never makes sense to someone who is not the receiver, only the one who receives.

When jealously and anger grips our hearts it paralyzes us. It makes us do things that are selfish. The older son was offended because all he could see is the “good” he had done and the “bad” his brother did.

Being critical or judgmental towards others is a sin. The older brother was just as guilty of wrong as the younger brother.

5. The father spoke:

“And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!” (Luke 15:31-32 Amp)

This parable was spoken to the tax collectors and Scribes and Pharisees.

Luke 15:1-2
“Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2 Amp.)

The church is likened to that of the older son. Maybe you have been a child of God most of your life. Do you get critical towards sinners? Do you cast a judgmental eye towards those that have fallen or that keep falling? We can get judgmental towards the lost ones that come in as they may not talk like us or walk like us. We can think of them as “less then” because of their past. This is sin! God wants us to let go of the judgment and celebrate the change in people’s lives. We need to rejoice over one lost sinner that comes to Jesus and treat them with respect and love. Love will always receive; jealously and judgment always pushes away.

What have you been speaking to yourself lately? Are they words of hope or discouragement? What have you been speaking about people lately? Are they words of hope or judgment?

Maybe you can relate more with the Prodigal son. Do you feel like you can’t come back to God because of your past? Do you feel lost and all alone? Do you identify with the prodigal son? Do you identify with the older brother?

God sees everything. He knows your name! We can come to God and ask for forgiveness no matter what we have thought, spoke, or have done. No matter what actions you have taken with your words, God is there waiting for you to embrace Him.

There is power in our words. Let’s do the right thing with our actions and run to God and experience His exstravagant love He has waiting for you!

He has saved your tricycle!

From one tricycle rider to another,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com 

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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God Working Within To Sustain Without (A Fresh Look At The Holy Spirit)

Have you had trouble lately maintaining your day to day Christian life? Has the worries and cares of this world weighed you down to the point you can’t see where to go or what to do? Maybe you find your self weak in areas of your life and wish those weaknesses would go away.

Whatever the situation, God wants to strengthen you and touch your inward parts to help you not only maintain your daily life, but to live above the circumstances you find yourself in.

Paul was in prison when he wrote a good portion of the New Testament. He was more concerned with the church and their condition then his own surroundings. He wanted to encourage them and pray for them.

Paul had to find something to help him maintain his daily life while he was in prison. He found it, and conveyed that truth in his writings.

Eph 3:16 – 21 (HCSB)
“I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, be strengthened with power the inner man through His Spirit in, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think–according to the power that works in you– to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”



1. “[I pray] that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, ” (Eph 3:16)

“Strengthened with power through His Spirit…”

Have we let the Holy Spirit have His way in us completely? I believe it is a process of learning and growing with Him that brings us to a place of totally allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way in us.

The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. He is our friend, and our Counselor. The Holy Spirit can do more in us (if we let Him) then a Counselor can here on earth.

The Holy Spirit knows every aspect of our past, present and future. He knows us intimately. He knows our personality, character, and what we think even before we think it.

Amplified Bible
“May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty powerin the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. (Eph. 3:16)

What does it mean to have the Holy Spirit indwell your innermost being? What does it mean to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the Holy Spirit?

It means to not allow our flesh to be in control. It is a realization that we are crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us! (Gal. 2:20)

We have to come to a place where we want to please God more then our flesh! We can’t be filled with the Holy Spirit if we are full of our self. We have to decrease. We have to die to flesh. It is submitting to the Holy Spirit’s voice even when we want to do the opposite. 

ACTS 2 (Pentecost)

The second chapter of Acts shows the infilling power at work in the Disciples and those present in the upper room. It was promised in Acts 1:4 – 8.

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

They stayed in prayer, and were united and obedient, waiting together for this promise of the Holy Spirit. They had never experienced what they were about to experience before. All they knew was to wait for “the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4).

Acts 2:1 – 4 (NKJV)

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were consumed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit wants to consume us daily. Do you spend time in the presence of the Lord daily?

Allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way in our hearts is part of letting the Holy Spirit indwell our innermost being, our “inner man.” This brings strength to maintain our daily life.

“…strengthened and reinforced with mighty powerin the inner man…” (Eph. 3:16) (Amplified Bible)

The Inner Man – Inner = eso ¯ in the Greek which means inside, or within. Inner man is also known as inward parts:
Inward parts – qereb – (BDB Hebrew and Greek Lexicon)
As seat of thought and emotion
As faculty of thought and emotion
Within self – heart, more than heart, it becomes your entire being.

Here are a few verses which speak of “inward parts:”



Psalm 139:13 “For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.”


Job 38:36 ” Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?


Psalm 51:6 “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.


Proverbs 20:27 “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.


Jeremiah 31:33 “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Hearts in Jeremiah 31:33 is translated from the Hebrew as; “leb” or “lebeb” – mind, will, understanding, midst (of things), thinking, memory, determination, conscience; as seat of appetites, as seat of emotions, as seat of courage!

Inward parts and heart do go hand in hand in the Bible, but more than the heart, it becomes a part of your entire being.

In other words, getting back to the original scripture;strengthened and reinforced with mighty powerin the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. (Amplified Bible)

God wants to strengthen us with His Holy Spirit, to totally indwell our inward parts, our inner being, mind, will, understanding, appetites, emotions, and everything we are, with His Holy Spirit. This will help us to maintain our daily life and help us to follow after Christ. It will help us to not be tossed and turned with every little breeze that comes our way that is contrary to what we think should happen.

Strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man; strength in the soul; the strength of faith to serve God, and to do our duty.

Where Christ’s spirit dwells, He dwells.

2. “I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love…” (Eph. 3:16b)

Love should be our motivating force behind all that we do.

There was a song out in the eighty’s by Lori and Harry Browning called, “Lord, Teach us to love You.” It was a prayer asking God to teach us to love Him with the Love He has given us. Then it turned the love towards others and asked God to teach us to love others with the love He has given us.

John 13:34 – 35 (Message)

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples – when you see the love you have for each other.”

This way of looking at love and reaching out to others will help us to love each other unconditionally. Our motto should be: “Loving like Jesus loves me!”

Also, with this love, we can look at Christ’s love and how intense it is for us.

3. “…may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:18 – 19)

The Message Bible reads…
“I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit–not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love.“

There are so many dimensions to Christ’s love towards us. We have not even touched the surface of how much He loves us.

Our knowledge can’t comprehend His love for us.

What extent are His dimensions?

“…what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

The breadth (wide) shows its extent to all nations and ranks;
The length (long) continues from everlasting to everlasting;
The depth, (deep) its saving those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery;
The height, (high) its raising them up to heavenly happiness and glory.

God will go to great lengths to rescue us. He will reach down into the farthest depths to show us how much He loves us and for us to experience that love as we sense His presence.

He will reach down to our inner man, our inward parts, where we live and have our being, and will give us revelations of who He is and how much love He has for us.


Have you ever felt God’s love?


The Message reads…
Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

That love is there for us to live full lives.

You can live without things.
You can live without position or recognition,
You can live without a lot of things, but for one to truly live, we can’t live without love. We will die prematurely without someone to love and someone to love us.

It is true that people who are ill will recover faster when their loved ones are close by; talking to them and encouraging them to live.

How much more we can live with the knowledge of God’s love for us.

God wants us to experience His love to know the fullness of who He is.

Fullness, not lack.

The Amplified Bible reads…
“…that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!” (Eph. 3:19b)

…all the fullness of God!

It is hard to comprehend the love of God towards us. Why would He love us after what we’ve done? Why would He lavish His love on us when we deserve judgment?

It is hard to comprehend His mercy and grace.


Mercy: Not getting what we deserve
Grace: Getting what we don’t deserve

This is what Christ did on the cross for all of us. Love was crucified. This love is there for the taking. Do you believe it? Do you want it? It is already there for you.

He is the lover of our soul.


4. “Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think–according to the power that works in you– to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph. 3:20)

What ever we can think of asking, God can do more.

The Message reads…
“God can do anything, you know–far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”

God is more than enough for our every need. God can and will do more than we could ever ask, think, guess, imagine, request in our wildest dreams. He is just waiting for us to recognize what He is doing.

Think for a moment what God has done for you this past year that has been beyond what you’ve ever dreamed possible.

This year ask God what He would have you do.
Think BIG!

What you think of right now, He can do more and will as you trust Him and allow His Holy Spirit to flood your inner man, your emotions, your will, your appetites.

Resolve to soak in His presence and love more. Expect BIG things to happen in your life. He is a BIG God and has BIG things in store for each of us as we trust Him to give us strength from day to day.

Blessings,

Pastor Kris Belfils

http://www.krisbelfils.com

http://www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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You Were Created For More (A Mother’s Day Message)

Have you every felt you were created for more then what you are doing and experiencing now in your life? Do you feel empty? Are you watching others experiencing more and desire the same things? I am here to tell you there is more for you. God wants to pour the “new” into you. He wants you to walk in it.

Women today have come a long way to experience freedom to be who they are in Christ. God created you for a purpose. More then what you think you are. More then how others see you.

God Created You For A Purpose

1. You have a more Abundant Life waiting for you.

John 10:10 (NKJV)

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

“…more abundantly.” This is the main reason why Jesus came to the world, so we could have everlasting life with Him eternally. He came for us to have a more abundant life on earth and walk in this “more” every day.

This “more” is gender friendly and race friendly. It is not just for the rich, it is for everyone.

Galatians 3:28 (NKJV)

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the promise.” 

It is for “they” or “those” who will grab it and walk in an abundant life and make it their own.

Knowing we are to live an abundant life, and to walk in it are two different things.

Women have been abused, treated less then, and overlooked for generation after generation. It is time for women to realize who they are in Christ. It is time for women to rise up and fulfill the calling or destiny they were created for.

It doesn’t matter what your past mistakes have been. Everybody makes bad choices in their life.

2. You are more then your past mistakes.

What Christ did on the cross for you is complete. We don’t have to add to it. The cross applies to all of us.

You can never sin too much to take that away. God’s grace is not grease to slip and slide in it. We walk away from what God doesn’t like. But, once we have walked away, and ask forgiveness, we are washed from all the wrong we have done. Your mistakes do not define you. Your mistakes do not dictate your future. You are a new creation and have been remade!

Tenth Avenue North has a song that really sums up that you are more then your past mistakes, or the choices that you make. Click the link to listen:  “You Are More”  (Donehey, Mike/Ingram, Jason)

We have to get past what we think of ourselves. We have to ignore what people think of us.

3. You are a new creation! 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (Message)

“Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!”

Burgeons:  “to send forth new growth (as buds or branches), sprout, bloom, to grow and expand rapidly, flourish, blossom.”  

We are brand new, valuable, and blossoming into beautiful things. This is our life! God doesn’t create junk, no, He creates wonderful people to do extravagant things for His glory, and to impact their world for Him!

4. You are royalty.

We are God’s princesses. We are a royal priesthood. We are royalty.

We need to know our place! Our place is a daughter of the Most High God! Take a listen to the song:  “Royalty” by Kimberly and Roberto Rivera

It is hard to see ourselves as royalty or priceless. I remember a time in my life where I was broken. I didn’t see any value in myself. I made some bad choices and had to endure and walk through the consequences. A lot of my healing came through Women’s retreats and seeing who I was in Christ through other women. At one retreat, the entire theme was about being God’s princess. I couldn’t wrap my brain around that concept because of what I had done. My book: “The Garbage Man Always Comes On Fridays” was written during that time (click on link and scroll down page to “The Garbage Man Always Comes On Fridays”). One of the leaders of this retreat had a Tiara and was using it as an example that all of us were given this sparkly crown by God. There were several speakers and many sessions to glean from. When we went to lunch, One of the leaders gave me the Tiara she was using in her talks. I was shocked. I was just there to lead worship with the band. When she gave me the Tiara, she told me “I was God’s favorite, and that He sees me whole and shinning for His glory.” I cried! I didn’t see myself that way, on the contrary, I saw myself as a mess and that I blew any chance of being used by God ever again.

We are royalty. It is easy to believe this for other people, but when it comes to our own life, we seem to be blind. What causes this blindness? I believe it is the culmination of circumstances and experiences we have walked through, also the thought that we have no value, and maybe we have junk in our spiritual/emotional life that needs to be dealt with.  It could be listening to the negative, critical words we are feeding ourselves or that the enemy is feeding us. It doesn’t matter at this point, what matters is to change our viewpoint and to have our spirit healed.

5. Your Spirit can be restored.

Proverbs 15:13 (KJV)

“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”

Proverbs 18:14 (KJV)

“The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?”

These verses express that our spirit can make or break us. The word “spirit” is translated: “roo’ – akh, to blow that is, breathe.” (Strongs Hebrew and Greek Definitions)

The spirit of a man is the very essence of himself. That is why when we experience sorrow of heart our spirit is broken. When our spirit is broken, we have no strength to be all God created us to be. We have to have our spirit restored so we can move on into our purpose and fulfill our potential.

Steps In Restoring Your Spirit

(Taken from my book:  “Revive, Rebuild, and Restore” pages 147 – 149)

a. Be truthful to God about how you feel. 

God already knows, but telling Him yourself helps. It frees your spirit up to relax. You will soon feel safe in God’s arms as you rest in Him. He might change the circumstances, or He might change you. Either way you are being changed and that is a good thing.

Many times I have to run to God and cry out to Him about the circumstances. That brings release in my spirit.

b. Be sensitive to God speaking to you.

God is always speaking to us, we just need to dial in our spiritual frequency to hear Him. We need to quiet ourselves to hear His still small voice. Open your heart and mind to His voice. Remember His sheep know His voice. Spend time with Him in prayer and soaking. Learn to listen to Him and be obedient to what He tells you to do.

c. Be quick to admit your sin and repent.

If your spirit is in need of restoration because of something you did wrong, be quick to ask forgiveness, and repent. That means totally turn from what you are doing (the sin) and get far away from it. Don’t stay in your sin. Don’t think there is no hope of ever getting out of it. There is always hope. The truth is how bad do you want to be set free compared to the bondage you are experiencing in the middle of the sin. We have to come to a place we want to please God more then our fleshly desires.

d. Be Forgiving.

Forgive others and forgive yourself. Un-forgiveness will kill your spirit. It will cause you to become old and bitter. Forgiving yourself is just as important as forgiving others. Your spirit will not be restored if you hold onto un-forgiveness.

e. Be willing to accept your circumstances.

Don’t live in denial. Your life is what it is. I have a saying I say to myself, and to others often; “It is what it is!” This statement really says a lot. You can’t change what happened, you accept what happened, and you are not going to stay in what happened. Live your life determined to move on and be healthy. Don’t harbor anything in your heart. This will only lead to a broken spirit.

f. Be willing to change your circumstances.

Don’t settle for anything less than what God has planned for your life. The only person who can change your circumstance is you. If you feel worthless, go look for a job. If you are not getting any jobs, go back to school. Pursue every avenue to better yourself. Don’t be lazy and expect life to come to you. Go out and grab it. If you are lonely go out and find friends. Get involved at a church. Be friendly. Be willingly to help out at a charity. Find something or someone worse off then you and pour yourself into it. You will feel better for it, and you will be a contributing member to society.

g. Be thankful for your restoration.

When you start seeing your spirit/life being restored, be thankful. Better yet, be thankful before you start seeing anything. Cultivating a thankful heart is so crucial to restoration.

Don’t complain, but pray. Don’t criticize, but encourage. Make sure your words uplift instead of tear down, not only to others, but speak encouraging words to yourself as well. Thank God continually for what He is doing in your life. Remember where you were to where you are now. Take a deep breath and enjoy the moment. Give all glory to God for your restoration.

Walk Boldly In Who You Are In Christ

Once we see who we are in Christ, it empowers us to walk more boldly everyday. It is not our ability, but God’s power, that enables us to be more then what we see ourselves to be.

There will always be nay sayers. Surround yourself with people who see your potential! Protect your heart and destiny by connecting with people who will build you up and not bring you down.

Build up the Kingdom of God. Give value to others. When we serve in leadership, people will trust you. True leaders don’t dominate, they lift up other people.

Women complete each other, not compete with each other. Yet, far too often women criticize other women. Most criticism comes from fear. We criticize what we don’t understand or don’t know. We criticize if we feel threatened. But being critical of others only brings bondage and destruction. It never builds the Kingdom of God. Why do we shoot each other in the body of Christ. We are of the same body, yet we shoot criticism when someone makes wrong choices. We shoot our wounded.

“We frequently stop or minimize one another. Instead of supporting and encouraging one another for the cause of Christ, we perpetuate an oppression that renders us ineffective to be all we’re supposed to be as women and as Christians.”

Lisa Bevere

Lionness Arising 

You would never see an army soldier, who is shot in battle by “friendly fire” be shot at again. No, you will see them being rushed to the medics. But this is what we do to other Christians when we don’t have compassion, or mercy and grace. Our criticism is like shooting them again and again thinking they will change. Reality is they are wounded more and more to the point they want nothing to do with Christians.

Let us be people who encourage one another. Try to see the good in others. After all, isn’t that what you would like them to do to you?

People may label you. Remember what people say about you, or what they think about you does not dictate who you are. God’s opinion is the only opinion that matters. We might even be judged as arrogant by walking in God’s power and agreeing with what His word says we are. I have two words for you;  “Who cares!” Who cares what people think or say! Who cares what man, or this world may say! We, as God’s creation, have a mighty work to do. Each one of us were created for a specific purpose. Each one of us, male or female, have great potential.

Don’t let the naysayers stop you from being all you can be in Jesus! Their opinion doesn’t last throughout eternity, only God’s does. This is who we should please!

You Were Created For More

All of this said, I pray your eyes have been opened to see the potential that lies dormant inside of you. What are your dreams and desires? Do they line up with God’s Word? I have found my true desires, those things that I am passionate about, are really given by God.

Psalms 37:4 – 6 (NKJV)

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”

As you are walking faithfully with God in life? God will bring those desires to pass. This is a promise! This promise is for you! Commit your life, plans, and desires totally to God. We can trust Him with our “precious” things. Those things we keep secret in our hearts. Those things we ponder and hope for.

Remember what Christ did for you on the cross was not just for your redemption, but also for your future. What He did is complete. He has made all things new.

Be the one who grabs ahold of this message today and change your world for Christ! Be the new creation Christ gave His life for and walk fully in the new He has for you.

From one new creation to another;

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

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Awaken: “Do You Know God Or Just Know About God?”

There is a high possibility most people in the world have heard about God. They are filled with facts of Who He is or what He has done. Some believe God is an angry God who will “zap” them if they do something wrong. Some believe if they do terrible things to themselves they will get the attention of God. They feel they get closer to Him by their works. Some believe if they go about doing good, they will be closer to God. But, it is not by works, or some terrible crazy passionate act on our part that will get us closer to God; it is an awakening to Who God is and worshipping and loving Him with our full hearts that will bring us closer to Him. It will bring intimacy and a deeper awareness of His character. When we fall in love with God, we abandon our insecurities and relinquish control over to Him.

Awaken: rouse from sleep; cause to stop sleeping.

• stop sleeping.

• rouse.

• make someone aware of (something) for the first time. (Dictionary.com)

Synonyms:  “activate, animate, arouse, awake, call, enliven, excite, fan, incite, kindle, provoke, rally, revive, rise and shine, roll out, rouse, stimulate, stir up and wake.” (Dictionary.com)

We need to be aroused and stop sleeping when it comes to our relationship with God. Enlivened to Who He is. Activated to His presence. Animated to His tenderness. Revived to His character and faithfulness. When we are, our TRUST FACTOR towards God increases and our stress level decreases.

I can understand working hard for something and receiving a reward for my efforts. This is human nature. We work hard at our job and receive a pay check. But this is not what we have to do to get closer to God.

God just wants a relationship with you. He wants you to awaken to who you are in Him and to awaken to the beauty of being His. Worship is the key, the highway to God. It is a vulnerable place. It is an intimate place. This is where we fall in love with our Creator. There is none like God. Worshipping God gets our focus off of ourselves and onto the living, breathing deity Who longs to be with you. Once you encounter the love of God and being in His presence, you will never be the same. Your relationship with Him is never the same.

Sometimes you are just one step away from walking into a supernatural encounter with the living God. Just one glance at His beauty, just one look in your direction you become transformed in His presence. Your identity lies in the fact that you belong to Him.

Knowing God is a process. I am sure you have many questions. But in seeking God, you have to get to the place you love and seek Him even if your questions are not answered. You seek Him more then the answers. You need Him more then the answers. You ache in your heart when you are not with Him.

Are you hungry for God? Do you pursue His presence? Are you a worshipper? You have to get to a place in your heart that you want to know God more then knowing yourself. Let His love consume you. Cry out to God and experience a right now moment of His presence.

To know God is a constant daily encounter you need to nurture. Worship is essential for any believer who wants more then a head knowledge about God. Worship brings you into a heart relationship with God. Worship takes us beyond ourselves to a secret place with just you and Him. It is a precious place. A place so intimate you will never want to leave.

You see, in this world there is turmoil constantly. Not only do we struggle in the natural, with our day to day experiences, we fight against principalities and powers that will try and get us distracted and pulled away from our relationship with God.

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

This is why we have to guard our relationship with Christ and let nothing interfere with it. Treat your relationship with God as the most precious thing in your life, because it is! When we put a high priority on God and being with and worshipping Him, our lives are so much better. In other words; protect and nurture the Vertical relationship and our horizontal life will flow and line up better. This is so true because I have seen it in my own life. When I am busy and distracted my relationship with God suffers and my life seems stressed and in turmoil. When I spend time with God and worship Him on a regular basis, I am not in turmoil. The stress subsides because my hope, my trust is in God and not in the things of this world.

You too can experience the intimate love of God. All it takes is for you to enter into worship. Set your mind on God. Think about His goodness. Put some good worship music on and soak in God’s goodness. Remind yourself of who God is and tell yourself He is all that and more to you. To know God intimate takes action on your part. He wants you to seek Him more then anything else in your life. When we come to God He will come to us.

James 4:8a (NKJV)

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you….”

This is a promise that God will always draw close to us when we make an effort to get close to Him. That verse goes on to say; “…Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Allow God to wash and cleanse you from anything that is not pleasing to Him. Be broken before Him knowing He is God and we are not. He will come to us and lift us up as we worship Him unabandoned.

Psalm 73:28 (NKJV)

“But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.”

See, it is good to draw near to God. It will build our trust in Him and we can’t help but tell others of His goodness, tenderness, and love. Even as I type this message I am listening to Kimberly and Alberto Rivera live Soaking Session, Volume III. I have to stop often and just worship Him. Such a sweet presence filling my room right now. His presence makes me weep. Not tears of sadness, but of joy and peace.

God’s presence reassures us that He is in control and sees us right where we are. We don’t have to be someone else to come to God. We just come as our selves. He never rejects us. We can’t help but express our love to Him in these intimate times. We actually become love-sick for Him.

Allow His deep places call to your deep places and get fully engulfed with Who He is. He is so amazing, faithful, and true. Nothing compares to Him. He is overflowing with goodness. He is the air we breathe.

Stay ever-soaking in His presence and you will get to know a living, breathing, loving God who cherishes you forever.

Jeremiah 17:7 – 8

“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.”


Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

http://www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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Can God Be Trusted?

Can I trust God? Will He really pull through for me? Does He hear me when I cry out to Him? Am I in this alone, because God seems silent?

These questions and more have been spoken many times from God fearing Christians. We don’t see an answer and we get nervous and start to doubt. We expect our prayers to be answered right away; on our timeframe.

God is not moved by time or space. He sees everything. He knows everything. Your circumstance is ever before your Creator. He knows what you need, even before you need it. Trusting God is an ongoing process.

“Trust Jesus, and you are saved. Trust self, and you are lost.”

Charles H. Spurgeon (a sermon on personal service)

That’s a profound statement, and so true.  If we trust ourselves, we can lead ourselves astray. Our human nature wants to rely on our self. After all, we’re always there, always looking out for number one, and we think we know what’s best for us. Unfortunately we don’t see the whole picture to really make the best decisions.

God sees everything. He knows all about you and your character. He knows you better than you know yourself. He created you! Therefore, the Creator knows more about His creation then that creation knows about itself.

God created you for a specific purpose and plan. He “knit you in your mother’s womb,” (Psalm 139:13 Amplified Bible) and you’re “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalms 139:14 NKJV). He knows you. He knows how you will respond or not respond to things. It’s wise to trust the Creator of our lives for everything. For what He created is wonderful and marvelous, and our soul knows very well (Psalm 139:14b NKJV).

Trust is faith in action. It believes God is working on your situation. Even though we don’t know just how God is working, He is! Even if we can’t see Him working at the start, He is!

Our eyes and understanding are limited. When we don’t see the results we want, our faith falters, and we are left with worry and doubt. I know, I’ve done it many times. But, in those moments of looking and not seeing, tell yourself, “Hold on!” Say out loud, “I can trust Him!”

When you don’t see God’s hand working out your troubles, trust His heart. His heart is for you! He’s making a way where there seems to be no way. He’s restoring you. He’s working out your situation for His glory and in His time.

God wants us to trust Him with all things. How do we do that? If we do trust God, will He make us do something we don’t want to do? Would He change us into something we don’t want to be if we give Him total and complete control? It’s hard to trust until we read more about why we should trust.

The trust issue in my life was big. I fought and struggled with it. I was reading in the Psalms and noticed so many passages that mentioned trust and what happens when I do trust Him. I found over eighty-five verses between NKJV and CEV that talk about trusting God and what the results will be. In the Contemporary English Version, the word, “trust” is translated as “wait”, “hope”, “believe” or “steadfastness”. They seemed to be interchangeable; also “love” and “mercy” are interchangeable as well. Knowing the facts about trusting God helps us to trust Him.

In the chart below you will find some of the verses on trust in the book of Psalms. First column is the verse, then Translation, then Trust Factor, and then the results. (There is more of this article after the chart)

Psalms Trust Factor

VRS     TRANS     TRUST FACTOR                                                 RESULTS

2:12b    NKJV      Blessed are those who put their trust in Him      Blessing/favor

4:5 NKJV/CEV   Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and trust  Obedience/favor

5:11,12   NKJV    Let all those rejoice who put their trust          Joy, defense, favor

7:1 NKJV         O LORD my God, in You I put my trust               Safety, deliverance

9:10 CEV/NKJV   Everyone who honors Your name can trust You  God is faithful

11:1   NKJV      In the Lord I put my trust                                               Surety

13:5 NKJV       I trusted in Your mercy                                       Forgiveness, salvation

16:1   NKJV      In You I put my trust                                                Preserves me

17:7   NKJV      O You who save those who trust in You             Salvation/rescues

18:2   NKJV   My God, my strength, in whom I will trust      Rock, fortress, deliverer

18:30   NKJV   He is a shield to all who trust in Him                  Shield, protector

20:7 CEV/NKJV  Some trust the power of chariots or horses     We trust You, surety

21:7   NKJV   For the king trusts in the LORD                                 Shall not be moved

22:4   NKJV   Our father’s trusted in You                                           Deliverance

22:5   NKJV   They trust in You                                             They were not ashamed

22:8   NKJV/CEV   He trusted in the LORD                               Rescue, deliver

25:2   NKJV/CEV   O my God, I trust in You                    Not ashamed, not defeated

25:5   CEV    I always trust You                                            Guide, instruct, safety

25:20   NKJV    I put my trust in You                                  Keeps, delivers, no shame

25:21   CEV/NKJV   I trust You                                            Integrity and uprightness

26:1   NKJV   I have also trusted in the LORD                 Vindicates, shall not slip

27:3   CEV    I will trust You                                       No fear in the face of war

27:14  CEV    Trust the LORD!                                              Strength and bravery

28:7   CEV/NKJV  I trust you completely.                         Strong shield, help

31:1   NKJV   In You, O LORD, I put my trust                 Never ashamed, deliverer

31:5   CEV   I trust You                                                           Faithful, rescued me

31:6, 7  NKJV/CEV    But, I trust in the LORD                      Glad, Rejoice in mercy

31:14   CEV/NKJV    I trust You, LORD                                   I claim you as my God

31:19   CEV/NKJV    For all who honor and trust You    Blessings stored up for us

31:24   CEV     All who trust the LORD                                          Cheerful and strong

32:10   NKJV/CEV   He who trusts in the LORD            Mercy surrounds, gladness

33:18   CEV     Honor and trust His kindness                             LORD watches over

33:21   NKJV/CEV    We have trusted in His holy name                   Hearts rejoice

34:8   NKJV     Blessed is the man who trusts in Him             Blessed, God is good

34:10   CEV     But if you trust the LORD                           Never miss anything good

34:22   NKJV     Those who trust in Him                            Never condemned, saved

36:7, 8   NKJV    Children of men put their trust            Lovingkindness, satisfied

37:3   NKJV/CEV   Trust in the LORD and live right                     Desires of heart

37:5   CEV    Trust Him to help                                                           God will lead you

37:7, 9   CEV    Trust the LORD                                               The land will be yours

40:3   CEV/NKJV  They will honor and trust You                New song, blessing

42:5, 11   CEV    I trust You!                                                God removes depression

43:5   CEV     I trust You!                                                   Not discouraged/restless

55:23  NKJV/CEV    But I will trust in You.                         Destruction to evil men

56:4   NKJV/CEV  In God I have put my trust                       No fear, safety

56:11   CEV/NKJV  I trust You                                                   No fear, no harm

57:1   NKJV     For my soul trusts in You                                 Mercy, refuge

61:4   NKJV    I will trust in the shelter of Your wings       Fellowship, shelter

64:10   NKJV    Be glad in the LORD, and trust in Him     Gladness, shall glory

71:1   NKJV    In You, O LORD, I put my trust                        Never be ashamed

71:5   NKJV    You are my trust from my youth                          Hope

84:12   NKJV    Blessed is the man who trusts in You                    Blessed

86:2   NKJV/CEV   Save Your servant who trusts in You    Preserves life, salvation

91:2   NKJV/CEV  My God, in Him I will trust                  Fortress, place of safety

112:7 NKJV/CEV His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD   Steadfastness, no fear

115:11  NKJV/CEV  You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD      Help and shield

119:42   NKJV    For I trust in Your word                              Gives answers

119:66   CEV     I trust Your commandments                    Gives wisdom/good sense

119:74   CEV    I trust (hope) in Your word                      Your servants will be glad

125:1   NKJV    Those who trust in the LORD               Cannot be moved

130:7   CEV    Israel, trust the LORD!                               Mercy and salvation

143:8   NKJV/CEV  For in You do I trust                     Loving kindness, guidance

(I have a full and complete chart in my book:  “The Garbage Man Always Comes On Fridays.”)
Now that we’ve looked at the Psalms and what they have to say about trusting in the Lord, I have to mention one of my favorite scriptures. It’s been the theme of my life.
Proverbs 3:5 – 6

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

Waiting on the Lord was all I could do at times. I couldn’t rely on myself and my thinking because it brought too many bad choices. My wisdom is limited and self-centered. I had to lean on the Lord constantly and not my own understanding. I realized if I relied on my own understanding I would fall, but if I relied on God and his word, I was stable.

During my devotions and journal writing one morning, I came up with this little reminder to help me trust the Lord:

Total

Reliance

Upon the

Surety of

Truth

It’s totally laying yourself at the feet of Jesus, knowing he’s the only One who can help you. There were times when it was all I could do to just get out of bed in the morning, let alone trust that God would bring me out of my mess. You may have felt the same way at times. Feelings of fear and uncertainty can overwhelm us if we let them. Personally, I had to tell God, “I don’t feel like trusting You right now, but I will trust you for trust’s sake.” Believe it or not, it helped me get through that moment. God is trustworthy even when we don’t feel or believe he is. Trust God for trust’s sake, if you can’t find any other reason to. God will meet you there.

When we taste and see that the Lord is good, we forget our concerns and doubts about God.

Psalm 34:8 – 10 (NLT)

“Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the LORD, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.”

It is better to trust in the Lord then in anything or anybody else in your life. Trust God for He is trustworthy!

Your sister in Christ,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

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The Elephant In Your Living Room (Elements To Courage)

I remember taking my daughters to school one day and both of them didn’t want to go. My daughters have always wanted to be with my husband, Ron and I instead of going. I can understand as I was the same way when I was younger. I would rather do anything instead of go to school. As I was saying, “Good bye” to them, I spoke out, “Be brave, and be strong and courageous!” I started to think about those words and what I was going through in my own life.

I want to be a little vulnerable to you and share some of my fears I have.

Recently I have been facing my fears and walking through things I have avoided for years. God has been telling me to be “strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6) as I face my giants and obstacles that come my way to get to the Promised Land.

Fear of the unknown, fear of my past, fear of man, fear of failure, and even the fear that I missed the Promised Land altogether.

Being courageous is not an easy thing to do, especially when it has been marks of my character to run and bolt under pressure.

The word courageous means: possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching.

The word courage means: The quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc, without fear, and with self-possession, confidence, resolution; bravery.

Joyce Meyers states in her book, “I Dare You,” that we need to exchange our fear for faith. She says, “Courage is doing a thing while you feel fear so don’t wait for all the feelings of fear to go away – do it afraid!”

There are times when I do feel courageous and I face my fears, other times I shrink back and find a place of refuge. I believe God knows and sees this. He knows when I am weak or vulnerable.

I also believe God will bring about encouragement somehow. It might be a passage of scripture you read that blesses you and gives you strength to continue. It might be a friend or loved one saying or doing something for you. It might be the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart in such a way that you realize you can keep going under fire.

There are several elements to courage that are always there. When we follow through with what we need to do, even though we don’t want to do it, we will see all these elements come to pass.

ELEMENTS TO COURAGE

1. Courage takes boldness – To Face your fears

Fear, in itself, can rule us and paralyze us if we let it. Fear of the unknown is overwhelming if we allow the thoughts to take over our minds.

We have to remind ourselves: He’s been faithful before, He will be faithful again… He’s been faithful to me.

One thing I have found to combat fear in my life is to remind myself of God’s faithfulness. I remember situations in my past that God has brought me through and I tell myself that He will bring me through this too.

We must remember that retreating from our fears only brings weakness. It also multiplies the fear in our minds and it becomes even bigger than reality.

I know as I have done it in my life. Then, instead of facing something small and manageable, we face a puffed up illusion of the fear. This can only bring torment and pain. This is the enemies work too. We have to recognize it for what it is. God is not a God of fear. He is a God of courage. So, if you face any fears in your life, realize God wants you to have courage. Pray and ask God what you should do. Should you confront the fear? Should you wait? Should you just let the fear go and trust God for the outcome?

This week I have had to look at some “scary” fears in my life. As I looked at them, I let them overwhelm me and I began to retreat and want to give up. Courage was not in me at all.

This is rather hard for me to share this with you as I struggle with a fear of people thinking I am not a strong woman of God, or weak in the face of fear. But as I started to retreat, I turned around and looked at the fear. It became even bigger to me. I stopped and walked right up to it and saw it finally for what it was; fiction. Fear is fiction, at least the fear I was facing. It was not reality. I had allowed the fear of man, and fear of my past, to paralyze and prevent me from moving on with my life, and with ministry.

THE OPPOSITE OF FEAR IS FAITH! Ask God for a measure of faith to face your fears head on.

One of my fears is not measuring up to other people. I have always felt “less than” others. This fear has blown up so big in my life this past week. I was shocked at the size I had allowed it to get. My insecurities and weaknesses were so huge in my mind that they seemed insurmountable. But the only way I will overcome them is to face them and push myself towards them. I am determined to not be in bondage to my fears. We all have them; it is how we deal with them that really determine what we will do in life. So I have made a determination in my heart to walk towards my fears instead of retreating or finding a place to hide.

Some friends pointed out some of my fears to me. It was like the big “Elephant in the living room” syndrome. Everyone sees you have a big elephant in your living room, as matter of fact it is taking up all the extra space for anyone to sit down and fellowship with you. Yet, you have no clue that the elephant is there.

I can imagine a comedy skit of a big elephant in the living room and people are sitting down on the couches or chairs trying to drink a cup of coffee and fellowship with you, but the elephant is so big that it is sitting in everyone’s lap. Still you don’t even acknowledge it being there and you try to strike up a conversation with people. Everyone else sees the elephant and knows what needs to be done, but you are totally ignoring the obvious.

It takes courage to face our fears.

2. Courage knows God is always there – Realize you are not alone

Often times we think we have to face our fears alone. That makes our fears even worse. We think we are the only one to figure out what to do. We have to realize we are never alone, we always have God. He is constantly speaking to our heart words of help, direction, encouragement, and peace. We just have to tune our spiritual ears into His frequency.

Scripture says in 1Sa 12:22, “For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.” 

Heb 13:5- 6  “Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

God’s love can envelope us to overcome our fears. He is not expecting you to be strong and courageous without him.

Our loving Lord will shower us with the confidence of His love to walk and face what we need to face. In His love we are transformed and changed. We see things from a different perspective. The perspective is from His loving arms looking out to the situation. Everything seems smaller and easily attainable from His arms.

Let us remember that perfect love drives out fear.

1John 4:18 states, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

If you feel like you are overwhelmed with fears and you can’t go on, this is torment. Realize it is not from God. Shake off those shackles that the enemy is trying to put on you and reach out to the love the Lord has instead. His love is full of peace and acceptance.

God’s love for us is perfect. His love drives our fear away if we receive it. We know fear is not of God strictly because fear torments us. God is a God of love; not torment.

I like how the Message paraphrase Bible states 1John 4:18, “There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life–fear of death, fear of judgment–is one not yet fully formed in love.”

God is calling his people to be strong under fire. So many times we want the easy road out. We would rather find a more comfortable path to take in life then to walk through a rough trial. But if we walk through what is in front of us we will be stronger for it. We will receive a wonderful reward for endurance.

Joshua 1:6a “Be strong and courageous…”

3.  Courage takes risks – Step out beyond what you know

Usually when you have to confront something, it takes an element of risk into the unknown. Joshua visited the Promised Land earlier under Moses leadership, and knew what was in the land he had to confront. Did he know how they were going to overcome the giants? No! But he did know God was with him and He was willing to face what was ahead in the security of knowing God was for him, and not against him.

The element of risk is challenging. What is your character? Do you cringe at the thought of risking something? If there is risk involved, it does mean you will have to let go of something to reach for something new.

The definition of the word, “risk” is, “the exposure to the chance of injury or loss,” so there will be a loss of some sort. The loss here is the loss of fear! It is worth the risk of stepping out in courage to confront fear. The more and more we step out and confront the fear, the easier, and less threatening it becomes in our lives.

The risk to the exposure of injury is always a threat. That is why we retreat when we see fear. We don’t want to get hurt. Our flesh will scream at us and yell, STOP AND TURN AROUND,” while our head and our heart is saying, “KEEP PRESSING FORWARD!”

We really don’t have a choice when it comes to living life and enduring from day to day. If we stop, we will digress or self-destruct. There is nothing healthy about that. No, the only choice we have is to keep going and to press in to any fear and meet it head on to over come it.

4.  Courage takes resilience – Enduring when you want to give up

Resilience is the power or ability to return to the original form or position after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity. It is the ability to recover from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy.

Courage takes resilience. It is a knowing that as you are walking in the face of your fears, you will be ok. It is continuing to move forward even though you see potential hazards around you. Remember that God is always with us,

Isaiah 42:3 “He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick; He will faithfully bring justice.” 

God will not allow you to be bent to the place of breaking. He is with you and has His eye on you constantly. That’s His character. He knows what you can endure, which is more than what you think you can endure.

Resilience is good as it brings healthy growth. I heard about an environment scientists were trying to create in the desert. They created a dome structure that would grow all sorts of plants and trees. They would plant all types of wildlife. But as the trees would grow, they started to bend back towards the ground. The scientists were baffled over this. They gave the trees proper care, nourishment, and sunlight, but they still would grow straight for awhile, and then bend towards the ground. Finally one of the scientists realized that there was no wind. The trees needed wind to face resistance to make them grow strong under pressure.

This is exactly what happens with us. We need the winds of adversity to make us grow under pressure. If we never faced anything that was challenging, we would never know what it was like to overcome.

James 1:12  

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

There is a reward for our endurance.

I want to be one that bounces back under pressure. I want to find myself strong after facing my fears.

5.  Courage takes action – Step out; make a move!

Faith takes action. It is one thing to believe God will bring you to your promised land, and it is another to never step one foot towards that promise.

We cannot expect to advance and take the land if we stay in one place. God is waiting for you to step out. The fear of stepping in the wrong direction is bondage.

If you never step, you will never obtain. 

I believe if you step in the wrong direction, God will lovingly correct you if your heart is to do His will and to please Him.

Stand in the confidence of Who’s you are. Step out in faith believing God will move after you move.

Just like the Priests who had to step into the water with the Ark of the Covenant, once they took a step, the waters began to part. Before they took the step, the waters never moved (Joshua 3).

I like what Hebrews 10:35 – 39 (HCSB) says, “So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. For in yet a very little while, the coming One will come and not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.”

Take a step towards your fears

Retreating is the opposite of taking a step forward towards your fears. Let’s take a step forward in getting rid of the elephant in our living room.

What does a step forward look like?

  1. It can come in the form of casting down imaginations that try and exalt themselves above the knowledge of God in your heart (2 Cor. 10:5).
  2. It is bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
  3. Another form of stepping towards your fears can be doing the exact opposite of what your flesh tells you.

If you are afraid of man and what they think of you, then you need to function and walk where you think people are having a problem with you, and love them unconditionally.

How about facing the very person that hurt you in your past and give them forgiveness? I have done this in my past and it has freed me from tons of bondage fear brought.

One of the biggest things we can do is confront the enemy and cast him down. We’ve let him have a stronghold for too long and it’s time for us to take our authority and command him to leave us.

Courage is a wonderful character trait if we let it be complete in us. Courage is nothing if we don’t act upon it. It takes boldness to face our fears. We can never overcome anything in our life if we don’t confront it and look at it for what it is.

Why allow the elephant to live in your living room any longer?

Fiction will puff itself up and that is exactly what fear does. Remember you are not alone. God always sees and is constantly watching over you. You can walk through this with confidence. Don’t get discouraged at what you see, but be encouraged as you step into the unknown.

If we want to experience more of God we have to step where we haven’t been before. Be resilient!  Endure even when you want to stop, or retreat. I am sure you can think of the action you need to take to move towards your fears with courage. Ask God to show you what you need to do. Be brave! Don’t be afraid.

Be strong and courageous and possess the land God has promised you, which is an “Elephant Free” zone!!!

Blessing,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com 

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You Are Never Too Dead For A Resurrection

We just celebrated Easter. The very crux of our Christian faith. Christ came and died and rose again for all of us.

 Corinthians 15:3 – 4 (NKJV)

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

We know this all happened. We stand on this everyday of our lives. We believe that Christ was raised from the dead. There is a resurrection of the dead.

Corinthians 15:12 – 14 (NKJV)

“Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”

This concept is powerful. There is a resurrection of the dead. Not only did Christ raise from the dead, but there is story after story of people who were dead and were raised to life. I am sure you have heard of many, here are just a few:

  1. CBN – JOHNATHON ALDEE – 28 minutes without oxygen 
  2. Daniel Ekechukwu from Nigeria (2001) –  CBN.com
  3. God Can Breathe Life Into Dead Things –From Pastor Kris Belfils book: “Revive, Rebuild, andRestore”

God Can Breathe Life Into Dead Things

Eze 37:3 (KJV)

“And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.” 

My oldest daughter had a school project when she was in the 4th grade. The students were given a caterpillar in a jar. Each student was assigned to take care of their caterpillar and make sure there were plenty of leaves for them to eat. Soon, the caterpillars would make a cocoon and look dead. The students, including my daughter, were worried as they thought they did something wrong to make the caterpillar look dead. One by one the cocoons would open up and out came the beautiful butterfly they transformed into. My daughter’s cocoon didn’t open up as quickly as some of her class mates did. She was constantly thinking about it and telling me about her cocoon. I assured her that she will have a butterfly soon, and to just wait and let nature take its course. Before long, her cocoon opened up and a beautiful butterfly came out. My daughter was very happy, and when our family went camping, soon after the re-birth, we set aside a time for her to release her butterfly from the jar into the wide open space of our camping site.

This makes me think of God and how He is at work in the middle of what looks dead. He has the power to bring forth life from dead places.

Just like CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is used to help a victim of cardiac arrest or, respiratory arrest, to keep them alive, God can and will breathe life into dead things.

Eze 37:1 – 14 talks about the dry bones that came back to life as the breath of the Lord was prophesied and breathed into them. Eze 37:3 (NKJV) states, “…can these bones live?” The word “live” is translated: “To live, whether literally or figuratively, to revive – keep, make alive, promise life, nourish up, preserve, quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life) revive – Be whole.

As the wind breathed life into the bones, and as the word was prophesied, the bones received life. This is what God wants to do with our dead places. God wants to revive us. He wants to breathe life into our dead areas.

Eze 37:12 (NKJV)

“Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.”

God will bring us out of our graves and cause us to live.

The dead have to listen to God’s voice.

There is an old hymn entitled, “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing.” It has twenty verses, but there is one verse that pops out to me; “He speaks, and, listening to His voice, New life the dead receive, The mournful, broken hearts rejoice, The humble poor believe.”

Lazarus was one of the dead that listened to the voice of Christ (John 11:1 – 44). Jesus spoke and breathed, “…I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die…” this is what he breathed or spoke to Martha when she met Him after hearing He was coming. Martha knew where her source was. She said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” There was still faith even after seeing the dead.

He is the Resurrection and the Life! If you believe, though you were dead, you shall live. All it takes is a little faith to see the wonders of God.

Scripture states, in John 11:5 and 6 “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” Jesus stayed two more extra days after finding out Lazarus was sick. Why would He do this? I believe for two reasons, First, He was setting the stage for a miracle so the people would see His glory as verse 4 states, “…this sickness is not unto dearth, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it,” but there is more to the reason why Jesus lingered where He was instead of making hast to get to the one He loved to heal him. Secondly, if Jesus would have hurried and healed Lazarus before he died, it would be like what He had done for many. If Christ had raised him to life after he recently died, it would be no more than He had done for some, but waiting so long gave Jesus the opportunity to do more for Lazarus, Martha, and Mary then He had done for anyone. This is His love.

I like how the Message Bible states John 11:11, “He said these things, and then announced, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, I’m going to wake him up.’” To God, raising someone from the dead is like waking them up from a sleep. It is no difficult thing for God to raise our dead things.

What areas of your life need to be resurrected, restored, or revived? Remember that the Father God is constantly watching you to bring resurrection life into your dead places. Look at delays as His love in action, just waiting for the right time to truly show you how much He loves you.

The prodigal son was dead and came back to life. We read in Luke 15:11 – 32 the story of how a father’s son asked for his inheritance before His father died. His father granted the request and gave the son what was allotted to him. The son went out and squandered all the money on extravagant living and ended up with no money wishing he could eat what he fed the pigs. He thought in his heart that even a hired hand, or a servant, was well fed in his father’s house. He came to the end of himself. He made up his mind to go home and ask to be a servant. But his father had other plans. His father missed him so much it felt like his son was dead. He grieved over the loss of his son. He longed for life to come back to him, to come back home. This is exactly like our Heavenly Father who sees the dead in our life and longs for life to come again.

God is waiting for us to “come to the end of ourselves” and come to Him for help. Resurrection power brings new life. What was resurrected, by the power of God, is even better than what was there before.

Everyone who calls on Jesus will be saved, will be revived, and will be brought back to life!

John 5:24 – 28 (KJV)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice…” 

Jesus said this concerning His coming, but we can truly apply this to anything dead in our life.

The dead have no choice but to obey the voice of the Lord to come back to life. God is the Beginning and the End; He is the Alpha and the Omega. He alone knows when someone will be born and when they will die. He is the one who breathes life into them. Since He is the Alpha and the Omega, He always finishes what He starts. Nothing ends without His permission.

Resurrection Advancement

The bigger the stone the enemy places on you to stop your advancement in life, the stronger, and bigger the stage of your advancement so rejoice! Just look at the stone the enemy tried to place in front of Jesus’ tomb. Even death could not keep that stone in place. If you feel a huge stone has been placed on you, get ready for a resurrection advancement!

Hebrews 10:35 (NASB)

“Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”

Sometimes the fruit of our labor takes time to see. Planting a fruit tree it will take 2 or 3 years to see the fruit in an adult stage. We are to never give up!

James 1:12 (CEV)

“God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves Him.”

The Living Dead

There are people, who call themselves Christian, walking around as the Living Dead. They go to church, are much involved with the activities there, but hardly have life in them. They think they are alive just because of their activity. But reality is they are walking zombies. There is no life in them. They are not relying on the resurrection power of God or even expecting good things from God. Often they feel the way their life is will never change. “It is what it is” is often said from their mouth. This kind of talk is not standing on God’s word or promises. It is not activating the resurrection power in their life.

It is God’s will for us to live in His resurrection power. Let His resurrection power quicken or enliven us to do His will. He will give us eyes to see and ears to hear what is causing us to walk around as the living dead.

Peter 1:3 – 5 (NJKV)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Living Hope

“…a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!” Hope is something that is living and alive!~ I watched the movie “Hunger Games” this past week and one line in the movie stuck out to me: “Hope is the only thing that can stand against fear.” Having hope propels you to keep trying in the middle of your fears. Hope helps us to stay focused. If we don’t have hope, we will fall into our fears and doubts.

We hope in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. The word “resurrection” means: “Standing up again, that is, (Literally) a resurrection from death (individual, general or by implication (it’s author)), or (figuratively) a (moral) recovery (of spiritual truth): raised to life again, resurrection, rise from the dead, that should rise, rising again.”

Death could not hold Jesus! We have that same spirit dwelling in us everyday!

Romans 8:11 (NKJV)

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Message Bible

“It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!”

God can breathe new life into any situation, circumstance, or issue, and bring forth life again.

Jesus was raised from the dead. Resurrection Life came from the One who is the Resurrection and the Life. We have to remember that the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us.

God can resurrect your dreams and passions that seem to have died while you have been waiting for a miracle. When God gives us a dream it must first die. Just like a seed that is dead has to be buried, so our dreams have to die so they can bring forth life. And just like the growth from the seed that bursts from the ground, which is exactly what happens when life comes from dead things.

What dreams has God given you? Do they seem like they will never come true? Have you held onto them too tightly for God to breathe new life into them? We need to learn to “hold on loosely” to our dreams. Don’t hold onto something so much that it consumes you. Allow your dreams to die. Give your desires to God and watch Him make something from nothing.

God can make beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:1 – 3). What if the ashes where made from your own match? What if you started the fire that burned your life into ashes, can God breathe new life into our wrong choices? Can God birth life from our mistakes? I say, “YES!” God specializes in making beauty from ashes.

What is dead in your life, your emotions, your finances, your relationships, your family, or circumstances? Maybe you feel dead inside? Do you feel God is far away and you don’t feel close to Him? Allow God to come and breathe new life into your spirit.

You might be feeling dead inside due to sin in your life. You might be feeling dead because of something you had to walk through. No matter the reason, God is there to breathe new life into your spirit today!

All our powerful God has to do is to speak or breathe life into dead things and the dead have to listen.

Do you have faith to believe God can breathe life into you? Ask God to come and breathe His life into your situation. Believe that situation will listen and be born again.

Remember “You Are Never Too Dead For A Resurrection!”

Blessings,

Pastor Kris Belfils