Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /home1/heartof6/public_html/blog/wp-content/themes/responsive-mobile/includes/functions-extentions.php on line 35
Home › Posts tagged Faith › Page 8

Faith

Resolutions, Resolutions, Resolutions

Posted on by
Click To Play     

I want to start out today by reading some difficult but inspiring verses to everyone.

James 1:2-4

[2] My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

[3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
[4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

We have to begin to transform our lives in this year with what will seem like 2 brand new steps. I’m also going to tell you that this might not be your favorite thing that you ever hear me tell you, but nonetheless we’ll speak what God would lead us to.

The first thing that we HAVE to do is to stop complaining every second that we have breath to the Lord as well as everyone else. We have to begin to realize that there will always be someone else out there that has it worse, and that our situation is not the worst in the world. I’m not being horrible and saying that you don’t have dark days, but the scriptures lead us to handle things differently. They lead us to count it all joy. I know that it seems impossible to do, but you know how we count something joy even when it hurts? As we begin to count our blessings and begin to use the other tools that God gave us to bring us to a good place, we will find stability as we journey on towards the end of a trial!

The second thing that we have to do is let faith work. How do we do that? Well, first of all by not running away when things get too hard. We cannot back down or give up in the middle of something. That is how God builds up something good in us. It’s one of the ways he can get glory and you can overcome the enemy! If you stay grounded in God, desiring nothing but his will, and let that patience through your faith have its work, you will have an experience to speak of from the ends of your trials that you will have learned from! And always remember, when it comes to the trials of God, you are never tested in something for you not to learn anything from it.

Let’s read on some more now:

James 1:12

[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.

Blessed is he who endures!  There is a reward for us who hang on! I have always said since I began the ministry that there is a special quality about endurance. You have to have it regardless of the condition of your body. Endurance is in the mind. For that is why we inherit the crown of life for our head and not our body.

Let’s read on:

James 1:22-25

[22] But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
[23] For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
[24] For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
[25] But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

I don’t know about you, but this sounds like all the promises and resolutions we always break! What I do know is that my false promises are a direct rebellion against his atonement! That’s a serious thing!!!

When I begin to say things like:

“I will walk right if you help me”

or

“I will purify me if you answer my prayer.”

We have to realize that we are human and that we are always going to come short, but if I surrender myself, all my rights and demands, and justifications and finally leave myself in his hands, and then through my humble prayers he can do a work in me!

The last part I want to read to you today is what I like to call the dedicated verses of my life. If you don’t have any, put these in your heart as well!

Philippians 3:13-16

[13] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
[14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
[15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
[16] Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

I can’t do anything for what is behind me in the yesterday.  But God is the God of the yesterdays and allows the things of the past to help us spiritually grow today.

I know more than anyone that I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but the Lord will go before us!  He is in what we are not aware of!

And I certainly know that with all that is in me that as far today, I’m going to press, strive, and break through for that peace and joy that I know will keep me.

God Bless You!

Don’t Be Afraid Of The Wind

Posted on by
Click To Play     

Every single day, whether you be near or far in the world, we are all faced with hardships. And when these hardships have something to do with an object or person that is of worth to you, and something or someone else comes against it in some way, the experience that you deal with to go through it is what I like to call a trial. The size of the trial can vary, as well as what the trial involves. It could be something that affects your health, your finances, your family, your friends, so long as it is personal, it matters to you and your life.

When it comes to trials that are to do with our personal lives, we’ll do just about anything to make sure there is a good outcome. I have found that without being aware, more often than we would like to admit, that we completely leave our faith out of our trials all together. And in most of the cases, I have found from personal experience that doubt was ever present.

I want to bring a scripture into all of this before I go any further:

Matthew 14:22-33

[22] And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
[23] And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
[24] But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
[25] And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
[26] And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
[27] But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
[28] And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
[29] And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
[30] But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
[31] And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
[32] And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
[33] Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

So many times, we have the opportunity to remind ourselves every day through prayer and the word of God that we serve that Savior that “is I”, who will catch us when we sink. Instead, we act as the disciples most of the time, leaving our faith on the boat, complaining, being in a troubled spirit, not believing, and doubting most of all.

There is even a good portion of us who won’t even get out of the boat when that voice is bidding us to step out on the calling on our life. We doubt what we have inside of us, constantly questioning, and yet it was the one, “it is I”, who put the gift in there to begin with, remember?

There is a few out there, who will actually step out into the waters of the spirit, and get out there and begin to start working in their gifts, and as the winds around them begin to push them around, with the winds as a metaphor to the trials that they face as a worker in the church today, most of the time the only thing we can say is “LORD SAVE ME!”. And you know what? That’s totally okay!

I want us all to start getting out of that boat, with the boat standing for fear of being obedient to what God would have called in your life to do, and start stepping out there, for the scripture put it best:

“O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

The most important part of all of this is that at the end of the day, the God that we serve will make the winds cease, and bring peace to the waves that crash all around you. In other words, those trials that we deal with would not be near as bad if we step out with more faith and less doubt. Believe that when you step out to face all the hardships in your life that Jesus is at the end of the trial waiting, and that victory is that the end, and if you should feel yourself begin to sink, he WILL catch you, for the Bible says he will never leave nor forsake you! God Bless You All!

Patience, Patience, Patience

Posted on by

One of the toughest pieces that we have to learn about our character and our witness to this world as a Christian is our patience. It is the most single tested value within your core, and without it, we won’t last long before we want to give up and throw in the towel on everything we stand for.

A thought that came in my mind when I was praying to God about working a greater patience in me was that proven faith shows demonstrated patience, which brings wisdom from the experience, and hope from knowing you made it through all of it.

To try and bring this point of view out little by little, I have various scriptures that I want to tie all together. I hope these bring out a point of view that helps you like it did me. Please, by all means, comment and give input! It is all welcome!

For starters, patience is defined as the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

With that said, wow. I have found myself more often then not being weak when I should be strong in many situations in my life.

  • The God of Patience

Romans 15:5

“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus”

So in other words, show it towards one another! That did not have any clauses to leave it out from anyone! It is neither selective to who we prefer, nor who we do not. We must open our hearts and have a greater understanding to everyone and everything. That shows a stronger witness inside and out. Publicly and privately.

  • Christ’s Demonstrated Patience And Mercy

Isaiah 53:7

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”

Matthew 27:14

“And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governer marvelled greatly.”

Hold the phone for a sec. Let’s take away the wonderful from this for a second and be real. Just the fact that Jesus Christ faced all of the persecution that he did and saying nothing is enough to show the demonstrated patience. We can’t even hear a mean word from someone without rising up inside and wanting to speak our peace, or feel like that we need to feel like justification has been delivered to them. Now, let’s put back in the best part. He opened not his mouth and endured the suffering so that we could have a place in Heaven eternal. That makes my heart soar!

  • More Mentions

2 Peter 1:6

“And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”

James 1:3-4

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing”

Romans 5:3-4

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience, and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Isn’t that just amazing, when we begin to dig in and read all of the pieces for yourself and put them all together? I love the word of God! I just hope as we all continue to be molded each and every day, that we can learn from our tried patience and experiences to raise ourselves up with encouragement from hope, and not be ashamed of what God has brought us from!

Being Established

Posted on by
Click To Play     

Some start to return to the true fellowship God has ordained for His people, but some have a hard time getting free of what they have experienced, but not all do get out.

There are all kinds of people that are out there:

1. Those who are so involved, they are absorbed into it to the point where their “faith” will never be shaken

2. Those who leave because they have been hurt or damaged and consider true Christianity a farce and leave it altogether

3. Those who come out of it immediately because the light of God’s word and conviction by the Holy Spirit is so clear

4. Those that will come out of it, but struggle to get rid of the oppression and experiences and feelings

Am I Established In The Right?

Many believers who have stepped onto the road of deception have all had thoughts or doubts about what they were doing, having thoughts like “Something seems wrong” or “I am not sure“.

1 John 1:5-7

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

What is around me? Is it something of God?

It may have looked like light, but it was darkness. It may have looked like truth, but it was a lie. It may have looked like God and His workings, but it wasn’t. It was darkness, and Jesus said,

Matthew 6:23

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Why can’t I let things just stay this way?

This is an important area of repentance and a turning to the word of God.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you

Where do I go from here? What do I do?

His forgiveness is readily available. It is the heart of the individual that limits to what extent God can work to fully restore them. God wants to ESTABLISH you again in His truth and He has the total power to do so if you will return to the faith you once followed:

God desires to establish you again according to His gospel through your obedience:

Romans 16:25-26

25 Now to him that is of power to STABLISH YOU ACCORDING TO my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

God wants to establish you in holiness by ridding you of the deceptions:

1 Thessalonians 3:13

13 To the end HE MAY STABLISH YOUR HEARTS UNBLAMEABLE IN HOLINESS before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

God wants to establish you in good works once again and deliver you:

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and STABLISH YOU IN EVERY GOOD WORD AND WORK.

The Lord will establish you and deliver you from those who have not faith around you:

2 Thessalonians 3:1-4

1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful, WHO SHALL STABLISH YOU, and keep you from evil.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

Where Is The Love?

Posted on by
Click To Play     

There are so many times when we find ourselves in complete disarray, and everything that we know changes. And only until we reach this place do we realize that we should have “known” better.  I want to use the opportunity that I have here to speak on something that have been trying to understand and gain a better understanding on.

I remember when I was a child growing up in church. I remember hearing the people have joy in their voices and happiness on their faces. It made being at church a fun and joyous experience, and it captivated me. It was so clear and easy for me to see that the people that were happy were in possession of something that brought good things in their heart that made them want to share that joy with others.

I miss those days so much. I remember them very vividly. There are so many memories of hearing grown men turn humble in front of large crowds, giving their hearts testimony for everyone to know just how good that God was to them. I remember even hearing some of the women of God shouting will all their heart, sometimes in joy, and more often in faith for things to come.

I remember the songs that I used to hear. Some of them I still try to sing today, but I could never compare to hearing songs like “Consider The Lillies” and “Two Coats”. Oh how those songs used to bring such an uplifting to me, and now how they are counted so little. People are searching for the newest songs, the newest things to try and replicate a feeling that we used to know old so well.

There are many of you out there probably reeling at some of these points, and I hope that you are. I hope that this is starting to get you to wonder how in the world this ties to a positive devotional.

To be honest, we go out into the churches of today and find that the humbleness, faithfulness, and true established desire of the people is going out. I know that it is not intentional for it to dwindle away, but everyone cannot question what we see; it is what it is. More than anything, I hear people wanting to issue complaints about how bad things are where they go, wanting to relocate in hopes of finding a place to feel like that they belong.

People get offended, upset with each other, and want to settle nothing. We want to just write someone off and go on, or do whatever we must to get them to go. Rather than address anything, things go unresolved and it’s just one more reason why we can’t worship the way we use to anymore. And if enough of this happens in one place, you then soon see the doors close up, literally and spiritually.

At this point, it is really hard to find a certain place to begin, but I think I have a pretty good idea of what to ask first.

So where is the love of God that is supposed to dwell within us? Well, it is easy to say “of course I have love”, but it’s completely different when push comes to shove. It’s easy to say that we love everyone, but turn away from someone that stands in need right in front of us. It’s easy to say that we love God and would do anything for him, and yet, we sit idly by in church services where we know good and well that people need help and encouragement. The bible talks about how without charity that most of what we can even do means nothing. Why are we forgetting this principle? We can preach the best, sing the prettiest, look the holiest, and yet, without that true love of God running our lives, it really bears no benefit to anyone or ourselves.

I believe that we should begin to start being in active practice of love. That means having all the qualities and virtues of it. Things like mercy, compassion, forgiveness, charitable, selflessness, are a MUST. That means being welcoming to those that you love and those you don’t know. That means opening your heart to those you favor, as well as those that you don’t. Most importantly, we are held accountable for our actions, so if we so chose to just blow off being obedient in this area, all that I can tell you is that we are what we eat.

This concept is hard to grasp, but if learned and used in the best spiritual capacity, is the most powerful way of not only leading people to Christ, but keeping people from ever feeling like that they do not fit in. We want you to know that we at Heart of Grace love you very much, and encourage you to be the best that you can everywhere that you are. Public or private, friend or foe, church or not, be the loving person that God has called you to be. Make it your goal to never let one person feel out of place. Remember, as the bible speaks on, greater is the joy when we find the one and leave the 99. And we only understand that joy when we do it. And we will only do it with love.

Equipped With Assurance

Posted on by
Click To Play     

In today’s message I wish to talk about being Equipped With Assurance

So many things in life bear many uncertainties, but there are many things that we obtain by having God being the all-in-all in our lives

First of all, we have Forgiveness from God

1 John 2:1-2

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Often times when we face rough things we can cling to God’s Peace

Romans 14:17

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

One part that we often take for granted so often is our Freedom

Romans 8:2-3

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Even when we have strength, we never use the God given Power and authority

Ephesians 4:21-25

21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

One of my personal favorite emotions would of course be Hope. For without it, we are a people without faith.

1 Peter 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Always remember when you are going through your every day, to equip yourselves with these things that God gifted us to be able to live life with. God Bless You!

What To Do Now? Let’s Blurb!

Posted on by

It’s good to be writing to you all tonight. I am here to write a little “blurb” about what I have learned the past few days.

I have learned that it is never easy to be able to try and figure things out on your own. Trying to do this only leaves me to my own thoughts and understanding, and as obvious as it seems now, it’s hard to see in the moment. I hope that as I face my future valleys that I can remember the moments on the mountain, and to know that it took something to take me there: my Lord and my Savior!

I have also learned that without faith being in every instance of every trial, that the trial will run its course with no divine intervention. We start with faith the size of a grain of a mustard seed, and yet, that is only the beginning of it. That faith is meant to grow, meant to be cultivated, to be encouraged to something even bigger than our mind can contain. For without it, we can never grow to bear anything that will be of help to ourselves and to others.

Another important piece that I have obtained is the realization that people need each other. It is simply more convenient to think that everyone is okay, so we never bear the burdens of heavy hearts. It is simply easier to think “it’s someone else’s problem”. It’s so sad, but so true. I’m here to tell you that I am changing my frame of mind, and to realize that people need me. People need that anointing that God has placed in my life. For on my own, I am nothing, but God through me, I can do all things.

And finally, I will close with the thanks and gratitude to anyone and everyone out there that is supporting us in this ministry. We have had some things try and come to slow us down, but we are not stopping for anything! We are continuing forward, aspiring for the mark and high calling that we have read about! God bless you all!

About Desire

Posted on by

So many times the wants in our life are based on our desire. We often can fill the desires on our own, but these things might not be God’s will for your life. The small thoughts that I am having today are these:

“To commit is to take action and follow through on your desire.

With no passion comes any desire.

With no desire comes any commitment.

With no commitment comes any blessing.”

With trust and commitment to God, you will build faith and strength and security in your life. Then, we can lead others to him.

Psalm 112:1-10

[1] Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
[2] His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
[3] Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
[4] Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
[5] A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
[6] Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
[7] He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
[8] His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
[9] He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
[10] The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Don’t let details steal your desire. We must trust and commit to God for the blessing.

The Love Of God

Posted on by
Click To Play     

Can anyone really comprehend “unconditional” love? It seems the love that parents have for their children is as close to unconditional love as we can get without the help of God’s love in our lives. We continue to love our children through good times and bad, and we don’t stop loving them if they don’t meet the expectations we may have for them. We make a choice to love our children even when we consider them unlovable; our love doesn’t stop when we don’t “feel” love for them. This is similar to God’s love for us, but as we shall see, God’s love transcends the human definition of love to a point that is hard for us to comprehend.

The Bible tells us that “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). But how can we even begin to understand that truth?  There are many passages in the bible that give us God’s definition of love. The most well known verse is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” So one way God defines love is in the act of giving. However, what God gave (or should we say, “who” God gave) was not a mere gift-wrapped present; God sacrificed His only Son so that we, who put our faith in His Son, will not spend eternity separated from Him. This is an amazing love, because we are the ones who choose to be separated from God through our sin, yet it’s God who mends the separation through His intense personal sacrifice, and all we have to do is accept His gift.

Another great verse about God’s love is found in Romans 5:8. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In this verse and in John 3:16, we find no conditions placed on God’s love for us. God doesn’t say, “as soon as you clean up your act, I’ll love you;” nor does He say, “I’ll sacrifice my Son if you promise to love Me.” In fact, in Romans 5:8, we find just the opposite. God wants us to know that His love is unconditional, so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us while we were still unlovable sinners. We didn’t have to get clean, and we didn’t have to make any promises to God before we could experience His love. His love for us has always existed, and because of that, He did all the giving and sacrificing long before we were even aware that we needed His love. I know a sister in Christ who makes this statement almost every time she gives her testimony; He loves me Just As I Am. This is such a true statement.

God is Love, and His love is very different from human love. God’s love is unconditional, and it’s not based on feelings or emotions. He doesn’t love us because we’re lovable or because we make Him feel good; He loves us because He is love. He created us to have a loving relationship with Him, and He sacrificed His own Son (who also willingly died for us) to restore that relationship.

God is Love! As such, true love — God’s love – can be summed up in this passage of scripture:  “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”  (1 John 4:7-11)

The Rest Of The Story

Posted on by
Click To Play     

The thought I have to share with you today is about the rest of the story.

2nd Corinthians 7:5-6

For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without fightings, within fears.

Nevertheless God, comforted those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus.

The world that we live in is this way; so many problems, sickness, turmoil, it is true; these do exist but then you have the word nevertheless, which means despite what has been stated there is more.  Nevertheless is a word similar to the words but, yet, and however, which means there is something else to follow that will supersede or override or is contrary to the first part of the sentence.  In other words, you have the first part of the story, and now you need to hear the second part of the story.

In these verses, we find that although the first part is fear and fightings, we find the rest of the story brings us peace.  The God that comforted those, comforteth me.

We find in an earlier chapter (2nd Corinthians), chapter four, verses 8 and 9 some more verses that have two parts to the story:

“Troubled but not distressed, perplexed but not in despair”

“Persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed”

Another scripture that came to me that demonstrates this so plain is the story of Jarius in Luke 8:41:

Jarius, the ruler of the synagogue, who was probably prosperous, probably active in conducting the services in the synagogue, comes to Jesus because of a great burden he is carrying. His only daughter of 12 years old is at the point of death.  He is desperate, exhausted with worry, sick with concern.

Does this sound familiar? Have you been there? Are you there now?

Jarius heard Jesus was coming.  He left his daughter’s side to reach Jesus. He could have sent someone, but I think because the request was so important to Jarius, he wanted to carry it to Jesus himself.  He had faith that Jesus could do something about his daughter.  He falls down to his knees before Jesus with his request, and Jesus says yes I will come and they start to his house.  But on the way, the woman with the issue of blood reaches out to Jesus and is healed.  Before they can go any further, here comes one saying Jairus’s daughter is dead and not to trouble the Master.  I think this suggestion was not from God, but from the enemy.

How many times has he told you it is too late? No use to pray? No use to ask others to pray? Nothing God can do now.  I believe Jairus is standing close to Jesus when he hears the news.  He was heartbroken.  Perhaps, he started weeping.  Can you just see him sag beneath the load?  I am sure Satan told him “You should have just stayed with her instead of running to Jesus” Perhaps, he wishes he had been there for her when she died.  His faith falters, but like a friend at his side, Jesus quietly speaks, “Fear not, believe only; and she shall be made whole.”  He may have even put his arm around him and held him close while He spoke these words.  No, I am sure He did.

Sometimes what we are going through may be so great that our faith may falter or become weak, but then we hear His voice.  We feel His presence.  He speaks peace and comfort, words of encouragement.

Jesus refuses to leave Jarius alone with his grief, but goes with him.  Jesus enters the house and puts the scorners, sightseers, and mourners aside and keeps those who had a sincere desire in their heart to witness the miracle of her resurrection. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, “Maid, arise.” And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.  I think Jesus had her eat to prove that she was flesh and blood, and not just a spirit.

So here is how this story could be summed up.  Jarius’s only child died when she was 12 years old, nevertheless, she was brought back to life by Jesus.  My story would read like this.  She was lost, a sinner, full of iniquity, worthless and hopeless; nevertheless, Jesus saved her soul and has given her eternal life and clothed her in righteousness and love.

Here’s a couple more scriptures that demonstrate ‘the rest of the story’.

Nehemiah 4:7-9

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, and conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.  Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

Luke 5:5-6

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.  And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

Remember, we need to have faith to obtain the promises that God has given.  Fear not and just believe because there is more to the story.