Monday, Jun. 28, 2010

Pastor's commentary: Comprehending faith

I was reading a passage of scripture the other day that reminded me of something that my pastor said to me years ago. He said that believing prayers are the ones that God answers. Then he quoted these verses of scripture found in Mark 11; 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. NKJV.

Wow it took everything in me to comprehend what the Lord had said in these passages of scripture. Notice that He said, and I quote, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Immediately I began to understand that what we keep saying will eventually come to pass in our lives. Have you ever met someone that all they talked about is sickness and disease? And would you know it their always sick with something going wrong in their body. On the other hand those who talk about how grateful they are always seem to attract good things in their lives.

I met a guy not long ago that was complaining about how little he has and how things weren't getting any better and would you know it he's in worse shape now than when I had spoken to him several months ago. Jesus said have faith in God not in your problems. To many times we focus our energy on how bad a situation is instead of how blessed we really are. Now that doesn't mean we'll never face any challenges in life but instead of complaining about how bad things are we should thank God for the victory we have through Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. NKJV. In other words what you keep saying is what you're going to continue to experience in your life. I looked up the same verse of scripture in the message bible and it reads this way. Proverbs 18:21 Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit -- you choose. I like that because this verse makes it a bit clearer. Notice that it reads, you choose? That's the way life is, you choose if you're going to be happy or depressed and angry all your life. I know by now someone may be saying well you don't know my wife or my husband or my boss for that matter but the truth remains the same you choose if weather you're going to be happy or mad and upset.

I like what Joshua said to the people of God when it was time to make a decision. Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; NKJV. The only person who's in charge of how you respond is you not your husband, your wife or your employer. Today I want to encourage you to choose to live in peace with those around you so that your life will be filled with joy, health and prosperity. I'd like to invite you to come and worship with us at Praise Fellowship International Church at 615 E. Street in Los Banos. Our services are on Sunday 10 a.m. and Wednesday 7 p.m. Remember the rest of your life is going to be the best of your life.

Ed Ram is pastor of Praise Fellowship International Church in Los Banos.