(CS4U) Grace

RISE AND SHINE CHRISTIAN SERVICES March 16 & 17, 2011 Discover yourself to reclaim your destiny Meditations for your quiet moments You Have It, So Say It! Have you come across people who have little, yet even that little is taken away from them? On the other hand, there are those who already have much, yet they receive even more. Jesus said, "To everyone who has, more will be given. From him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away." Notice that Jesus doesn't go on to say what it is we have. He simply says, "But to everyone who has." Jesus is talking about a firm belief in God's Word that gives one the courage to say, "I have it!" If you say that you have it, you have it, and more will be given to you. But if you say that you don't have it, when you actually do because God has freely given us all things (Romans 8:32), then even what you have will be taken away — not by God but by the devil! The devil does not want you to walk in God's blessings. So when you say that you don't have it, he can rob you of your blessings because he has your agreement! When you need something, God says that you are to ask of Him. And when you ask, believe that you receive it. Mark 11:24 Say you already have it even if you don't see it in the physical realm yet, and one day, you will see it! God is not saying, "Oh come on, pretend that you see it. And if you pretend long enough, you will have it." This is not a game! God is telling us to call forth those things which don't exist as though they do. Romans 4:17 Today, we are talking about the haves and have-nots in the church. If you believe that it is yours, you will have it. You will see yourself possessing it and enjoying it, and more will be given to you. But if you say, "Well, I don't feel it and I'm not sure if it will come," in essence, you are saying that you don't have it when you actually do. Then, even what you have will be taken away. So say you have it today! By God's Grace you'll make It! The Bible speaks of 'Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel... who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong' Hebrews 11:32-34. Who were these people? Jephthah was a social outcast born to an unwed mother. Samuel was a great prophet but not a great parent. David wrote the Psalms but had an affair. 'Out of weakness were made strong'. Notice, they didn't start out strong, they became strong. And if they can make it, you can too! For reasons God never explains, He chooses to work through people like us. He places us in difficult situations then unlocks our faith, compassion and creativity. When we don't know which way to go, He connects us with those who can open the right door at the right moment. Does that mean we won't experience fear? No, progress has always been made by people who faced their fears and rose above them. They knew that opportunity and security were opposites. The truth is, if the challenge you're facing doesn't place a demand on your faith, it neither pleases God nor involves Him. Phillips Brooks said, 'Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God.'   Share this with a friend Send us your Prayer Requests Feel free to unsubscribe risetoshine@hotmail.co.uk