steps2successwithspiritualsolutions

How to Trust God in Life’s Toughest Moments – Sermon – Mark Finley

God Cares For You

Sabbath Peace and Blessings

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…” —Isaiah 43:1-3

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living” (Psalm 27:1, 13).

Pray and Wait: “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

We Need God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional- October 4, 2024

Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples.—John 15:5, 7-8

How do we abide in Christ? How is God glorified? Much prayer and studying of the Scriptures gives us knowledge of God’s righteous character and His plans for every believing Christian. The Plan of Redemption was in place before the world was created. God’s goal has always been to save our souls, therefore Jesus died for us, was victorious over death’s dark grip, and is in heaven serving as our Intercessor.

We pray and the Holy Spirit takes our prayers to Christ who covers us with His righteousness and presents us to God, the Father as the redeemed. We abide in Christ by seeking His will every day. There are 66 books in the Bible that guide and teach us God’s expectations of Jesus’ followers. God, the Father is glorified when we align ourselves to His will through faithful obedience.

Reflection: Do my life choices reveal that I am a dedicated follower of God? Every thought, spoken word, and action should reflect that we are on the Path of Righteousness. Every day, we encounter challenges, the testing of our faith, love, and loyalty to God through temptations, but prayer keeps us connected to God, the Source of All Power! With God, we live as overcomers! To “Pray without ceasing” means to talk to God throughout our waking hours.

“…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” —Matthew 28:20

We need God! Yes, our earthly journey is tough, but God never meant for us to navigate alone. Even if you can resolve the issue, Pray for God’s help. With God involved, we never have to suffer consequences for misjudging our circumstances. God always wins! Dependency on God always ends in victory!

In John 14, verses 1-3, Jesus promises to return as the Triumphant King one day to gather the righteous and take us to heaven. Amen. Until then, be faithful and courageous, and continue to pray, pray, pray!

Lord God, we desperately need Your help. And we thank You in advance for Your Divine Intervention in our lives. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

He Gives Power to the Weak!

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 2, 2024

Today, I had an appointment with my Pulmonologist Nurse Practitioner who was delighted that I no longer have to use a maintenance inhaler. After listening to my lungs, she said, ” Your lungs are clear with strong breaths.” My response was, Yes after three years of steroid inhalers, I am very excited to no longer require them. But then she attempted to throw a curve ball, “Your next visit you will need to complete tests A, B, and C” to which I responded, “I am declining tests B and C because test A, a Chest CAT Scan will reveal any abnormalities. Respectfully, I indicated I was a Registered Nurse [retired]….” We reached a modified and satisfactory treatment plan because I knew that I was healed by God and excessive diagnostic tests were unnecessary.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” —Hebrews 11:6

For three years, I prayed for healing and in April of this year, God granted me healing. When God blesses us with miracles, we have an archenemy who uses countless ways [including people] to weaken our faith and make us doubt God’s love, His promises, and His Sovereign power. Pray daily for God’s Divine strength! Although God does not promise everyone physical healing, He does promise us the strength to travel the arduous journey through our trials and hardships of life.

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'” —2 Corinthians 12:9

Adversity produces steadfast faith in God. Whatever you are facing, never forget God’s promise in Isaiah 40, verse 29: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (NIV). Our responsibility is to pray and faithfully believe that we will receive God’s Power—Jesus’ Strength.

Never stop praying! God hears and answers every prayer. The prayer of despair and desperation is responded to immediately. Jesus, the Commander of Angel Armies sends peace and comfort through the Holy Spirit and His heavenly angelic messengers.

Lord God, we face many challenges in life that either build our faith or make us doubt Your love and Sovereign power. We pray for an outpouring of Your Divine strength and the courage to witness to others that You not only give power to the weak but also heal us of brokenness and mental, emotional, and physical sicknesses according to Your will. We believe in Your Divine Power and pray for peace and comfort. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

The Believer’s Thankful Heart

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 1, 2024

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.” —1 Timothy 1:12-13, NIV

The History of Saul the Persecutor of Christians

“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” (Acts 9:1). Saul was also directly responsible for the merciless killing of Stephen, the Martyr (Refer to Acts chapter 7).

Jesus Rescues Saul—This is God’s Grace

“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.” —Acts 9:3-5

As we read further into the story, after Saul’s life-changing encounter with Jesus, He was blind for 3 days and fasted—ate no food. During this time, Saul repented, his heart was fully converted, and he consecrated himself to a life-long commitment for the service of God.

From Saul to Paul

Christ did not change Saul’s name, but He did transform Saul’s heart. The Apostle Paul had two names Saul, his Hebrew name, and Paul, his Greek name. He was a Jew born in Rome. He chose to use his Hebrew name, Saul, until sometime after he began to believe in and preach Christ. After that time, as ‘the apostle to the Gentiles’ (Romans 11:13), he used his Roman name, Paul. Gotquestions.org

“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

The fact that Saul chose to use the name Paul has a spiritual significance. He understood that he was no longer the former sinful person who sought to imprison and murder Christians. From his willingness to dedicate his life to God, the Apostle Paul began his ministry of witnessing to the Gentiles, starting several churches.

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers…” —Ephesians 4:11

Not only did Paul accept his spiritual assignment by dedicating his life to starting the early Christian church, but the Holy Spirit inspired him [the words of the Holy Scriptures were given to the Apostle Paul by God, the Holy Spirit] to write most of the books of the New Testament. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things because He strengthens us with His power.

The conversion of Saul from a murderer to an anointed Apostle of Jesus Christ has much significance for today’s Christian believers. From God’s love and through His grace, Christ died a heinous, criminal’s death on Calvary’s Cross for us. Still, we can rejoice! Through the plan of Redemption, we are privileged to be called the children of God when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

From our yes to Christ’s invitation, we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and our minds, characters, and personalities are transformed into the likeness of Christ. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus…” —1 Corinthians 1:4

Because our hearts are overflowing with love for God and immense gratitude for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, the past sinful desires of our hearts no longer exist. We do not think, speak, or act in the same manner we did before we accepted Christ, our lives reveal that we are one with Christ. With humility, we seek God in prayer for our goals to align with the will of God.

The Grateful Heart Is Filled with God’s Love

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.” —Ephesians 5:1

“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is…but be filled with the spirit, speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord and giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” —Ephesians 5:17, 19-20

Like the Apostle Paul, we proclaim our worship for Jesus, our Triumphant King through the praises from our mouths and the prayers of thanksgiving. Every day, we receive new mercies and strive to live righteously, demonstrated by our spoken words and lifestyle. Yes, our prayers and the eagerness to know the word of God (Daily Bible study) reveal our love and gratitude for Jesus coming down from His throne in heaven to live a life of poverty and suffering for us.

Lord Jesus, we thank you for your great sacrifice. We thank you for loving us with an everlasting love. Today, we dedicate and consecrate our lives to you. From this day forward, we will possess hearts of gratitude and serve You with obedience. We ask this prayer in your Holy Name, Amen.

You Are Chosen and Called By Christ

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 30, 2024

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” —Luke 12:48

To be Chosen and Called is a privilege and responsibility that requires a close walk with Christ. Because Christ died for all, we are commanded to love as He loves, and we must also strive to “Be holy, for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). We need Divine Help and Power to love and forgive others [no exceptions] and to live righteously.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” —Philippians 4:13

To be a dedicated follower of Jesus requires living a life of sacrifice for which we will receive Jesus’ strength through empowerment from the Holy Spirit. Through prayer and Bible study, we stay close to Jesus, He gives us the Divine strength to live as overcomers. In humility, the chosen surrender every day by seeking the will of God and faithfully obeying His plans for their lives.

For our life of obedience, God honors us by giving the righteous spiritual blessings of His Divine Guidance and Protection. We also receive daily provisions for our spiritual and physical needs. If our desires align with His goal to save our souls, God rains down His abundant blessings (Malachi 3). With heartfelt gratitude, we whisper prayers worshiping our Heavenly Father for His never-ending abundant love, grace, mercies, and provisions.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” —John 15:4

To understand the life of Christ and His obedience to God, the Father, one must diligently study the Holy Scriptures under the guidance of the Teacher, God, the Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of Truth. To enjoy a thriving relationship with Christ, our Heavenly intercessor, we must love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. Our journey with Jesus is one of joy, ” I will never leave you or forsake you.”

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). We must also have an abundant prayer life to stay connected to Christ. Prayer, the Scriptures, and our thoughts are the spiritual gateways the Holy Spirit uses to communicate with us.

To be chosen and called will require us to step away from mainstream society. Although it’s a tough decision, we allow God to choose our inner circle of friends because we are influenced by the close company we keep. God knows the heart and will give us friends who demonstrate love and loyalty to Him and will support us spiritually through the good and adverse times. Yes, friends of God communicate with God through prayer, but we also pray for each other.

Our desire to live eternally is demonstrated in our lifestyle, thoughts, habits, spoken words, and how we love and treat others. The Holy Spirit reveals various ways of using our spiritual gifts to glorify God and witness to others. Acts of kindness, a smile, and saying “Jesus loves you,” can alter the course of someone’s life. Love is powerful always giving hope and peace where despair reigns.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” —John 15:16

Yes, Christ has chosen and called us to shine brightly in a world filled with darkness. Every day, reflect His Light and Love to everyone.

Lord God, thank You for choosing us to be your messengers of love and peace. We pray for the love, faith, and courage to represent Your unconditional love to others. In Jesus’ Holy and Loving Name, Amen.

Sabbath Praises of Joy and Peace

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?” Psalm 121:1

The Risen Lord – Lesson Study by Pastoral Panel

Do You Have the Right Friends?

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 27, 2024

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad Company corrupts good character.’ ” —1 Corinthians 15:33

Scenario: You strive to have a strong relationship with Christ by studying the Bible and praying daily. Although life is not perfect, you are still joyful and Christ empowers you with his Living Water as you strive for the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). You love God and love others as Jesus commands. Now, imagine this water pitcher filled with beautiful fruits representing yourself.

Godly Character Traits

“Blessed are those whose lives have integrity, those who follow the teachings of the LORD.” —Psalm 119:1

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” —1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” —Proverbs 19:17

Not one of us is perfect. Every Christian with a converted heart strives to faithfully obey God and travel the Journey of Sanctification, becoming more like Christ. Reflect on your circle of friends—their demeanor and character should also reveal that they are Christian Believers striving to live righteously filled with love, integrity, and unselfishness,

“Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” —Ephesians 4:32

Exactly what does this mean? Every Christian endures a daily struggle. God expects believers to be a Family of God. We should have Christian friends who can encourage us with Bible Scriptures (God’s promises) and also pray with us when life is overwhelming. We cry and laugh together.

“The Bible commands us to pray for one another, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16, ESV). God manifests Himself in many ways when praying together and for each other.” Thursday Theology

There are warning signs that God did not send certain people into your life. Beware of friends who never speak of God’s goodness, rarely have time to talk, are always too busy, or only text, “Praying for you” when you are discouraged. Texting is not as effective as hearing kind and compassionate spoken words and a heartfelt prayer. When we embrace individuals as friends who believe in God but are not practicing true Christianity, we continuously pour ourselves into them, but receive nothing in return.

One-sided relationships produce the Empty Pitcher Syndrome—we are drained spiritually, mentally, and emotionally which also affects our physical health. If we continue to pour into people who are unable to reciprocate, we lose our joy and peace. Our relationship with Christ is disrupted when He fills us only for us to end up mentally and emotionally drained.

Christ’s earthly journey was not easy. He relied on God for spiritual strength. It is important to pray, study the Bible, and learn God’s Loving Character, so we learn how to love others. “They will know we are Christians by our love.” Christ pours into us and Christian friends pour into each other. As Christ loves, we are to exemplify the same unconditional love toward each other.

“…we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…” —Colossians 1:9-10

Lord God, we pray for You to reveal the people who we are unequally yoked with and are keeping us drained. You have commanded us to be loving and kind, always lifting each other up in prayer. We ask You to send us dedicated friends who love You. Be with us in our friendship circles. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Transform Your Life in 2024 – The Godly Way – Pastor Mark Finley

We can change our lives, at any point, and any given day with the strength of Jesus. Amen.