Increase Our Faith

Given November 14, 2007
First, I apologize for not writing for over a week. I was attending a state technology conference for most of the week and was unable to find the time. So, I will catch up beginning today.

After Jesus had told his guys to forgive somebody seven times as day, they said, "Lord, increase our faith", Luke 17:5. That seemed a pretty tall order for those guys and they realized they needed more faith to do that. But Jesus began telling them that all they needed was faith as small as a mustard seed. They didn't need any super faith, they had what they needed and we do too.

But, it made me think about seeds....if we have a seed that we want to produce a plant, we don't take it to Jesus and ask Him to give us the increase. No, we plant it, water it, and do the things that we know will cause it to grow and increase. The law of seed-time-harvest is already in place, we just have to operate in it.

I think it's the same with our faith. We all have a measure of it, (the seed), so we have to develop it with prayer, the Word, and exercising it. When we do those things, our faith will increase and we'll be able to do great and mighty things through God who gives the increase by His plan according to Christ Jesus. Be blessed!

Talk, Walk, Talk

Given August 22, 2007
I'm sure you've heard the expression, "You gotta walk the talk!" See what you think about this: You can talk it after you walk it, but you have to talk it before you walk it, to see it. Man, does that statement make you squint your eyes and shake your head? Well, let me try to explain what it means.

It is said in Romans 4:17 that God, "calls things that are not as though they were." God told Abraham that He had made him the father of many nations. Abraham believed God and, I imagine, he went around saying, "I'm the father of many nations.", even though he was a hundred and his wife was barren. He was talking it BEFORE he saw it or walked it. He kept on talking it until he saw it, which was his son Issac. Then, after he'd talked it, and saw it, he could then walk it.

Abraham talked and walked by faith at first, saw his faith come to life in Issac, then he could put his arm around the boy and talk it some more. Then, I imagine, he said something like, "Look what the Lord has done!"

"It is written: 'I believed; therefore I have spoken.' With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13". If we speak the promises of God, believe what we say, and walk in it, then we can talk about it afterward and give God the glory!

Bill I Know

Given September 5, 2007
During the closing prayer at church last night, our pastor made mention of us, as believers, being able to cast out devils, speak with other tongues, and lay hands on the sick and see them recover, Mark 16:17-18. It reminded me that we should be taking more control over things in the earth than we are.

The verse in Acts 19 came to mind where seven sons of Sceva tried to cast out a devil using Jesus' and Paul's credentials and got whuped, (a southwest Virginia term). The evil spirit said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? Acts 19:15". As a believer, I want to be known by the evil spirits and have them say, "Uh oh, there's that Dotson guy. Don't mess with him, let's get outta here."

Do we really believe we can get to that point? What did Jesus say? "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12". He that believes, those who believe...

I heard it said by a famous preacher regarding Mark 16, "These signs shall follow those who believe that these signs shall follow them." We've got to believe! Jesus I know, Paul I know, and Bill I know. May it be so Lord.

The 3-Strand Cord

Given July 30, 2007
We've been hearing a series of teachings at church on the power of our words and it has been very enlightening. The things we say every day have an impact on our lives. There is a relationship between our words, the Word of God, and our faith. The following image shows what I mean:
The Bible says, "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT". Do you see this? God's Word is absolute truth, our words must line up with that truth, and be woven in with our faith. Look at that cord, it cannot be easily broken, if at all.

For whatever situation you're praying about, find out what God's Word says about it, agree with that, add your faith, (unwavering, James 1:6), and speak words of victory and see it come to pass!

"I've Already Done It"

Given August 1, 2007
During my prayer time this morning, God reminded me of something that is probably obvious but I needed to be reminded of it again. As I was going down my prayer list of needs, I asked God to bless the people and thus, the church financially. He said, "I already have." I had to say, "Oh yeah, you have haven't you."

Then I looked back over my prayer list and realized that many of the other things on there He had already made provision for. The problem is we hadn't received them yet. As far as financial blessing goes, God says, "Give and it shall be given unto you...Luke 6:38". The key is for us to be cheerful and extravagant givers. If we do that, God's plan, which is already in place, will work!

And, it's the same with many other needs or requests we have; salvation for loved ones, healing, wisdom, etc.. God has already done His part and, if we want results, we have to do our part. "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11". That's good news!

So, God reminded me today and I pass it on to you. He's already done His part, let's do ours and see His purposes fulfilled in the earth.

Optimist or Pessimist

Given June 25, 2007
I heard a story on this day about a fisherman who took a skillet with him on a fishing trip. He was planning on catching some fish. He was optimistic. Probably, he had caught fish before and believed he would again.

The kingdom of God works that way as well. When we are praying or believing for something, how do we act; what do we say? If we really believe the Word of God as displayed in the Bible, we will behave and speak in a certain way; you might say we'll be optimistic. Are you praying for a job...? thank God for it and begin doing, James 1:22, things related to your new job. Are you sick...? thank God for your healing and begin speaking those things that are not as though they were, Romans 4:17.

I won't say too much about being pessimistic but, if you listen, you'll hear Christian brothers and sisters, and even ourselves, talking this way often. Watch out and don't do this. Believe what God says, act on it, speak it and see it come to pass, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24". Don't pay any attention to the lies and temptations of the devil.

The daughter of a friend I worked with was praying for a new job. The next week at church, she gave a tithe on the salary of the new job. You know what happened, she got the job! Is that optimism, (faith), or what?

Truth or Fact?

Given January 13, 2007
We've all heard the expression, "Tell it like it is", and that's supposed to be a good thing. Tell the truth, don't sugar-coat it, be honest. Well, let's look at what is truth and what is fact.

Christians believe, or we should believe, that the Words of God are absolute truth. Right? However, in this world, there are certain facts that are evident. I'll use sickness as an example. It is a fact that there could be cancer cells in your body. The medical tests, PET scans, etc. would show this. But, the Word of God says, "and with His stripes we are healed, Isaiah 53:5", which is truth. So, what's real, the facts or the truth?

I submit to you that the Bible is the ultimate truth and our words can change the facts. "Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak, 2 Corinthians 4:13, Amplified Version". I've heard testimonies galore and have experienced it in my own body that our words, based on our faith, can change the facts. If we believe God's Word is true, we must speak it without doubt or fear and see it come to pass.

Moses told Pharaoh, "Be it according to thy word...Exodus 8:10" when Pharaoh said get rid of the frogs tomorrow. Abraham practiced this when he did as God did and, "...spoke those things that were not as though they were, Romans 4:17". We can do it too. You can have what you say, so don't keep saying what you have. Think about it.

Truth or fact? Find out what God's Word says about your situation and speak His words over it. You can change fact by speaking the truth! Tell it like God says it is and don't give up!

I Doubt It

Given November 7, 2006
Have you ever met a person who was negative? Boy, I have! They complain about everything, speak gloom & doom, and find fault in the best of situations. "Hey, is it going to be a good day?" - "I doubt it." "Are you going to get that job?" - "I doubt it." There's not much faith there, if any, and they don't receive much from God.

Jesus said, (paraphrased), "...whosoever shall say... and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe ... he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23". Believing or doubting is important to our prayers being answered. If we believe what the Word of God says about our situation and don't consider that there is another alternative, Jesus said, we will have what we say; what we pray.

But if we are not fully persuaded as Abraham was, we'll be like this guy: "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1: 6-8".

"Are you going to get well?" - "Yes, by His stripes I'm healed!". "Are you going to Heaven?" - Yes, whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved". "Aren't you in some trouble?" - "Yeah but God told me He'd be with me in trouble; and He'd deliver me". There's no doubt about it!

His Stripes

Given May 11, 2007
Jesus suffered extraordinary pain, injury, humiliation, and sickness for us. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. Matthew 8:17." All the sickesses and injuries we have today, Jesus took on Himself. He took them on and into His body so we wouldn't have to. Isn't it the same as Him taking our sin on His body that we could live free of sin? I think it is.

When we have a headache, we can think of the thorns stabbing Him in His scalp. When we have skin problems or back pain, we can think of the whipping Jesus took on His back. He was stabbed in the side, punched, kicked, had internal injuries, trouble breathing on the cross, He got really weak, and had unimaginable pain. Anything we have or feel in our bodies, Jesus paid the price for it.

Isaiah and Peter both said it: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5", and "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 peter 2:24". We were and we are!

Who Are You Talking To?

Given March 13, 2007
Jesus spoke to a lot of people; God the Father, his diciples and followers, his family, the religious rulers and all the people who came to see him. But did you know that Jesus spoke to non-human things too?

Jesus spoke to evil spirits, Mark 5:8; wind and waves, Mark 4:39; trees, Matthew 21:19; and fevers, Luke 4:39. And you know, every one of these listened to Him and heard Him. Do wind, waves, trees, and fevers have ears? I don't know but they heard and obeyed!

The important thing for us, as believers, to realize here is this; "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12". Jesus said that. Do we have faith in Him? Are trees listening to us? Are we even talking to people, and are they listening? Think about it......

Believe and Confess

Given August 4, 2003
The Bible tells us there's two steps to salvation, confessing and believing. "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9". It sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? Well, it is. But there's more to it.

We are to, "believe in our heart"; that's different than believing in our mind. To believe something in our mind requires that we see it, can feel it, or have evidence of it. To believe in our heart involves believing wihtout any of those things. Wouldn't that be a definition of faith? So, most of us believe we're saved and have no problem with "confessing" or telling others about it. But what about the other things God has provided for us through Jesus?

He's provided deliverance from many things that oppress us, and all we really have to do to receive them is to believe it and confess it. Believe it because you've studied the Word and found it there; search the Word and find out what it says about your need. Then, confess it and keep on confessing it even when things don't look or feel good. Keep on believing and confessing and it will come to pass.

The Check's In The Mail

Given February 3, 2007

How many times have you heard the statement, “The check’s in the mail”? It’s become sort of a joke implying that something is promised to you and you doubt it’s going to happen. Sometimes people make promises to us then don’t follow through OR we make promises with good intentions but we forget or put it off…you know.

If someone says they’re going to do something for you and you don’t believe it or don’t have faith in that person, you won’t get too worked up about it. But, if you do believe it and trust that person, you’ll be excited and looking forward to it arriving. Even though you don’t see it, you have faith it’s on the way and you’re happy.

Well, that’s a description of how it is with God. If we have faith in Him and His promises to us, we’ll be excited about what’s coming even though we don’t see it. We trust Him and know He won’t let us down. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 2 Corinthians 1:20”. However, if we don’t have faith, even though we’ve asked, we’ll still be sad and down in our circumstances.

Think about it; what’s your attitude about what you’ve prayed for? Are you excitedly expecting it or are you still depressed and doubting? If it’s in line with the Word of God, then “the check’s in the mail” and you can count on it!