Word of Faith

 

“But, 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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”  -Romans 10:9-10

 

Apostle Paul shares that “the word of faith” is what you proclaim (v 8b) by speaking out the faith of your heart.  The word of faith you give is this, “Jesus is Lord” and “God raised him from the dead” (v 9-10).  Nothing more, nothing less; confessing Christ is to confess more than just those truths we are comfortable with.  When your thoughts of Jesus are limited to thinking he was a nice guy with good teachings on lifestyle you have not exercised faith, nor experienced salvation.  Your life changes when by faith you know He is indeed the Son of God, Jesus, whom God raised from the dead and confess the same.  God’s desire is that you do not perish (2 Peter 3:9), he desires that you be saved — saved from pride that destines one to be eternally without God (in hell), the Lord desires to save you to an eternal life with Him, in heaven, if you express the Word of Faith.

 

How do we express the Word of Faith?  

By mouth—you tell other people the story of your faith in Christ Jesus as your Lord, as Savior.

By faith—you earnestly believe within your heart, soul; your conscience that Jesus is not only real, but that

               God raised him to life after three days in the grave.

The Word of faith is not a name it and claim it proposition.  The Word of faith is obedience to our sovereign God.  A wholly, unquestionable belief within your conscience that Jesus is Lord, whom God raised form the dead, and in turn verbally express, “confess”, that to others.  The Word of Faith is to Believe and Confess Christ Jesus as Lord, the Risen Savior.

Owen <><

 

Owen.LifeSpring@gmail.com

Unexpected Story Ending

Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  Matthew 1:19

Things in life can seem completely wrong, or confusing, or both.  Such life experiences are definitely something we want nothing to do with—we want the situation divorced from us.  Does your life story have few chapters that need to be quietly torn out?

Joseph responded like any of us may have in such a situation.  But, what he or we do not take into account is where this story is going, in spite of how bad the first chapter appears.  Once we find out more, or as in Joseph case, an angel visits and enlightens him about who is in Mary’s womb, well, he has a change of heart.

Yes, with the heart we believe and by our mouth we confess the Lord Jesus is the promised Messiah, Christ, our Savior (see Romans 10:9-10).  The angel said to Joseph, that Mary, “will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). 

What seemed completely wrong, what tore away at Joseph’s heart and challenged his religion was, as the story unfolded, merely God doing things his way, not ours, and most importantly filling Joseph's heart and changing his religion to faith.  The same is for you this Christmas.

God bless and fill you with joy,

Owen       

Prayer Accesses the Kingdom of Light

The abundance or lack of God’s power being manifest in your life is determined by how you do or do not pray.  It is whether you pray only when you are in need or just at special times—or all the time. 

Prayerlessness limits God from giving you answers, wisdom and spiritual growth; and restricts His pouring out miracles and blessings and joy and  ... and … … ...

Colossians 1:10-12

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”

I pray for you, that Lord may pour all the goodness of His Spirit upon you. 

Merry Christmas,

Owen

                                                                                 1 Thessalonians 5:17

God’s Peace & Favor

Suddenly there appeared with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host praising God

and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

Luke 2:13-14 NASU

As simple shepherds were astonished by an angel’s “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (v10), they also experienced the heavenly splendor of the Lord’s light of glory shinning, in fact, “God’s glory blazed around” them! (The Message v9)  Oh! What a moment to have been with the shepherds as the news of our Savior had just been born in the city of King David, Bethlehem. Oh! … Then, SUDDENLY!!  As if the good news wasn’t enough, more bright and radiant joy of God’s glory engulfed them as a mighty army of God’s messengers, a heavenly host, an angelic choir, appeared.  The angels glorious sound brought the news of God gift, their message was:

Peace, God’s peace, God’s prosperity of eternal life is among—is given to all—who receive, who make room for Jesus in their hearts, their very soul.  … They are the people with whom God is well pleased; they are favored by God through a finite faith in an infinite Jesus.  Through faith in Christ have pleased the Lord; thus, God pours out His mercy and grace as a crown of righteousness and glory, revealing their eternal adoption as sons and daughters of God.

Hallelujah! 

Praise the Lord Jesus—Messiah, Savior, Master—Christ!

          

My prayer is that you have God’s glory around you, His peace and favor,

Owen <><

Room For Jesus

Mary laid Jesus “in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:7

There was no room for Jesus in His creation.

In kindness an inn keeper had shared the only place he had, and there, in a barn the King of kings humbly slept with lambs.  There in the barn Mary had delivered a baby, ... yet more...

He was the Anointed One—the Messiah, the Christ—the power of eternal life. 

Jesus is an awesome gift to us all, he is the source of peace and good will to whosoever will make room to receive the most precious gift of all: Jesus Christ as Lord. 

Sometimes we need to make room for Christ - need to make room?   We can talk.

1^st email me and we will go from there:  Owen.LifeSpring@gmail.com        

Blessings,

Owen

A Sovereign Purpose & Anointing

Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. … All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

1 Corinthians 12:1 and 11

To efficiently work within God’s call and imparted gifts upon our life, it serves us well to remember that it is the Lord who summons and anoints.  Our place is to receive, surrender, and thereby serve and minister as He has set forth.  Servanthood is carried out for the purpose of God, not by our eagerness nor plans to engage in something to help God work things out. 

We serve the Holy One in a personal relationship, and therein His plans are specific for each of us, and that is our personal hallmark, our unique and powerful individualism; and such is what the Lord has given to each of us.  We will prosper when in His will (Jer 29:11, Ps 33:11, 40:5) and doing those things that are beyond our comprehension (Isa 55:8) and capability—yet we become fully capable when we remain humble, prayerful, and obedient to His will.  Indeed, God does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called.     

The Lord is sovereign, He administers His Spirit to anoint with gifts to work in spiritual realms (e.g., 1 Cor 12:8-10), with gifts of service and ministry (e.g., 1 Cor 12:28, Eph 4:11), and we have natural gifts (athleticism, musical and artistic talent, mathematical minds, etc.).  All working together for the benefit of not only mankind, but the purposeful and good will of the Lord God Almighty.  Indeed, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men”  (I Cor 12:4-6).

God’s gifts are not manifest, neither is His call invoked by your own efforts, accomplishments, nor zealous practice of disciplines.  His gifting and His call is breathed upon us from within His sovereign grace—it is not a matter of our effort, but from the intentional unction that wells up from the everlasting spring of His Spirit (Zech 4:6).

Blessings,

Owen <><

Bent Over by the Pressure

“… and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.

She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her,

"Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."

Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”

Luke 13:11-13

Living life we have things to that overburden us, to be “bent over”.   We live in a world that has suffered from the afflictions of evil beings, we’re in a world of unclean spirits (John 14:30-31).  That’s why we carry the “tribulations” or “troubles” of this world.  As the crippled woman, we are crippled, bent over, and can’t straighten up.  That’s the pressure of this world; as in John 16:33 Jesus speaks of this world’s “tribulation” (NKJV) or “troubles” (NIV), interestingly, the root of Scripture’s Greek word used here means pressure—and, pressure bears down on us and we become bent over by the prince of affliction and pressure of this world, Satan.  

“But take heart! [Jesus] has overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).  And, you, like the crippled woman can have the pressure in this world lifted from you, because “the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  Free of troubles, tribulation, the pressure of  whatever is crippling your life.  Free! 

Take the time to talk with the Lord quietly, lift up your hands and let Jesus touch you just as he touched the woman crippled by a bad spirit, for “he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.”  Jesus sees you, go to his call, let Him touch you. 

Set free!  Hallelujah! 

Owen <><

Acceptance

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Romans 15:7

When first meeting someone, there are times you can sense whether that person will accept you or not.  You may have feelings, if you were to approach me, on whether I will listen to you or even care what is on your heart.  It would be wonderful if you could accept me as I am, inside I want to be more like Jesus—the problem is you’d have to accept that big hunk of me that isn’t.  My desire is simple, you don’t have to do anything to prove yourself to me and I hope for the same acceptance from you. 

To simply accept others is truly a matter of faith, no conditions or deeds required.  Jesus was so accepting of others that he was “reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper” (Mk 14:3), that my friend is acceptance.  Jesus doesn’t have any conditions or ask anything of you, just trust Him, and in turn he will touch you, healing your heart (Eph 2:8). 

I think of people who received more than they expected by accepting Jesus.  One woman that accepted Jesus wanted to touch the hem of His garment (Mt 9:19-21); Bartimaeus, a blind man accepted Jesus unseen, yet, called out, “have mercy on me” (Mk 10:46-48), and countless others who accepted Jesus found healing in body and being, because Jesus responded in unconditional acceptance of them.  Acceptance is a virtue of Jesus and is the delicious fruit of humility (Phil 2:1-13, Col 1:12). 

When you accept someone and they accept you, you will find yourself in the midst of a great healing.  The focus of that healing is to simply accept one another as we are.  That’s exactly how Jesus accepts you—just as you are—when you accept Him, there comes healing to your entire being.  The wounds on your spirit are healed, salvation comes.

Owen <><

The Desire of Your Heart — Power or Compassion?

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, …” Matthew 9:36

Scripture defines God’s personality as, “God is love” (1 Jn 4:16).  To Moses God revealed who he was personally by saying, “God, God, a God of mercy and grace, endlessly patient — so much love, so deeply true —  loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin” (Ex 34:6-7 the Message).  That’s who I desperately need, how about you? 

    

All power is at God’s disposal, the Bible, nonetheless, does not say “God is power.”  The Lord God Almighty can and will act in power and endow power—but, he does so in love.  When power is not rooted in love, but rooted in pride, the rendering is evil.  If you were to have power alone, your lone desire would be to conquer; your means would be without compassion, you would never experience love.  To what end is the receipt of power without mercy, grace, love, deep love, lived in utter compassion? 

How would you want God to look upon you; in power or with compassion?

What of God’s grace, can it be forced upon one in power, or does his grace come when His eyes look upon you with compassion, and then you’re given a nudge to come?

Thank you Lord for you gracious compassion—the desire of my heart.

Nudged onward daily,

Owen <><

Reaching a Turning Point

And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.     Luke 22:62 NLT

Why was Peter so distraught, so beside himself that he wept bitterly, that he “cried and cried and cried” (The Message)?  Because, when a roster began to crow, words Jesus had spoken to him came to mind, and they began crushing his heart.  Peter was overwhelmed with grief as the guards insulted and beat Christ.  Peter had a turning point in life.

There is, in God’s grace, something more than the blessed hope.  What can be more important than eternity in the glory and presence of the Lord?  What?  An opportunity to embrace a turning point, a time to weep deeply, bitterly; a time to express love for Jesus where one cries and cries and cries.

Peter’s turning point ignited weeping into a ministry that burned, but was not consumed, by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Peter did the unimaginable.  What was that?  First, Peter preached the inauguration sermon of Christ’s Church with such anointing, on the day of Pentecost, that over 3,000 were born again.  Then, as his shadow was cast across the sick they received divine healing (Acts 5:15).  Interestingly, Peter’s ministry officially began on Pentecost, the feast celebrating gratitude to God for the harvest; and Jesus spoke of the fields being ready for the harvest (Matt 9:37-38; Lk 10:2-3)—Peter’s Pentecost sermon was for that harvest reaped by the gospel’s salvation message.  Peter’s turning point affected a multitude in his day and affects us today.

Have you realized a turning point?  … Has your soul wept, bitterly cried out for the One betrayed, denied, tormented, and killed—Christ Jesus?  You, Peter, and I all need salvation’s assurance; beyond that is our call to discover a turning point, a moment to weep for Jesus and for those needing Christ—that they too, may have their turning point.    

Weeping and Turning,

Owen <><

Silence of Fear or Confession of Faith

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.  John 12:42a

I’m excited when people believe in Christ.  But, this story told by John continues, revealing that “because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God” (John 12:42-43). 

Too often people simply believe in the goodness of Jesus, yet are fearful to confess him through faith alone.  Jesus often loses his savory appeal, the moment we realize that “it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Rom 10:10)—we get cold feet due to a prideful heart and our lips become tight.  This was the case of the synagogue leaders; possibly a similar story for someone you know, or possibly you. 

The leaders in Jesus’ day apparently believed who Jesus was, the Messiah, but their pride induced fear of what others thought about them.  Because they “would not confess their faith”—they received from God what they were willing to confess, … nothing.

What do you want from God?  Confess it! 

Confessing Christ as God, my healer, my deliverer, my Savior,

Owen <><

Mission of Intercession – Not Intermission

“… give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:4

The early church in Jerusalem had miraculous growth.  Remember, the church grew by about 3,000 on her first day (Acts 2:41).  With the continued growth came a need for the Apostles (the Twelve) to attain help overseeing and serving the people.  This duty required that they be “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 2:3); thus, the Twelve delegated a portion of their ministry and authority over the church to well qualified, Spirit filled servants of the Lord.  The Church grew as more people were born again in Christ (nope, no switching churches or denominations); and enabled leaders were birthed from within.

So, what was the key to Apostolic leadership?  What was the key to evangelism?  What was the key to Chruch growth?  What was the key to retaining people and growing leadership in the body?  What is the key to the same questions for today?

 

1.  The growing body of believers “devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).  Note when the church was devoted to the apostles teaching and prayer; with fellowship in the middle, great things happened.    

2.  The Apostles wanted to give their “attention to prayer and the ministry of the word” (v 6:4). 

Common to Acts 2 and 6 was prayer.  The results of disciples being taught and Spirit lead by Apostles reveals a common thread to church health and growth:  PRAYER. 

Indeed, Jesus prayed all night before his atoning death for us.  His prayer was intercession for His disciples, and as He added, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me” (John 17:20)—those “who will believe,” that’s you and me today!  Jesus and the Apostles engaged in prayer, intercessory prayer.  Intercessory prayer was for the past, it is for this moment, and it is for God’s “kingdom come” and that His “will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10).

In the early church, interceding in prayer for the leadership and body had a glorious result:  “Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles” (2:43).  Why would you expect any less today, for this very moment?  Today, as with the early church, intercessory prayer is needed.  In prayer, intercede for the church, the leadership and body; and for empty souls needing Christ’s filling.  The result:  Everyone will be filled with awe, and see many wonders and miraculous signs.

Interceding for you,

Owen <><

Live Humble - Live in the Mighty Power of God

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 

— 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NLT)

I was once asked, “Why teach about humility, wouldn’t teaching about pride show us how not to live?”  Before I could speak I felt God begin to answer through me, he had me to simply reply, “Why would I teach you how to be Satan when I am to teach you to be Christlike?”

So how does one conquer pride? Be humble to God. 

There are two things a Christ follower needs to do:

1) Humble yourself—Do as God says

    ... do all things “under His mighty power,” not by your might or means.

2) Humble yourself—Trust God in all things

    ... receive his whispers into your spirit, live by His Word. 

The will of God becomes manifest, fulfilled in humility. 

Humility isn’t weakness, but strength to do all things through Christ—Philippians 4:13

o       I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)

o       I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (NIV)

o       I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.  (TLB)

o       Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (The Message)

When I decrease, He will increase … in Christ,

Owen <><

Servant of the Gospel

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.  - Ephesians 3:7

Being a servant is a wonderful gift of God, a reflection of Christ (Phil 2:7), a means of helping those with need.   Servanthood is more than acts of generosity, kindness, caring, and works of assistance.  Such service is important.  However, as Paul wrote to the Ephesians, we are to be servants of the gospel.  The gospel, the good message, the good news, is the message of the salvation through Christ Jesus alone—the truth and the way to God the Father.

A born again, Spirit filled disciple is a servant who is being transformed into Christ’s likeness.  In example we are to respond as Jesus does, when Jesus “saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt 9:36).  This story, in context, is preceded with telling how Jesus was “preaching the good news [the gospel] of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness” (v35); then, in the next verse, Jesus shares with his disciples that “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  Thus, in the midst of going to people in compassion and healing them is the essence of Jesus’ service, it is evangelism.    

To be like Jesus is to realize beyond the earthly need, and seek to heal the evil one’s harassing, to give the helpless the bread of life found in the gospel.  As we go to the needy, provide care and comfort, the apex of our caring work is to give opportunity for true spiritual healing. 

The last thing said to the disciples by Jesus was a command, he said, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all … And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; [and they will] place their hands on sick people, and they will get well”; then Jesus went into heaven [and the] “disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”

As a disciple we are a servant of, and a servant to Christ, in turn, a servant to the needy.  Servants attend to the needs of the harassed through true servanthood which attends to earthly needs as we practice servanthood evangelism.  As Paul said, he was a “servant of the gospel” not by his might, but by “God’s grace [and] power” (Eph 3:7).  So, we are to grow in Christ, show his compassion, serve by sharing the gospel story, and by God’s power serve as a channel of the Holy Spirit to heal the needy in body and spirit.

In His service,

Owen <><        

A Life Commitment

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  Luke 23:46

These were the last words of Jesus on the cross.  Are these words required only at the moment of death?  Our spirit, the very breath of life was breathed into us by our Creator (Gen 2:7)—what becomes important is how we exhale, the intentions we release. 

The Message paraphrases Jesus to have said, “Father, I place my life in your hands!”  Our life journey embraces a multitude of situations and emotions which can entangle and control life.  Too often many Christians live “their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun” (Luke 8:14, The Message).  When you call out to God “with a loud voice,” what are you calling out for?  Are you calling out to God in for wealth, worries, and wants; or do you cry out in a loud voice, committing to Christ?  Are you calling out to satisfy pride or humbly calling out in surrender of self to the purpose of the Master?  Who is you life, your spirit committed to?

Breathing for Him,

Owen <>< 

Not my might - By His Spirit

“All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you — that's the agenda for rejoicing.” (Luke 10:20 -The Message)

The context of The Message passage brings out what the glory of God does for us and how we should maintain humility before God.  Jesus’ Word, stated differently, tells us, “do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (v20, NIV).  We have received the promise of the Spirit of our Lord living in us and empowering us.  This empowerment Jesus mentions is to over come evil, or stated, as having authority over spirits, such as rebuking demons.  However, the first step in receiving anything from God is in humility, whereby we are empowered, or as Jesus says, he will exalt (lift up into His Kingdom, empower) the humble (Mt 18:4, 23:12; Lk 14:11, 18:14).  Being exalted takes you from the state of a lost and empty orphan and lifts you into the presence of the King as a child of righteousness.  Oh! The awe struck wonder and joy that fills me as I rejoice in humility; holy, holy is He.  It’s not what I do, it’s what he does for and through me – in surrender I rejoice.  Hallelujah!     

God Bless,

Owen <><

In Denial

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Mark 8:34b



The Lord says things to us that, well, we don’t like. We cringe when we think of what we may have to give up, or worse give away. We’re much more comfortable when all we deny self is what we’re willing to give God—leftovers and second-hand furniture. But, when Jesus asked us to deny self, His teaching wasn’t about financial or material things, but how we look at ourselves decreasing and placing our focus upward, increasing God in our lives and pouring God outward to everyone around us.

The first thing we are to deny is our place of importance. We are to surrender obediently, giving reverence to God—His Word, His power, His being our Creator—and then submit to all the Lord desires to pour out upon us. Ah, what we have received is then poured out upon others around us—His Spirit. Denial is not ignoring the truth, but accepting the truth, denial is complete humility before God—humbleness to listen, to receive, to respond to all He is and will do in our lives. Denial is fulfilled in our humility to God. Denial is humility to give self to God and to others.

Denial is emptying of self. When you deny self, you kill pride. Then, He begins pouring upon you miracles, wonders, love, joy, compassion, and all that you cannot receive without God.

I pray you’re in denial, Owen <><

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. …His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.” Luke 1:46-50

A young teenager gave us the wisdom above, a girl who was about fourteen, maybe sixteen years old. She was from a poor and dusty little town called Nazareth; her name was Mary.

Her story was, “my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” What's your story, your life speaks what will become the very foundation of the legacy you will leave to future generations. Every child (or adult) you are near can be influenced – you can tell them about the love of God through Jesus and the comfort of the Holy Sprit, what a legacy!  Or, leave a legacy of frivolous, vain things that will never be glorified by God. The words you speak have impact, just as the teenage girl, Mary said, “from generation to generation.”

Your words are influence, they have eternal impact.  When your "spirit rejoices in God", then "mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation”! You have the floor, … speak your “peace”.


Blessings,

Owen <><