Sometimes it feels like we are surrounded by difficulties, doubts, and death. It’s easy to get discouraged and think you’ll never get out of the dilemma you find yourself in. But, God is surrounding you and whatever you are dealing with. There is an unseen realm where your battles are being fought. Don’t get discouraged by what you see with your physical eyes; through the eyes of faith you can see every obstacle surrounded by Almighty God.
Have you ever heard the statement, “if you have enough faith God will answer your prayer?” Yet when your prayer doesn’t get answered the way you like, you may feel there is something wrong with your faith or maybe God doesn’t exist. Fortunately we can learn from the Apostle Paul who suffered the same problem when he had a “thorn in the flesh.”
Some of us have faced burnout. We just don’t feel like doing it anymore. Some are tired or exhausted. Sometimes burnout and depression are so severe that we might say, “God just take my life!” We may feel like the prophet Elijah. Yet God ministered to Elijah’s burnout through the sound of sheer silence.
This message will help you locate yourself in the account of the 10 lepers and hear it in a fresh way, building one’s commitment to prayer and trust.
We left the church building over four months ago. That action can help our faith and Christian witness. We are reminded that the Church never was the building. The Church is the people who used to worship in the building. If we are still the Church then how do we stay close to God and close to each other? It is a plant that will give us some direction.
When Jesus was asked by the disciples to teach them to pray more effectively he gave them a template to follow. That template is readily available to us as well.
A (Christian) lifestyle of generosity, prayer, and compassion characterized the faith giant Abraham. From the foundation of his faith, good works followed.
Do you write or receive real letters any more? Perhaps you have a small collection of significant messages you’ve received over the years. Here’s one from Paul the apostle that’s his prayer for us and a great prayer for us to pray for friends, family, and ourselves.
Have you ever felt that God is silent? That He wasn’t there when you prayed to Him. This may have caused you to doubt. You are not alone in these thoughts. You are in good company. In this message Pastor Fred Steinberg will share how John the Baptist struggled as well. And Jesus hearing that John had questions sent him some good news.
Sermon preached at Gold Canyon United Methodist Church in Gold Canyon, Arizona on October 30, 2016 by Rev. Fred Steinberg