TSP DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DOES YOUR FAITH SPEAK?
6th June 2020
Dr. Phil Ransom-Bello
KEY SCRIPTURE/MEMORY VERSE: 2 Corinthians 4:13(NKJV)
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,
I asked a question yesterday on what your response is as a believer when facing trials. Is your response defined by the pain of that situation or by the markers of the fruit of the gospel?
Paul’s response from our text yesterday is a perfect example for us. Even while in prison, his default reaction, was love for the saints at Colosse and how he could help strengthen their roots in the faith.
From the place of affliction.
Paul was not trying to change his condition or appeal to their sentiments so they could rally around and secure his release from prison before he could be of help to them.
Let me ask you, what do you consider the most important thing when you are in trouble or tough situations? Is it about bailing yourself or is it about the preservation of your faith?
Because you must know that whenever the devil attacks you, he is not attacking you, he is attacking your faith.
That attack on your ministry, finances, relationship etc. is actually a decoy to focus on your faith.
And this is why scripture in James 1:3 says that the trial of your faith produces patience.
“Oh pastor, this happened to me and while I was recovering from it, this other bad thing occured again. I don’t have money. I’m so sad and tired.”
My dear friend, that’s a trial of your faith.
You must make sure that regardless of whatever happens to you, your faith is guarded. That you will not stop believing God. That your trust and confidence in Jesus will not be affected in any way.
Let’s consider Colossians 1 again- notice how Paul didn’t begin with addressing their weakness? In fact, he addressed them as saints.
Listen, when you are addressing a brother who has fallen, address them in the light of how Christ sees them. There’s a way we see people who are in Christ, we don’t tag them as “Liar” or “Thief”.
So Paul calls them saints. The good thing about the Colossian church was that even though they were hearing the wrong things, their faith was still intact. In verse 3, Paul says he has heard of their faith.
The question is, how do you hear faith? Our text answers this. There is a spirit, an attitude of faith. And the attitude of faith is that it speaks.
So you don’t hear faith at the realm of “I believe.” or at the realm of private conviction but you hear faith when you hear what faith is saying.
Because if a person really believes, they’ll talk about what they believe.
Dear believer, it’s a marker of genuine faith when you can communicate it, acknowledging what Christ has done(Philemon 1:6).
Let your faith speak.
REFLECTION
Is my faith private or does it speak about what I believe?
DECLARATION
-I believe in the gospel, therefore the seed of the gospel produces fruit in my life.
-Regardless of the circumstance, good or bad, the fruits of the gospel determine my my response.
-I am sensitive to the strategy of the devil to distract me with trials and attack my faith.
-The trial of my faith produces endurance and my confidence in God is unshaken.
-My faith is guarded and preserved regardless of the situation. I stay believing. My faith is intact.
-I address people in the light of how Christ sees them not their mistakes or shortcomings.
-My faith is not private or silent. It speaks about what I believe, acknowledging what Christ has done.
-My life is a testimony of one who bears fruits of the gospel.
Hallelujah!
HEARING BY THE WORD
(Recommended Listening)
Listen to Fruits of the Gospel 1 >> Dr. Phil by The StandPoint Church on #SoundCloud
