THE TOUCH" OF FAITH

THE TOUCH" OF FAITH

And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they were eith him said, Master; the multitude throng thee and press thee and press, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
(Luke 8:45).


Luke 8:43-48 tells the story of the woman with the issue of blood, who having suffered terribly for twelve years, her condition has become hopeless, discouraging and unbearable. She had tried everything to become well, but her hard-earned money was wasted on the medical help available at the time. In fact, she became worse. Dr. Luke was kinder in his Gospel when he said: "None could heal her."
A word about her condition: This "issue of blood" seems to be a gynecological flow of blood. Common enough, but hard to deal with. Not only did this condition affect her health, but it also made her pushed her way through a teeming crowd to get to Jesus. She had said within herself, "If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole."
Accordingly, she went ahead, "touched" the border of Jesus' garment, and was healed instantly. This wasn't an ordinary touch; it was a "touch of faith, because the Lord felt the impact of it; so much so the He asked, "Who touched me?

His disciples wanted Him to shrug if off and said, "...Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? (Luke 8:45). No; God doesn't ignore the "touch" of faith; so the Master insisted, "...Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue had gone out of me" (Luke 8:46). The woman, knowing she had been miraculously healed, came and fell at the Master feet, and stated for what purpose she had touched Him. Rewarding her faith, Jesus said to her, "...Daughter, be of good comfort: they faith hath made thee whole; go in peace" (Luke 8:48). The Master identified her "touch of faith" as what. Connected her to her healing and wholeness.
In the same vein, you can "touch" Jesus today and receive a miracle.
How do you touch Him today? Its through the Word; when your spirit makes contact with the Word. If God's Word can "touch you, its exactly the same as Jesus touching you because Him and His Word are One. This touch is beyoud the senses; its with your spirit. The Bible says with the heart-spirit-man believes unto righteousness (Romans 10:10); you believe with your spirit.

When you believe God's Word, and respond according to your believing, that's the "touch" of your spirit. At that moment, you make contact with the power of God. The power only works when you believe with your spirit and act accordingly.; that's faith: its the reponse of the human spirit to the Word of God. Let the Word "touch you today, and inspire the necessary faith-reponse from your spirit to-receive the miracle you desire. God bless you.
Read more here: Spiritual Development: THE DIMENSIONS OF GOD'S LOVE

Hebrew 11:1; Mark 5:25-34.

4 Essentials to Spiritual Growth

4 Essentials to Spiritual Growth

Are you a brand new follower of Christ, wondering where to get started on your journey? Here are 4 essential steps to build your spiritual growth. Though simple, they are vital to building your relationship with the Lord.

Step 1 – Read your Bible daily. Find a Bible reading plan that’s right for you. A plan will keep you from missing anything God has written in His Word. Also, if you follow the plan, you’ll be on your way to reading through the Bible once every year! The easiest way to truly “grow up” in the faith is to make Bible reading a priority.

Find a Bible Reading Plan and study good christian articles;

I recommend Rhapsody of Realities daily devotional. Visit http://rhapsodyofrealities.org.

And visit good christian websites and blogs: eg
Spiritual Development: LEARN TO MINISTER TO THE LORD

As you read through the various articles, you will learn and Grow Spiritually and you'll be acquainted with the dimensions of God's Love for us as christians and know how to take advantage of it. Visit this for more info: Spiritual Development: THE DIMENSIONS OF GOD'S LOVE


Step 2 – Meet together with other believers regularly. The reason we attend church or gather with other believers regularly (Hebrews 10:25) is for teaching, fellowship, worship, communion, prayer and to build one another up in the faith (Acts 2:42-47). Participating in the body of Christ is fundamental to spiritual growth. If you’re having trouble finding a church, check out these resources on how to find a church that’s right for you.


Step 3 – Get involved in a ministry group. Most churches offer small groups and many ministry opportunities. Pray and ask God where you should “plug in.” It’s the people who really “get plugged in” that find their purpose and soar in their walk with Christ. Sometimes this takes a little time, but most churches offer classes or counseling to help you find the place that’s right for you. Don’t get discouraged if the first thing you try doesn’t seem to fit.


Step 4 – Pray daily. Prayer is simply talking to God. You don’t have to use big fancy words. There are no right and wrong words. Just be yourself. Give thanks to the Lord daily for your salvation. Pray for others in need. Pray for direction. Pray for the Lord to fill you daily with His Holy Spirit. There is no limit to prayer. You can pray with your eyes closed or open, while sitting or standing, kneeling or lying on your bed, anywhere, anytime. So begin to make prayer a part of your daily routine. God bless you.

Spiritual Development:STRENGTHEN YOUR THOUGHT LIFE!

STRENGTHEN YOUR THOUGHT LIFE

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (ROMANS 12:2)


You're the character of your thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 says, "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." In other words, you're not different from the way you think. Through months and years of continuously thinking in a certain way, your mind becomes programmed in that direction, and that's the direction your life will go. This explains the reason many have their lives messed up; nothing seems to be working. They didn't strengthen their thought life by thinking on the Word.

If you have been negatively programmed as a result of thinking wrongly, all you need is to change your way of thinking; strengthen your thought life with the Word. Our opening scripture, in the New Living Translation says, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think…."

The Word of God can reprogram your life and strengthen your thought life with a new mindset. As you meditate on it, there's a renewing process –your mind is being re-programmed, and you're given a new mindset –the mindset of the righteous. Once your mind is strengthened through God's Word, you think success, progress, victory and prosperity. This will in turn change your language, as you'll be talking differently, and acting in line with your confessions of faith.
 
You were born of the Word of God, which energizes you for success, positions you for victory and sustains you in prosperity. Let the Word dwell in you richly, and meditate on it day and night. That way, not only will it change the way you think and talk, it will strengthen your thoughts and your life will be programmed for greatness and you'll move from one level of glory to another. Spiritual Development: LEARN TO MINISTER TO THE LORD

STRENGTHEN YOUR SPIRITUAL PASSION THROUGH TONGUES

STRENGTHEN YOUR SPIRITUAL PASSION THROUGH TONGUES

Never lag in zeal {and} in earnest endeavor; be aglow {and} burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord (Romans 12:11AMP)
 
The only way you can be aglow with the fire of God in your spirit is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Acts 1:8 "And ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." The Greek word translated power here is "dunamis," which refers to power that reproduces or revives itself.

Back in the Old Testament, they always needed a revival. King David asked in Psalm 85:6, "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" But the new man in Christ doesn't need revival.

All through the Epistles none of the Apostles ever asked for a revival. That's because we have in our day something the Old Testament folks didn't have; we can be filled with the Spirit and strengthen our spiritual passion twenty-four hours every day by spending time to pray fervidly in other tongues. This is something you must take seriously this month; strengthening your passion for Christ.

 In Acts 2:2-4 the Bible says "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." When you pray in tongues, that same glory that the apostles experienced in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost, can come on you, and you can maintain it twenty-four hours of the day, seven days of the week and three sixty-five days of the year! Your prayer life becomes an exciting, everyday relationship with the Father as you strengthen your passion for Christ through praying in tongues.

 You may have heard some bad news, but instead of feeling terrible and sad all day long as a result of what you heard, get into the flow of the Spirit and talk in other tongues. That way, you're fixing things in the realm of the spirit. Every day, before you get about your business, speak in other tongues, and you'll have direction throughout the day.

 

When you have tough choices and decisions to make, speak in other tongues! When it looks as though you don't know what to do, and it looks as though your passion is waxing cold, get yourself to pray in the Spirit! That'll put you in the flow of the Spirit to receive direction as to what to do and become energized in your spirit to accomplish God's desire for you.