Jay

THE ATTITUDE OF STRONG FAITH He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God_ *(Romans 4:20) The story of Abraham is the most inspiring story of faith in the Bible, which is why he’s called the father of faith. He had every natural reason to faint or give up hope. But the Bible says he considered not the deadness of his own body, neither yet the barrenness of Sarah's womb. Instead of yielding to the overwhelming conflicting evidence before him, he remained steadfast because he was fully persuaded that God was faithful to His Word. He was strong in faith, giving glory to God. Notice what the Holy Spirit reveals here: Abraham was giving glory to God; that’s the attitude of strong faith. Giving glory to God is more than a verbal expression; it's the outward manifestation of a heart fully persuaded of God's integrity. Abraham's confidence in God's promise found expression in the way he lived and honoured God. Throughout his life, he built altars, worshipped, and presented offerings before the Lord. His actions testifiedthat he believed God's Word beyond the evidence of the senses. There are practical expressions of giving glory to God. First, you testify by declaring what God has done and who He is. Every declaration of faith is an acknowledgement of His faithfulness. Secondly, you testify through your offerings. An offering is a sacred testimony before God. It declares your confidence in Him and your recognition of His grace and lordship over your life. Thirdly, your daily life as a testimony: Your unwavering confidence, joy and steadfastness in all circumstances testify of God's greatness to those around you. This was how Abraham lived. Even when there seemed to be no natural reason for hope, he remained unwavering because he was fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was able also to perform (Romans 4:21). Abraham’s faith wasn't hidden; it was evident in his words, his worship, his giving, and his manner of life. Let this be your way of life. Refuse to be moved by circumstances. Let your words, your worship, your offerings, and your daily conduct continually give glory to God. That's the attitude and demeanour of strong faith, and it always leads to victory. *PRAYER* _Dear Father, thank you for the faith you've imparted to my spirit. My life is a continual testimony of your greatness. I glorify you with my words, my worship, my offerings and my daily walk. I remain steadfast, fully persuaded that every Word you've spoken concerning me is fulfilled in my life, in Jesus' Name. Amen._ *FURTHER STUDY:* *Romans 4:16-21* Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, *17* (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. *18* Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. *19* And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: *20* He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; *21* And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. *Hebrews 11:6* But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. *1 Year Bible Reading Plan :* Hebrews 10:1-18 & Ezekiel 1-2 *2 Year Bible Reading Plan :* 2 Peter 2:1-22 & Ezekiel 42 #RhapsodyNov11

THE PRICE WAS FULLY PAID )All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6) When Jesus hung on the Cross, He wasn't there because of anything He had done. He was there because of us. The Bible says, *“...the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”* (Isaiah 53:6). Every sin, every transgression, every act of unrighteousness was laid upon Him. He became the sin-bearer for the whole world. When that was consummated in the realm of the spirit, something happened that had never happened before: The Father turned His back on Jesus because our sins had been laid on Him. God is so holy that He doesn't look upon sin. Bearing the sins of the world, Jesus cried out, *“...My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”* (Matthew 27:46). This was why He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, *“...if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt”* (Matthew 26:39). He never wanted to be separated from the Father, yet He willingly accepted it because of us. In the mind of divine justice, every one of us was on that Cross. We were in Him in His crucifixion. We were in Him in His death. When He died, we died. In that death, every man paid for his sins: every man who lived before the Cross, everyone who lived at that time, and everyone who would ever be born into this world. His blood was divine, and it was adequate. You need never pay again for your sins. Years ago, I knew a guy who did something wrong and gave himself seven knocks on the head as punishment. When I asked him why he did it, he simply said, *"Because I did something wrong."* He didn't understand the Gospel. Jesus already bore the punishment for sin. No more punishment remains for those who have accepted His sacrifice. Hebrews 10:14 says, *“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified,”* and continues in the 26th verse, *“…there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”* Those who reject His sacrifice choose to bear the consequences themselves, but no one could ever pay for sin apart from Christ. What a glorious Gospel! The price has been paid in full. Walk in the liberty of this truth. Refuse every form of guilt, condemnation, or self-punishment. The Lord Jesus bore your judgment completely, and through His finished work you've been freely justified before the Father. Hallelujah! *CONFESSION* The Lord Jesus bore my sins and paid the full price for my justification. I rejoice in this glorious truth and live in the liberty of Christ, free from guilt, condemnation, and every consciousness of sin. I walk in the light of my justification, knowing that the price has been paid in full, in Jesus' Name. Amen. FURTHER STUDY: Romans 5:8-11 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. *9* Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. *10* For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. *11* And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. *2 Corinthians 5:21* For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. *Hebrews 10:11-14* And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: *12* But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; *13* From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. *14* For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. *1 Year Bible Reading Plan :* Hebrews 7 & Jeremiah 50-51 *2 Year Bible Reading Plan :* 1 Peter 4:1-19 & Ezekiel 38 #RhapsodyNov7