​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.   - Colossians 1:10-12
 
Many people miss the best part of knowing the Lord because they haven’t seen the value of growing in their relationship with him. They have not established patterns of praying regularly, reading his word and meditating on the principles of faith. As a result, they are weak in faith and inconsistent in their walk.

The test of whether we are growing in the knowledge of God is the fruit that our life produces. The passage for today speaks of, “bearing fruit in every good work.” The fruit of spiritual growth is the good work that our faith produces. Apostle James in his writing told us that if we claim faith, but that faith does not produce good works, then our faith is dead.

 Faith that is not used will atrophy. It will shrivel up and become useless. I have known believers in Christ who ceased to be a Christ follower because they failed to exercise their faith and finally discovered that their faith had shriveled to the point of being ineffective.

Serving in faith produces strength, endurance, and patience to continue our walk. Purpose to grow in service so that your faith will be made strong.
  
Prayer:  Lord, I enjoy my relationship with you, but I tend to be selfish with my time and energy. Grant me the grace to invest myself in serving others so that my faith will grow strong. In Jesus name. Amen.
  
Message:  Faith that is not exercised will atrophy. It will shrivel up and become useless. Keep your faith healthy by establishing patterns of praying regularly, reading God’s word and meditating on the principles of faith. Then your faith will be strong and you will be consistent in your walk.
  
Affirmation:  I keep my faith strong by praying daily, reading the Bible and meditating on the principles of faith.
  
Reflection:  In this Scripture passage today, and in Ephesians 4, Paul addresses living a life worthy of the Lord. Can you describe a lifestyle which is worthy of the gift God has given us?

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No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. - 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 
 
Some doubt the promises of God based on their experience in the natural realm. What I mean by that is all of the experience we have as humans is in the temporal realm of a decaying system. The promises of God are from the eternal source of life. Without a spiritual awakening we cannot comprehend the power of God that is released through his promises.

Paul writes that it is through Him – through our faith in Christ, that we are able to give a strong “Amen,” to the promises. Carefully think about this for a moment: God has anointed us, put his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts. What he has already done for us is just a deposit which guarantees that all he has promised is going to come to pass.

We are to speak the amen – the “I agree, let it be so,” to the promises of God. It is our amen, our commitment in faith, to his promises that releases his power to perform.

We have read what God has said and we agree that it is true and it will come to pass because we know that the promises of God are true and they will be fulfilled. It is because we believe this that we become God's "amen."
 
Prayer: Lord, I want to be your amen. Grant me the grace of faith that I might stand firm in believing your promises and walk in the hope they offer. I ask in Jesus name. Amen. 
We Are The “Amen” To God’s Promises
 
 Message:  We are to speak the “amen” – the “I agree, let it be so,” to the promises of God. It is our amen, our commitment in faith, to his promises that releases his power to perform. It is our faithfulness which is the “amen” to the promises of God.
 
 Affirmation:  I have ordered my life around the commands of Christ and it is my life that is my affirmation of faith in his promises.
 
 
Reflection:  Think about it. Is your life an affirmation, or amen, to the commands and promises of God? What do you see to be the basic difference between what this world system offers and what God promises?

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The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” - Luke 17:5-6
 
This passage is often cited when we are talking about how much faith we have, or desire to have. Jesus seems to be saying that it doesn’t take much faith to effect a result.

The real message, however, lies in the next verses. In verses 7-10 Jesus goes on to give a parable of a servant who works hard in the field all day long and comes back to the house tired and hungry. What does this servant do? Jesus said that before he could rest or eat he first had to care for his work animal, then, he must prepare a meal for his master. It is only when the work is done that he is able rest and eat.

Jesus concludes this parable by saying, “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘we are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” We all want to have great faith to move mountains and uproot trees, but Jesus was saying that there is a much greater principle at play here.

 It is the principle of servanthood. It appears that Jesus was teaching his disciples to be good servants. If you want great faith become a great servant.

Even small faith can produce great things but great faith comes from faithfulness in service. When we are faithful to the calling of God in Chris our service releases great faith.
 
Prayer: Lord, I’m just like everyone else; I want great faith, but I am challenged by servanthood. Grant me the grace to faithfully do what you have called me to do. I ask in Jesus name. Amen. 
Faithful Service Produces Great Faith
  
Message:  Faith comes from faithful service. If you want great faith become a great servant. Even small faith can produce great things but great faith comes from faithfulness in service. When we are faithful to the calling of God in Christ our service releases great faith
  
Affirmation:  I am committed to being a faithful servant of God. He rewards faithfulness with great faith.
  
Reflection:  Can you see how faithful service can produce great faith? Why do you think Jesus answered their request by giving his disciples the parable of a faithful servant? There is mountain moving faith and mountain climbing faith. You won’t have mountain moving faith until you have mountain climbing faithfulness.

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If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. - Proverbs 25:21-22
 
Every time I read this passage I am reminded of the story of a woman who went to her pastor for counsel. Her husband was treating her badly and she wanted to know what she should do. With this passage in mind the pastor asked her, “Have you tried heaping coals on his head?” Her answer was, “No, but I did hit him with the frying pan once.”

Don’t miss the point in these verses. God is not asking us to mess with an enemy by being kind, he is simply teaching us that we should be kind, even to our enemies.

All too often we tend to respond “in kind” rather than with kindness. There was once a person who was treating me very badly and had betrayed a trust. At first I began to treat this person with the disrespect that “they deserved,” then I realized that I was allowing this person to change me into someone I didn’t like. I made the conscious decision to respond to this person with kindness.

A mutual friend observed what was happening and asked why I was kind to this other person. I answered, “I refuse to allow that persons weakness to affect who I am.” That is what God is calling us to – Let Christ shine through you at all times.

Kindness to our enemies in their time of need produces a double blessing. Our enemies are blessed and our kindness releases God's blessings upon us.
 
Prayer: Grant me the grace to respond with the love of Christ in every situation. In Jesus name. Amen.  
 
Message:  Do not allow your detractors to frame who you are by responding to them in kind.  Kindness to our enemies in their time of need produces a double blessing. Our enemies are blessed and our kindness releases God's blessings upon us.
  
Affirmation:  When kindness is in my spirit then even my enemies will taste the sweet kindness of God’s love.
  
Reflection:  If the world would only realize the truth of the power of kindness we would see fewer conflicts between those who disagree. What are some practical ways you can return kindness to those with whom you disagree?

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