God is faithful. Whatever you are going through, Jesus is right there wanting to sustain you and give you direction and breakthrough. He’s in the details. He gave His life to restore your access to God. You can trust Him!

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. Isaiah 43:2

What the devil or others have meant for harm in your life, God turns around for good—even for the furtherance of the gospel!

Now I (Paul the Apostle) want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel. Philippians 1:12

And as for you [Joseph’s obnoxious brothers], you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. Genesis 50:20

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Don’t back down for a minute. We’re not in heaven yet. Keep pressing on, knowing that even though life has challenges, the present result is that we are saved from eternal death, and as we keep relying on the faithfulness of God, we will see
situations turn around!

But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. Romans 8:25

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

God has a way of redeeming everything! Shake off the “what-ifs” and the “could’ve beens” and lift your eyes to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

It’s so good to know Jesus!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

“And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Genesis 50:20

This statement at the end of Joseph’s life reinforces the providential care of God through the ages. From beginning to end in the Bible, what Satan meant for harm, God turned around for good! (Romans 8:28). And His faithfulness doesn’t stop with the saints found on the stained glass windows. The Bible extravagantly shows us that God’s faithfulness extends to a thousand generations—that means us! (Psalm 105:8)

God is a very present help in time of trouble (Psalm 46:1), and He specifically wants to help you through whatever challenge is hitting you now.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.” Isaiah 43:2

Don’t misinterpret the way life is. It is filled with challenges and breakthrough. We need to understand the big picture; we need perspective. And we get that perspective by reading the Bible. If you only have a few minutes to read the Bible, go to Romans 8. As we get in the Word, we see that even though we’re in the
groaning phase of our existence, yes, God does answer prayer; yes, promises can be obtained!

We don’t have everything figured out, but if we continue to press on, we will see the breakthrough. Nothing is too big for God!

Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You. Jeremiah 32:17

God is faithful!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35

There is an ache in every heart in every nation that only Jesus can satisfy. We can become numb and stuck in a routine and lose sight of the importance of the basic bread of life. But Jesus knows how to address the depleted soul. He knows how to sustain us, how to cause us to persevere till the end.

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.” John 6:32

God sustained the Israelites in the wilderness with manna from heaven, but now He has supplied humanity with the true bread that will sustain in this life and for eternity.

People are looking for truth. Pilate, before crucifying Jesus, asked Him, “What is the truth?” but he didn’t wait for the answer before walking away (John 18:38). Now, the world is starting to reach a point where it will listen for the answer.

Jesus is the bread of life that fills the hungry heart. Popular culture doesn’t address the fundamental need for provision that only Jesus can give. There are times when we’ve drifted as Christians and tried to be satisfied with other things, only to find out how empty they were. As we return to Jesus, the guardian of our souls, we find fulfillment and life-giving, sustaining grace.

So don’t back off: Feed on God’s Word every day; stay connected, stay in love with Jesus. Our mission is to make sure that everything we do showcases Jesus. We’ve got this little life moment to communicate Jesus to our generation. It’s not about self-help, philosophy, or figuring out how to be good Christians—it’s all about Jesus.

Nothing compares to knowing Jesus!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright ©2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins. Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded. Ezekiel 47:3-5

There’s rich symbolism in those words that God inspired Ezekiel to write. The river is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and God has called every one of us believers to flow in it.

Ankle deep water symbolizes our walk in the Spirit. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Every day we are being invited to get out of our beds and not let our primal instincts govern us but, instead, to walk by the Spirit.

Knee deep water reveals the importance of getting on our knees and praying. “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). We are at our best when we make our prayer life central.

Loin deep water represents serving in the Spirit. Your loins are the part of your body where your leverage comes from, and when these muscles are being worked, you have a greater bounce in your step. We are to translate our walk and prayer in the Spirit into action by serving in the Spirit. “Serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials . . .” (Acts 20:19).

Enough to swim in. Now you are completely saturated with the rivers of living water: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Let’s get filled with the Holy Spirit and let it spill out into all of life.

Jesus said, “‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”’ But this He spoke of the Spirit.” (John 7:37b-38). Christianity is not meant to be a sub-culture contained in a reservoir, but a mighty flowing river of God bringing healing to the nations.

Jump in – the water’s fine!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.