Then they came to Jericho and as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” Mark 10:46-49

Get Desperate and Determined. Blind Bartimaeus was desperate and in need, and he called out to Jesus. So often, when we get under pressure, the temptation is to shift into neutral and zone out in front of the TV. Instead of letting lethargy set in, we need to get desperate and cry out to God for help. “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6).

Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.
Mark 10:50-52

Get Specific. “What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus wanted Bartimaeus to give a specific request. Don’t go through life in generalities. Getting out of the vague and general and making a specific request is an expression of faith. Pray specifically—not manipulatively—and according to God’s Word.

Get in the Word. We learn that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Faith is not based on a feeling but on the Word. As you meditate on the Scriptures, faith will come. A world can be changed by a breed of people who will desperately believe God’s promises and expect answers.

This is our moment to take our stand and take hold of what God has for us. I encourage you to trust God with your situation. As we do life together, forgive, walk by faith, overcome, learn, and grow, we’ll continue to see broken people come to Jesus and watch God heal their lives.

God bless you!
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.

Therefore lay apart all filthiness and the superfluity of wickedness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21 21st Century KJV*

The Word has the ability to change you: save your soul, change your personality, heal, restore, deliver, and maximize fruit-bearing. To get results though, the Word must be engrafted into your life. Once I visited a Washington state apple-grower. He grafted Fuji branches to his already established Red Delicious trees. To my surprise, he explained that the superior Fuji apples would grow from the grafting. When we receive God’s Word, better fruit is produced.

We get the Word in our lives by spending time pouring through its pages and meditating on what it has to say. When you and the Word are one, the devil can’t defeat you any more than he can defeat the Word of God. All the devil can do is try to hinder the engrafting process, try to trip us up and let the little foxes—the bitterness we hold on to, the “small” sins—come in and spoil the vine. (Song of Solomon 2:15).

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:4-5, 11

Before you die, God wants to use you to do some extraordinary things. “The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree; he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green” (Psalm 92:12-14).

God has done a great work in you, but He wants to do a great work through you. You’ve got a part to play by keeping your heart with all diligence, by stopping sin in its beginning, by choosing the love walk over bitterness. Then you will yield quality fruit your entire life.

Press on!
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. *Scripture quotation taken from the 21st Century King James Version®, copyright © 1994. Used by permission of Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.

And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19

We live in a fractured world, and our enemy, Satan, is strategizing to take us out. We must be careful not to let the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things hinder us from moving forward in effectiveness.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 1 Peter 5:6-10

Jesus became a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). He allowed humanity to put the crown of thorns on His head and nail Him to the Cross so the blessing of God could come into our lives (1 Peter 2:23-25). So choose to flat out trust God with the choices you have to make. If things are freaking you out, take them to the Lord. Cast down imaginations, take thoughts captive, speak God’s Word over your situation and refuse to back down, despite whatever kind of ridiculous battles, losses, or difficulties you’re experiencing. Life is full of thorns, but if we deal with those thorns properly, by casting all our cares and worries on Jesus because He cares for us, we will see the victory.

God has a good plan for your life!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2009 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.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” John 14:16

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent us the Holy Spirit to be our Helper, to give us power to fulfill the call of God. “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning” (John 15: 26-27).

Get informed concerning things of the Spirit. “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware” (1 Corinthians 12:1). Search the Scriptures and learn what it takes to flow in and obey the Holy Spirit.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

If you’ve let yourself become apathetic through disappointments in life, let the Scriptures revive you. If you’ve felt confused, the Holy Spirit is the very embodiment of understanding and wants to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17). Choose to wake each morning with an attitude of expectancy and take time to look in the mirror of God’s Word. We are not called to be observers on the sidelines but frontline participants of the great things God is doing throughout the earth.

Moving Forward,
Pastor Jeff

Copyright © 2009 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.

Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in Your tent forever; let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah. Psalm 61:1-4

You may be overwhelmed in a situation where you flat-out need divine intervention. Jesus came for that purpose, that He might destroy the work of the devil (1 John 3:8). “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). Jesus became a sin substitute and set us free, and He has given us authority over all things (Luke 10:19).

Submit therefore to God Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:7-8a

God is looking for us to understand our authority as believers. Satan comes to paralyze your planning, dilute your hopes and abort your dreams, and he must be resisted. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith” (I Peter 5: 8-9a). Satan will try to hinder you from stepping out and fulfilling the things assigned for you to do (1 Thessalonians 2:18). Remember: God’s Word is true. Drive a stake in the ground and stand firm knowing that at the name of Jesus demons flee.

If you are preoccupied, spend some time in worship, meditate on the Word, and listen to good Bible-based teaching to get your mind renewed and on Jesus (Isaiah 26:3). We are called to trouble-shoot and problem-solve. We are called on a mission to alleviate suffering, address poverty and famine, and save lives. Take hold of what God has for you and step into effectiveness.

Press on,

Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2009 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.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

When Jesus shows up in a rough situation He calms the storm. Fears that try to plague your life are not coming to you from God. God wants you to be filled with a victorious spirit. His perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). He loves you not on the basis of deeds done in righteousness but because of His mercy (Titus 3:5). When you realize that God loves you completely, and that nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:38-39), fear can’t stay.

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad” (Prov. 12:25). God is calling us to better things than giving ourselves over to worry from the time we wake up till the time we go to bed. When I’ve been worried and discouraged, God has instructed me to go to the Word and read His promises and remember His great faithfulness.

To defeat fear, make the Word your confession:
• My God shall supply all of my need. Philippians 4:19
• No weapon formed against me will prosper. Isaiah 54:17
• Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4
• The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day. Proverbs 4:18
• Jesus became a curse for me so the blessings of God would come upon me. Galatians 3:13-14
• These blessings come upon me and overtake me. Deuteronomy 28:2
• My barn is filled with plenty. Proverbs 3:10
• My cup runs over. Psalm 23:5
• His grace is sufficient; His power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9
• Having done all to stand, I stand. Ephesians 6:13-15

Get in your A-game by getting in the Word. Some of you will have to stop the negative intake you have been allowing into your life. Some of you need to meditate on the scripture in Philippians: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (4:6-7). Your situation may feel hopeless, but with God nothing is impossible. Give your worry over to Him and choose to step into the New Year with a spirit of faith.

God’s promises are true,

Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2008 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.

[I pray] that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Ephesians 3:16-21

You can trip up in life if you don’t understand who God is and who you are in Jesus. You can’t get in faith on your own—only by hearing God’s Word can we get strong in faith. When you read that you have been freed from sin by Jesus’ blood (Revelation 1:5), when you see in the Word how God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4) and able to supply all of your needs (Philippians 4:19), faith rises up in your spirit and gives you an impenetrable advantage against the attacks of the devil.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11

Take hold of the promises in the Word concerning who you are in Christ and what He has made available to you and write them down on the empty pages in the back of your Bible. Don’t be afraid to take those truths and march into your career, your marriage, and your future. An understanding of the promises in the Word will break generational curses, eliminate inferiority complexes, and straighten out distorted thinking.

If you feel ripped off, take back what the enemy stole from you (1 Samuel 30). If your joy is gone, get back in the presence of God and ask Him to revive you. If you’ve fallen into a pit, meditate on this scripture: “The law of the Spirt of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:2). God knows how to lift us out of the miry clay and put our feet on the solid rock (Psalm 40:2). If you’ve been through a thing or two lately, you’ve gained credibility to speak encouragement into others’ lives. Your answer to any challenge is found in seeking God and reading His Word—don’t back down!

Receive God’s strength,

Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2008 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.