“When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it, and you will be given whatever you ask for.” Mark 11:24 (GNT)
Faith is not just believing God can do something. Faith is not just hoping he will do something. Faith is thanking God in advance.
Jesus said,
“When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it, and you will be given whatever you ask for” (Mark 11:24 GNT).
You say, “Wait a minute! I’ve got to thank God in advance before I get it in order to get it?” Yes. If you thank God after you’ve got it, that’s gratitude. When you thank him in advance, that’s faith.
Gratitude is good and right. But your goal should be to become a person of deeper faith. To do that, you have to thank God in advance.
If I handed you a check right now for a thousand dollars, would you wait until you cashed it to thank me? No! You’d thank me right now. But the money wouldn’t be yours until you actually cashed it, because that check is really a promise. When I gave you that check, you’d say, “Thank you, Rick.” You’d believe that I was credible and that I had enough money in the bank to cover that check for a thousand dollars.
In the same way, faith is thanking God in advance. It’s believing that what God has promised, he will provide. It’s saying you love God for who he is and not just what he can do for you. It’s showing you trust him to do what he’s said he will do.
One day two blind men followed Jesus to the home where he was staying. They shouted at him to have mercy on them, and Jesus asked them if they had faith that he could heal them. They answered that they believed, and Jesus said,
“Because of your faith, it will happen” (Matthew 9:29 NLT).
What I’m saying is this: If God tells you to go after Moby Dick in a rowboat, take the tartar sauce with you. You’re going to have a fish fry tonight.
Talk It
- Over Think about some of the common phrases you use in prayer. Do they reflect faith in God?
- How would your perspective and attitude change if you truly believed God was going to provide everything you asked for?
- How would your prayers change if you were truly praying in faith? Take some time to pray now, using language that communicates your faith.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL! starts this Sunday June 27 and continues through June 30 (6:30-8:00pm) for preschool through 5th grade! We are excited to have our friends from Penny Road Church of the Nazarene in North Carolina coming to help us with VBS and several service projects around the building. Invite friends and neighbors to join us.
Click here to register.
BACK TO SCHOOL BASH! Save the date for July 31 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM for our Back to School Bash featuring vendors, bake sale, live music, silent auction, free food, and kids activities.
Click this link and share with your friends and neighbors.
WORKERS ARE NEEDED. Please let us know if you can help in the following areas...
- the Children's Department.
- to serve as ushers and greeters.
CHURCH CENTER: You are invited to join us on the Church Center app! Church Center is a place to connect with small groups and church events, send messages to your group, update your profile, and more! Download from the App Store and connect today. If you have trouble with setting up or updating your profile to keep your contact information up to date, see Jenn Houchin or Terri Ray.
FOOD PANTRY: The pantry is open on Wednesday from 5:00-7:00pm and Thursday from 10:00am-12:00pm and volunteers and donations are needed.
COFFEE SHOP: Uncommon Grounds is open every Monday-Saturday from 7:00am-2:00pm. Invite a friend and use this great outreach to introduce the church to your friends.
TAEKWONDO: If you are interested in free Taekwondo classes please email for more information.
CHAIR YOGA: on pause until the Fall. Have a great summer!
CLASSES & STUDIES
SUNDAYS
Debbie Woodard leads the Young Adult class in person and via ZOOM for anyone who would like to join. They meet Sunday mornings at 9am in the classroom beside the new office.
Meeting ID: 868 1977 8952
Password: Bible101
Kenneth Ray & Gracie Smith lead the Friendship Class in person and via ZOOM for anyone who would like to join. They meet Sunday mornings at 9am in the classroom down the hall and to the right of the office.
Meeting ID: 846 6822 8046
Password: Bible101
Brice Rupert leads the teens class (6-12), Kelsey Quillen leads the kids class (k-5), both in person at 9:00am. We have kids classes for all ages.
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP begins at 10:00am in the sanctuary. The services will continue to be live streamed on Facebook and our website home page for those unable to be with us in the church building.
OH|KIDS CHURCH for K-5th grade meets in the kids room downstairs during the worship hour at 10:00am.
TUESDAYS
Coffee & Community Bible Study every other Tuesday at 9:30am in the Coffee Shop. Next meeting is on July 6.
WEDNESDAYS
Wednesday Night Bible Study with Debbie Woodard is on Facebook Live (from Debbie's page) at 6:30pm.
THURSDAYS
The Thursday study is on break during June. If you have prayer requests, you can email them to the church office.
