He is I Am Ministry

For those that read the daily devotionals and prayers that I share, I am taking a 3 week break from FB.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL. ❤️

“Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” - C.S. Lewis

Let’s start with this question - If you could have joy for the rest of your life, would you choose to? When I hear that question, my first thought is: That sounds crazy. How is that even possible? What about my other feelings? What about when I don’t “feel” joyful? What about when people hurt me? I surely can’t choose joy all the time on this side of heaven, could I?

I’m here to tell you that feeling and having joy is more of a choice than you think. A lot of people say joy and happiness aren’t the same thing and I agree to a certain extent, but what is joy without happiness? When you think of Jesus, do you think he was joyful but not happy? When you hear this next verse, I want you to picture Him smiling with happiness at you, because He is.

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2

For the joy that was set before Him, He went to the cross for you and for me. But something I don’t think many people realize is that yes, He endured the cross for our sin and rebellion, but I also believe He endured the cross so that we could experience heavenly joy in this life, right now. I’m not saying that really hard things don’t call for godly grief and tears and healing, because they definitely do, but when you get to know Christ better and better, He provides an inexpressible joy that doesn’t fade or fluctuate with our emotions. He knows about all the hard days and hard nights you’ve had and He wants to comfort you.

There are so many Bible examples of Jesus showing up in the middle of somebody’s darkest moments and providing not only salvation (which is the most important part) but also joy and peace and love. Before moving on to day 2, I encourage you to meditate on these scriptures and ask God to help you receive and choose true Joy that only He can give.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV
[2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Genesis 50:19-20 ESV
[19] But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? [20] As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

1 Chronicles 16:27 ESV
[27] Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.

Spread Joy

For some believers in Jesus, spreading joy as a way to share our faith in Jesus will be the easiest thing we ever do. Some of us are just naturally nice and friendly. People might rarely have anything negative to say about us, and tell us they feel better just being in our presence. Let’s use this to our advantage and influence them for Jesus by spreading joy! So, how do we do this?

First, we consider what we say. When our words are sprinkled with kindness and gentleness, we draw people to ourselves instead of repelling them. Speaking with grace and kindness is a universal language that everyone understands.

Second, we can do something nice for someone. Maybe our coworker is always negative. It may feel unnatural to do something nice for him or her, but this is the best time to do it. The fastest way to break down a hard heart is by dousing it with a kind act.

Third, we choose to do the kind things that bring a smile to someone’s face—a compliment instead of a complaint, a hand-written note of encouragement, or their favorite drink. When we do things like these, we’re telling them that we see them and that they have a friend in us.

People who are joy spreaders are others-focused and look for ways to serve and love the people around them. While it comes more naturally for some, we’re all called to exhibit joy and make a difference in someone’s life. Understand that as we do this, we’ll be asked a variety of questions:

Why are you so happy?
Why do you say nice things to me?
Why don’t you have bad days?
Why do you always have a smile on your face?
Why are you nice to everyone?

We have a great opportunity to evangelize those around us simply by telling them why we have this unexplainable joy. This is our time to say, “The reason I’m this way is because I know Jesus, and He guides my life. Things don’t always go my way, and sometimes, life is extremely hard. But, He’s with me, all the time, in every season, and during difficult storms. And He died for you and wants to know you.”

Whether you share your faith through your story, extending an invitation, appealing to someone’s intellect, or spreading joy, whatever is your best evangelistic tool, use it! All we have to do is our part. God didn’t ask us to save someone. That’s His job. We are simply the tools He uses while His Holy Spirit is transforming someone’s heart.

Proverbs 17:22 ESV
[22] A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

James 1:2-4 ESV
[2] Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, [3] for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. [4] And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Appeal to Intellect

One of the more difficult aspects of sharing our faith is when we know someone who won’t believe in God because they can’t see Him. In fact, many highly intelligent people struggle with putting their faith in something they can’t see. They’d rather trust in their own intellect and things they can actually place their confidence in.

If you’ve read any part of the New Testament, then it’s likely you’ve read something that was written by the Apostle Paul. He was well-educated, highly intelligent, and even once persecuted people who believed in Jesus. The Bible doesn’t say this for certain, but with all of the credentials attributed to Paul, it’s likely that he was a know-it-all, arrogant Jew. But on one unlikely day as Paul was still threatening Christians with their lives, he was transformed.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:3-6 NIV
Paul went from oppressing and harassing Christians to encouraging and teaching them. For years he’d heard the truth about Jesus, but chose to reject Him because this didn’t line up with everything he’d learned in his life. But on this day, no amount of intellect could explain away his experience with Jesus on that dusty road.

This method of evangelism, where we appeal to someone’s intellect, won’t be for everyone, but it will be attractive to some. Maybe we just don’t feel we know enough to journey down this intellectual path. Even if that’s the case, there could still be a time when God places someone in our path who has an abundance of questions, and plenty of them are ones you don’t seem to have the answers to.

Let’s spend some time learning new things about our amazing God, so that we’ll be prepared with answers to the questions that may be asked of us. We can also read books and learn about men and women who came to know Christ through a more intellectual way. Some people we come across won’t believe in anything until they understand it completely. And while we can’t change their hearts, we can be ready to share what we know and trust God to do the rest.

We won’t know everything, but we can ask God for wisdom that He’s ready to give us. As we learn new things, God may use us to bring grace-filled truth to someone at a time when we least expect it.

Acts 9:1-19 ESV
[1] But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest [2] and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. [3] Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. [4] And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” [5] And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [6] But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” [7] The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. [8] Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. [9] And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. [10] Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” [11] And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, [12] and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” [13] But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. [14] And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” [15] But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. [16] For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” [17] So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” [18] And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; [19] and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

James 1:5 ESV
[5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Daily Prayer Covering

Daddy God, I pray this prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I bind, rebuke, and bring to no effect; all division, discord, disunity, strife, wrath, murder, criticism, condemnation, pride, envy
jealousy, gossip, slander, evil speaking, complaining, lying, false teaching, false gifts, false manifestations, lying signs and wonders, poverty, fear of lack,
fear of spirits, deceiving spirits, religious spirits, hindering spirits,
retaliatory spirits, occult spirits, witchcraft spirits (including Jezebel, Delilah, and Apollyon the Destroyer), spirits of antichrist and all familiar and territorial spirits.

I bind all curses that have been spoken against me. I bless those who curse me and pray blessings on those who despitefully use me. I bind all spoken judgments made against me and judgments I have made against others. I bind the power of negative words from others, and I bind and render useless all prayers not inspired by the Holy Spirit; whether psychic, soul force, witchcraft, or counterfeit tongues that have been prayed against me.

I am God's child. I resist the devil. No weapon formed against me shall prosper.

I put on the whole armor of God and take authority over this day, in Jesus' name. Let it be prosperous for me, and let me walk in your love, Lord.

The Holy Spirit leads and guides me today and fills me with all needed gifting and graces. I discern between the righteous and the wicked. I take authority over Satan and all his demons and those people who are influenced by them. I declare Satan is under my feet and shall remain there all day and night.

I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I am God's property.

Satan has no control over me. He is bound from my family, my mind, my body, my home, and my finances.

I confess that I am healthy , whole, and well. I flourish, am long-lived, stable, durable, incorruptible, fruitful, virtuous, full of peace, patience, and love. Whatsoever I set my hands to do shall prosper for God supplies all my needs. I have all authority over Satan, all demons, and beasts of the field.

God, I pray for the ministry You have for me. Anoint me, God, for all you have called me to do for You. I call forth divine appointments, open doors of opportunity; God ordained encounters, and ministry positions.

I claim a hedge of protection, by the Precious Blood of Jesus, around myself, spouse and children (names), grandchildren (names), and extended family( names) throughout this day and night. I ask You God, in the name of Jesus, to dispatch angels to surround me, my spouse, my children, grandchildren, spiritual children, and extended family today and everyday, and to put them throughout my house and around our cars, souls and bodies. I call on Your holy angels to protect my house from any intrusion and to protect me and my family from any harmful demonic or other physical or mental attacks. I ask all of this in the mighty name of Jesus.
"God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and He has been my Savior" (Isaiah 12:2).
Amen.

Extend an Invitation

A very popular way that people share their faith with others is through extending invitations. Sometimes we don’t know what to say to people about our faith, so inviting them to our church to hear the good news of Jesus is often a great start. In fact, most people will attend church at Christmas or Easter because of traditions. Always be on the lookout for how you can introduce someone to Jesus through an invitation.

There is a noteworthy story found in John 4 where we see this act of inviting people displayed. Jesus and His disciples had just spent time in Judea baptizing people. On His way back to Galilee, He stopped at a nearby well to rest and get water. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and that’s when Jesus asked her for a drink. It was uncommon for a Jew to associate with a Samaritan, so the woman was clearly shocked that He asked her for help.

They began a conversation where Jesus was referring to one thing, and she was thinking it was something else. She eventually asked Jesus to give her this “living water,” but His response was unexpected—“Go and get your husband.” (John 4:16 NLT) When she told Him she didn’t have a husband, Jesus proceeded to tell about her past with men, which included five previous husbands and a current live-in boyfriend.

After more discussion, Jesus tells this woman that He is the Messiah in John 4:26. She left her jar, ran back to town, and started telling people about this man who knew everything about her. The people followed her back to where He was. And this is where her invitation does a miraculous work!

Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” John 4:39 NLT
Can you just imagine the scene? What started as a story of a man asking a woman for water ended up turning into an evangelistic event! Because this woman invited people to meet Jesus, many lives were changed. She didn’t have to know all of the right things to say or do, she simply had to say, “Come and see!” And they did.

We can all find something to invite someone to where they can hear about the Jesus we believe in and live for. You could invite them to church, or a Christian concert or conference. Or you could also invite them to a Bible study or choose a Christian book to study with them. You could introduce them to the YouVersion App, and then begin a Bible Plan together.

There are numerous ways to invite someone to hear the truth and grace about Jesus Christ. Think about the ways you could begin to implement this into your strategy for sharing your faith.

John 4:1-30 ESV
[1] Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John [2] (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), [3] he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. [4] And he had to pass through Samaria. [5] So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. [6] Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. [7] A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” [8] (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) [9] The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) [10] Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” [11] The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? [12] Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” [13] Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, [14] but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” [15] The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” [16] Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” [17] The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; [18] for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” [19] The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. [20] Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” [21] Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. [22] You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. [23] But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. [24] God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” [25] The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” [26] Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” [27] Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” [28] So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, [29] “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” [30] They went out of the town and were coming to him.

John 4:39 ESV
[39] Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”

Share Your Story

One of the most compelling ways to share our faith in Jesus is by sharing our testimony, or story. The word testimony simply means that we’re sharing something that we experienced firsthand. We’re giving evidence of an event that occurred in our lives. Sharing our story is so powerful, because it’s not debatable. Not only that, but there is a strong chance they’ll be able to see the transformation that has occurred within you.

In John 9, the chapter opens with Jesus and His disciples coming across a blind man. The disciples wanted to know if this man had sinned to cause his blindness or not. Jesus assured them that the reason he was blind was “so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3 NIV) Eventually, Jesus healed the blind man in a bizarre way when He spit on the ground, made mud, and then rubbed it over the blind man’s eyes. After the blind man washed his eyes in the Pool of Siloam, he could see.

This man was born blind, and everybody knew it. You can imagine the questions asked and the awe-inspired looks he got when he started interacting with the people around him. It was such a big ordeal that the now-seeing blind man was brought to the Pharisees. At first, they were upset that Jesus healed on the Sabbath. Eventually, they began to ask more questions and even doubted that the man was ever blind! One visit with the man’s parents proved their doubts wrong.

Most of us might have been flustered by all of the questions from the Pharisees, especially when they wanted him to “give glory to God by telling the truth.” (John 9:24 NIV) You can almost hear the frustration in the man’s voice when he finally responded:

“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” John 9:25 NLT
So, what’s your story? What has God done in your heart? How has He changed your life? There are so many people who need to hear what He’s done in you. And there’s no one better to tell of God’s work in your life than you. Firsthand stories change lives!

Spend some time thinking about how God has worked in your life. Maybe it’s something profound with one of your children, or how God healed you from a disease. It could be that your view on life has drastically changed, and you know that’s only because of the life-changing power of Jesus. Whatever way God has given you a story to tell, tell it!

John 9:1-27 ESV
[1] As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” [3] Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. [4] We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” [6] Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud [7] and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. [8] The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” [9] Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” [10] So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” [11] He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” [12] They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” [13] They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. [14] Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. [15] So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” [16] Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. [17] So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” [18] The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight [19] and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” [20] His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. [21] But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” [22] (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) [23] Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” [24] So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” [25] He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” [26] They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” [27] He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”

Prayer isn’t meant to be routine…
it’s meant to align you with truth.

Enforcing Prayer is a simple way to begin speaking what God has already said…
not just reading it, but living from it.

As your words align, your thinking follows and over time, your life does too.

Learn more:
https://www.lisa-schwarz.com/enforcing-prayer/

Why should I share my faith?

When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, it means that we’re saying yes to His ways and His plans for our lives. Part of that is sharing the life-changing power of Jesus with those around us. This is called evangelism.

Evangelism is defined as a zealous advocacy for a cause. In Christianity, this “zealous advocacy” is spread when we share the good news of Jesus Christ—how He came to earth to save us by dying for our sins and then being raised back to life so that we could spend eternity with Him. This is the good news of Jesus.

So, why is this important for us as followers of Jesus? For one, Jesus said to do it in the last words He spoke to His disciples at the end of Matthew 28. He told them to “go and make disciples of all nations…” And they did, and so should we! Secondly, anytime we have good news to share that could benefit someone’s life, we share it, don’t we? Knowing Jesus is not only good news, it’s the best news! We have the cure for the human condition, so let’s be a sharer of God’s love to the people in our lives.

Before we share the good news, or gospel, of Jesus, it’s important that we know it. Here’s the truth about what God has done for us:

God created us for a relationship with Him. (Genesis 1:26) But, we sinned and because of that, we deserve punishment. (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23) Thankfully, God made a way for us to know Him by sending His only Son, Jesus, to save the world by dying on a cross and rising from the grave. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9) And once we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Savior, we receive eternal life. (Romans 10:9-10)
Sounds almost too good to be true, doesn’t it? We messed up, but then a loving, perfect Heavenly Father sent His only Son to save us from ourselves. It’s profound, but very simple. And it’s extremely good news!

Over the next four days of this Bible Plan, we’ll look into some different ways that we can share our faith about Jesus with others. One of the simplest ways to share your faith is through conversations with others. Maybe you mention something about church, inquire about what someone believes about God, or suggest reading and discussing a book with someone.

Before you head into the following days, spend some time praying and asking God to put three to five people on your heart who need Him. Then, begin praying for God to soften their hearts so that you can influence their lives.

Genesis 1:26 ESV
[26] Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Matthew 28:17-20 ESV
[17] And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. [18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 3:16 ESV
[16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 3:23 ESV
[23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 5:8-9 ESV
[8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Romans 6:23 ESV
[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9-10 ESV
[9] because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.