As we build one block on top of the other one, we begin to build a firm

foundation of our faith. We begin to understand the what’s, the why’s,

and the how’s of our faith. This process goes on for a lifetime.

Remember, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the

evidence of things not seen.” Faith brings into reality what is only

hoped for right now and not seen with the natural eye. However, our

faith pulls it into the natural realm and makes it supernatural. Faith

believes, faith pulls, faith trusts, and faith comes directly from God.

Faith pulls on the hem of God’s garment with such expectation, that He

cannot refuse or deny. It gets God’s attention. (Mark 5:25-34)

God did not leave us without help. Jesus made a promise that He

fulfilled and brought the Holy Spirit into our lives to bring support,

comfort and help in the time of need.

John 14:16-17 (NIV)

16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to

help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world

cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you

know him, for He lives with you and will be in you.

The Holy Spirit has been called Helper, Comforter, Teacher, and Friend.

He is a very present help in the time of need. Jesus fully understood the

need that we would have for empowerment and help going forward.

Now, the God that is on the inside of us is the Holy Spirit of God.

Jesus himself had to be baptized with the Holy Spirit before He did any

great works by God in His ministry. His true ministry did not begin until

the Holy Spirit empowered Him. It amazes me that we fool ourselves

into thinking that we can truly do anything great for God without being

totally baptized by the Holy Spirit.

John 1:32-33 (NKJV)

32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from

heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him,

but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you

see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who

baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

I believe when we are baptized into the Spirit of God, not only are we

endued with power, but God says, “You are my beloved Son/Daughter,

in you I am well pleased.” We are instantly baptized into the ministry.

When the “upper room” experience happened to the 120 that were in

the room waiting on the promise of Jesus, the same experience

happened to them. However, the people around saw “fire” instead of a

dove.

Acts 1:4-5, 8 (NKJV)

4 And being assembled together with them, (Jesus) He commanded

them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the

Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly

baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not

many days from now.”

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and

Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV)

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one

accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven,

as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they

were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire,

and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy

Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them

utterance.

The Holy Spirit is such a necessary part to our success, in our faith, and

in our walk with God in this world. Jesus knew and understood the

necessity of the Holy Spirit when He was going back to the Father. He

let us know, I am going to send you one to help you and comfort you,

because there will be times when your faith will feel like it’s failing, but

He will help you and teach you and get you where you need to be

spiritually. He is our helper and instructor.

Jude 1:20-21

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith,

praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God,

looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

So, my beloved of God, use the Holy Spirit within you and allow Him to

build your faith and keep you always and especially in the day of

trouble. He will teach you all things, including the power that is in you.

Next week, we will be starting another series of devotionals and study.

There are many things that can block our faith, we will be looking at 5

different things that can block our faith.

Next week we will be starting with –

Faith Blockers – “Fear, an Enemy of Our Faith”

When we are building our faith one block at a time, we are being careful

with the foundation of our faith. These blocks are to ensure the security

of your faith and to examine our lives to know if we have built a firm

foundation to our faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

(Hebrews 11:6) We can’t go through life with the same mindset we had

in the world, but we must renew our mind and grow daily in the truths

that are revealed to us within the Word of God. Knowing who we are

and realizing the important role that Jesus plays in our lives as

Christians and sons and daughters of God. As we build these blocks of

strength and confidence in our walk with God, there will be nothing that

will shake our faith foundation.

This week we are talking about “Who is the Father”? What does

scriptures say?

Exodus 3:14 (KJV)

14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt

thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

Revelation 22:13 (NIV)

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning

and the End.

1 John 4:8 (NIV)

8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

There are so many scriptures that describe the “Father”.

I want to share something personal with you to help you understand

how personal the Father is or can be. When I was 16 years old, my

parents had been divorced for at least 10 years at that time. I had not

seen my father but longed to see him for maybe 5 of those 10 years.

Many important things were happening in my life that I wanted to share

with my father, but it did not seem important to him. In your teenage

years you begin to be in search of more to define who you are, and I

needed to know who I was. Everything was important to me.

A group of teenagers and young adults introduced me to Jesus and I

began to read my bible, which they gave me. I didn’t have a bible of my

own. Then as I read, the Father began to talk to me when I was all alone

in my room reading my bible. He expressed to me, “I am your Father. I

will always be with you and I will lead you, if you let me.” I wanted to let

him. As I heard those words, they comforted me, and I began my

search of who I was through the words that I read in scripture. The

words began to define me, and after that, I always knew He loved me,

and He was watching over me. From that point on, I walked with my

Father.

God, the Father, has been there since the beginning of time. God is

spirit, and you cannot touch him with your physical hand, but you

touch him with your heart. As your heart reaches out for God, He

reaches back and touches you in every part of your life.

John 4:24 (NKJV)

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and

truth.”

We cannot connect to God in the natural or physical, because He is not

physical or part of this natural world. He is a part of the spiritual realm

that He has allowed us to connect with through His son Jesus Christ. As

we have made Jesus the Lord over our lives, a spiritual realm of

understanding is open to us. We then can communicate with God and

He to us. As the scripture says, “…those that worship Him, must

worship Him in spirit and truth.” Our spirit man connects with God and

then true communication is established. That is what happened to me

that night, I opened my line of communication by coming to him in

spirit and truth in my heart.

The Father is standing always with arms wide open longing for

connection with His children.

Romans 10:21 (NKJV)

21 But to Israel he says:

“All day long I have stretched out My hands

To a disobedient and contrary people.”

Israel was God’s chosen children, and now we are adopted into that

family. God stretches forth his hands to us each morning desiring to

walk with us and talk with us. Like a natural father, but so much

greater, He loves us and desires the best for our lives and He will never

leave us.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)

6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for

the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave

you nor forsake you.”

Our Heavenly Father is the one who will hear you, see you, be with you,

and love you always. He will guide you, strengthen you, comfort you,

and pick you up when you have fallen. He is a “Father” forever and

always.

As you draw near to the Father, He will draw near to you. Look up! Your

Father draws near!

Next week we will be talking about:

The Building Blocks of Faith –

“Who is the Holy Spirit?”

We are talking about “building blocks”. Building blocks create

something one block at a time. We as children of God are building our

faith one step at a time, building our faith to a place where our faith

can not be shaken or demolished. As we build these blocks of faith, we

will be able to stand in the face of natural circumstances and have faith

in a supernatural God that lives and abides on the inside of us and the

power that flows through us is our faith in Him.

Our first building block was the “renewing of our mind”. Recognizing

that the renewing of our mind is one day at a time. Erasing and

transforming our thoughts to the thoughts of Christ. Knowing the Word

of God and allowing those words to flow from our hearts to our mouths

rather than the words of what we see and feel. For what we see is

temporary, but the Words of God are eternal and forever. Our words

frame and develop our world, so we must renew our mind and consider

the words that we say from our mouths. Let our words be words from

God’s mouth to ours.

Our next building block was “Who Am I?” We must know who we are in

Christ before we can truly trust God and recognize the greatness inside

of each of us. As you realize who you are, it brings about a bigger

picture of yourself and your purpose in your life. Your purpose is far

beyond yourself, but it connects to each person that God brings into

your life. With each connection, it should bring about a light that

illuminates so bright, it changes the world around us.

Now we come to the next building block, “Who is Jesus?”

John 14:6 (English Standard Version)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one

comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you

would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and

have seen him.”

Philippians 2:7-8

[Jesus] emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in

the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled

himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a

cross.

Jesus was and is God, Obedient Son of God, Servant, Friend, Savior,

Mighty King, and Our Lord and example. Many people demean the role

of Jesus in our lives. He is a major building block of our faith.

What is a Lord?

Someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master

or ruler. When someone is Lord over something, they will protect,

cover, and ensure safety and care.

Jesus is the one who has power, authority and influence over us as we

give our lives to His care. He ensures our safety and care and loves us

the way the Father does. Philippians says that Jesus emptied himself of

his deity and power and came to be a man just like we are. He chose to

love us and show us the way out of our “death cycle” into life eternal.

He became our example of truth and righteousness. He became

obedient even to death on the cross. He became our way to life.

Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an

everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

As you read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, please begin

to see the character of Jesus. He lived and showed us the life that we

should all emulate in all parts of our life. His obedience to the Father,

His love for all men, the richness of the Word of God that flowed from

every part of His life; also, His ability to teach and show others the way

to God… these are just a few of the attributes of Jesus that should be

written down in the pages of our heart.

The more and more that I look at the life of Jesus, the more my faith in

God the Father grows and I stand in awe of his mercy and love and

kindness for us. My faith becomes stronger and it is built on a firm

foundation of what Christ has done for us all. I want to live my life and

walk my path like Jesus did and become so connected to the Father that

nothing could separate me from His voice and direction for my life.

When your life becomes so connected to the Father that you become

one in purpose and your will becomes His will, nothing is impossible.

Galatians 2:20 English Standard Version

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ

who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the

Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Put another block on your faith, become intimately acquainted with

Jesus!

Next week –

The Building Blocks to Faith – “Who is the Father?”

The next building block to our faith which includes the renewing of

your mind, is knowing who you are. The renewing of the mind is a daily

refreshing of the knowledge of God in your life and knowing without a

shadow of a doubt that you are never alone, but there is one greater

than reigns on the inside of you. The next level is knowing who you are

in all of this. Knowing who you are brings about the confidence to face

anything in your life with both confidence and assurance that “I will

come out victorious.” It’s not about anything that I have accomplished,

but what God is accomplishing through my yielded heart and not to try

and do this in my strength, but in His alone. It is once again a daily

walk in His presence, strengthening my faith in what I cannot see, but

what I know in Him.

2 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)

18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,

Says the Lord Almighty.”

Romans 8:14 (NKJV)

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Galatians 4:7 (NLT)

7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are

his child, God has made you his heir.

Many people from their childhood have been called… lazy, good for

nothing, evil, sad, and many other names that God never called you. It

is said in the bible that what we believe of ourselves, we will become.

(Proverbs 23:7) But many of us have never heard that we are “Sons and

Daughters of God”. If sons, then heirs to the promises of God.

We know that Jesus was the son of God, but surely, we couldn’t be

sons, as bad as we are. But God never sees us that way. Even in our

“mess,” he calls us close to Him by allowing Jesus to die for all of us!

(Romans 5:8)

Psalm 103:1-10

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy

name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: 3 Who

forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems

your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and

tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 6 The Lord executes

righteousness, and justice for all who are oppressed. 7 He made known

His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in

mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger

forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

Your soul is referring to your mind, your will and your emotions. In the

midst of confusion and pain in my mind and in my emotions, my will

wants to do what it wants to do, instead of what is right. In spite of it

all, I will bless the Lord. I will remind myself of who I am.

I am the healed!

I am the redeemed!

I am crowned with His love and His kindness!

I am satisfied with all good things! (my needs, my wants and my

desires)

And I am His child! I am safe in His arms and in His care!

Jesus came to earth to be our great example of the life that we all

should lead. He walked a life of sacrifice, love, compassion, holiness,

and determination. He was a man that was tempted just like we are, but

His determination to please the Father, more than himself, was the

focus of His life. Along with it came great benefits and rewards in spite

of the pain and disappointments.

Jesus knew who he was as he studied the scriptures and spent time

with the Father in prayer and devotion. He realized what He was called

to accomplish, and He went about doing good and healing those who

were oppressed by the devil. He studied to show himself approved and

a workman that needed not to be ashamed, but He rightly divided the

Word of Truth. He knew who He was.

We must come to know who we are by reading scripture and spending

time in the presence of God. He will reveal to you each day your call

and assignment here on earth for the season that you are here. He will

show you the power that abides on the inside of you through Jesus

Christ. He will teach you to lean on Him instead of yourself and to know

you have a helper and a friend that will lead you through every obstacle

in your life. He will teach you that you are a “King’s Kid”. You have

rights and privileges that only come with being the children of God.

You access these rights and privileges by entering into the Kingdom

through acceptance of Jesus as your Lord and Savior and walking out

your kingdom rights each day, one day at a time. Never allow the

“enemy” to cause you to doubt who you are.

You are somebody special!

Next week we’ll be talking about:

The Building Blocks of Faith – “Who is Jesus?”

The mind is a powerful part of who we are. It is full of the events and

memories that we have experienced and learned in the past that have

shaped our lives. One thought can switch the mind from being joyful to

being sad in only a matter of seconds. The mind is the one place that

Satan uses to control and manipulate our lives downward instead of

upward. We must learn the tactics of the “enemy” in order to win on the

battlefield of our minds.

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV)

…lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his

devices.

Every person in the bible was tempted by Satan in some form or fashion

to try and stop the plan of God. He uses people and situations and

thoughts to “plant a seed” of doubt, fear, anger, disappointment, and

so much more. All it takes is a simple “seed” of a word planted in our

minds to cause us to go in the opposite direction. We must be trained

and built up in the Word of God to give us a firm foundation of what

God has said and the building of our faith totally in Him.

The biggest and constant “update” that we must make as Christians, is

the renewing of our minds! Stay fresh with the Word of God. Renewing

your mind every day to what God says about you and to you.

Romans 12:2 The Message

12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your

everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and

walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing

what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t

become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without

even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed

from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and

quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging

you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you,

develops well-formed maturity in you.

I enjoyed this translation of Romans 12:1-2. The changes that happen

to us are from the inside out! God begins to change our way of thinking

by the “renewing of our mind”. Taking the bad habits, thoughts, and

memories and replacing them with what God says about us. If we don’t

change what we think of ourselves and God, we will continue to have

exactly what we have had or worse. God wants to bring the best out of

us and develop us into well-formed mature disciples in Christ to bring

forth His glory into this world.

1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,

His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who

called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

When we begin to see ourselves as “chosen” by God for such a time as

this, we will change the way we think of ourselves. God sees us as a

royal priesthood. We are already called into the ministry of His Kingdom

from the time God breathed into our lungs. God saw us holy even in

our mess and dysfunction. We are His own “special” people. Whoever it

is that told you that you were no good and worthless, told you a lie

from Satan. Satan works hard to cause us not to see what God has

placed inside of us. A chosen people, a priest called by God and

holy through the blood of Jesus!

It’s time to renew our minds from the old ways of thinking, to what God

has called us to be. It’s time to say it like God has said it! I am

someone special in the eyes of God and that is what truly matters.

When Satan has fired his best shot and everything is all said and done,

it will be me and God standing!

Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you;

Before you were born, I sanctified you;

I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

What I realized since the beginning of my studies of the Word of God, is

that this Word is for me. These are letters designed to speak directly to

me and bring me through the hardest times of my life and take

me to many more joys I have yet to experience. It is there to bring me

joy, comfort, and strength. What He has said to one, He has said it to

all.

So, take what belongs to you and begin to renew your mind to what

God has spoken over your life and not what the world says about you.

It is the beginning of new beginnings!

Join me next week with:

The Building Blocks of Faith – “Who Am I?”