faith

Faith of a Shunammite Woman

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“Father God, please guide me as I write this article based on Your Word. Help me to write this to glorify You, and let Your words bring clarity to those who seek You. May Your truth help people discern and embrace correct beliefs. I pray and seek everything in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Hi there fellow believers in Christ!
Diving In
The story of the Shunammite woman, found in 2 Kings 4:8-37 and 8:1-6, is a beautiful testament to the power of unwavering faith and God’s miraculous blessings. This wealthy and hospitable woman from Shunem displayed extraordinary faith and perseverance that resulted in a miraculous intervention from God through the prophet Elisha.

Hospitality and Humility
The Shunammite woman first encountered Elisha as she provided food and lodging for him whenever he passed through her town. Her kindness and generosity toward the prophet did not go unnoticed. The woman’s hospitality was rooted in humility and a genuine concern for others, setting the stage for God’s work in her life.

A Faith-Filled Request
When Elisha offered to help the woman in return for her kindness, she initially declined. However, upon reflection, she expressed her deep desire for a child, despite her and her husband’s advanced age. The woman’s request demonstrated her faith in God’s ability to provide even when circumstances seemed impossible.

God’s Faithfulness
In response to her faith-filled request, Elisha prophesied that she would bear a son within a year. True to God’s promise, the Shunammite woman gave birth to a son, demonstrating God’s faithfulness and His power to fulfill His promises, even in seemingly impossible situations.

Perseverance in Trial
When her son later died unexpectedly, the Shunammite woman’s faith was tested. Instead of succumbing to despair, she took action, laying the child on Elisha’s bed and seeking the prophet’s help. Her perseverance in this trial exemplified her unwavering belief that God could intervene and restore her son’s life.

God’s Miraculous Intervention
Upon meeting Elisha, the Shunammite woman expressed her grief and pleaded for his intervention. Elisha returned with her and miraculously brought the child back to life, affirming God’s power and mercy. The woman’s faith and determination played a vital role in her son’s restoration, highlighting the importance of maintaining faith even in the most challenging circumstances.

Wrapping It Up
The story of the Shunammite woman offers valuable lessons for Christians today. Her hospitality, humility, and unwavering faith in God’s promises serve as an example of how we, too, can trust in God’s faithfulness and provision. Furthermore, her story demonstrates that God is eager to work through His people, often using unexpected individuals and circumstances to bring about His divine plan. As we remain faithful and persevere through trials, we can experience God’s miraculous blessings and witness the incredible ways He works in our lives.

Impossible to Overcome Sin by Human Efforts

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“Father God, please guide me as I write this article based on Your Word. Help me to write this to glorify You, and let Your words bring clarity to those who seek You. May Your truth help people discern and embrace correct beliefs. I pray and seek everything in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Hi there fellow believers in Christ!

Story Time

Steve is like many of us, trying his best to live a life that pleases God. He’s sincere and loves God deeply, but despite his efforts, he keeps falling into the same old sins. Each time he messes up, he feels a heavy weight of guilt and disappointment. It’s a cycle that’s been repeating for far too long.
He reads the Bible, prays fervently, and makes promises to himself and to God that he won’t sin again. But time and time again, he finds himself right back where he started. He’s tried everything he can think of, but nothing seems to work. The guilt and shame weigh heavily on his heart, and he wonders if he’ll ever be able to break free from this cycle.
One day, in a moment of desperation, Steve falls to his knees and cries out to God. He confesses his weakness, his failures, and his need for help. In that moment, he feels a peace unlike anything he’s ever experienced before. He realizes that he’s been trying to fight this battle on his own strength, and it’s a battle he can’t win alone.
Steve learns to surrender everything to God, his struggles, his failures, and his desires. He discovers that true freedom from sin comes not from his own efforts but from God’s grace and power working in his life. He understands that it’s okay to fall as long as he gets up and keeps moving forward, relying on God every step of the way.
Through his journey, Steve learns that God doesn’t condemn him for his failures but loves him unconditionally. He discovers that God is always there to pick him up when he falls, ready to forgive and restore him. Steve’s story is a powerful reminder that overcoming sin is impossible without God’s help, but with God, all things are possible.
Diving in
In the heart of every person, there is a longing for goodness, a desire to please God, and a wish to live a life free from sin. Yet, the reality is that we are all prone to sin, and no matter how hard we try, we often find ourselves falling into its trap. This is the story of many, including one who has battled with sin for years, trying and failing repeatedly to live a life that honors God.
The Weight of Guilt and Trauma
Imagine a person, let’s call him John, who has struggled with a particular sin for years. Every time he gives in to temptation, he feels a deep sense of guilt and shame. The trauma of his actions weighs heavily on his heart, affecting his relationships, his self-esteem, and his relationship with God. John’s story is not unique; many can relate to the pain and sorrow that come from falling short of God’s standards.
The Futility of Human Effort
John has tried everything to overcome his sin. He has made resolutions, sought help from friends and family, and even tried to change his habits. Yet, no matter how hard he tries, he always finds himself back where he started. This experience is echoed in Romans 7:18-19, where the Apostle Paul writes, “I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.”
The Need for Divine Intervention
John realizes that his quest to live a blameless life is impossible without God’s help. In Psalm 51:10, David pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” John echoes this prayer, recognizing that true transformation can only come from God. It is God’s grace, mercy, and transforming power that can enable him to overcome sin and live a life that honors God.
Surrendering to God’s Grace
Through his struggles, John learns to surrender everything to God. He realizes that he cannot overcome sin on his own and that he needs God’s help every step of the way. He learns to rely on God’s strength rather than his own, knowing that God’s grace is sufficient to cover his sins and empower him to live a life that pleases God.
Wrapping it up
The journey to overcome sin is a difficult one, but it is a battle that cannot be won without God’s help. As John’s story illustrates, true victory over sin comes not from our own efforts but from God’s grace and power working in our lives. May we, like John, learn to surrender our struggles to God, knowing that with His help, all things are possible.

Mustard Seed

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We have come across Bible verses that draws comparison with Faith and Mustard Seed. What is the significance of this seed? Why Jesus draw comparison Faith and Mustard Seed in more than one occasion. 

Lets have a look at the places where the Mustard seed is mentioned in Bible
Matthew 13:31-32
Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
Matthew 17:20
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
Mark 4:30-32
Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”
Luke 13:18-19
Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”
Luke 17:6
The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!
Size of a mustard is very small. So even if we have a little faith as the size of the mustard seed, it will be sufficient enough for God to work on our faith and make it Grow. That is the usual conclusion we come to. 
Is there anything more than that? 
Yes. 
If we look at the Hebrew Names Version of the Bible, the same verse is given as
Luke 17:6
The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
It is indeed given as ‘like’ and not ‘even as small as’. 
This is the significance that is lost!
What is the lost significance? Both looks the same and gives the same meaning.
No.
Let’s have a look at mustard seed. 
Appearance of a Mustard Seed:
Tiny and perfect round shaped
I believe apart from the size of the Mustard seed, it is also important to notice the shape of the mustard seed, Perfectly round shaped. Our Faith should be similar to that, in perfect shape. In other words, flawless or perfect. we cannot find a little imperfection in mustard seed. Faith should be like that, without doubts. 
Even if we have 99.99% Faith it is still not perfect. that .01% of doubt makes the Faith imperfect. God wants us to have Faith without Doubts. 
I believe there is more to it, in HNV version,
Matthew 13:31-32
He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches
Birds of the air come and lodge in its branches. We almost forget this part since we get a significant amount of information from the first part of verse. The birds might not signify anything but add weightage to the statement for how big the tree can grow. But considering that, this parable was said by Jesus. I liked to know if there is more meaning in this parable.
Lodge in its branches, when one’s faith is grown into the size of tree, it can accommodate others who need a shelter. When our faith is fully developed, we can help others and be a shelter or a shade for someone who needs the faith. 

Miracle cost… One dollar and eleven cents + the faith of a little child

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She was a precocious eight year old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn’t have the money for the doctor bills and our house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like there was no-one to loan them the money. She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, “Only a miracle can save him now.” 
She went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to a Pharmacy. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy at this moment. She twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. 
Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!  “And what do you want?” The pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. “I’m talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen in ages,”  he said without waiting for a reply to his question. 
“Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,”  She answered back in the same annoyed tone. “He’s really, really sick… And I want to buy a miracle.”
“I beg your pardon?” Said the pharmacist.
“His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?”
“We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry but I can’t help you,” the pharmacist said, softening a little.
“Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.”
The pharmacist’s brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl,“What kind of a miracle does your brother need?”
“I don’t know,” She replied with her eyes welling up. “I just know he’s really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.”
“How much do you have?” Asked the man. “One dollar and eleven cents,”  She answered barely audibly. “And it’s all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.
“Well, what a coincidence,” smiled the man. “A dollar and eleven cents – the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.”  He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said, “Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.”
That well dressed man was a surgeon, specializing in neurosurgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn’t long until Andrew was home again and doing well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.  “That surgery,” her Mom whispered. “Was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?”  The eight year old smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost… One dollar and eleven cents + the faith of a little child.