"How was it that Paul could so ably plead before Felix and Agrippa? How as it that the Apostles stood unawed before the magistrates, and confessed their Lord? How has it come to pass, that in all times God's ministers have been made fearless as lions, and their brows have been firmer than brass; their hearts sterner than steel, and their words like the language of God? Why, it was simply for this reason: that it was not the man who pleaded, but it was God the Holy Ghost pleading through them. Have you never seen an earnest minister, with hands uplifted, and eyes dripping with tears, pleading with the sons of men? ... Who gave that minister so blessed a manner, such a goodly manner? Whence came his skill? Did he acquire it in the college? Did he learn it in seminary? Ah, no. He learned it of the God of Jacob; he learned it of the Holy Ghost; for the Holy Ghost is the great counselor who teaches us to advocate His cause aright."

-Charles Spurgeon (Sermons vol. 1 - The Comforter pgs. 70-71)

My Sermon To Myself

"Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen."
- Hebrews 11:1

"Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves..."
- Hebrews 11:33

I was reading about Abraham a bit earlier. It made me think about my life and myself. There are all these things I want to do to change the world and serve God, and then there are also parts of me that seem to always hinder that desire. It's like they're always fighting each other. I just don't see how I will be able to do these things. I don't always see how God can use me. I don't see how I can have what it takes. But I guess that's where faith needs to come in.

"Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen."

I can't see everything. I can't understand everything.

A conviction...

"An unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence."

An unshakable belief that God will help me, use me, give me wisdom, give me power to do what He wants. An unshakable, unwavering, unrelenting belief that God will do everything He says He will.

"'Look up to the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them.' Then He (God) said to him (Abraham), 'So shall your offspring be.'"
- Genesis 15:5

Abraham have a son at 100? Offspring as countless as the stars from such an old man? Impossible! It doesn't happen. It can't happen. He can't do that! Oh, but God can!

Abraham had a conviction that God can and would do everything He promised.

"Abraham believed God, and he credited it to him as righteousness."
- Genesis 15:6

I feel like I'm at a crossroads right now. I know God's promises:

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
- Joshua 1:9

"...do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit."
- Mark 13:11

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
- Matthew 28:18-20

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
- Acts 1:8

"With God all things are possible."
- Matthew 19:26

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
- Philippians 4:13

It seems like I'm running out of excuses. Yet it's so hard to step out of this nice comfort zone I'm in. It's so hard to see change. It's so hard to step into the unknown. But...the hard, the unknown, the unseen, the uncomfortable...why do I also have this deep desire to step into those things anyway? It seems to be drawing me to itself...

"Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms..."

Where is your faith Jim? Through faith you can topple kingdoms!

How do I know God is real?

We have all these crazy theories that we make up. The current one is The Big Bang Theory. But, when you think about it, this theory doesn't really solve anything. Where did the matter come from to cause that explosion? Some scientists have proposed that it came from another universe. But that still doesn't solve the problem. You can go back and back and back but you eventually have to deal with the fact that something came from nothing! That does not happen! And one more time for good measure...That does not happen! At least not without God it doesn't. Oh? What's that you say? You can't explain that? Well, that's too bad. I guess that's the end of that theory.

By the way, one day this theory will be replaced by some other theory. That's what has always happened throughout history. It's been everything from Atlas holding the world floating on a giant turtle, to the current one.

I would rather believe something that has always been the same from the beginning. Something that has never had to change with the times. Something that can always be trusted and relied on. And that's God's word.

"In the beginning God..."
-Genesis 1:1

People say that God makes no sense. They say that to believe in Him is foolish.

So, how do I know that God is real?

I know God is real because He is the only thing that makes any sense...

"Satan laughs at our efforts but he trembles when we pray"

"My friend, in the midst of all the unbelief, the blasphemy, the hostility toward God which is around us today, the greatest thing you can do as a human being is to publicly choose the Lord Jesus Christ. To believe in God the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and receive His Son, Jesus Christ, is the most glorious privilege that you and I have. We hear a lot of talk about freedom of speech and freedom of every sort, but this poor crowd doesn't seem to know what freedom really is. We have real freedom when we choose Jesus Christ as our Savior."
- J. Vernon McGee

"You made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee."
- Saint Augustine

"We are far too easily pleased."
- C.S. Lewis