Promises from God with Personal Confession and Affirmation Statements

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

— Ephesians 1:3

Why We Confess and Affirm God’s Promises

Confessing and affirming God’s promises is not about trying to get God to act or convincing ourselves of something that is not yet true. For the New Covenant believer, confession and affirmation flow from the reality that we are already complete in Christ. We are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), and we affirm what God has already accomplished for us through Jesus. Scripture tells us that all of God's promises are "Yes" and "Amen" in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). This means that through Jesus, every promise God made is already ours.

We are not trying to earn God’s favor, blessings, or promises; instead, we recognize that God has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), and through His great and precious promises, we partake in His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). The kingdom of God has been planted in us like leaven working through dough (Matthew 13:33), conforming us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

Christ is the Logos, the Word through whom and for whom all things were created (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17). He upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). If we have Christ, we have everything that God could ever give us because Christ is the fullness of God (Colossians 2:9-10). Our confessions align our hearts, minds, and words with the finished work of Jesus and the truth of His Word. We are speaking in agreement with heaven, affirming the reality that the kingdom of God is within us (Luke 17:21) and is actively transforming us into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Below is a list of God’s promises paired with affirmations that declare these truths in faith.

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God's Promises and Biblical Personal Affirmations

1. Ephesians 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

• Affirmation: I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places through Christ. Heaven’s resources are mine, and I live from a place of abundance.

2. 2 Peter 1:3-4
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these, he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

• Affirmation: God’s divine power has given me everything I need for life and godliness. I am a partaker of His divine nature, free from the corruption of the world.

3. 2 Corinthians 1:20
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him, the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

• Affirmation: All of God’s promises are mine in Christ. I say “Amen” to His promises, bringing glory to Him in my life.

4. Philippians 4:19
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

• Affirmation: God supplies all my needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. I lack nothing because He is my provider.

5. Isaiah 53:5
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

• Affirmation: By Jesus’ wounds, I am healed. I walk in divine health and wholeness, spirit, soul, and body.

6. Romans 8:37
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

• Affirmation: I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me. I face every challenge with confidence and victory.

7. John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

• Affirmation: I have the peace of Christ ruling in my heart. My heart is untroubled and free from fear.

8. Psalm 23:1-3
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

• Affirmation: The Lord is my Shepherd, and I lack nothing. He leads me to rest, refreshes my soul, and guides me in His perfect will.

9. Galatians 3:13-14
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

• Affirmation: I am redeemed from the curse and live under the blessing of Abraham. By faith, I have received the promise of the Holy Spirit.

10. Romans 5:1
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

• Affirmation: I am justified by faith and have peace with God through Jesus. My relationship with Him is secure and unshakable.

11. 1 John 4:4
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

• Affirmation: Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. I walk in victory over every challenge.

12. Matthew 28:20
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

• Affirmation: Jesus is always with me. I am never alone, and His presence strengthens and comforts me.

This is a starting list, and I can add more promises and affirmations if needed. Would you like to focus on any particular theme, such as peace, provision, healing, or identity in Christ?

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Enjoy this expanded list with promises about peace, provision, healing, and your identity in Christ.

Peace

1. Isaiah 26:3
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you."

• Affirmation: My mind is steadfast, and I trust in God. He keeps me in perfect peace.

2. John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

• Affirmation: I have peace in Jesus. No trouble in this world can overcome me because He has already overcome.

3. Philippians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

• Affirmation: I am not anxious about anything. I present my requests to God with thanksgiving, and His peace guards my heart and mind.

4. Colossians 3:15
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace."

• Affirmation: The peace of Christ rules in my heart. I am called to peace, and I live in unity with others.

5. Psalm 29:11
"The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace."

• Affirmation: The Lord blesses me with peace and strengthens me in every situation.

6. Romans 8:6
"The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."

• Affirmation: My mind is governed by the Spirit, and I live in life and peace.

7. Numbers 6:26
"The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

• Affirmation: The Lord looks upon me with favor and fills me with His peace.

8. Psalm 119:165
"Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble."

• Affirmation: I love God’s Word, and I have great peace. Nothing can cause me to stumble.

9. Proverbs 16:7
"When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them."

• Affirmation: The Lord is pleased with me, and He causes even my enemies to live at peace with me.

10. Isaiah 54:10
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you."

• Affirmation: God’s covenant of peace with me is unshakable, and His love for me is unfailing.

11. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way."

• Affirmation: The Lord of peace gives me peace at all times and in every way.

12. Matthew 5:9
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

• Affirmation: I am a peacemaker and a child of God. His peace flows through me to others.

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Provision

1. Psalm 34:10
"The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing."

• Affirmation: I seek the Lord, and I lack no good thing.

2. Matthew 6:33
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

• Affirmation: I seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first, and all my needs are met.

3. Philippians 4:19
"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."

• Affirmation: God supplies all my needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

4. 2 Corinthians 9:8
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

• Affirmation: God blesses me abundantly, and I always have all I need to abound in good works.

5. Psalm 23:1
"The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing."

• Affirmation: The Lord is my Shepherd, and I lack nothing.

6. Deuteronomy 28:12
"The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands."

• Affirmation: God opens the storehouse of heaven and blesses the work of my hands.

7. Malachi 3:10
"Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

• Affirmation: The Lord pours out blessings upon me, and I have more than enough.

8. Proverbs 10:22
"The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it."

• Affirmation: The Lord’s blessing enriches my life without sorrow or toil.

9. Luke 6:38
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap."

• Affirmation: As I give, it is given back to me in abundance, overflowing into my life.

10. Psalm 37:25
"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."

• Affirmation: I am righteous in Christ, and I am never forsaken. My family is provided for.

11. 2 Peter 1:3
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life."

• Affirmation: God’s divine power gives me everything I need for life and godliness.

12. Matthew 7:11
"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

• Affirmation: My Father in heaven gives me good gifts when I ask Him. He is a generous provider.

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Healing

1. Isaiah 53:5
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."

• Affirmation: By Jesus’ wounds, I am healed. I walk in divine health and wholeness.

2. Psalm 103:2-3
"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases."

• Affirmation: The Lord forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. His benefits are mine.

3. Exodus 15:26
"For I am the Lord who heals you."

• Affirmation: The Lord is my healer. He restores my body, soul, and spirit.

4. Matthew 8:16-17
"He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.’"

• Affirmation: Jesus has taken up my infirmities and borne my diseases. I am healed and free.

5. Jeremiah 30:17
"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord."

• Affirmation: The Lord restores me to health and heals every wound. I am whole.

6. Proverbs 4:20-22
"My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body."

• Affirmation: God’s Word is life to me and health to my whole body. I treasure His Word in my heart.

7. James 5:15
"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up."

• Affirmation: When I pray in faith, the Lord heals and raises me up. I trust His power to restore.

8. 1 Peter 2:24
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

• Affirmation: By Jesus’ wounds, I have been healed. Healing is mine through His sacrifice.

9. Psalm 147:3
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

• Affirmation: The Lord heals my broken heart and binds up all my wounds. I am whole and restored.

10. Malachi 4:2
"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays."

• Affirmation: The sun of righteousness rises over me with healing in its rays. I am renewed and strengthened.

11. Mark 5:34
"He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’"

• Affirmation: My faith in Jesus makes me whole. I go in peace, free from all suffering.

12. Isaiah 58:8
"Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear."

• Affirmation: My healing springs forth quickly, and I shine with God’s light and glory.

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Identity in Christ

1. 2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

• Affirmation: I am a new creation in Christ. The old is gone, and the new has come.

2. Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."

• Affirmation: I have been crucified with Christ, and now Christ lives in me. My life belongs to Him.

3. Colossians 3:3
"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

• Affirmation: My life is hidden with Christ in God. I live securely in Him.

4. Ephesians 2:10
"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

• Affirmation: I am God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works. I live out His purpose for me.

5. Romans 8:1
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

• Affirmation: I am in Christ, and there is no condemnation for me. I live free from guilt and shame.

6. 1 Peter 2:9
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession."

• Affirmation: I am chosen by God, part of His royal priesthood and holy nation. I am His special possession.

7. John 1:12
"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

• Affirmation: I have received Jesus and believe in His name. I am a child of God with full rights as His heir.

8. Romans 8:37
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

• Affirmation: I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me. I walk in victory every day.

9. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?"

• Affirmation: My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. God dwells in me, and I honor Him with my life.

10. Ephesians 1:4-5
"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."

• Affirmation: I am chosen by God, holy and blameless in His sight. I am deeply loved and predestined for His family.

11. Philippians 3:20
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ."

• Affirmation: My citizenship is in heaven. I live with eternal purpose and await the return of my Savior.

12. Colossians 1:27
"To them God has chosen to make known the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

• Affirmation: Christ is in me, the hope of glory. His presence transforms me and fills me with divine purpose.

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God Says Yes to Over 3000 Promises PDF

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God has made you great and precious promises so you would be a partaker of his divine nature, do you know them? This book contains a list of God's promises from every book in the Bible to help you renew your mind and see God's promises manifest in your life.

You are transformed by the renewing of your mind. As you renew your mind, you prepare your heart to believe and receive His great and precious promises. God is glorified when you experience his promises for you. Your good, good Father promises you peace, wisdom, provision, healing, protection, deliverance and salvation. If Jesus paid for it, it's yours NOW!

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Have Faith in God and Hope in His Promise

YOU CAN CONFIDENTLY EXPECT GOD TO BE GOD FOR YOU

Eternal life is the promise from God that we are saved from sin, death and separation from him. We can have hope in the promise because the one who made the promise is able to keep that promise.

This is the crux of Christianity, we can trust the one who has made us promises. Problems arise when you don't know what he's promised. Debates arise over what he actually has promised.

We know for sure that God has promised eternal life to all those who come to him in the name of Jesus Christ, by grace through faith. So we can rest assured that we can hope for (confidently expect) to live with God, in God, for all eternity in a perfect place, the restored Eden, Heaven.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ETERNAL LIFE?

How many can you think of? No more pain, sickness or disease, for starters. How about no more lack, no more achy knees, no more confusion or depression. No more arguments about whose doctrine is right. No more war. No more injustice, false accusations or imprisonment.

Those are just the freedom from negatives, what about the capacity to see God face to face, hear the angels sing all day and chat with Jesus one on one by the River of Life. Wow! Any more like that? It's fun to imagine all the things eternal life holds for us. 

I recently challenged my church to make a list of all the benefits of eternal life they can imagine, you may enjoy that exercise as well.

WHEN DO THE BENEFITS OF ETERNAL LIFE BEGIN?

Well some of them obviously don't begin until we die or the Resurrection takes place, but is it possible that some of them are available now? Do we have the right to expect any of the benefits of the hope of the Gospel now? Scripturally, the benefits of the promise of eternal life are the promises that God has made to those who are in Christ.

Here's a few of them

• He will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory

• He has delivered you from the power of darkness and translated you into the kingdom of Jesus

• He who knew no sin was made to be sin so you could be righteous

• He has placed his spirit in you

• He has given you a new heart

• He has made you great and precious promises so you'd be a partaker of his divine nature

• There is no condemnation for you

• The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is giving life to your physical body

I could go on for a very long time. When I say those things, I am not just quoting scripture. These are promises from God that I take personally. These are promises from him to me because I'm in him and I believe that he will and has kept those promises.

We can have hope (confidently expect) God's promises to be available for us when we need them because we have faith (persuaded) that God has made and will keep those promises.

These are not just promises for the well deserving, they are covenantal promises that are secured for us by the faithfulness of Jesus. Covenantal promises are different from regular old promises, covenantal promises are decrees from God that he has bound himself to and sworn to uphold for those in the covenant.

CONTINUING IN FAITH, NOT BEING REMOVED FROM THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL

Let me walk you through some points from the sermon at the top of this page...

Colossians 1:21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel...

This is pretty much the only "IF" in the Gospel, if you continue believing you get to experience the benefits of salvation. So keep believing and don't walk away from the hope of the Gospel, eternal life and the redemption of our bodies.

Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Hoping in the fruition of the promise of the Gospel means hoping in unseen elements, like the redemption of our bodies, but also for those things that relate to this life. Here are a few examples we can learn from Hebrews 11.

By faith, we understand. Faith comes before understanding. Be willing to trust God, because he's trustworthy, then patiently wait for understanding, if you even need it.

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Noah took action before the danger came because he trusted God was telling him the truth.

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

Abraham followed God when he didn't know where he was going because he believed God was telling him the truth, he fully persuaded of what God said.

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Sarah was too old and Abraham was so old he was as good as dead.

11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Abraham said, "I don’t care if God has to raise my son from the dead, I know that he will keep his promise."

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

Here's the conclusion

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Consider Jesus and keep your eyes fixed on him. Specifically his faithfulness and the promises that are for those who are in him, for you. You can confidently expect God's promises to you to be in your life because the one who made those promises will keep those promises.

The Most Challenging (and potentially offensive) Sermon You'll Ever Hear

In my last article I talked about the miracle of the loaves, here’s a recap...

In Mark 6 we see this progression...

1. Jesus gives his disciples the power to heal people and cast out devils (he later gave that same power to the 72 other disciples)

2. They come back to Jesus to report that it was working

3. Because it’s working, thousands of people gather as they’re meeting

4. Jesus preaches to them

5. After he preaches, his disciples tell him to send the people away so they can go buy food

6. Jesus says “you feed them"

7. They say, "it'll take 6 months to make enough money to feed this many people."

8. So Jesus feeds 5000 men with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread

9. That same night the disciples get caught in a storm and are afraid for their lives

10. Jesus sees them struggling and takes a walk ON the lake they’re afraid of

11. We’re told he intended to pass by them (why? listen to last week’s message)

12. They cry out to him, so he gets in their boat and calms the storm

13. We're told they are afraid and their hearts are hard because they didn't understand the miracle of the loaves

What were they supposed to understand from the miracle of the loaves? I asked myself that question, here's what I came up with.

1. Jesus can control the physical world, it responds to him.
   (He multiplied food and calmed a storm)

2. He is Lord over all creation

3. He expected his disciples to do the same (you feed them)

4. In similar circumstances, when they couldn’t, he rebuked them for they unbelief

5. When we can't do what he empowered us to do and expects us to do, he holds us responsible and he calls it unbelief

Examples of the Power of Unbelief

When Jesus went to his home town to preach and minister to people, he was amazed at their level of unbelief.

Mark 6:5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith (unbelief).

The Phrase "could not do" in verse 5 is the Greek word dunami, which means; "to be able to do something."

The Young's Literal Translation says, "he was not able to do any mighty work there."

"Hey Jesus, why didn’t you heal those people?" "I couldn’t, they didn’t believe.”

Ouch...

Here's another example of the power of unbelief.

Matthew 17: 14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” 17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” (speaking to his disciples) Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because of your unbelief. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

“Hey Jesus, why couldn’t we heal the boy?" "Because of your unbelief.”

Double ouch...

That kind of scenario happens over and over, people are afraid or don’t operate in the power Jesus gave them and he holds them responsible due to their unbelief.

So what do we with that?

Side note; Some translations add "this kind comes out only by prayer and fasting even though most original manuscripts do not. Some charismatic folks have interpreted that to mean prayer and fasting gains you power of stronger demons. It's dangerous to base a doctrine on a contested passage but there is also no precedent anywhere in Jesus' teaching to suggest as much. There are, however, many places where Jesus holds people responsible for not having faith or belief. Belief is simply confidence in Jesus, it's his faith working in you, it's a reliance you have in his power in you rather than something you need to get more of.

Jesus puts the responsibility on the person being prayed for when they don't receive. Jesus also puts the responsibility on his followers when they can't heal a boy. That sounds like a contradiction but the truth is, they're both matters of unbelief.

So what do we do?

Jesus starts talking about a mustard seed when addressing the issue of unbelief in Matthew 17. The disciples should have some insight already because Jesus had recently taught on the mustard seed. I'm so glad Matthew wrote these things down so we can look at Jesus' responses and build a foundation to stand on, thank you Matthew.

Matthew 13:31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” 33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

His point? It's basically the parable of the sower, plant the word in your heart and let it grow. The receptiveness of your heart to God's logic determines the yield. 

So what is the mustard seed or yeast you mix into your heart? Is it a particular passage? What is it that you pray? What is it that you are supposed to understand from the miracle of the loaves?

The answer is in this last passage we’ll read today, see if you can catch it.

Mark 8:1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

It's not a particular doctrine or formula, it's understanding the heart of Jesus toward people. Jesus is concerned for the people's well being. Read Mark 8:1-2 again. Can't you just feel the compassion oozing from Jesus toward the people? This is what we must understand from the miracle of the loaves, Jesus loves people and wants to provide for them.

He wants to provide food, he wants to provide wisdom, he wants to provide healing, he wants to provide freedom from sin, he wants to provide salvation, he wants to provide eternal life!!

Jesus simply wants the best for people, he doesn't want you struggling to feed yourself, he doesn't want you sick, he is concerned that life may become too much for you along your journey and he wants to help you.

Jesus is the bread of life and he wants to feed you, he's concerned that when you go back to live your life that you might collapse. Jesus cares for you and wants to provide for you in every way imaginable, it's just who he is!

This is what the disciples were supposed to understand from the miracle of the loaves, Jesus loves people and wants to help them. It's so simple it gets lost in our pursuit of doctrine and power. It gets lost by life's circumstances. It gets lost in the endless number of denominational differences within his body. While it should be plain and simple, Jesus cares for you and he wants to take care of you. You can have great faith in that!

I want to encourage you to watch the full sermon above for a more complete picture of God's heart toward you.