GOSPEL CORNER:WHEN JESUS HEARD THIS, HE MARVELED AND SAID TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED HIM, “TRULY, I TELL YOU, WITH NO ONE IN ISRAEL HAVE I FOUND SUCH FAITH.”MATTHEW 8:10, ESV

10/02/24

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.”
Matthew 8:10, ESV

GREAT FAITH
In today’s Scripture, a Roman officer came to Jesus and asked Him to heal his dying servant. But rather than have Jesus come to his house, the officer said, “Just speak the word, and I know my servant will be healed.” No one had ever so believed in the power and authority of Jesus to heal, and it caused Jesus to marvel. This officer wasn’t Jewish or even a follower of Christ, yet he had more faith than the disciples. Having great faith is not about being a religious scholar or how long you pray. It’s about a faith that takes the limits off God.

Let’s be people who cause God to marvel over our faith and not over our doubt. Let’s be people who dare to believe and ask bigger, who dare to do something that causes God to be amazed. Whatever level your faith is at, it’s time to step it up and believe bigger. God is doing a new thing, but it’s not going to happen with a comfortable or average faith. God is looking for great faith.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You for being the God who only needs to speak the word and miracles happen, situations turn around, and lives are changed. Help me to believe and ask bigger. I want to be one of the ones who always believes that You can do the impossible. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO

Because of the completed work of our Lord Jesus, we can dwell “in the secret place of the Most High,” having free access into the presence of our Elyon, the Most High (Ps. 91:1). We can “abide under the shadow of the Almighty,” or Shaddai.

These two Hebrew names of God—Elyon and Shaddai—in the first verse of Psalm 91 alone help to put our problems in perspective, don’t they? In and of ourselves, our present challenges may appear insurmountable.

But when we are resting in the presence of El Elyon—God Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth (Gen. 14:19)—and abiding under the shadow of El Shaddai—God Almighty, the all-sufficient One—all of a sudden, our adversities don’t seem so intimidating after all!

My prayer for you is that your perspective of God will be enlarged as you see Him and His attributes in the Scriptures and discover the power of His living Word, as Carina from North Carolina did:

My grandson, Caylen, was born three months premature, weighing 1lb 7oz. He was in the hospital for almost six months. We were told that his survival rate was low. Even if he did survive, he would have significant development delays.

At the time of his hospitalization, his mother was asked if there was a Bible verse that she wanted to be placed above her son’s incubator. She gave them Psalm 91. I don’t know if my daughter had any idea of the power of putting that psalm above his incubator. I did not realize how powerful it was until later.

Caylen had surgery for his heart and also two more for his stomach. He did well in all his surgeries, so much so that the doctor commented, “I don’t think he realizes he is supposed to be sick.”

My grandson is now six years old with no developmental delays and advanced in almost every area. Praise the Lord!

God took little Caylen into that secret place where he was safe and received healing. I saw firsthand how the world could not harm him and he is now a walking testimony of the power and love of God.

My friend, there is no doubt that there is power in the Word of God. There is healing power in the prayer of protection! I pray that you’ll also let His Word strengthen you and cause you to rest in the protection and might of our El Elyon and El Shaddai.