Author Archives: Mercedes Stephens

HUNGRY FOR HIS WORD

The Three Hungers

Hebrews 4:12;  Colossians 3:16; I Peter 2:2, Amos 8:11; Hebrews 5:14

While I was studying this topic.  I looked up the definition of hungry. I know we all know what it means to be and feel hungry.  We usually relate it to food.  But I decided to look it up anyway and the following definitions stood out to me. 

Hungry Definition 

  1. having a desire, craving, or need for food         Physical
  2. Eager, Avid – Strongly Motivated;  Strongly or eagerly desirous         Mental
  3. not rich or fertile: Barren.    Lacking needful or desirable elements; not fertile; poor       Spiritual 

Within those definitions it stood out to me that being hungry is Physical, Mental, and Spiritual.  The Word of God gives examples of all  three.  In I Peter 2:2 it tells that we should hunger for the word like pure milk.  It will nurture and grow us up spiritually.  After we have grown some from the milk we should move on further unto spiritual meat (Hebrews 5:14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil..

Being Hungry for the Word is Mental. Colossians 3:16 Amp says to let the Word of Christ dwell in your heart and mind, Permeating every aspect of your being.  The hunger for the Word creates a strong desire to live for the Lord in every aspect of your life.  Everything we do should reflect Jesus.  How we handle others should reflect Jesus.  

The Word is spiritual.  That should be a given.  Hebrews 4:12 talks about how the word of God is quick, powerful, sharper than any two edged sword. It penetrates our soul and spirit  and goes deep into both our joints and marrow, the most inner parts of us.  Hebrew  4:12 covers all definitions of Hungry, the physical ( two edged sword),  the Mental (quick and full of power), and spiritual (it exposes the very thoughts and intentions of the heart).  

But what I found interesting in the third definition of hungry was: Barren,  lacking needful or desirable elements: not fertile or poor.  That gave me pause. How can that be related to hunger? Then I am came across Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD , that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:”   The prophet speaks of how the people of Israel had sinned and God had pronounced his judgment on them.  They started to reap what they had sown spiritually.  They had turned away from God over and over again and punishment was now on the land. At that point they started to seek for the Word of the Lord again and couldn’t find it.  They had spiritually bankrupted themselves.  As people of God we don’t want to wait until we are spiritually empty to hunger for God’s word. We want to continue craving and strengthening ourselves in God’s Word.

 It starts with us doing the physical part: reading the word, then when it gets into our hearts and mind (mental), then flows through us into our lives (spiritual).   Let us Hunger for God’s Word and not depart from it.

Please Support My Church After Fire

Our beloved church, a pillar in the Pittsburg community for 69 years, was devastated by a fire on January 7, 2024. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but our sanctuary was destroyed. We are now faced with the monumental task of rebuilding. This church has been a place of worship, community outreach, and solace for many families over the years. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we’ve continued to serve our community, both virtually and in-person. As a small congregation, we need your help to restore our church to its former glory. Please consider donating to our cause and sharing this campaign with others. Your support will help us rebuild our edifice and continue our mission. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. https://gofund.me/9440b4f2

Hearing God’s Voice

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

John 10:27 KJV John 10:1-5, 22-30

I often have several questions that need to be answered: Who, What, When, Where, How and why.

Who hears God’s voice?

The sheep hears Jesus’ voice. They know him and he knows them. We, the saints of God are the sheep. We hear God’s voice through his Son Jesus’.

What to do once you hear God’s voice?

Once we hear God speaking to us we need to obey and follow him. Sometimes it is hard because we want to do things our own way and God’s way is not always convenient or comfortable. But his leading is always for the betterment of us. He is constantly molding and reshaping us and part of the molding and reshaping is being obedient to what he says. St. John 10: 4 says the sheep hears his voice and they follow him. The sheep follow because he is their protector and provider.

When do we hear God’s voice?

Simple, whenever we need guidance, or encouragement. God is always there exactly when we need him. He might seem quiet at times but we need to cancel the noise around us and listen for his still small voice. The devil will always try to talk loud or create distractions, but we need to put on our noise cancelling spiritual head phones and focus on what God is saying to us. Listen intently for his voice, wait on him.

Where and how do we hear God’s voice?

We hear God’s voice any many ways. Starting with his written word. When was the last time you sat down and studied your Bible. Really dug into it by yourself. I can often be guilt of just reading the verse of the day and say I read my Bible today. But did I really grab on to what God is saying. We need to really take a moment with God and really study His word. His word is a daily guide on how to live. It’s a roadmap on godly living. Psalm 119:105 says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” His word is shining a light on lives and showing us which path to take.

When we read and study our Bible we won’t be easily fooled. We can avoid false prophets and teachers. A lot of people only wait and open their bibles on Sunday and are easily led astray because they don’t know what the word says for themselves. Reading and studying His word can help us identify false teachers. Verse 5 says that they hear a strangers voice and they flee. When other voices try to speak flee from them.

We hear God through praying and fasting . Praying is having a conversation with God. We can’t expect to do all the talking and not listening, that is just a monologue. We need to wait on God to answer. I know it’s hard waiting, but God is worth the wait and His answer is always perfect. Fasting will help us focus on what God is saying.

Naturally, fasting is known to bring mental clarity and focus.

Why do we need to hear God’s voice?

We need that connection with God. We need to have communication with him to know he is real. We need that relationship with God. How are you in a relationship with no communication with him? We need to know when how to share the word with others.

What Foundation Is Your House Built Upon?

Matthew 7:13-14

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Foundation- the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.

An underlying basis or principle.

The base on which something stands. The act of founding or establishing or the state of being founded or established.

In our verses, Jesus talks about the strait gate. This strait means narrow, strict, or constricted , not s-t-r-a-i-g-h-t meaning without at bend. Jesus let us know that few people will be able to walk the strait and narrow. But if you hold onto him you will find life.

There will be many people that will walk on the broad way and head towards destruction because their foundation is not built on Jesus. The foundation is built on pleasures of this world, other people, money and things.

How do you know what foundation their house is built on? We can tell what they are built on by their actions, the fruit they bear. They might look like they are on the strait and narrow at first, but they soon start to detour off the road at every chance they get. They justify their sins instead of repenting. They constantly give excuses as to why they can’t do what’s right and constantly put other things before the matters of God. They have found the wide gate and they are headed to destruction because they refused to build their foundation on Jesus.

Now the ones that entered into the strait gate and are walking in it. Have built their foundation on Jesus. They took the time to repent, study his Word, and pray. If they sin they quickly repented and sought more of Him. They chose not waiver or allow the world to detour them. They have built a firm foundation in God and they choose to keep reinforcing that foundation with prayer, fasting, and studying His Word.

Which gate are you headed to? What foundation have you built on?

Hidden Sickness

Summary

I have an eBook for sale called “Bettering Me” on my website http://www.takingawalkwithjesus.com  or you can purchase it on Kindle at https://www.amazon.com/Bettering-Me-Mercedes-Stephens-ebook/dp/B0BT9G6KNC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20I1VIE0Q77K5&keywords=bettering+me+ebook&qid=1677210101&sprefix=bettering+me+ebook%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1 — This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tawwj/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tawwj/support

Transcription

Three weeks of Fasting

Summary

We are starting the new year off right. We are going to do three weeks of fasting. First week will be praising God, the second week will be surrender and spiritual growth, and the third week will be request. — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tawwj/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tawwj/support

Transcription

God Will Restore!

Summary

II Kings 8:1-6.  A message God gave me while I was listening to the past weeks Sunday School Lesson.  God will restore!  Be encouraged in knowing God will restore all that is yours and he will go back and give you all you should have received.

Catch me on my website www.takingawalkwithjesus.com, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updated post. Be blessed and let’s take a walk with Jesus! — This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tawwj/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tawwj/support

Transcription

Life Has Been Life’ing! Bettering Me?

Summary

I know I have been away for a while.  In the meantime you can catch me on my website www.takingawalkwithjesus.com, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updated post. Be blessed and let’s take a walk with Jesus! — This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tawwj/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tawwj/support

Transcription

Young People, Where does your power lie?

Acts 1:8 KJV

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

Acts 2:17   

‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams: ‘

Young people, Do you know where your power lies?  Do you have power? What is power? 

What is power?

One definition is possession of control, authority, or influence over others, another definition is a source or means of supplying energy.

When I think of power I immediately think of energy, PG&E, a source of energy that gives my phone and lights what it needs to work.

But what powers you? Is it the bad influences around you?  Is it the peer pressure of friends? Is it the negative impacts of life? Is it lack of self esteem or confidence? Where does your power lie, where does it come from? 

It should come from God.  All other power is a negative source. Instead of giving you energy all other sources are taking away from you, depleting you. As young people you need to give your life to God so he can be your source of power.

How do you get this power? 

The first step is to get saved. In order to get saved you need to repent from your sins and confess the Lord Jesus.  Romans 10:9 ‘that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ‘

Once you are saved and believe in Jesus, then your next step is to seek after the Holy Ghost (power from God).  Once you receive this power, this authority, this influence, source of energy from God then you can become witnesses for him.

You can walk in the confidence, the strength, and boldness of him.

Why do you need this power?

Without the power of God, it can become impossible to live for him.  So many things in life can pull you in different directions. Your friends can pressure you into doing things that you don’t want to do. Bullies can mess with you physically and mentally. Even home life can torment you.  But the power of God can give you the strength to overcome.

The Holy Ghost can give you the peace you need in your home life. He can give you authority over your bullies. The Holy Ghost gives you the influence you need to encourage your friends to make the right choices. And He can help you control your thoughts and actions. The Holy Ghost will give you the boldness you need to be a witness for Him. Once you have the peace of God in your life, you will want your friends and family to have the same peace you have.

When can you get this power? Do I have to be a certain age?

You can receive it now. It does not matter how old you are.  God can use you in your youth.

 1 Timothy 4:12  “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”  There are at least 185 Bible verses about Youth. God loves young people because you are strong, brave, and energetic. Let God use you now, don’t wait until you are too old, to do anything for him. Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;”

If you want to be saved and receive power from God, you can come to the altar so we can pray with you. If you have power and it has become weak, you can come to the altar.