MIND OF CHRIST MINISTRIES, INC.
PASTOR THOMAS E. OGLESBY
P.O. BOX 85
NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY 07110
Website: mindofchristministries.net
Phone: 973-818-2750
e-mail:mindofchrist@verizon.net
August 2021
“Obedient Faith”
Dear Believer(s):
We are living in difficult and unusual times. I believe America is experiencing problems and uncertainties like never in its history. As Christians, how will we survive? I ask that you listen very carefully. As a child of God, you should not be overcome with the fear and uncertainty that is gripping our nation. Why? Because God has told us in His Word that, He will take care of His people.
King David said in Psalm 37:5-26. “I have been young and now am I old: Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful and lends; And his descendants are blessed.” I want you to know that God will take care of His people.
Isaiah 55:17 states, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” Whatever attack the enemy sends against you will not be successful.
In Isaiah 43:1-3 it states, “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel. Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name: thou art mine. When thou passesth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when though walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.” We belong to God. He loves us; He will protect and provide for us.
Let me remind you that the promises and blessings of God are for the saved or the born again. In order to receive God’s Divine protection, you must receive Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. There is no in-between. You are either a child of God or you are a child of the devil. Once you are saved, you grow into having obedient faith. Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Romans 10:17, tells us that “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ. This is why it is of utmost importance that we read the Word, hear it taught, preached, and see the power of God demonstrated.
You may or may not have heard the little chorus to the song, which says, “Faith, faith, just a little bit of faith will do.” But this is simply not true. The Bible declares, “Like begets like”. Plainly stated, little faith gets little results! How many times did Jesus say, “Oh yea of little faith” The truth is Big Faith Gets Big Results! And daring faith gets daring results! Praise God my question to you is how do you really increase your faith to get what you want from God?
Believer, every time you receive and obey the smallest step of obedience from God, you increase your faith. God is impressed and honors little steps of obedience! Let me explain, you do not just get out of bed one morning full of faith. Neither do you build or increase your faith by saying Hallelujah three times, and speaking in tongues for five minutes. You build your faith just like you build a house. One brick at a time! And, One-step at a t time! Simply doing the “little things” that you must do, day after day! Every battle you fight, win or lose, builds your faith! Every heartache you endure, every obstacle you overcome by standing tough and pressing on, builds your faith and takes you to the next level.
I do not think you are aware of the kind of faith God has placed deep within you. The Bible calls it “Mustard Seed Faith.” I believed for years, like so many others, that God was talking about the size of the “Mustard Seed.” It is true the mustard seed does start small and grows tall. But, The Holy Spirit said this is only the tip of the “Iceberg.” Jesus was never talking about the size of the seed. He was talking about the unique characteristic and reproductive powers of the mustard seed.
Allow me to explain: Most seed will only work, grow or produce under certain circumstances, like so many people’s faith! This is why corn grows good in Kansas, potatoes in Idaho, cotton in Mississippi and oranges in Florida. You take them out of their environment, and you’ve got problems. This is the way a lot of people’s faith is. It will only work at certain times, and under certain conditions. Take them out of their pew, and away from their little group, and their faith fizzles.
“Mustard-Seed-Faith: Is a different kind of faith altogether! It will work and produce anywhere you release it! It’s tough! It doesn’t need special pampering, prodding or someone’s permission! And I’m telling you now, this is the kind of faith God has breathed into you!
Let’s me say this, GOD HAS NEVER LOST A BATTLE! AND JESUS NEVER FAILS! However, He does allow us to go through “Seasons of Pain and Struggle.” He does this to teach us where our real strength lies, in Him! David fought Goliath with a slingshot, Samson fought the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, their weapons were different, but they had one thing in common, THEIR FAITH IN GOD! The same faith you have! Glory!
Your enemy will form his weapon, and fire his weapons, and you may get hit every now and then, but you will continue to “bounce back.” Praise God! What we are witnessing today across this nation is a MONSTROUS UNGODLY SPIRIT OF FEAR! Fear is the number one weapon of the enemy. This is why the Bible teaches us, “GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR!” (2Timothy 1:7) Faith and fear cannot live in the same house. When fear knocks on your door, SEND FAITH TO ANSWER, and you will find NO ONE THERE! God has not brought you through all He has, to fail you now! Oh! No! All through the Holy Bible, God has encouraged us with these Words, “FEAR NOT, I AM WITH YOU!” Starting with Isaac in Genesis 26:24. In fact in Deuteronomy 20:3 God says, “Fear not your enemies, and be not terrorized because of them.”
Never forget this! At the right time, God always comes up with a simple plan to take care of His people. In Joshua 2:18, God protected Rahab the harlot by hanging a simple “SCARLET RIBBON” out her window. Her small “Act of faith sent a message to God of her obedience. God loves obedient people! When everything and everybody around her was falling and failing, God stretched out His hand to Rahab and delivered her. You see, her faith was greater than her fear, and so is yours.
Stand on this promise: you are a child of God! GOD HAS BREATHED “UNSHAKABLE FAITH” INTO EVERY FIBER OF YOUR BEING! The kind of faith that does not turn and run at the sight of Goliath or any of your modern-day giants.
When we are obedient to God, it enables us to receive all of His blessings and promises. Being obedient to God lets Him know that we love Him and that He is first in our lives.
When we are obedient to God, we sow into His Kingdom. Obedient faith causes one to give to God. When you give to God, you are surely blessed. When you do not give, you bring a curse upon yourself. Let’s look at what it says in Malachi 3:6-10, “Descendants of Jacob, I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I never change. That’s why you haven’t been wiped out, even though you have ignored and disobeyed my laws ever since the time of your ancestors. But if your return to me. I will return to you. Yet you ask, “How can we return?” You people are robbing me, your God. And here your are, asking. “How are we robbing you?” You are robbing me of the offerings and of the ten percent that belongs to me.” That’s why your whole nation is under a curse. I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing.”
We are living in difficult times but our obedient faith and giving will ensure us that God will provide and protect us.
Let us pray: “Dear God we belong to you. Pour your Spirit of obedience into us. Let us not fear man, circumstances, or any problem that we may face. We are depending upon you in all areas of our lives. Our faith teaches us to believe and trust in You. As Children of God, we are under your Divine protection. We thank you Lord, as we pray in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!”
As the ministry moves forward in spreading the Good News of the Gospel. I ask you to pray regarding supporting us. We need your help. I am sure, when you give, God will greatly bless you.
Faithfully Yours,
Thomas Oglesby
Pastor Thomas Oglesby
