Faith comes from hearing and obeying the word of God.

"My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it."  (Isaiah 55: 11).

What makes the word of God so potent, so incredibly powerful? We can gain some understanding by asking:  What makes the Name of Jesus so powerful? First the Name Jesus means GOD SAVES. The Name of Jesus accomplishes what it signifies and It signifies what It accomplishes.  The Name Jesus is the power of Jesus, the person of Jesus and the presence of Jesus.

So is the word of God. It is the power of God. God is in His word. Therefore, it never fails!

"But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”  (Matthew 13: 23).

"Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls."  (James 1: 21).

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Fear God and give Him glory.

"And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna."  (Matthew 10: 28).

If Bishops fear God as they dread litigation or the IRS, what would the Church be? If priests and religious fear God as they fear traffic tickets, the Church will be growing and bearing more fruits for Jesus. The sad truth is that we all fear those who cannot and do not desire to kill the body but bark.  Why do we fear these people more than we fear the Sovereign LORD?

"Fear God!" (Revelation 14: 7).

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If they persecute Me, what do you expect?

"When the Spirit of truth comes,
he will guide you to all truth
and remind you of all I told you."  (John 16: 13;  14: 26).

What truth will the Awesome Spirit guide us to?
* The truth about Jesus, who is the Truth, the Way and Life.
*  The truth about His mission on earth, which is to found a Church, the Body of Christ, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the Pillar and Foundation of truth.

"When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.  For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."  (Matthew 10: 19-20).

Evangelization comes with Persecution.  If they persecute the Lord Jesus, what do you expect?  (Cf. John 15 : 20).  But do not be afraid.  The Holy Spirit will help you.

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Evangelization comes with persecution. But do not be afraid.

"When the Spirit of truth comes,
he will guide you to all truth
and remind you of all I told you."  (John 16: 13;  14: 26).

What truth will the Awesome Spirit guide us to?
* The truth about Jesus, who is the Truth, the Way and Life.
*  The truth about His mission on earth, which is to found a Church, the Body of Christ, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the Pillar and Foundation of truth.

"When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.  For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."  (Matthew 10: 19-20).

Evangelization comes with Persecution.  If they persecute the Lord Jesus, what do you expect?  (Cf. John 15 : 20).  But do not be afraid.  The Holy Spirit will help you.

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God sent a man before them, Joseph sold as a slave.

“I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.  But now do not be distressed, and do not be angry with yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you."  (Genesis 45: 4 - 5).

The Scripture above is one of the most beautiful text in the whole of Sacred Scripture.  Why? It teaches about the great doctrine and mystery of Divine Providence.  The Church defines Divine Providence as:

"Divine providence consists of the dispositions by which God guides all his creatures with wisdom and love to their ultimate end."  (CCC 321).

The Providential will of God appears casual and haphazard in its operations.  This makes it difficult to recognize or believe.
The ordinary providence of God constitutes 99.9% of His operations.  This is His modus operandi or simply the way God governs His world.

"You give me bread to feed me, soap to cleanse me, fire to purify me, and a chisel to shape my human form into one worthy of heaven.  You give me everything I need. What I seek elsewhere seeks me out and offers itself to me through all creation." 
(Jean-Pierre de Caussade, SJ - ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE)

Jean-Pierre de Caussade, an 18th century French Jesuit is one of the leading authorities on Divine Providence.

"O God, whose providence never fails in its design, keep from us, we humbly beseech you, all that might harm us and grant all that works for our good.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever."
(Collect Wednesday 9th week of Ordinary Time).

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The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear Him to preserve them in spite of famine.

"The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end,  and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said."  (Genesis 41: 53 - 54).
"Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians: “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”  (Genesis 41: 55).

"And one of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine all over the world, and it happened under Claudius."  (Acts 11: 28).

"He called down famine on the land
and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons."  (Psalm 105: 16 - 18).

In the above Scriptures, we look at three scenarios of famine gripping the world.  God never fails to prepare for a solution using His servant. "Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”  (Genesis 41: 55).

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The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.

Jesus healed a possessed man who was dumb. The crowds were amazed and exclaimed:
 “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”  (Matthew 9: 33).

"Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do?"  (Genesis 18: 14)
Our unbelief and doubts place limits on what God can do.

"Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!”  (Mark 9: 23 AMP).

"Then he said to his disciples, “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers.  Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.”  (Matthew 9: 37 - 38 CEB)

Abba Father, have mercy on the Church and send numerous workers into Your Vineyards.

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Know that I am always with you.

"Jacob then made this vow: “If God will be with me and protect me on this journey I am making and give me food to eat and clothes to wear,  and I come back safely to my father’s house, the Lord will be my God."  (Genesis 28: 20 - 21).

God answered Jacob:
"I am with you and will protect you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you."  (Genesis 28: 15).

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is still a faithful God.  What He says He does. Trust Him always and everywhere.

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