08/24/2026
Pastor Foster reminded us that the enemy is not after anything that has no value. Satan understands that our faith is directly connected to our Christian life, which is why our faith is constantly under attack.
Jesus Himself demonstrated what faith looks like, and as believers, we are called to grow in our faith through our relationship with God.
In Colossians 1, Paul wrote to the believers with genuine care and encouragement. He affirmed them because their faith was growing and wanted them to know that he cared for them. This reminds us that it is our responsibility to care for the people we lead.
Paul also understood the power of unity. In Colossians 2, he spoke about the riches found in understanding. He desired for their understanding to increase because the more our knowledge of God increases, the more our faith grows.
When knowledge and spiritual understanding work together, our faith can rise above our circumstances and situations. Faith enables us to see beyond the issue. Instead of being controlled by what is happening around us, faith allows us to focus on what God has said.
We should continually pursue understanding. As our knowledge and spiritual understanding increase, our faith increases as well.
Pastor Foster also challenged us to examine the difference between reacting and responding.
Reacting:
* Is often driven by emotions.
* Is immediate.
* Focuses on the circumstances.
* Can reveal a lack of discipline.
Responding:
* Demonstrates discipline.
* Is connected to our thoughts.
* Is driven by wisdom.
* Focuses on what God says about the situation.
A faith shift happens when we stop allowing circumstances to dictate our response and begin allowing our knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and faith in God to lead us.
Don’t just react to what you see. Respond according to what God has said.
