Apostolic Faith Tabernacle, 1440 W 9 Mile Road, Ferndale, MI (2026)

06/04/2026

Devotions With David

Now Faith

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Maybe we should have done this one first to stay in chronological order, but I think it was important to understand that faith is both the channel and the means by which things are done. I understand that I am using a play on words and possibly taking this a little out of context, but there is something to be said about “now“ faith. Since we know faith is the way things are done in Spirit, the question becomes, ‘when?’. The word now speaks to timing.

This is not just a description or definition of faith. The writer is describing how faith operates. Faith lives in the now. Faith lives in the present. Hope looks forward to what God will do, but faith embraces it now. Hebrews 11 begins with “now faith“. This is not faith for some day. It is not postponed until circumstances are better. This faith is active today. It believes while waiting. It worships before the answer arrives. It obey before the path is fully revealed.

As the definition of faith is described, the writer says “now faith is”. ‘Is’ is a present tense verb. The writer doesn’t say faith will become or might be. He says faith is. The emphasis is placed on the fact that we can’t see it yet but faith guarantees it.

Faith is not uncertainty about what God might do. It is a settled confidence in what God has said he will do. There is a difference between hope and faith. Hope anticipates while faith possesses. Hope looks ahead expectedly wild faith possesses now. Hope only looks for the promise while faith embraces the one who made the promise.

This is why we have the list of those that accomplished things by faith. Noah built because God said they would be rain, not because he saw it. Abraham left to find a place he didn’t know, because God said let’s go for a walk. When Moses stood before the Red Sea, there was no visible way forward. At the word of God, he stretched forth his rod. He would have looked foolish if God had not come through. He couldn’t see it yet he did what God said.

We need a present tense faith. Yesterday‘s faith cannot sustain today’s battle. You cannot borrow tomorrow’s faith. God gives us grace for the moment. Our faith responds in the moment that we need it. Our enemy knows this. This is why he reminds you of yesterday‘s failures. He fills us with fear of what may come tomorrow. But God wants us to live in the now.

Instead of focusing on what seems to be missing or the circumstances, we are dealing with, we need to focus on the one who made the promise. While faith may look forward, it lives in the now.

Jesus tells us that when we pray to believe. This is present faith. We must believe in the present to receive what we ask for. We must do what we can do or act in faith. This is saying I won’t be able to accomplish this on my own, but I am going to put works with my faith. Remember James said, faith without works is dead because it is alone. Listen to the faith in Ephesians 3:20 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. This is now faith. God is able in the present. You can place your faith and confidence in God.

This is the amplified Bible’s translation of Hebrews 11:1.
Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

I love the way it describes faith. It is the assurance or confirmation of things divinely guaranteed. Faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses.

Today we should pray that God would increase our faith. I want more ability to see as fact what I cannot see with my natural eyes.

As you spend time with God today, ask him to increase your capacity to see things that are not, as though they were. Let’s do our best to have “now faith“.
As always, if I can do anything for you reach out to me and I will do the best I can to help.

06/03/2026

Devotions With David

By Faith

Hebrews 11:4 (KJV)
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

By faith is the basis, reason or cause of something. Yesterday we talked about through faith. These two propositions are closely related. Through is the conduit by which it flows and by is the means by which it happens. Hebrews 11 uses the phrase by faith 16 times.

Every time this phrases used, it gives an action of the individual. Here is a compiled list I found.
The chapter reveals that by faith people:
Worshipped (Abel)
Walked with God (Enoch)
Worked (Noah)
Went (Abraham)
Waited (Sarah)
Worshipped again (Jacob)
Witnessed (Joseph)
Withstood (Moses’ parents)
Walked away from the world (Moses)
Passed through obstacles (Israel)
Won victories (Jericho, Gideon, David)
Withstood suffering (the martyrs)

It is an interesting pattern of 12 things that we can still do today.
By Faith We Worship�By Faith We Walk�By Faith We Work�By Faith We Go�By Faith We Wait�By Faith We Witness�By Faith We Withstand�By Faith We Win
Faith is not merely agreement with God, but it is action based upon God’s word. In each one of these “by faith” statements, there was an action that followed. Faith was made visible by their obedience.
True faith always moves. This is why James would say, I will show you my faith by my works. Faith is not faith if we demand certainty before we obey. In scripture, the pattern is God speaks, faith believes and obedience follows. Understanding often comes later. Let me remind you that Noah built an ark before it rained. Abraham left home not knowing the destination. Gideon fought when it seemed that God had all but taken away the means of victory. In each case, faith moved before circumstances confirmed God’s promise. That is the very nature of living by faith.
Romans 1:17 tells us “the just shall live by faith”. Faith is not just the doorway into the Christian life. It is also the pathway by which we live. We pray by faith. We worship by faith. We give by faith. We endure our trials by faith. We continue when answers seem delayed or seem not existent.
Remember, faith does not require seeing everything. It requires trusting the one who sees everything and is directing us.
This Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11 were not people with extraordinary abilities. They were not commended for their ability, but because they trusted God. They didn’t trust in themselves they trusted in God‘s faithfulness. When we obey, we are declaring “God is trustworthy“.
So let me ask, are you truly living by faith? Is there things in your life that God has spoken that require obedience? Have you delayed that obedience trying to understand? Don’t wait for visible proof before you act on what God has told you. Visible proof will not come until you are obedient. Don’t delay. Act immediately. Your faith produces action or it is just an idea.
Hebrews 11 is incredible, but get out your concordance and do a “by faith“ study. Paul uses this phrase in his epistles repeatedly and James requires action to show faith. Don’t let your faith be just an idea. Put it into action when God speaks. Who knows what God might do through you because of your faith.
Let me leave you with this. You don’t always see the way your faith is going to affect the world. Abraham had eight sons before he died. Genesis 25:1-2 list the six lesser known sons. Each of them became a nation, but Abraham didn’t see that. You may not see the full completion of the promise. Continue to live by faith. God will see that the promise is fulfilled. As always if I can do anything for you reach out to me and I will do the best I can to help.

06/02/2026

Devotions With David

Through Faith

Hebrews 11:3 (KJV)
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Over the next few days, it may seem like I am splitting hairs. We will be looking at the different prepositions that are used in correlation with faith in the Bible. As you study through this subject with me, you will notice that sometimes the prepositions we are using our interchangeable or at least in the English language they seem interchangeable. Today we will explore the preposition ‘through’.

Through means the way something is accomplished or the way to get there. It signifies that faith is the channel, pathway, or mechanism through which something (such as grace, salvation, or understanding) is received or accomplished. Faith becomes the conduit or the medium by which something is carried out.

Hebrews 11 starts with the definition of faith and then here in verse 3 it tells us through faith we understand. We have to realize that faith is not only how we begin with God, but it is how we perceive, receive and continue with him. Faith is the channel or medium, by which spiritual understanding enters our heart. While the world depends entirely upon what can be seen, measured and explained, faith reaches beyond the visible into the reality of what God says.

This verse tells us through faith we understand that the world were framed by the word of God. In other words, everything visible originated from the command of God. Faith understands that before there was light, land, stars, or life, there was the voice of God speaking. Faith is the channel by which we understand that God works before we see results. God creates things from what looks empty to us. God’s word is more permanent than visible circumstances.

This theme of “through faith” is seen throughout scripture. Ephesians 2:8 tells us “for by grace are you saved through faith…” God‘s gift is grace, but faith is the channel by which that gift is received. You will never earn salvation through effort, achievement, or being a good person. You receive it through faith or by trusting in Christ.

In Galatians 3:14, Paul says “that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith”. The only way to access the promise of the Spirit is through faith. We must trust that God wants to give us good gifts.

1 Peter 1:5 tells us that we are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation”. This means that faith is not only how we start the journey, but it’s how we continue. God keeps his people through faith. Faith holds onto God’s power in the midst of trials, uncertainty and spiritual warfare. It is through faith that we are going to overcome.

At the end of Hebrews 11 beginning at verse 33 there is a list of things that begins with “who through faith, subdued, kingdoms, righteousness, obtained promises…“ This list continues for 6 verses. It is showing us that faith is not passive belief, but that faith is the means by which people overcame impossible odds, endure unspeakable suffering, and saw God fulfill his promises. I think we could say faith changes everything.

It is through faith that we understand, receive, endure, overcome and stand in this world. We are told “Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see”. Faith tells us to trust God’s word, even before we see it come to pass.

Remember the verse we started with: through faith, we understand that the world were framed by the word of God. Let faith remind you today that God still speaks and still creates.

When we understand that it’s through faith that God operates, we can believe for the impossible. Is there an unseen work that you need to believe God is doing right now? Are you relying more on what you see than what the word of God says? Let faith be the channel by which you receive the things God wants to do for you. Remember faith is the evidence of things not seen. God will work in your life through faith. Trust him to do the best for you. As always, if I could do anything for you reach out to me and I will do the best I can to help.

06/01/2026

Devotions With David

Without Faith

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
6 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.

This month we will be talking about faith. Faith is foundational to our Christian walk. This verse tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith. This means that all of our good intentions, religious activity, and even our outward morality is useless in pleasing God, without faith. Faith has to exist before obedience can truly flourish. Without faith worship is meaningless or non existent. Prayer is coupled with faith when we reached toward God.

Faith does not just believe the facts about God. James tells us the devil believes and trembles. The kind of faith we are talking about is trust in the character, word and promises of God. It is the decision to lean upon him, even when circumstances are uncertain and seem impossible. Faith tells us God is true when our feelings change. He is faithful even when answers are delayed. God is working when I can’t see it, and he deserves my obedience before I understand everything.

There are two things we are told about faith in this verse: we must believe that God is, and believe that he rewards those who diligently seek him. These two things pertain to our thoughts and our actions. We have talked briefly about believing. Don’t allow your faith to simply believe the facts about God. Put your trust and confidence in what the scriptures say about God. Not just that he exists, but that he is active in our world today. Faith believes that God is present, he will respond and seeking him is never wasted.

The second thing is faith requires diligently seeking him. This speaks to action. Too many times we want the results of faith without the action faith requires. Faith requires surrender. If we want peace, we have to trust. If we want God‘s promises, we must be obedient. Faith requires placing confidence in God above the evidence we see. Diligently seeking him believes that the pursuit of God is not empty or pointless. It expects God to respond to sincere seeking. Diligently is not half hearted. It is all in until you get what you are seeking for.I heard someone say “if God fails you, it will be the first time he has ever failed someone”. That is powerful when you think about it. Our job is to trust and follow in faith, diligently.

Faith looks like:
praying when you do not yet see answers,
obeying Scripture when culture disagrees,
continuing in holiness when it is difficult,
trusting God’s promises during uncertainty,
seeking God because you believe He is worth seeking.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to please God. The question then becomes if I have to have faith to please Him, how do I get it? We don’t have space to do a deep dive, but here are five things to help.

Hear God’s Word
Believe God’s character
Seek God consistently
Obey immediately
Continue through delay

Remember, Faith caused Noah to build an ark before it rained. Abraham left his family and homeland trusting God for direction. Rahab dropped a cord out a window, trusting a people she didn’t know to save her life. The stories in Hebrews 11 reveal action before complete revelation. You don’t have to see the complete picture to act in faith. Isn’t that what faith is? Acting before we know the end.

Here is something that can help you gauge your faith. When God speaks, through scripture or conviction, how do you respond? Do you delay and try to make it make sense or do you simply respond because you trust him? This will help you see where your faith is at. The more I trust him, the quicker I can respond.

Begin practicing your faith today. There may be an area that God is asking you to move into that seems scary or uncertain. Take the risk. Diligently seek him, knowing that he will reward you because of it. Let’s please God through our faith. Faith is revealed by action. As always if I can do anything for you reach out to me and I will do the best I can to help.

05/31/2026

Devotions With David

A Living Temple

1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV)
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Paul asked this question at least twice in this letter. He is reminding us that we are a living of God. He asks the question again at the end of chapter 6. He adds: 20 (KJV) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

We know we are in the temple of the Holy Ghost, but we don’t always act like we are owned by God. In studying for this devotion, I came across the distinction between temple and house. Temples were treated with reverence. They were guarded, cleansed, and dedicated to holy purposes. There were things that were not allowed in the temples of scripture. I will let you do the research, but the temple was a holy place reserved for religious service. Only certain sacrifices were supposed to be offered. The further in to the temple you went, the more restrictions applied. To the point that the high priest was the only one allowed in the holiest of Holies or the most sacred place in the temple. Are we dwelling in that most secret place?

Even the holiest of Holies became common place, it seems. We find the Ark of the covenant being taken to a battlefield (1 Samuel 4). The Ark was captured by the Philistines during this battle. Since Jesus opened the veil when he died on Calvary, we became the living temple of God. I’m afraid at times we are like the Israelite, and we have become too frivolous with our temple. We must remember that as a living temple, we don’t merely go to religious gatherings. His Spirit dwells in us. Our goal should not be an external performance, but a continual transformation by the Spirit.

Here are six things to help us as a living temple of God. As a living temple, we should:

Walking holiness. Holiness in it’s simplest definition is being set apart for God. It is not merely outward appearance. It is also inward consecration. A living temple guards what flows in and out of the heart. As you walk separated unto God, reject sinful habits. We can do this by pursuing purity in thought and conduct. We should be honest with our ourselves and God. When we are convicted, we should repent quickly. This helps maintain our relationship with the one who owns us.

Be filled with worship. The temple was a place of continual worship. That’s where they went to worship God. Hebrews 13:15 tells us we should offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. Our worship should not be confined to a church service. Our worship should include gratitude, obedience, prayer, and surrender to God. That means we should pray consistently, meditate on scripture, have a thankful spirit and worship, not only in public, but also in private. Live a life of worship.

Reflect Christ’s character. This means God’s presence should shape our behavior. As a living temple, we should reflect the character of Christ through humility, patience, mercy, and love. We should speak graciously, forgive quickly, serve instead of seeking recognition and respond with gentleness rather than anger. I am working on it, but in the words of the old song, “I’ve got a long way to go to be like the Lord“. That doesn’t mean I stopped working on it. I do my best every day to live like Jesus.

Guard unity with believers. Scripture describes the church in several ways, but one of them is the collective temple of God. Since we are built together, according to Ephesians 2:22, we should guard against division, bitterness, and strife. I’m sure you can think of others but these all do damage to what God is building. In order to guard unity we should refuse gossip and unnecessary conflict. Seek reconciliation not annihilation. Encourage fellow believers and value what we have in the body of Christ.

Be led by the Spirit. Romans 8:14 says as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. As a living temple, owned by God, we should be sensitive to his direction through the Holy Spirit. We should be sensitive to conviction and repent quickly. To be lead by the Spirit means to seek God’s wisdom in every decision. We should pause before acting impulsively. Obey the prompting of the Spirit to work, prayer, kindness, or repentance. This will help us stay spiritually attentive to where God is leading to us.

Glorify God with your life. Not just part of it but all of it. 1 Corinthians 6:20 tells us to glorify God in our body and spirit. We are good at compartmentalizing, but you can’t compartmentalize being a living temple. Remember you belong to God in every area. We should use our time wisely, honor God in our relationships, and glorify God with our whole life.

I will leave you with this question: Does my life reflect the one who dwells within me? As always, if I can do anything for you reach out to me and I will do the best I can to help.

05/30/2026

Join us tomorrow for service at 10am and then lunch club following service at Culver’s.

05/30/2026

Devotions With David

God Working In Us

Philippians 2:13 (KJV)
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

We should be encouraged to know that God works in us. Spiritual growth is not accomplished by our effort alone, but it is the Spirit that works in us. It changes our desires, strengthens our weaknesses, convict, our hearts, and shapes us into the image of Christ. This verse says it is God that works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Holman Christian Standard Bible translate this verse “For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.”

Without God working in you, your desires will remain fleshly desires. We would not want to please God without his Spirit working in. We must allow him to work in us. I come back to this again today because it’s important. We must allow God to do the work in our lives. The things that we desire are shaped by God. This is why Jesus would say, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things would be added to us.

Our desires change. We began to desire the things of God. If we ask God to fulfill our flesh desires, we might ask things that are not in his will. Sometimes I get myself in the situation that I have to get myself out of. I can do this by allowing the spirit to work in me.

The Spirit works:
In conviction when we drift from truth
In comfort during suffering
In strength when we feel weak
In wisdom when we lack direction
In transformation as old habits lose their grip
In producing Christlike character

I know this is going to sound simple, but we have to allow God to do these things for us. When conviction comes, we need to move toward truth. Don’t get stuck in suffering to the point that God cannot comfort you. Remember, he is the God of all comfort. The Lord told Paul that his strength was made perfect in weakness. It might be that you feel weak so you will allow the Spirit to work through you. James told us if any of us lack wisdom that we should ask of God and he would give it liberally. The Spirit working in us changes our old habits into new ones. The ultimate goal is Christlike character in our life.

You may be asking, how do I let the Spirit work? Let me give you seven things to help you.

Intentionally yield your will, daily. This means choosing God’s will over my personal preference. Obey quickly when conviction comes and release areas to God that would rather remain hidden. When God prompt you to change and you consistently delay or try to negotiate, you are negating the Spirit’s work in your life. Be intentional about yielding your will to him.

Be sensitive to conviction. Respond quickly in repentance when you feel conviction. Don’t try to justify what God is correcting in your life. Don’t normalize what scripture calls sin. When we ignore conviction repeatedly, it will dull our spiritual sensitivity. When we respond to conviction through obedience, our spiritual sensitivity is sharpened. Be quick to respond to God’s conviction.

Fill your mind with God‘s Word. David said “thy word have I had in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” The more you hide his Word in your heart, the clear his guidance becomes. It’s easier to discern his voice when we read what he says. The more scripture you take in the more you will be resistant to deception. Remember the Spirit will never lead you contrary to the Word.

Remove known resistance. If you want the Spirit to work in you, you have to remove hidden sins. Are you hiding bitterness or unforgiveness? Do you continually compromise on things that God is asking you to stay strong on? Pray the prayer that David prayed, “search me and know my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me“. Don’t be surprised when God reveals things that you need to take care of. Do it quickly.

Consistent prayer. Prayer is not just asking, it is lining our will with God‘s will. When we are consistent, our heart is responsive to him. We strengthen our dependence on God instead of self-reliance. When you pray it built awareness of God‘s presence. Prayer lets us know who God is, and that lets him work in our lives.

Obey what you already know. What has God revealed to you that you are not doing? I am always amazed that we know what to do but don’t do it. we know what the word says about forgiveness, repentance, and making something right. Obey quickly. Delay is not confusion. It is our flesh being resistant to the Spirit.

Expect transformation over time not an instant override. God changes our desires. Remember Holman’s translation. He strengthens obedience. That’s the “to do” part. Let your faith be active.

Our challenge today is to let the Spirit work in us. Use these seven things and let God change you steadily into what he wants you to become. As always, if I can do anything for you reach out to me and I will do the best I can to help.

05/29/2026

Devotions With David

Sealed By The Spirit

Ephesians 4:30 (KJV)
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

In scripture, a seal represents ownership, authenticity, security and authority. A seal declares “this belongs to someone“. Letters sealed with wax and a signet ring to prove they were authentic. To seal something was an intentional act. It is more than a metaphor that Paul used.

Paul tells us in the first chapter of Ephesians, and also here in the fourth chapter that we are “sealed“ by the Holy Spirit. This is important because the Spirit is not just influencing us, it is marking us as his own. The abiding presence of God testifies that we belong to him. Let’s look at the four things that a seal represented.

Ownership
We have discussed this before, but when God fills you with his Spirit, you are his. He is claiming you as his own. We are no longer under the bo***ge of sin, fear, or the world system. Paul would write in Romans 8:16 “the Spirit itself bear the witness with our spirit that we are the children of God”. Paul reminds us that we are bought with the price in 1 Corinthians 6:20 and again in 1 Corinthians 7:23. He tells us to glorify God in our body and spirit which are God’s, and to not be servants of men, but of God. The question is: Are we living like we are owned by God? He has sealed you with his presence so live like it.

Authenticity
The spirit produces Christ-likeness in us. We should bear evidence of God’s work in our life. The proof should be Christlike character, conviction, love, holiness, and spiritual fruit. The thing that makes us authentic is that we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. It should be said of us like it was said of the apostles, that we have been with Jesus. Are you living out authentic Christianity? You will live differently because you have been sealed by his Spirit.

Security
In both ancient times and today a sealed object was protected from tampering. You can tell when something has been tampered with. There are products today that have the warning label “Don’t use if the seal has been broken”. This is the same picture Paul is using. You have been sealed. God keeps what belongs to him safe. This doesn’t mean that temptation won’t arise or that trials never come. Sometimes it seems that they are worse when we are sealed by the Spirit. The promise is that God will finish what he started. Paul tells us in Philippians 1:6 that we can be confident that he who begun a good work in us, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

It needs to be said that the Spirit’s seal does not produce careless living. It produces faithful living. When we are sealed, we belong to God. We should desire to walk in a manner that honors him. That’s why Paul warns us to not grieve the Spirit. The last two verses of this chapter tell us how to live so we do not grieve the Spirit. Ephesians 4:31-32 (KJV) 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
If you’re dealing with bitterness, and you’re speaking evil of others, you need to put that away so you don’t grieve the Holy Spirit. Ask yourself: Am I grieving him by the way I am living? If there’s any question then do your best to change.

Authority
The seal gave authority. When a letter was sealed by a king it carried the weight of the kingdom he ruled. When we are sealed by the Spirit, we are given his authority. In Luke 10, the 70 returned and declare “even the devils are subject to us in your name”. Jesus gave us access to his authority. When we live in relationship with him, we live in his authority. There may be some things in your life that you need to take authority over. Authority, does you no good if you don’t use it. Let me give you a word of caution. God is not going to let you abuse his authority. He will see to it that his name is glorified. Use his authority correctly. Use his Word to take Dominion over temptation. Use the power he gave you over the enemy.

If you have received his Spirit, you have been sealed by him. This represents ownership, authenticity, security, and authority. We belong to him. You are not abandoned, forgotten, or unclaimed. You are sealed by his Spirit. Don’t let anyone or anything tell you otherwise. The last thing Paul said in verse 30 was “we are sealed unto the day of redemption“. He’s going to finish the work he started in you. Live like you have been sealed. As always, if I can do anything for you reach out to me and I will do the best I can to help.

Apostolic Faith Tabernacle

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