Hebrews 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
The miracle power of God is real. The promises that God makes are true. The difficulty of application for us is discerning God's timing. When we are believing God for something we tend to place an urgency on it that makes us impatient. God is not in a hurry. God is not going to be hurried by us. He knows what He wants to do. He knows when He wants to do it. He is faithful and will fulfill His promises, but He is not impressed by our tantrums. Sara considered God faithful and yet she still had to wait. The Lord kept the promise that was made but there was a twentyfive year gap between promise and realization. We will enjoy what God has promised, but we need to learn whatever lessons He is teaching in the meantime. There is no need to be miserable while we wait. There is no need to compound the situation we may be in further by moving ahead of God. We will wait as long as it takes anyway. We might as well grow in grace while we are waiting. Work it out!
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Faith and God's Promise
Hebrews 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Abraham moved all around in the land of promise like he was a stranger in a foreign country. He dwelt in tents which demonstrated his nomadic existence. We can be in possession of a promise from God, enjoying the promise of God and it can still seem strange to us. We can hold blessings in our lives and not even be aware of what we hold. The promises of God are so far above and beyond the flow of this natural world order that we must be spiritually senstive to understand what we have. The other thing that strikes me in this verse is the tent dwelling life. We don't like change and movement very much which is why it's so hard for most of us to live by faith. We can get so comfortable with what was, that we can totally miss what can be. Faith and movement go hand in hand. We must be careful not to get stuck in somethimng that's over. When we can fold up our tents and move to whatever is next we are following the example of Abraham, our faith father. Work it out!
Abraham moved all around in the land of promise like he was a stranger in a foreign country. He dwelt in tents which demonstrated his nomadic existence. We can be in possession of a promise from God, enjoying the promise of God and it can still seem strange to us. We can hold blessings in our lives and not even be aware of what we hold. The promises of God are so far above and beyond the flow of this natural world order that we must be spiritually senstive to understand what we have. The other thing that strikes me in this verse is the tent dwelling life. We don't like change and movement very much which is why it's so hard for most of us to live by faith. We can get so comfortable with what was, that we can totally miss what can be. Faith and movement go hand in hand. We must be careful not to get stuck in somethimng that's over. When we can fold up our tents and move to whatever is next we are following the example of Abraham, our faith father. Work it out!
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Following by Faith
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he went.
Abraham went out not knowing where he went. He did that by faith. We have already seen how faith must have some type of direction from God. Abraham heard the call. When direction has been received something must be done. Abraham got up from where he was. He followed God even though he didn't know where he was going. Not knowing is an element that is very basic to faith. Nevertheless, it is still the element that challenges us the most. We like to know, or at least have a pretty good idea, of what the outcome will be. We want to predict the consequences of our obedience before we even take a step. Well, God wants us to learn how to trust Him with the consequences. When He directs we can move even when we don't know how things will work. He wants us to have such a firm believe in His character that we can move out when we don't understand His plan. This is not easy, but we miss a great deal of God's glory when we are determined to be safe all the time. The faith adventure was not just for Abraham. We are being summoned to walk with God by faith without having all the details too. Work it out!
Abraham went out not knowing where he went. He did that by faith. We have already seen how faith must have some type of direction from God. Abraham heard the call. When direction has been received something must be done. Abraham got up from where he was. He followed God even though he didn't know where he was going. Not knowing is an element that is very basic to faith. Nevertheless, it is still the element that challenges us the most. We like to know, or at least have a pretty good idea, of what the outcome will be. We want to predict the consequences of our obedience before we even take a step. Well, God wants us to learn how to trust Him with the consequences. When He directs we can move even when we don't know how things will work. He wants us to have such a firm believe in His character that we can move out when we don't understand His plan. This is not easy, but we miss a great deal of God's glory when we are determined to be safe all the time. The faith adventure was not just for Abraham. We are being summoned to walk with God by faith without having all the details too. Work it out!
Monday, June 16, 2014
Faith that Hears
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he went.
The first thing this text tells us is that Abraham heard the call of God. Faith is looking for direction from God. Faith hears when God speaks that direction into our lives. The call of God is for every man, woman, boy and girl to be saved from sin. It takes faith in the work of Christ on the cross to see that call fulfilled. The call of God is for us to follow Christ as faithful disciples. We are not here on earth to see how much stuff we can gather. We are here to do the will of God. Our faith when accurately applied prioritizes obedience to the word of God and the Spirit of Christ. When we stop learning from Christ and following the leadership of Christ we have also stopped walking in true faith. The danger in allot of these modern faith notions is they push what we want over and above what God wants. We are called by God for a purpose that He has chosen. Our faith walk is designed to have His purpose realized through us. Any other brands of faith no matter how pragmatic or attractive are outside of proper, Biblical boundaries. Hear God's call and walk by faith. Work it out!
The first thing this text tells us is that Abraham heard the call of God. Faith is looking for direction from God. Faith hears when God speaks that direction into our lives. The call of God is for every man, woman, boy and girl to be saved from sin. It takes faith in the work of Christ on the cross to see that call fulfilled. The call of God is for us to follow Christ as faithful disciples. We are not here on earth to see how much stuff we can gather. We are here to do the will of God. Our faith when accurately applied prioritizes obedience to the word of God and the Spirit of Christ. When we stop learning from Christ and following the leadership of Christ we have also stopped walking in true faith. The danger in allot of these modern faith notions is they push what we want over and above what God wants. We are called by God for a purpose that He has chosen. Our faith walk is designed to have His purpose realized through us. Any other brands of faith no matter how pragmatic or attractive are outside of proper, Biblical boundaries. Hear God's call and walk by faith. Work it out!
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Faith and Action
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Today let's focus on the phrase Noah "prepared an ark to the saving of his house;" After receiving God's message and adopting an attitude of reverence, Noah did something that many people don't do. He acted on the message. He obeyed the word he received. He verified his faith as genuine with the works that followed. How can we ever know that God will open up the windows of heaven and pour out blessings if we don't bring Him the tenth? How can we depend on seeing God's guaranteed provision of food and clothing if we do not seek first the kingdom of God? How can we know eternal life is real if we don't embrace Christ The Son? The message that comes from God is not given to inform and entertain us. The message requires an obedient response. Noah received a word to build a ship. He built it and his household was saved. We receive results from God when we act on the word of God. Work it out!
Today let's focus on the phrase Noah "prepared an ark to the saving of his house;" After receiving God's message and adopting an attitude of reverence, Noah did something that many people don't do. He acted on the message. He obeyed the word he received. He verified his faith as genuine with the works that followed. How can we ever know that God will open up the windows of heaven and pour out blessings if we don't bring Him the tenth? How can we depend on seeing God's guaranteed provision of food and clothing if we do not seek first the kingdom of God? How can we know eternal life is real if we don't embrace Christ The Son? The message that comes from God is not given to inform and entertain us. The message requires an obedient response. Noah received a word to build a ship. He built it and his household was saved. We receive results from God when we act on the word of God. Work it out!
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Faith and Reverence
Hebrews 11:7 "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house;"
Noah followed the direction of God by his faith. Noah also acted upon the direction of God with an attitude of reverence. He moved with fear. He operated in holy fear. He did his work with a sense of awe. He knew the God directing him is altogether awesome. Reverence seems to be greatly lacking in our times. We hear so much about what faith can do that we end up hearing very little about what faith should do. Our faith, when properly adjusted to who God is, should be saturated with reverence. The ways of our Lord are still high enough to blow our minds and we should never forget it. The person and work of Christ are more significant than any individual and their accomplishments could ever be. God's power is not just to be appreciated and valued for what it can do for us, we reverence Him and what He has done and can do all around us. May we never forget that the One we are in relationship with is greater than all. He is an awesome God. He is not ust to be adored. He is to be reverently feared. Work it out!
Noah followed the direction of God by his faith. Noah also acted upon the direction of God with an attitude of reverence. He moved with fear. He operated in holy fear. He did his work with a sense of awe. He knew the God directing him is altogether awesome. Reverence seems to be greatly lacking in our times. We hear so much about what faith can do that we end up hearing very little about what faith should do. Our faith, when properly adjusted to who God is, should be saturated with reverence. The ways of our Lord are still high enough to blow our minds and we should never forget it. The person and work of Christ are more significant than any individual and their accomplishments could ever be. God's power is not just to be appreciated and valued for what it can do for us, we reverence Him and what He has done and can do all around us. May we never forget that the One we are in relationship with is greater than all. He is an awesome God. He is not ust to be adored. He is to be reverently feared. Work it out!
Monday, June 9, 2014
Warned by Faith
Hebrews 11:7 "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear..."
Noah was an amazing individual that provides for us an interesting twist on faith. By faith Noah was blessed with the benefits of God's warning. With hindsight, we know what Noah and his family were preserved from. In the days of the warning he knew none of the things from the story that we know. He didn't know what a boat was but he built a great boat. He didn't klnow what a flood was but he was saved from a severe flood. He didn't know what rain was but he built shelter from the rain. He did all of that because by faith he received the message that God spoke to him. The warning that God gave Noah was in response to all the wickedness that was in the earth. Do we know how to receive a warning from God by faith? Are we so comfort and blessing oriented that we are dull concerning the warnings that can help us just as much? Do we recognize that God is still angry at sin everyday? Words of warning from God are just as essential to our well being as words of comfort. In these dangerous times of ever increasing wickedness we had better open our spiritual ears. God does still warn those that have the faith to hear Him. Work it out!
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Friday, June 6, 2014
God Still Does It
(Hebrews 11:3 AMP) By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.
All of the things we now view around us came from a place that is immaterial. Not only that, the ages are programmed to unfold according to God's intented purpose. This great God of ours has commanded something to come out of nothing. We enjoy what He has called into existence everyday. He has also set things in orderly patterns so that what happens fits into His purpose. It is way beyond us to understand how evil, free will, and unbelief can be calculated into the purpose of God. In ways that only He completely understands He makes it all work together. Although He doesn't cause everything He is big enough and great enough to use everything that happens for His glory and our good. Even better news for us is our faith in God can still cause visible help to come from invisible places. Our faith in God can still introduce order into chaotic environments. We cannot sit around and continually watch things that need to be changed as if we are impotent. We are citizens of the kingdom of God. We must believe that his kingdom is to come and His will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven. The things we do not see are the things we need to believe God for. The chaotic scene that threatens our peace is the very setting we must by faith introduce order into. God still does what nees to be done. The question is can we believe He is able to do it in our everyday situations. Work it out!
All of the things we now view around us came from a place that is immaterial. Not only that, the ages are programmed to unfold according to God's intented purpose. This great God of ours has commanded something to come out of nothing. We enjoy what He has called into existence everyday. He has also set things in orderly patterns so that what happens fits into His purpose. It is way beyond us to understand how evil, free will, and unbelief can be calculated into the purpose of God. In ways that only He completely understands He makes it all work together. Although He doesn't cause everything He is big enough and great enough to use everything that happens for His glory and our good. Even better news for us is our faith in God can still cause visible help to come from invisible places. Our faith in God can still introduce order into chaotic environments. We cannot sit around and continually watch things that need to be changed as if we are impotent. We are citizens of the kingdom of God. We must believe that his kingdom is to come and His will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven. The things we do not see are the things we need to believe God for. The chaotic scene that threatens our peace is the very setting we must by faith introduce order into. God still does what nees to be done. The question is can we believe He is able to do it in our everyday situations. Work it out!
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Pleasing God by Faith
(Hebrews 11:5-6 MSG) By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. They looked all over and couldn't find him. We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken he pleased God. It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
Some of the faith topics I have been explaining are not nearly as glamorous as much of what we hear about faith in our times. These topics may not be as flashy but they are basic and essential to mature spiritual living. Our self centered nature has thrown us off course in many ways. We have forgotten that the primary reason we exist is to glorify God. So much faith is exercised in order for our lives to be more pleasing to us. We need to take a serious look at how much emphasis we actually place on pleasing the only one that really matters. The Lord of heaven and earth is the one who is to be pleased. Every word of our speech should be pleasing to the Master. The literal steps of our daily walk should be taken with pleasing God in mind. The things we allow to enter our bodies should be ingested with the pleasure of our heavenly Father as the goal. It is not the spectacular event but the ordinary everyday expressions of life that defines our faith. Utilizing faith with the focal point of pleasing God in all we do will keep us on target. Work it out!
Some of the faith topics I have been explaining are not nearly as glamorous as much of what we hear about faith in our times. These topics may not be as flashy but they are basic and essential to mature spiritual living. Our self centered nature has thrown us off course in many ways. We have forgotten that the primary reason we exist is to glorify God. So much faith is exercised in order for our lives to be more pleasing to us. We need to take a serious look at how much emphasis we actually place on pleasing the only one that really matters. The Lord of heaven and earth is the one who is to be pleased. Every word of our speech should be pleasing to the Master. The literal steps of our daily walk should be taken with pleasing God in mind. The things we allow to enter our bodies should be ingested with the pleasure of our heavenly Father as the goal. It is not the spectacular event but the ordinary everyday expressions of life that defines our faith. Utilizing faith with the focal point of pleasing God in all we do will keep us on target. Work it out!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Our Best by Faith
God is going to be generous to us anyway; Isn't it time for us to refocus our attention on bringing Him the best we have to offer. We have been given an example in Hebrews 11:4 MSG. "By an act of faith Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain…" Abel went to the best group of lambs and then took from them the best lamb of the bunch. He gave God the very best he could offer Him. Instead of us whining to God about all the things we want, we should concentrate on giving Him the best of ourselves. We know Him to be wiser, greater, more generous than anyone we could ever come in contact with. It doesn't take faith in our faith to get something from Him. We don't have to get all the faith formulas down just right to impress God. Good and giving is just who He is. Our focus needs to be more about giving God what He wants. He is worthy of the best of our time, the best of our talent, the best of our resources, the best of our energy. It is improper for us in light of the absolute supremacy of God to always be thinking about ourselves. We worship Him. We commune with Him. We have already been blessed beyond measure just to be in relationship with Him. Let's start today with a change of focus from us to Him. We will find that He is big enough, strong enough, and loving enough to give us all we need. Work it out!
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Faith as Substance and Evidence
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
We have come to know that faith
is a substantial thing. This knowledge is not academic in nature. There is a subjective,
mysterious side to faith that is more than the things we study. The description
of faith as substance and evidence is important. Faith is tangible enough that there is
a real influence inside of us that occurs. Faith has an essence that helps us
to discern when it is there and strong, or when it is not there and weak. God’s
grace is always flowing with favor and supply to meet our every need. We tap
into that supply by our faith. We never force God to do anything. He wouldn’t
be much of a God if we could. What we do is put ourselves in position to
receive what He already wants to give by using our faith. When faith is as it
should be, it becomes the evidence of the answer. Faith assures us that what we
believe God for is sure even though we don’t see any physical signs of where or
how the answer will come. We must be encouraged enough to know that God will supply
what we need. We just silence the voices of doubt, discouragement, and fear by
actively spending time in God’s word and in His presence. It is useless for us
to try to trick God or others by what we claim to believe. Faith is a real
thing not an imaginary deceptive tool. When we really believe God for something
we know it. Work it out!
Monday, June 2, 2014
Visible from the Invisible
" By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen (Hebrews 11:3 NLT)." It's hard to look at all the beauty of God's creation and not be inspired. Bright blue skies, fresh leaves on soaring trees, flowers bursting into full bloom with amazing colors, birds and squirrels scampering about, what a mighty God we serve. We need to remind ourselves in times of frustration that all we now see came from the dimension of the unseen. If God is great enough and loving enough to speak this universe into existence for our enjoyment, how much more will He help us to work through our personal situations. We don't have to see victory yet to know victory is ours. Everything came from nothing and if God can create the sun from nothing, He can create whatever we need that has yet to appear. We must familiarize ourselves with God's will. We need to grasp and embrace God's promises. Our greatest struggle is with our unbelief not with people or things. Work it out!
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