THE DISTANCE TO BE TRAVELED




1 John 5:4 (NKJV) FOR WHATEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMES THE WORLD. AND THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD; OUR FAITH.


Col 1:21-23 (NIV) “ONCE YOU WERE ALIENATED FROM GOD AND WERE ENEMIES IN YOUR MINDS BECAUSE OF YOUR EVIL BEHAVIOR. 22 BUT NOW HE HAS RECONCILED YOU BY CHRIST'S PHYSICAL BODY THROUGH DEATH TO PRESENT YOU HOLY IN HIS SIGHT, WITHOUT BLEMISH AND FREE FROM ACCUSATION-- 23 IF YOU CONTINUE IN YOUR FAITH, ESTABLISHED AND FIRM, NOT MOVED FROM THE HOPE HELD OUT IN THE GOSPEL......”


The word “faith” is in over 200 verses in the Bible. The dictionary says that ‘faith’ means “complete trust and confidence.”

And the Biblical meaning of faith is:

Heb 11:1 (NKJV) NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN. In South Georgia language, it means: Faith is what you desire and the confidence that you have it, in Jesus’ Name!!


In all, there are 40 verses in the 11th Chapter of Hebrews. And in each verse, ‘FAITH” remains the KEY word for the fulfillment of every promise!

Listen to

Heb 11:23-29 (NKJV) BY FAITH MOSES, WHEN HE WAS BORN, WAS HIDDEN THREE MONTHS BY HIS PARENTS, BECAUSE THEY SAW HE WAS A BEAUTIFUL CHILD; AND THEY WERE NOT AFRAID OF THE KING'S COMMAND. 24 BY FAITH MOSES, WHEN HE BECAME OF AGE, REFUSED TO BE CALLED THE SON OF PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER, 25 CHOOSING RATHER TO SUFFER AFFLICTION WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD THAN TO ENJOY THE PASSING PLEASURES OF SIN, 26 ESTEEMING THE REPROACH OF CHRIST GREATER RICHES THAN THE TREASURES IN EGYPT; FOR HE LOOKED TO THE REWARD. 27 BY FAITH HE FORSOOK EGYPT, NOT FEARING THE WRATH OF THE KING; FOR HE ENDURED AS SEEING HIM WHO IS INVISIBLE. 28 BY FAITH HE KEPT THE PASSOVER AND THE SPRINKLING OF BLOOD, LEST HE WHO DESTROYED THE FIRSTBORN SHOULD TOUCH THEM. 29 BY FAITH THEY PASSED THROUGH THE RED SEA AS BY DRY LAND, WHEREAS THE EGYPTIANS, ATTEMPTING TO DO SO, WERE DROWNED.

If you ever had any doubt as to the preeminence - (surpassing all others) of Christ, re-read the Book of Hebrews! It sounds to me that Moses had a pretty good understanding of our Savior’s place in God’s systematic plan!

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Now!

When your comfort level becomes the ‘center’ of your action rather than God, you have become too clever! Your church has become “user-friendly” instead of a place for worship of the King.


And - by the way - I was listening to a video this morning where a woman stated something we’ve known for years!....and it’s this:


“FACTS” are effectively different from “TRUTH”!!..........Facts can be manipulated; TRUTH never changes! 


And

When we talk to ourselves, we’re not talking to anyone very smart because our “outlook” is very limited. Unbelief will insert “facts” into your situation instead of the unchangeable TRUTH that God will always speaks!


Instead of focusing on the faithfulness of God, people tend to focus on what the circumstances seem to dictate. But ‘faith’ enables us to see God on top of all our problems.


If we see only the problem, we get depressed and start making wrong decisions. When we have faith, we see God BIGGER than any mountain; and, we know He’s going to take care of us.


People of Faith are “realists”. They often admit they don’t know HOW everything is going to work out; BUT, THEY INSIST THEIR GOD WILL SUPPLY, NONE-THE-LESS!

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You see - FAITH RUNS ON A DIFFERENT ‘CLOCK’


Timing is very important. Consider Zacharias and Elizabeth. This is a Biblically paced “timing” that was laid out in elaborate detail. The first chapter of Luke explains the birth of John, the Baptist; and it relates details concerning the birth of Christ. Some of the things in God’s Almighty plans seems odd, sometimes. And we don’t always understand His architectural plan; but, by FAITH, IF we submit, all things will work out for our good and His purpose!


And sometimes when we get into emergencies and the situation seems totally hopeless, it’s actually a ‘set-up’! God wants to do something great; but it MUST be in HIS timing – not ours!!

You see, God is drawn to prayer. When prayer comes from a sincere heart, it rises into God’s Presence and stays there!

When we seek God for answers, we must persevere in prayer, letting it build up day after day until the force of it becomes a mighty tide pushing over all obstacles.


And GOD DOESN’T APPRECIATE ‘SECOND-GUESSING’. When God sends His Divine promise, He is very grieved and saddened if His people do not believe Him.

The greatest battle of our spiritual lives is ‘WILL YOU BELIEVE”?! It is NOT ‘will you try harder?’ or ‘Can you make yourself worthy?!

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The hardest part of faith is often simply to wait. The timing of God is often a mystery to us and most times a frustration. But don’t give up! Don’t try to arrange solutions.

Instead – keep on believing!


In the 13th chapter of Numbers we find the story of the 12 spies who were told to go and spy out the land. But after their field trip, they came back; reported the data accurately; and then IMMEDIATELY got “realistic” by adding, “We can’t attack those people; they’re stronger than us........those people are GIANTS..........we looked like grasshoppers!”

This report went against all God had promised; and thus, their “common-sense” realism affected the destiny of a whole generation of Israelites. The people began to panic and murmur against God.


So................

Make up your mind: do you believe what your ‘feelings’ and ‘circumstances’ tell you, or do you believe what God has promised you?!


REMEMBER:

          ONE OF THE PRIMARY NAMES FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT IS “THE COMFORTER”.

          AND ONE OF THE PRIMARY NAMES FOR THE DEVIL, WHO LIKES TO IMPERSONATE THE HOLY SPIRIT, IS “THE ACCUSER”.


Listen:

          The enemy uses ordinary people to discourage us. It was not some demon with a pitchfork who caused all the trouble with the Israelites that day in the desert. It was just people talking! Part of the Israelite community – not “pagan” strangers.


          ‘Discouragement” bled from emotionalism – and blasphemy to rebellion!



Always remember:

YOU MUST HAVE “FAITH” FOR THE ENTIRE JOURNEY!