From God Talk to Faith

Hebrews 11

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

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

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.

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.

Romans 4:17-21 (King James Version)

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Introduction

From God Talk to Faith. As a people we engage in a lot of God Talk or even if you will faith statements. For example “P.U.S.H. Pray Until Something Happens”,  “If God brings you to it He’ll bring you through it”, “I’m blessed and highly favored”, we quote the scriptures “Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning”, “I’ve never seem the righteous forsaken nor his seed beg bread”, and “The Lord will make a way somehow”. Don’t get me wrong I’m not stating that God Talk or faith statements are bad things. What I want to make sure of is that when we engage in those statements that our faith is sure and we beyond a shadow of a doubt have made those statements real and our belief is reflected in those statements. What do you mean preacher? I mean that when the storms of life begin to roar and the clouds have began to gather, the waves of adversity are beating against the boat, the lightning of trials have lit up my sky and seems like I’m about to lose my mind. I can’t recall one of those fancy statements to call on. So I begin to pull out my hair, begin eating everything or not eating at all, I try drugs, I drink, I smoke, I just go crazy. Because I knew the statements but I never turned them ON with my faith.

You’ve heard it said that “it’s easy to Praise God when everything is going well” but it takes true servant of God to be able to maintain a consistent prayer and praise life we things are falling apart. So what do I to move from God Talk to Faith?

Develop Your Faith

The Greek word for faith is “Pistis” which means 1) conviction of the truth of anything, belief; a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.

Faith always has been the mark of God's servants, from the beginning of the world. Hebrews 11:1 declares “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This principle “Faith” requires us go outside of the natural intellect and see in spiritual illumination of the Holy Ghost. It is a firm persuasion and expectation, that God will perform all he has promised to us in Christ. This persuasion gives the soul to enjoy those things now; it gives them a substance or reality in the soul, by the first-fruits and foretastes of them. Faith proves to the mind, the reality of things that cannot be seen by the bodily eye.

In developing our faith it requires us to rely on God rather than what we can rationalize with our eyes or even our own intellect. Proverbs 3:5 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.” Because my eyes can only see in the here and now I have to rely on my Heavenly father that allows me to see what God sees. And when I see what God sees I’m looking through the eyes of faith. 2 Cor 4:18 says “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  Developing your faith is an important part of your Christian life. Faith give you power over the tricks and traps of the devil. Jesus described the important of a little faith in Matthew 17:20 he said “If you have the faith the size of a mustard seed you can say to the mountain be thou removed, and it will be removed.”

A father and son decided to hike up a nearby mountain one Saturday. As they climbed, the father taught the son how to navigate using their surroundings. When they reached the top, they could see the beauty of the landscape below. The son realized that just like climbing to the top, walking with God gives us perspective and strength. Sometimes, it's not about getting to the top first, but about enjoying the journey together!

Faith In Action

So we talked about developing our faith, now let look at faith in action requires from us take that which we have hoped for and acting like it’s already happening. Pastor Todd Wheelock describes Faith as “Acting like a thing is so, when it’s not so, in order that it may become so.”  The bible records that God told Abraham the man the bible also labels as the father of the faithful. That he and Sarah was going to have a son in their old age to fulfill God’s promise he had made to Abraham concerning his seed. The bible records in the 20th verse of Romans 4 that he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief. Although his eyes was seeing something that seem hard to believe he was old man and Sarah was an old woman. And did seem like nothing would be jump off between them. But he staggered not. Faith in action is not wavering nor staggering, but faith in action is trust in what God said.  Turn with me to James 2

James 2:14-26 (King James Version)

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

God Talkers have nothing more than the fancy statements of faith. But the faithful has the works of faith. What do you mean Reverend? I believe the Lord is going to provide for me a place to live, or the Lord is going to provide me with a job. That’s my God talk my faithful statements. But I never go trying to find a place to stay and I never try to find a job. But I know the Lord will provide………….. You need to get up off you rusty dusty go in search of. The Lord’s not going to do for you what you can do for yourself. Faith in Action is acting like you a Millionaire even when you don’t have any money. Roman 4:17b Speak to those things that are not as though the were.

We talked about developing your faith, and then we talked about faith in action. As I get ready to close lets talk about rewards of the faithful.

Rewards of the Faithful

The bible records that the Enoch never saw death because of his faithfulness. Jesus told the woman with an issue of blood thy faith has made thee whole, When HE restored the sight of the two blind men he said according to your faith will it be done. God rewards the faithful. They that walk by faith and not by sight.

As I get ready to close I reminded of a story of a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old shotgun and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out and kill something for dinner. As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit and he shot at the rabbit and missed it. Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it. As he went further, he saw a wild turkey in the tree and he had only one bullet, but a voice came to him and said "pray first, aim high and stay focused." However, at the same time, he saw a deer which was a better kill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But, then he saw a rattlesnake between his legs about to bite him, so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake. Still, the voice said again to him, "I said 'pray, aim high and stay focused." So, the man decided to listen to the voice. He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey. The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer. The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it. And, when the gun had gone off, it knocked him into a pond. When he stood to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a dead deer and a turkey to eat. The snake (Satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God.

Hebrews 12:2 (King James Version)

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.