06/15/2015
Sunday's message: "Faith Towards God" Part II in the Series "The Doctrine of Christ," Hebrews 6:1-2
In order to obey God, you must have faith in Him. Elijah obeyed God because of his faith, 1 Kings 17:1-9. Because of sin God brought destruction on the people, but He protected Elijah and told him to go to a place where he would command ravens to feed him during this transition. Not once did Elijah question God or debate over the situation, Vs 5. Too often we question the voice of God because our faith is depleted or lacking. Through our faith in Him, God will use unorthodox ways to provide for us in times of trouble. Ravens by nature neglect their young and feed on insects and yet God used ravens to bring meat to Elijah, Vs. 4. Don't be surprised in your life when God sends an unsaved person to bless you when your brook dries up or when tragedy comes your way.
Too often people of God panic in times of trouble instead of standing on your faith, activating and exercising your faith in God. For it is your faith that sustains you in your dry seasons! We see in 1 Kings 17, four things Elijah did in exercising his faith in God:
He heard and discerned the voice of God, Vs 2-4
He followed the Word of the Lord, Vs 5
He stayed in fellowship with God
His faith was in God
We are all given a "measure of faith," but the problem is too often we don't activate our faith and it becomes depleted.
What is faith? Faith is the instrument God allows us to use to make transactions between the natural and spiritual realm (Hebrews 11:1). By your faith, you declare and decree a thing in the natural with your mouth; your faith is then activated (in the invisible spirit realm) by your words to manifest your declaration and decree (healing, blessing, deliverance, prosperity). But only when you speak it in Faith!!! Jesus prayed "Our Father... Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." In other words, since sickness and disease doesn't exist in heaven, then we ought to speak that in faith for it to manifest in your life.
Lastly, faith is both visible and audible. God told Abram to leave what's familiar in order to reach the destiny God had for him (Genesis 12). God told Noah to build an ark to reach his destiny (Genesis 6). The centurion told Jesus all He needed to do was to speak a word and his soldier would recover (Matthew 8). The woman with the issue of blood only needed to touch the hem of Jesus's garment for her healing (Matthew 9).
Faith in God is a result of believing in Him beyond the shadow of doubt and fear, knowing that He alone is the source of all that we need. But "without faith it is impossible to please Him." God is moved by your faith. Faith opens doors in your life for God to manifest all that He has for you, but until we obey God like Elijah we will struggle to maintain Faith in God, especially in a dry season.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark