How many times have you heard someone say “I believe in Jesus”? What exactly does that mean. Do they have an intellectual assent or knowledge of Christ, if so then they have simply matched demons. James 2:19 states “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble!” NKJV So what is meant when the Bible tells us to have faith and believe. My friends it is my contention that one of the greatest obstacles for Christians to become all that God has in store for them is the Obstacle of Unbelief! Remember to become a Difference Maker in the Kingdom, you must have faith, powerful faith. Faith that leads you to service in the midst of shrill hecklers and threats. This is the faith that Jesus spoke about when He said we could move mountains.
As I said my friends it is more than simple head knowledge. You will never see the miraculous power of God with such belief. it is the kind of faith that Noah exhibited. Noah was asked to build an ark on dry land for an event that had never happened to that day. Noah had never seen a rain storm, yet God told him in 120 years I will flood the earth. Imagine the ridicule when Noah started building the scaffolding. Imagine his friends and family telling him, “Noah you are embarrassing us so come on down”. Noah believed God and as a result he was instrumental in saving the human race. His faith led to action and obedience. Understand faith without action and obedience is no faith at all. Ans it will certainly keep you from ever being a Difference Maker.
Let’s take a look at Abraham. Yes he struggled with his faith at times especially telling the King that his wife was his sister. Like all of us Abraham had struggles, but he also had times of tremendous faith and is in the hall fo Faith in Hebrews. Scripture tells us in Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. NKJV My friends Abraham left his homeland for a promise of God that he couldn’t see. He just simply obeyed and because of him the nation of Israel resulted. God called Abraham a man of faith because his faith led to actions and obedience. To become a difference maker we must simply trust fully in God’s provision. It was God who saved the world through Noah and it was God who delivered on the promise to make Abraham a great nation. He may not tell us where, when, and why but He will tell us how. How is by the power of the Holy Spirit.
My friends men like Abel, Noah, Enoch, and Abraham acquired a good testimony because of their faith in God. How is your testimony these days. Is it good because you are a man or woman of faith, or is it poor because you will not trust in the one true God who delivered you from your sins. God tells us in Hebrews 11:13 All these people died having faith. They didn’t receive the things that God had promised them, but they saw these things coming in the distant future and rejoiced. They acknowledged that they were living as strangers with no permanent home on earth. 14 Those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for their own country. 15 If they had been thinking about the country that they had left, they could have found a way to go back. 16 Instead, these men were longing for a better country—a heavenly country. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God. He has prepared a city for them. GWT Men and women of faith follow Christ wherever He leads them. They only consider the cost of disobedience and that cost will always be too high. What is God telling you these days? Is He telling you to share the Gospel with friends, neighbors, or family members? Are you willing to go to that unknown land for Jesus no matter the cost, or with the Obstacle of Unbelief stymie your service the Holy King.
Finally my friends, make like the penguins. Penguins are born on the ice shores of Antarctica where they grow by being fed by one of their parents. There comes a time when the parent goes to the sea for the last time and never returns to the icy cliffs to feed the adolescent penguins. These adolescents then gather on the edge of the continent with one of two choices. They can either jump in and live like a penguin or they can stay on the shore and starve to death. Sure there are dangers in the sea but that is what it is to be a penguin. You dive in and live like a penguin. So many Christians take the scenario where they stay on the shore and they simply spiritually starve to death. They never share the Gospel with another soul and they never live like a Christian. My friends overcome the Obstacle of Unbelief, let your faith dictate your service and jump in the seas of service to the King. Become a difference maker!
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