Dave’s Monday Blast – January 9, 2017
Last week we began to examine some practical benefits to “Walking by Faith” (my spiritual growth commitment for 2017).
In review:
- Faith Determines What God Can Do in your Life. There are thousands of promises in the Bible. The key that unlocks every one of them in your life is faith.
- 2. Faith can Solve Impossible Problems. Without faith you focus on the problems in front of you. When you have faith, you still see how difficult life can be, but you also see that any problem is solvable.
- Faith is the Key to Answered Prayer. With faith you have the confidence to keep praying and in time, you see the Lord answer your prayers in exceedingly, abundant ways. (Ephesians 3:20)
New this week:
- Faith is the Basis for Miracles:(Matthew 19:26) Sadly, American Christians have stopped believing that miracles are possible at about the same time the secular world has started to believe that you can do impossible things. Steve Jobs is a perfect example of this. He’d have an idea, his engineers would tell him it was impossible, and he’d say “we’re doing it.” And it happened! Faith is the basis of miracles. Every single miracle in the Bible started because someone had a problem. I am assuming at least someone reading this has an idea of what it’s like to have a problem. If you have a problem and you have faith, you have the ingredients for a miracle.
- Faith is the Way to Please God: (Hebrews 11:6-8)If you were to ask the average American what it took to please God, you’d get a few different answers. Some might say God likes rituals. If you wear the right clothes, wave the right incense around, and chant the right words, God will be happy. Some might say that God appreciates rules and regulations. If you do the right things and don’t do the wrong things, God will be pleased. You’ll get people who say God wants religion, observing holy days, putting up stained glass, and doing communion once a month. You know what’s funny? The Bible says God’s not interested in rituals, regulations, or religion. The one way to please God is faith. Without faith it’s impossible to please Him.
- Faith gives People the Confidence to Move Forward: (Philippians 3:13)No one has an effective or productive life when they’re always looking backwards. You can’t move forward that way. Faith allows you to look ahead. If you have faith you will have less anxiety. If you have more faith you will have less fear. If you have more faith you will have less uncertainty, more confidence, and less discouragement. When you have faith you have more confidence and hope, which are two things you need to be an emotionally and spiritually healthy person. Having faith is what allows you to accomplish what God has created you to do.
As we place our faith in Jesus it allows Him to work through us in ways that are otherwise impossible. Faith is how you discover your life’s purpose and truly make an impact in your world. Do you desire to make a difference for the Kingdom this year my brothers? Do you yearn to operate according to His design for you? Do you desire to please your creator? Without faith we cannot please our God. Let us INTENTIONALLY strive to WALK BY FAITH!
Next Week – Five Men who Walked by Faith.
