Born Into the Kingdom #2 - Baptism

 Note:  This is the second in the three-part series, “Born Into The Kingdom.”

Last week I started a series on the birth of a disciple into the Kingdom.  We are called to make disciples; that’s the Great Commission.  There are three parts – Repentance, Water Baptism and Holy Spirit Baptism.  This post will deal with Water Baptism.

Acts 8:35-40 (NKJV)
^8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. ³⁶ Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" ³⁷ Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." ³⁸ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ³⁹ Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

Baptism is a Clear Acknowledgement

Here’s this Ethiopian eunuch.  He’s a very powerful man.  He’s very high up in the queen of Ethiopia’s court and he has been down to Jerusalem to worship God.  He’s not a follower of Jesus at this point.  He’s been worshipping God in the temple.  As we come across him, he’s reading the Book of Isaiah but not understanding what Isaiah is saying.  This is what he read:

Acts 8:32-33 (NKJV)
^8:32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. ³³ In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth."

This is a prophecy a foretelling of the Jesus’ crucifixion.  The eunuch doesn’t understand to whom Isaiah is referring.  While he’s reading this, Philip catches up to him and the text says he used that scripture to preach Jesus to him.  “Jesus is the man who endured this injustice.

His preaching was effective, and the eunuch began to believe in Jesus.

Acts 8:37b (NKJV)
^8:37 … And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

That’s a bold statement in those times of Christian persecution.  They had just crucified Jesus and stoned Stephen.  Christians had scattered throughout Judea and Samaria preaching as they went.  Since he had been in Jerusalem, no doubt he’s heard of that, but he believes anyway.

I know a young man who had converted to Christianity from Islam.  I asked him what would happen if his father found out.  His response was, “I believe, so what can I do?”  This is the very similar to the Ethiopian’s response…He boldly proclaimed it.  All of us who are believers in Jesus, can we be as bold in declaring Jesus?  Are we open to saying “I’m a believer,” or are we hesitant to declare Jesus as the Son of God? 

The Ethiopian took one more step to declare it.  He got baptized.  This is what baptism is on one level.  It’s you saying, “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”  It’s a clear acknowledgement that you believe!

People are really open about some things, aren’t we?  We wear T-shirts with our team’s name.  Go Monkeys (Taoyuan City’s professional baseball team.) I’m not ashamed.  We support political candidates.  We brag about our favorite brands – I have an iPhone.  Nike – Swoosh.  What about Jesus, though, the Savior of your soul.  The one who died for you.  I understand that sometimes people come against you.

Think of that young Muslim man, it isn’t easy to become a Christian when you’re a Muslim, but he got baptized – That’s a bold statement.  The eunuch made a private statement to Stephen that he believes, but he also wanted to make a public declaration about it.

Acts 8:36 (NKJV)
^8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?"

What hinders me from being baptized?  What are the requirements?  What needs to be done first?  Philip answers:

Acts 8:37 (NKJV)
^8:37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

“If you believe…” that’s the only requirement.  Then he testified of his faith, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God!”  Often, it seems like people want to add other requirements.  I know people who have believed in Jesus for more than two years who have resisted baptism.  People think that if they get baptized, that there will be more required of them; that it will raise them to a different level of Christianity and commitment, like they’ll have a different job description that’s much harder.  All that baptism really is, is an outward sign of an inward decision.  Asking a new Christian to go public is about them standing up and being counted, saying, “I’m not ashamed of Jesus.”

In some ways baptism is a test.  Jesus wants to know if you’re serious.  If you can’t follow through in this one small thing, what are you going to do about more difficult things.  God sometimes asks for hard things.  He asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.  He asked him to kill the promise and believe that He would deliver on it regardless.  That’s a little harder than being baptized.

Baptism is a public confession of your faith in Jesus.

Matthew 10:32-33 (NKJV)
^10:32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Finally, baptism doesn’t save; Faith in Jesus is what saves you.  Baptism is just you saying, “I have faith in Jesus.”  Public confession is the nature of Baptism.  It is something pursued by someone who believes. 

Baptism Follows a Biblical Pattern

The eunuch’s heart was open to God.  “Here’s water, what stops me from being baptized.”  How would he know about baptism unless Philip told him.  It must have been part of his teaching on Jesus.  It should be part of our teaching, too.

So, as a result of Philip’s preaching, the eunuch got saved and made a private statement of faith.  He was also ready to make a public one.  The old man is gone, and a new one takes his place.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NKJV)

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

There is symbolism to baptism as well.  We are identifying with Jesus. Being lowered into the water symbolizes Jesus on the cross.  Being under the water reflects Jesus’ burial, and finally, as you emerge from the water the symbolism is that of Jesus’ resurrection.

Romans 6:4-5 (NKJV)
^6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

That s the symbolism of baptism.  There is a distinct pattern in the Bible about this.  Hear the Word of God, repent and get saved (Believe) and get baptized.  People got baptized in the beginning of the church.  All believers in that time were baptized, often on the same night they got saved.  In fact, the early church was founded on baptism. 

        The Beginning of the Church

Acts 2:41 (NKJV)
^2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

        Philip Preaching in Samaria

Acts 8:12 (NKJV)
^8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

        Cornelius’ Household

Acts 10:47-48 (NKJV)
^10:47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

        Lydia’s Household in Philippi

Acts 16:15 (NKJV)
^16:15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.

        Philippian Jailer Later in That Same Chapter

Acts 16:33 (NKJV)
^16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

All of these baptisms took place on the day they believed and received Jesus.  There wasn’t a lot of agonizing over it.  They believed and they got baptized.  There’s no reason why any Christian shouldn’t get baptized.  Baptism opens you up to all that God has for you.  Once you go record for Jesus, He goes on record for you.

Matthew 10:32 (NKJV)

"Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

The Dynamic of Faith

There must be a personal breakthrough in faith, because many excuses will surface: 

1)  The excuse of family and friends – I want them all to be here.  Baptism isn’t about a family photo; it’s about an audience of one. 

2)  The excuse that, “I don’t have it all together, yet.  That completely misses the point.  Baptism isn’t about you being spiritually perfect.  If that was the case no one would ever be baptized.  Baptism is about a decision you make…to begin.   

3)  It’s meant to reflect the life you want to live, not the life you’ve already lived.

Jesus could have asked us to do anything, and it would have been His rightful place to do so.  All He asks is that when we put our faith in His salvation that we go public!

We need to have faith.  If Jesus commands me, then I’ll follow, “Just say the word, and I’ll do what you command, Lord.”

The Bible is clear about baptism.  We need to go on record before God and others that we are with Jesus!

Note:  The final post in this series will be on the Holy Spirit Baptism.

Born into the Kingdom #1: Repentance

 Note:  The following post is the first post in a three-part series called Born into the Kingdom.  These posts are really designed for new Christians but may be helpful to pioneer pastors in presenting simple Biblical truths to a young congregation.  - Chris

When we’re Christians, Eternal Life is what we’re aiming for; to enter into Heaven – The Promised Land.  Eternal Life, that’s the goal, right? It’s all about knowing God! 

John 17:3 (NKJV)
^17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John 17:3 tell us that knowing that God and Jesus is Eternal Life.  There are a lot of gods in the world, but there is only one true God.  The key to knowing that God is to follow through on praying, reading your Bible, attending church, believing the promises and following the commands.  In short, living out the things of God, day after day – following God.

Hosea 6:3 (NKJV)
^6:3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

This is what we call the process of discipleship – becoming and making disciples.  It’s our great commission. 

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
^28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

A disciple is a “fully devoted follower of Christ.”  It's not just someone who’s born again but someone who continues to pursue God after the initial glow of salvation wears off through the difficulties and struggles of life, enduring until the end. That’s a disciple.

People don’t become disciples on their own.  They’re taught to be disciples.  Just like after birth there are certain things that have to be done for the health of the baby.  The umbilical cord must be cut, and breast feeding must begin.  You have to show baby Christians the way. 

The book of Acts shows us the process of birthing someone into the Kingdom of God and what’s necessary to ensure their spiritual health.  Repentance, water baptism and baptism of the Holy Spirit.  This is a three-part series.  This post will look at repentance.

Repentance requires three things in order to be genuine and effective:

Acts 2:36-39 (NKJV)
^2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." ³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" ³⁸ Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

Repentance Requires a Teacher

In Acts Chapter 2 the Holy Spirit fell on those who were praying in the upper room.  It caused quite a commotion as three thousand people gathered in the street to see what was happening.  They must have been making a lot of noise. Peter stood up to preach.

The one hundred-twenty people in the upper room had choices.  They could stay quiet, they could pray, or they could preach.  Peter got up to preach.

If people are going to repent, they need to have someone tell them that it’s necessary.

Romans 10:13-15 (NKJV)
^10:13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." ¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

Peter stood up and explained to them the phenomenon of the Holy Spirit and a changed life.  He specifically preached two things.  These were not his feelings or opinions.

First, he preached the Word of God.  He quoted the Old Testament three times.  He’s preaching out of the scriptures.  We can talk to people and offer our opinions, “This is what I think…”, “I feel like this…”, but we end up in arguments and discussions.  What people need to hear isn’t our opinions or feelings but the Word of God.

1 Peter 3:15b (NKJV)
^3:15 …always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Second, He preached Jesus with conviction and without fear.  “This Jesus, whom you crucified…”

This reminded me of the story of Philip and the Ethopian.  In Acts Chapter 8, the Ethopian is traveling along and he’s reading the Book of Isaiah, but he’s not understanding it all.  Philip asks him whether he understands or not and he answers, “How can I know unless someone guides me?’  He needs a preacher!

Acts 8:35 (NKJV)
^8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

So, a preacher is needed to bring someone to a place of repentance; so, they can hear and understand the Word of God.

Repentance Also Requires Faith from the Hearer

Acts 2:41 (NKJV)
^2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

This is talking about faith.  They heard Peter’s words and accepted them as the Word of God.  They believed.  They heard what Peter was saying to them and they believed that he was right.  They were convicted that their sin – their personal sin – crucified Jesus.  That comes from the Word of God and the working of the Holy Spirit.  In order to repent, you have to be convinced that you’re wrong. Convinced that what you’re doing is against God and that your sin is the reason that Jesus had to die.  If you never come to that you’ll never come to repentance.  The Pharisees and the Sadducees never believed, so they never repented. 

Repentance requires the thought that my sin is wrong and that it needs to be judged.  That’s why we preach on sin. It is in order to bring people to a place of repentance.

Think about your own life.  What was it that made you realize that you needed to get saved?  You had to come to a point where you realized that the way that you’d been living was wrong in God’s eyes.  You had to recognize that you were guilty.  That’s what happened in our text.

The people in our text heard Peter’s words and realized that they had played a part in Jesus’ crucifixion.  “This Jesus, whom you crucified.”  They felt the guilt and shame that goes with that.  The Word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit led them to the faith they needed in order to repent.

Repentance Requires Confession

Acts 2:37 (NKJV)
^2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

This moment right here is the moment of confession.  They’re admitting their guilt.  It’s like them saying, “We know we’re guilty.”  “We know that we have sinned and deserve our punishment!”  “We know that we will face the wrath of God.  What shall we do to make it right?  What shall we do to be right with God.”  That’s a confession of guilt.

In order to repent of sin, you have to know what it is.  You have to know what it is that you have done.  So we confess that sin before God.  That’s why we have an altar call, to give us an opportunity to bring that sin before God. 

You hear the Word of God and Jesus preached.  You feel the conviction of sin, believing that it’s true.  You confess that sin before God.  Then comes repentance.

Repentance is a change of mind or a change of heart.  I know what I’ve been doing is wrong and I’m not going to live like that anymore.  Repentance is a change; the word translated as repent literally means to turn around.  It’s as if you’re going one direction away from God and you turn around and go in a different direction toward God.  Allof this begins with a confession.

Romans 10:9 (NKJV)
^10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

That’s the starting point – Confessing before God; declaring your sin and guilt before God.  This is when the real work starts, beginning to pursue God.  It starts with repentance.  I would encourage anyone who prays for salvation to go home and continue to confess before God.  Think about your sins and bring them before God.

A friend of mine who is a pastor, told me that one man told him that he went home and confessed for an hour and a half.  He really thought about his sin specifically  “I’v done this, I’ve done that…” That’s real repentance.

1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
^1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So, God does his job and forgives.  He even goes so far as to take that sin away.  Then it’s time for you to do your part and change.  Be different – Follow God’s laws and live for Jesus.  Repentance is turning around and walking away from your sinful lifestyle.  I know this can be hard but God helps us.  Peter preached:

Acts 2:38 (NKJV)
^2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

First, we repent of our sin.

Second, we’re baptized for the remission of sin.

Third, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!

The next post will be about Baptism for the remission of sin!

 

The Limits of Unbelief

 Don’t you think it’s interesting that there were no disciples at the tomb when Jesus rose from the dead?  We read that Jesus told them He would rise, but we don’t read anywhere that they believed Him. 

The thing I find most interesting is that His enemies did believe it, that’s why they placed a crack squadron of soldiers to guard the tomb.  That’s why they sealed it.  That’s why they said, “We remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.”

Even when the women who visited the tomb told the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead, they didn’t believe them.

Sometimes Christians struggle with believing God.  There’s really no difference between believing Jesus when He said He would rise from the dead, and believing Jesus when He says He will pour out blessing.  Today I want to address something that I think needs to be addressed.  There are things that God has spoken that seem to be easier to believe than others.  So, in this post, I want to look at unbelief, from this portion of scripture:

2 Kings 7:1-2 (NKJV)
^7:1 Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.' " ² So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, "Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" And he said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it."

Can You Believe the Promises?

This takes place at a very bleak time in Israel’s history.  There has been a famine in the country, so there isn’t much food available.  Things were very tough.  Now on top of that Ben Hada, King of Syria, has placed them under siege.  They’re being held captive inside the walls of the city. 

In fact, people have even turned to cannibalism:

2 Kings 6:26-29 (NKJV)
^6:26 Then, as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king!" ²⁷ And he said, "If the Lord does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?" ²⁸ Then the king said to her, "What is troubling you?" And she answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.' ²⁹ So we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day, 'Give your son, that we may eat him'; but she has hidden her son."

This shows how desperate the people were.  All of us go through times of famine like this.  Maybe you’ve never been desperate enough to eat your children, but you have been through times when you didn’t think you had enough.

You’ve got the rent, food, utilities, taxes, gas, insurance, it seems like what goes out is bigger than what comes in.  Then there’s layoffs, semester breaks, down business times.  It seems like a time of famine in your life.

Maybe in times like that you’re less open to the promises of God.  Maybe you’re like the man on whose arm the king leans. He said, “Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?”

He’s wondering in light of these desperate circumstances how God can make this happen.  I’ve wondered the same thing myself – a number of times.  How can you open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing, but that’s one of the promises isn’t it?

In our text Elisha the prophet is repeating what God has promised.

2 Kings 7:1 (NKJV)
^7:1 Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.'

That by the next day, about the same time a seah (about 7 liters in volume) of flour for a shekel (about $4.50 USD, 2025 dollars).  That’s a low price for flour, but things are so bad that people can’t believe it. 

When we don’t see a way out of our circumstances, we can’t see how God can deliver us.  We judge God’s abilities by our own, but God can do supernatural things. 

That word super as a prefix means beyond.  So, God can do things beyond the natural, which is what we can do.  We live and operate in the natural, but God operates in the supernatural.  God can do miracles.

Look at the circumstances of your life.  Are you struggling in one area?  Is there a part of your life that you think can’t be changed?  Maybe a doctor told you there’s no treatment for what you’re suffering.  Maybe, you can’t see an improvement in your finances.  Maybe you think there’s no way you can change.  You are limited in your ability to affect change in your life, by your own abilities and natural laws, but God isn’t affected that way.  God can transcend circumstances and nature.  The limit to what God can do for you is the limit to which you believe God. 

The man in our text limits God to the natural circumstances.  He’s saying that even if God were to open the windows of heaven, our circumstances are so bad that they can’t be fixed.  This is unbelief – It’s a lack of faith. 

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
^11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Our unbelief limits God.  Look how that is worded.  He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards them that diligently seek Him.  There is faith in God, that is, that most of us believe in God; We believe that God exists, but is there faith in God’s abilities?  Is there faith that God can do things and will do things to eliminate your suffering?

You believe in God – Do you believe He can heal you?

You believe in God – Do you believe He can provide for you?

You believe in God – Do you believe He can change you?

Those are the promises. 

The disciples believed in Jesus.  They believed He was the Messiah.  They believed He could do miracles.  They believed that He was there to deliver mankind, but they couldn’t believe that He would rise from the dead, even though He promised that He would.

We’re like that, too.  We believe in God, we believe we’ve been forgiven.  So, why can’t we believe God to keep His promises? Let’s examine that.

God Keeps His Promises

Let’s examine a promise that God has made.

Malachi 3:10-11 (NKJV)
^3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. ¹¹ "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the Lord of hosts.

This is a promise of God.  If we will do something, then God will do something.  We know it’s a promise because God s saying, “Test me.  See if I will do what I have said here.  I promise that I will do this; you can check me on it.  Bring all of your tithes and offerings into the storehouse.  Do this and I will open the windows of heaven and bless you so much you won’t have room for it all."  I wonder, though, how many are really believing God for this promise.  How many are like the man on whose arm the king leaned, "I'm struggling, there’s a lot of expenses.”  “I can’t make enough money to keep up.”  “If I give more there won’t be enough.”  That’s thinking in the natural and forgetting about the supernatural.  “Look if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?”  Look at what God did in the day of need for Israel:

2 Kings 7:5-7 (NKJV)
.⁵ And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there. ⁶ For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses--the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, "Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!" ⁷ Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact--their tents, their horses, and their donkeys--and they fled for their lives

God made a promise that would happen the next day, but because people couldn’t see how it could happen, they didn’t believe that it would happen.  That’s how a lot people are.  “If I give more there will be less, so how can there be more if I give more?”  That’s what the promise is, though.  We can’t see how it could happen, but God promises that it can. 

Then we look at this story and we see how God did it in this instance.  He caused the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots when there were no chariots.  He caused them to panic when there was no reason to panic.  He caused them to abandon everything, even though there was no attack.  God moved outside what we think is possible, in order to keep His word, and He will do the same thing with our giving.  God moved in a supernatural way and suddenly there was abundance in the midst of famine.  You may think that if you give more there will be less, but God has promised that if you give more, there will be more.

This whole event takes place in the midst of a famine.  Did you know that there is an underlying purpose for famine?

Amos 4:7-8 (NKJV)

⁷ "I also withheld rain from you, When there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, And where it did not rain the part withered. ⁸ So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water, But they were not satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me," Says the Lord.

The last line in this scripture gives us a clue as to that purpose.  “Yet you have not returned to me.”  God uses famine to cause His people to return to Him.  He wants people to depend on Him.  He wants people to trust Him.  If God uses famine to cause His people to come back to Him on a national level, do you think He might do the same thing on a personal level.  Maybe you’re in the midst of a financial famine because you’re not trusting and depending on God.  You don’t believe God can move supernaturally on your behalf.  When God is saying, “Try me now in this,” in Malachi chapter three, He’s really saying, “Let me show you what I can do.”  God can’t show you His response to your giving if you’re not giving.

The Reward of Faith

If we look back at our text, we can see the prophet’s response to the man on whose arm the king leaned.

2 Kings 7:2 (NKJV)
^7:2 So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, "Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" And he said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it."

He’s telling him that because of his unbelief, he will see God move but he won’t share in God’s deliverance.  Because you don’t believe there’s no deliverance for you.  It’s the same in the promise of tithes in the storehouse, if you don’t believe you won’t receive deliverance.  If you don’t test God’s promise, you won’t receive God’s deliverance.

Do you ever look at other people and wonder why they’re blessed aand you’re struggling?  Maybe it’s the same answer this man received.  You’ll see the blessing but won’t share in it because of unbelief.  You see those who believed receiving the blessing, but you don’t share in it because of your own unbelief.  Look at what happened to the man:

2 Kings 7:17 (NKJV)
^7:17 Now the king had appointed the officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. But the people trampled him in the gate, and he died, just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.

This is a direct result of the man’s not believing God’s promise.  He saw the abundance that came about supernaturally.  He saw the promise fulfilled, but he didn’t receive it.  In fact, something much worse happened.  The man was killed.

This is a spiritual principle.  Unbelief will always lead to spiritual death.  Belief and faith brings eternal life, unbelief brings eternal condemnation.  The man who didn’t believe ended up dead, not just that he didn’t get blessed, he died.

Every church has seen this before.  There are people who aren’t there, anymore.  They have died a spiritual death…because of unbelief.

If you’re struggling with this, right now, don’t despair.  The promise is there for you if you’ll just begin to believe God.  Remember Hebrews 11:6:

Hebrews 11:6b (NKJV)
^11:6b for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

The first thing is to believe that God is; that God exists; that God is a patient and loving God. Secondly, believe that if you diligently seek Him, you will be rewarded.  If you hunt for God, God will let you find Him. God is the God who blesses.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NKJV)
^9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Do you want to see God’s promises play out in your life?  Do you want to reap bountifully?  This scripture is rooted in faith.  A cheerful giver believes that God will bless.  One who sows bountifully will reap bountifully.  Purpose in your heart to be a cheerful giver and God will bless you.  If you act in unbelief while others act in faith you will see the reward of that faith in them being blessed but you will not partake in blessing.  Unbelief will keep you from the blessings of God.  So, bless God and He will bless you.

 

Note:  I am not a preacher of prosperity doctrine.  I don’t believe that God exists to make you rich, but I do believe in the principles highlighted in Malachi chapter three.

 

Even If!

 When I had left Taiwan in August 2020, it was because I had become sick.  I had been in the hospital for a long time; Thirty-five days, actually.  Churches all over the world had been praying for me, at the time, but I continued to get sicker.  I started out with one thing, but it developed into Covid and then into pneumonia.   I had tubes down my throat and all kinds of IVs.  I was in intensive care and my doctors were telling my family, to have my daughter come back; even they thought I would die. 

All of my friends in Taiwan thought I would die; everyone but me.  I just kept thinking, “When I get out of here…”  I had other plans, and death didn’t really fit into them.  I don’t know that I had great faith, maybe it was just the lack of oxygen to my brain.  It was a huge trial for me, but somehow, I managed to stay optimistic.  One Friend told me: 

“You were dying!  You won’t admit it, but I saw it with my own eyes.”

Yet, here I am…still alive.  It’s an actual miracle, I’m sure of it.  God delivered me, just like Meshach, Shadrack and Abed-Nego.  That’s what I want to post about today – God’s deliverance from trials.

Daniel 3:15-25 NKJV

Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

People Have Always Struggled

How many times in your ife have you faced things that you thought were insurmountable?  How many times have you faced circumstances that seemed impossible?  When lie throws things at us we try to solve those problems in our own ways, don’t we?  We think we have to find a solution by our own intellect.  The Bible calls it our own understanding, but is that what God is thinking?  Is that what God is looking for from us?  Look at what the Bible says:

Proverbs 3:5 NKJV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

Trust in God, lean not on your own understanding.  Some things are beyond our ability to figure out.  Look at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, how could they figure out a way to escape their circumstances?  They’re tied up; they’re being tossed into a fiery furnace.  There’s no way they can solve this dilemma with their intellect.  They have to trust in God.

What about you?  Maybe you’re facing fiery trials in your marriage, in your finances, maybe even in your health.  Where are you looking for deliverance?  Is it in the world?   

“The government will save me!”

There was a huge hurricane that just recently made landfall in North Carolina.  Western North Carolina was destroyed by the hurricane and then flooding that followed.  People were waiting for the government, but it took a week before the government showed up. Meanwhile, people had no food, no electricity, no communications.  Hundreds, maybe even thousands died waiting for the government to save them.  Former President Ronald Reagan once said: 

“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: “I’m from the government and I’m here to help!”

That’s kind of a funny thing for a president to say, but it points out that if you’re looking for help from the government to help, they can let you down.

Are you looking for deliverance from inside yourself?  If you are, then let me ask you a question.  Have you ever been wrong before?

Are you looking for answers from science?  You know they used to think all the planets orbited the earth. But not now…Science can also be wrong.

The only one who’s never wrong  is Jesus.  He’s the creator of everything.

John 1:1-3 NKJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

If He created everything, then He understands how it works, and He can solve any problem you’re facing. 

God is With Us!

In Exodus 33, God is telling Moses that He wants him to lead His people to the Promised Land.  Moses is nervous, though, and He demands of God, “Who will you send with me?” 

Exodus 33:12-13 NKJV

Then Moses said to the LORD, "See, You say to me, 'Bring up this people.' But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.' Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people."

He doesn’t want to face this all alone.  He knows that he’s not up to it, but look at God’s answer:

Exodus 33:14-15 NKJV

And He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then he said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.

God said, “I will be with you!”  Moses said, “If you don’t go, I don’t want to go either!  That should be our prayer when we’re faced with some daunting circumstance.  “I can’t do this without you God…I need You to help me through this!”  God says He will be with us through trials!

Look at this example in Acts Chapter12:

Acts 12:5-10 NKJV

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

Peter was in prison.  Herod planned to kill him.  Peter was chained between two guards.  There were two others standing outside the doors.  It would have been impossible for Peter to escape by himself.  Even if he was able to escape the chains, he would still have to get by the guards at the door.  This was an impossible situation, but God was with him.  God moved supernaturally and sent an angel to help him escape.  God used the angel to cause the chains to fall off.  He helped him to pass by the guards at the door unseen and brought him to the place where the others were praying for him.  God did all of this for Peter and He will do it for you, as well. 

There’s one more thing that I think is important to see.  God delivered all of these people.  All of them were in the will of God; all of them had faith that God would deliver them. 

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego said to Nebuchadnezzar, “God will deliver us!”

Moses said, “If you’re not coming with me, then I don’t want to go!”

Peter, even though, he thought it might not be real, got up and followed the angel!

All of these are expressions of faith, but did God solve all of their problems immediately? No, even though they had faith in God, they still had to go through the trial. 

Meshach, Shadrach and Abed-Nego still had to face the fire!

Moses still had to stand in front of Pharaoh and say, “Let my people go!”

Peter still had to go to prison!

In the end God brought them through it.  We sometimes have to face difficult circumstances, but we are not alone.

Daniel 3:24-25 NKJV

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

The three men weren’t alone in the furnace, Jesus was there with them.  I think that’s extremely encouraging.  We think we’re all alone when things go wrong.  We think no one else is going through what I’m going through.  “I’m out here in this wilderness all by myself,” but we’re not.  We are never alone.  Jesus said, “I will not leave you nor forsake you.”  Don’t you think that’s comforting?  When I have to face something uncomfortable, I’m always glad when my wife is with me.  She can give me the confidence to face things, sometimes. 

When I have to face impossible situations, I’m glad that Jesus is with me, like He’s promised.  He gives me strength and confidence. 

Philippians 4:13 NKJV

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Jesus has the strength, and He can loan it to me!  We can have faith in Him. 

Prayer is Key!

James 5:16b NKJV

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Prayer is the key to deliverance from all of our trials.  This is why in our church services we pray for our fellow believers.  We pray for those who are sick.  We pray for those who have needs.  We pray for our leadership.  We’re calling on God to help us.  We’re calling on Him to be a part of our lives.   We’re looking for His blessing, leadership and guidance.  We need him in our lives and circumstances. 

When I got sick, it was during CFM Prescott Bible Conference.  Someone mentioned it to our fellowship leader Pastor Greg Mitchell, and he made an announcement during the prayer requests that I needed urgent prayer! Remember, everyone thought I was dying. 

People all over the world watch that conference on the internet.  So, everyone joined in that prayer.  I got a text from a friend in Panama that said, “The whole world was praying for you last night!”

I really believe that all of that prayer was key to me surviving that sickness, because I know that God answers prayer.  When Peter was in prison all the saints in Jerusalem were praying for him.

Acts 12:5a NKJV

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. (emphasis mine)

Look at what the Bible says about prayer:

Matthew 21:22 NKJV

And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

It doesn’t say that Some of the stuff you ask in prayer, I might do for you. It says, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believing you will receive.”  It may not be immediate.  Peter was rescued from the prison just before Herod had him killed.  The Hebrew men were in the furnace before being rescued. 

God was faithful to deliver them and answer their prayers.  God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  That means He is still faithful to answer prayer  We can believe God to deliver us because God is faithful still!

Slavery to Dominion

In 1865, The US Civil War ended, and the slaves were freed. Many of those that were freed were stuck in a “slavery mindset.”  They didn’t know what to do after their emancipation.  They missed the opportunity that their newfound freedom afforded them. 

There was one man, though, that was determined t do something with his freedom.  He made a decision to move forward.  He was going to break away from that mindset of slavery, he decided to, “buy property and a gun.” He did just that!  He was able to buy and keep enough property to set up his children and grandchildren in their own homes before he passed away.  He made the best of what he’d been given – His Freedom!

Many of those set free did not possess their freedom and remained as employees on the land where they’d been enslaved.[i]

Today, I want to post about making the most of our deliverance and salvation.

Joshua 3:14-17 (NKJV)
^3:14 So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, ¹⁵ and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), ¹⁶ that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. ¹⁷ Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.

The Slave Mindset

In our text we see Israel crossing into the Promised Land.  This is a very happy time in Israel’s history.  They’re about to receive all that God has promised them, but remember this has taken place forty years after Israel’s first arrival there.  It has taken place after the loss of an entire generation in the wilderness. 

Israel had been slaves in Egypt.  They were suddenly emancipated; suddenly set free.  God had delivered them through the Red Sea, and destroyed the pursuing Egyptians.  Israel was free! 

That deliverance was an event…it happened and it was over.  Once they passed through the Red Sea, they were free, but they hadn’t received their destiny.  There was still a walk in their newfound freedom and a fight possess the Promised Land.  Their destiny was still at a distance. 

Their old slave mentality had to be transformed.  Their institutionalized thinking had to be overcome.  They were much like those slaves of 1865; they didn’t yet know how to process that freedom into destiny.  It has often been said, “It was easier to get the Children of Israel out of Egypt, than to get Egypt out of Them.”[ii]

Even though they were free, they lived with the cultural norms and slave mindsets of the past.  Every obstacle they faced was met with murmuring and complaining against Moses and God.  How many times did they ask, “Why did you bring us out here to die” (Exodus 14:11)?  They demanded water and provision.  “What shall we drink (Exodus 15:23)?  We had it made in Egypt and you brought us out here to kill us with hunger (Exodus 16:3)!  They wanted everything provided for them just like they had in Egypt in slaves.

It carried over into their arrival at the Promised Land when the spies looked over the land and saw obstacles.  God had promised them the land.  God had done powerful miracles to release them from bondage, but they couldn’t see the possibility of doing anything to gain their destiny.  They had been delivered, but they didn’t have dominion.

There’s a transition that’s necessary to go from slavery to destiny.  You cannot continue in the same patterns of thought and behaviors of the past and expect a different outcome.

There is the story of Mickey Mantle – He played for New York Yankees.  He was a great player!  But he had one problem – he was a very heavy drinker!  He developed cirrhosis of the liver.  His liver was destroyed, he was going to die!  Then he received a liver transplant!  He had a new lease on life; a second chance.  He’d been delivered, but he continued to drink, eventually he died of liver cancer.  In the 1990s he stopped drinking finally, but it was too late.  He was a slave to alcohol and when he was delivered (through the liver transplant) he didn’t transition from the old patterns of life until it was too late.  He stayed on the same plantation where he was enslaved.  That deliverance was wasted. 

God had a destiny for Israel.  He had done His part.  He had brought them out of slavery and bondage, but those that had been delivered couldn’t change their old patterns of thought and that entire generation died in the desert, never seeing their destiny come to pass.  It was those that were born in the wilderness; those that had no slavery experience that made it!  Only Joshua and Caleb, two out of hundreds of thousands could change their mindsets and see the Promise. 

Numbers 14:30 (NKJV)
^14:30 Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.

Only those two saw the possibility of a future destiny.  Only those two transformed their thinking into possibility.

We Were Slaves

Think about this carefully, we have all been delivered.  There is a transformation that has taken place in us.  We’ve been delivered from our own sinful lifestyle:

John 8:34 (NKJV)
^8:34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

We were slaves to sin, but I have to ask, “What is your thinking like, now?”  Hundreds of thousands of people were delivered by a move of God, but they died in the wilderness.  They were set free but hey died in the wilderness because they still thought like slaves. 

Have you ever known backsliders?  They always go back to the sin they were involved in before they got saved, because that’s what they know.  The slaves in 1865 stayed at their old plantations because that’s what they knew.  That’s where their comfort zone was.  If you want a different destiny, you need a different pattern.

I was talking to someone recently about destiny!   There are multiple destinies for each of us.  Think about this.  If you had remained in sin, you would be on a path to one destiny, but salvation opened a different path – It took you in a different direction.  There is a different destiny awaiting you! (See Directional Decisions[iii])

It’s a different path.  There are different obstacles.  There are different pitfalls and dangers.  You have to think and react differently on this path than on the other.  If there’s no adjustment to your thinking and behaviors, then it’s very likely that you will never get where you’re going.  You’ll turn back to the “safer” path; the more “comfortable” path.

God delivers us and lays before us a potential destiny.  There’s a promised land that is for us, and there’s a path that we have to walk in order to get there.  There are battles we will have to fight and obstacles to overcome as we walk that path. They are there to help you to change your thinking from “slave” thinking to dominion thinking.  Deliverance is the event that frees you, but it is dominion that brings you to the promise. 

Think again about Israel.  They saw what God did to deliver them.  They saw the miracles and they thought God must be with us, but they broke down at every obstacle.

At every obstacle they tested to see if God was still there.  They constantly put Him to the test.  That’s why they said, “What are we going to drink?”  “Where will we get food?”  The complaining and murmuring were tests to see if God was going to deliver them again.

When they hit the Promised Land, they couldn’t see any possibility to defeat the inhabitants. They wanted to know if God would deliver them again.  “Are you still with us God?  They were still caught up in the deliverance mindset, but what they needed was a dominion mindset.  Where does that come from?  It comes from faith.  Dominion flows from faith.

Dominion Thinking

We can find “dominion thinking” in our Bibles in Hebrews Chapter 11.

Hebrews 11:4 (NKJV)
^11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

Abel was called righteous by his faith.  Cain who had none became a fugitive and vagabond.  A vagabond is a wanderer.  He never found the promise, while Abel entered into his promise.

Hebrews 11:5-6 (NKJV)
^11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Enoch was taken and did not taste death.  His testimony was that he pleased God.  “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.”  Enoch entered into His promise.

Hebrews 11:11 (NKJV)
^11:11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

Sarah received strength to conceive at ninety years of age, after years of barrenness.  By faith she became the mother of the nation of Israel.  She entered into her promise.

Hebrews 11:24-29 (NKJV)
^11:24 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.

All of these are examples of “dominion thinking.”  All of these entered into the destiny that God had placed before them.  What do they all have in common?  Faith.  Dominion flows from faith.

---

[i] Star Parker, Uncle Sam’s Plantation (Paraphrased)

[ii] John Gooding, Joseph Campbell, Deliverance to Dominion, 2019

[iii] Chris Banducci, Standing Stones Sermon Blog, March 3, 2014

Join the Hall of Fame of Faith

 I recently noticed something in Hebrews Chapter 11 that I hadn’t noticed before.  Hebrews 11, called the “Hall of Fame of Faith,” demonstrates a progression of faith.  Our salvation is a process that we work through until we get to Heaven.  This time; our lives is the time that God is perfecting or completing us.  In Heaven we will be completed.

In this post, I want to look at Hebrews 11 and study the progression from sinner to saint, beginning with this passage:

Hebrews 11:1-3 (NKJV)
^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 testimony. ³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

The Steps to Pleasing God

Hebrews 11 is about the patriarchs and matriarchs of our faith, but there’s more here than meets the eye.  Because there are examples of their faith but there is also a pattern for the perfection (or completion) of our own faith.

It’s my intention with this post that we will learn how to “obtain a good testimony” like them.  These were people who pleased God.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
^11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

So, the question is this; Do you have faith that pleases God?  Let’s look at the steps to that kind of faith:

Step One – Giving

Hebrews 11:4 (NKJV)
^11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

Why is giving the first step to faith?  Because our giving speaks about whether or not we have the basics of faith.  It’s about trusting God for His promises.  There are a number of promises about giving - (Malachi 3:10)   These are promises you can see - (Matthew 6:25-34)!  You can see whether God provides or not, but there are other promises that you can’t see, like salvation.  We are promised Eternal Life if we believe.  But if we don’t trust God for provision, which we can see, how can we trust Him for salvation, which we can’t see.

Giving isn’t just God’s method to provide for His church.  It’s also His method of teaching you to trust Him.

Step Two – Agreeing with God

Hebrews 11:5 (NKJV)
^11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Enoch pleased God.  What was it that pleased God?  His faith, but his faith was shown in his agreement with God – He walked with God (Genesis 5:22).  In order to walk with together in the same direction you have to be in agreement.  Enoch was in agreement with God and walked in His ways.  He applied God’s will to his life, so God took him.  This is a picture of the Rapture.  If we agree with Jesus and walk in His ways; if we live His will for our lives, we will be called up with Him (1 Thessalonica 4:16-17).  Are you ready to be called up into Heaven?

Step Three – Answering God’s Call

Hebrews 11:7 (NKJV)
^11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

God called on Noah to build an ark to preserve mankind.  God had a plan for all of mankind, man’s redemption, so he called on Noah to preserve mankind in preparation for the redeemer to come. Noah answered that call and built an ark.  In faith!  It had never rained until then (Genesis 6:5-22)!

Step Four – Following God’s Will

Hebrews 11:8 (NKJV)
^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.

God had a plan for Abraham’s life (Genesis 12:1-4), and he called him to leave his father’s house and his nation and follow God to a place that God would show him.  Abraham followed because of His faith.  He believed God for the promise that God had given him and followed.  God has a promise for you.  He has a plan for your life.  

Step Five – Believing God for the Promise, No Matter What

Hebrews 11:17-19 (NKJV)
^11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, ¹⁸ of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," ¹⁹ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Not only did Abraham follow God, not sure of where He was going, he was sure of the promise.  He knew that God would deliver the promise, even if God had to do a miracle to complete it.  When he was tested, he offered up Isaac, the son that was the beginning of the promise God made to Abraham, because he was sure that God would keep His word even if He had to raise Isaac from the dead (Genesis 22:3-19).  

Hebrews 11:13 (NKJV)
^11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

All of these people had the kind of faith that pleases God.  You can see the progression.  You start by trusting God for the things you can see and progress to the kind of faith that makes God proud.  Hebrews 11:6 say “God is not ashamed to be called their God!”

Faith in Action

 James 2:20 tells us that “Faith without works is dead.”  It’s not just about believing God, it also about taking the actions of your faith.  All of these not only believed but demonstrated their faith in their actions.  I want to look at some others who acted out their faith.

Action One – Stepping Out of the World

Hebrews 11:24-27 (NKJV)
^11:24 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.

Moses was raised as the grandson of Pharaoh.  He was a future King of Egypt, but he gave it all up.  He stepped out of the world and into God’s will.  Egypt is the symbol of our lives before salvation, when we were still in slavery to sin and oppression.  It’s like living in the world and outside of God’s will.  Moses left all that behind to be in the will of God.

If we want to see Christ’s reward, then we also need to leave the world behind and live the life that will bring us the reward.

Action Two – Trusting God Through Trials and Afflictions

Hebrews 11:32-34 (NKJV)
^11:32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: ³³ who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

The Christian life isn't all peaches and cream, as my mother would say.  There are going to be trials and afflictions; there will be attacks and assaults, but this scripture tells us that God can deliver us.  God can turn assaults and attacks into victories, but there has to be a step into action; believing God and stepping out knowing that God will bring you through.  It’s not about not being afraid, it’s about facing that fear and going forward trusting in God, anyway.  How often are we paralyzed by fear in assaults and not able to move forward because of it.

Action Three – Living Out God’s Will

Hebrews 11:38-40 (NKJV)
^11:38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. ³⁹ And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, ⁴⁰ God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

The problem is that we don’t always see what God is doing.  We don’t see all that God sees, or all that He’s doing in us.  That’s why we so often complain about circumstances, instead of looking for what God might be using those circumstances to bring about in us, through our response to those circumstances.  We need to learn to trust that what God is doing is to perfect or complete us.

1 Peter 5:10 (NKJV)
^5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Suffering is how God works in us.  Where is character built?  In adversity or blessing?  God is preparing us for His promise.  He has to complete us according to that promise.  If people in Heaven are just the same as in the world, then what’s the difference?  Why all the suffering and struggle to remain the same.  Th fact is that life in the world is the way we are changed and made new for life in Heaven. 

A Recap

Steps to faith!

Step 1 – Giving:

Step 2 – Agreeing with God!

Step 3 – Answering God’s call!

Step 4 – Following God’s will!

Step 5 – Believing God for the Promise!

Faith in Action!

Action 1 – Stepping out of the world!

Action 2 – Trusting God through trials and afflictions –

Action 3 – Living out God’s will!