First, I definitely apologize for the day's delay in our schedule. But carrying on...
As we continue to study the key scripture 1 Timothy 4:12, it seems like this scripture went from the lightest to heaviest, in the terms weight.
As we continue to study the key scripture 1 Timothy 4:12, it seems like this scripture went from the lightest to heaviest, in the terms weight.So if you're just joining us, make sure you check out the last two blogs where we talk about being an example in WORD , CONVERSATION. and in LOVE. This one though. This one probably deserves a complete thorough study, or at least more than one part so let's just see where the Lord is going to take us on this one.
Faith. It is defined in the scripture (Hebrews 11:1) as the "evidence of things not seen." Understand that everything that we see manifested in the natural realm first was determined in the spirit realm. We talked last week on how the Most High spoke things into existence. What we didn't say was that there had to have been a particular faith in the authority of His Words in order for it to manifest.
We are not only called to carry this same authority by speaking His Word on Earth, but we are called to live by faith. Though holiness is good and required; and good conversation and conduct is what our Father has instructed us to display - the Bible says it is by faith that we are to come to Him and live through Him (Romans 1:17). It is by faith that we please Him. It is by faith that we live! Everything that we do for Him must be hinged together by faith. He says that without faith it is simply not even possible to please Him.
So, really let's pause and think on that. Where is your faith? How authoritative is His Word in your life? Is it completely black or white? Or are you still lukewarm, still in "transition?" This is a dangerous position because the level of your faith also determines the extent of His power in your life.
I have a very practical example, well a few:
A while ago the Most High changed my diet. I was on a fast but I had broken that fast determining that He would understand; to me, I didn't have the finances to be committed to the fast while providing food for my loved ones. Well...I won't go into detail but the experience that I had ended in a lot of fire and weeping, but one of the things that I believe He instructed me to do (I mean, I could almost hear this audibly) was this statement: "Use your faith."
He went on to say, "If this is the way that I told you to eat, then that means that I will provide."
Since that day, I stopped questioning a dollar sign. I began to confess before I went into the store, "Everything I need is on sale." Ladies and gentleman, I kid you not - every time I buy food, everything that I need is on sale. (Faith without works is dead, ok?) After awhile, my loved ones slowly transitioned to my diet (mostly) and the Lord would begin to give me recipe ideas! From the youngest to the oldest, they would look at it oddly and say, "This is good!" I mean I made a dish one day that was so good it tasted like hot tamales. (Non-Delta readers, y'all gotta try some one day if you haven't!)
I recall another early Sunday before service, I was down to my very last $20. I needed shelter covered and food. The night before I'd had another experience with Yahweh.
I believe I heard Him promise me a change in provision over my life and that I was to sow the last $20. Well I needed at least $150 for the week so I laughed and said, "Lord, ain't nothing this $20 gonna do for what I need anyway. I trust you."
Later that day, before I even left church, I was invited to dinner. :) But wait, it gets better.
Two days later a young lady fell on my heart to bless. I had a top she'd wanted from months before and had neglected to give it to her. I'd lost a lot of weight and didn't really want to give that top away but I felt the conviction to. So I told her she had to meet me because I had something for her. It was almost urgent for me because after I had given that Sunday, I was really excited to see what my Father was about to do! I didn't expect anything from her, but from Him.
For the sake of the length of this blog, within me being obedient and exercising my faith, she blessed me with $40. But wait, it gets better.
I told you I needed shelter money. The Lord then prompted her to provide the exact amount I needed two days before I needed it. I had no idea where it was going to come from. You hear me? None. But I said, "You know Lord, you know I need shelter just like I do. I'm not worrying. This is your job! I'm your child! So this is your problem to provide this shelter!" All I could do was cry before Him for being faithful!
Another day, my vehicle was stolen! Yes!! LOL I went into prayer and worship and went on about the day. I gave and prayed for others. I served others like nothing was going on. I laughed and said, "Well I've been decreeing a new car anyway. Father it's gonna come back or you'll replace it but either way...it's your problem!"
Hours later, the car was found. LOL. I still have to laugh behind that one!
As our Father has humbled me, I can give you example after example in where my faith carried me. It didn't always feel good. I didn't always want to obey. But when He said move, it was like the inside voice of my spirit was so loud. I just knew that this would be a season of complete death to myself.
Now, I'm not telling you to go out and do anything without His leading. I'm giving you an example of how He's proven Himself to be completely faithful to me. Is it scary? To a fully "independent spirit" such as myself, uuuuuuuuhhhhh yes! LOL
What I should include in this is that in March of 2013, part of the prophecy I received was having the ability to believe big things. So I know for some, this is a far, far stretch.
So I tell you to do as Peter prayed, "Lord I believe. Help my unbelief."
See, it's nothing wrong if you're not operating in a "crazy" faith as I've been told, but the important thing is that you begin to operate in faith. What is important is that you begin with the basics of understanding that He IS. He is what? He is Jehovah Jireh! He is Jehovah Rapha! He is Jehovah Nissi! He is the ALPHA and the OMEGA. He is the LION AND THE LAMB. He is EVERYTHING that you NEED Him to be. He is LORD. He is, as He told Moses to tell Pharaoh, "I AM."
Now, I know I haven't come with a lot of scripture yet but I believe that this is definitely one of the topics where I can and should apply, "And they overcame by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony." Oh, yes, there are plenty of scriptures on faith and we'll look at a few but what I want to tell you is that "I've tried it and it works." When I had to depend on Him for every single need, every single day - like our forefathers in the wilderness - I found Him to be true.
See, here is what I don't think that we realize. In order for Him to do miracles, signs and wonders in our lives - that means that we have to be placed in situations where our natural ability is exhausted. My friends, this is exactly where my life headed. There were things I could not control. There were things He would lead me to do in blessing others. I questioned why. Sometimes delayed obedience. Sometimes cried.
But I was obedient. I then understood that what He asked me to do, freed me. I freely gave and I freely received as He caused people to bless me. But many times, we wait for Him to move and then we will move, (aaayyye when we move, He move...just like that, NOOOOO....LOL, ok sorry!)...that's not faith. Waiting on Him to move first isn't faith. Faith is taking the first step. I heard one day, "People are commanded to bless you." Now, this sounds way easier than walking through. But I had to become the blessing as a giver to receive my blessings in faith. (CATCH THAT)
So what would I do on days when my faith was shaky?
I watched videos by Juanita Bynum and other strong messages filled with faith. I read books on faith. I confessed scriptures on faith. Most importantly, I didn't complain. I refused to complain. I refuse to fix my mouth to agree with the devil and worship him by listening to him say, "Hath God said." When the thoughts came, I would say out loud, "Thank you for being my provider!"
This, my friends, is a choice. You just either decide that His Word is all the way true for you or all the way a lie. It was this simple for me and those were the words I reminded Him of. I would declare, sometimes through tears, "You said that you would supply all of my needs according to Your riches and glories!"
And the shaky thing? Him not showing up when I have my eyes fixed on a bill that needs to be paid in a week. But as I fixed my eyes and focused on HIM first, His peace would overcome me and I would declare His word back over my life. I didn't open my mouth to ask to borrow from anyone because I said, "You said we are to be the lender and not the borrower."
I recall that very same day that I gave the $20 bill, I was laying at the altar and just wailing in worship. After the choir finished, Pastor begin ministering from worship and I don't remember the exact words but in a nutshell he said the same thing. He said that God is a supplier therefore there was no need to beg and borrow other men to take care of you! I almost fell to my knees y'all.
Somebody may be going, "She telling all her business on this blog!"
Look, this ain't my business! It's HIS business. Now I dare you to try Him for yourself so that YOU can go and tell your friends about all the great and mighty things HE will do for YOU if you ONLY BELIEVE.
This is why we have to look and stand on our first scripture (somebody say, "About time!" LOL).
Hebrews 11:6 This is one of my absolute favorite scriptures.
But G1161 without G5565 faith G4102 it is impossible G102 to please G2100 him: for G1063 he that cometh G4334 to God G2316 must G1163 believe G4100 that G3754 he is, G2076and G2532 that he is G1096 a rewarder G3406 of them that diligently seek G1567 him. G846
(I included the Strong's references so that you can click and study for yourself.)
This is the requirement people. Faith. How can we believe that His responsibility is us when we don't believe in Him to be who He says He is. And this is especially pertinent to the "independent" culture of women that we have today. Many of us are fatherless and some even motherless. We're use to fending for ourselves. We're use to working ourselves to death really, because "we can't depend on no one."
Well I've got an announcement for you today. You're not a bastard child and He's not an absentee Father. The entire world is in His hands and you are His beloved! He's not so mad at you that He won't provide for you! Matter of fact, He's not mad at you at all. He wants you to come home, see what you've been robbed of and rest in His arms as a parent reunited with their child.
Think on this: If you have children or other loved ones - no matter what they do, you'll still feed them and clothe them. What makes us think our Father won't do the same? He wants to provide for us.
I found this song during these faith trials that I'm going to include at the end of this blog, but they were a strong inclusion in my worship. Many hours I spent allowing the words to penetrate my heart and mind. As a fatherless child, I didn't comprehend the Father's heart. And to some extent, layers are still being peeled off but I can tell you, I trust Him.
I know that HE IS the one true living God and I know that He rewards those that seek Him and have faith in Him. When I was out of His will, He took care of me and now being IN His will, I tell you - He just really shows out. And I know that He isn't done. How? Because that's what His Word says! This is why the revelation of Hebrews 11:6 is so important! Belief in Him and His power is so important!
If I were you, I would meditate on Hebrews 11 for some time. Simply read over and over. And then, as lead, feed your spirit some faith boosters. This leads to the next scripture, Romans 10:17
So then G686 faith G4102 cometh by G1537 hearing, G189and G1161 hearing G189 by G1223 the word G4487 of God. G2316
You're not going to allow Him to help your faith with just a Sunday service dear brother and sister. It is not possible. You have to feast on this Word and His presence. If you have to take one scripture a day and just meditate (think on over and over again) or one song and just put on repeat, then I mean...that's just what you've gotta do.
I can tell you, during this period - I didn't want television, radio, food, wine, or nothing to distract me out of focusing on this Word. Why? Because this Word was my livelihood. It had to work! What was I gonna do if He was a liar? What was I going to do if He didn't provide? Where would my mind be if He wasn't peace?!
Faith only, and I mean only, comes by hearing the Word. Outside of church, I was constantly downloading that Word in me, still by His grace. Scripture after scripture, song after song, audible sermon after audible sermon. Food? No ma'am. No sir. I'm straight! I gotta hear heaven!!!
Now again, it's okay if you're not at a point of desperation like I was. But this I know. When you ask Him to be Him, He will need to shake some security from you. If you're use to always being able to do and lead yourself, you don't need Him. And if you feel like you don't need Him, ha! That is a dangerous place to be.
Ever notice how Yeshua couldn't do many miracles because of other people's faith? What was the problem? It wasn't Him. He did miracles everywhere He went. Miracles flowed out of Him. But the scriptures say the following in Matthew 13:58 -
And G2532 he did G4160 not G3756 many G4183 mighty works G1411 there G1563 because G1223 of their G846unbelief. G570
On another occasion He says in Mark 11:24
Therefore G1223 G5124 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 What G3745things G3956 soever G302 ye desire, G154 when ye pray, G4336believe G4100 that G3754 ye receive G2983 them, and G2532ye G5213 shall have G2071 them.
Is that three scriptures? I believe my witnesses have been counted correctly, lol. I mean, I can give scripture after scripture and my own testimony after testimony.
But here is the final conclusion as I commonly ask in my business, "Are you ready to get started?"
Are you tired of having to carry the burden of worry? Are you tired of living without peace? Are
Now, to tie all of this together with Paul and Timothy - look at Paul's life. I would think that this would be the epitome of a man of faith; and this is who Timothy has to look to. For Paul, our Father's Word was bond. This translates to me that the same faith that Paul displayed to Timothy, then Timothy should be able to be an example also. He should not be one day declaring the Word and then the next in his feelings talking about "I guess He didn't hear my prayers."
No, faith isn't for the weak. It is the substance of things "hoped for" and the "evidence" of things "not seen." Faith is belief in something that you simply do not see; you simply have to choose to believe that it is truth for you. He has already given you a measure of faith, as Romans 12:3 reads -
For G1063 I say, G3004 through G1223 the grace G5485given G1325 unto me, G3427 to every man G3956 that is G5607among G1722 you, G5213 not G3361 to think of himselfmore G3844 highly G5252 than G3739 he ought G1163 to think; G5426 but G235 to think G5426 soberly, G1519 G4993according as G5613 God G2316 hath dealt G3307 to every man G1538 the measure G3358 of faith. G4102
Your measure of faith may not look like mine and that's fine because to be honest, I wouldn't have ever asked for the measure of faith I have. Therefore, I can't take credit for it. So be careful talking about, "I want faith like David! I want faith like Paul! I want faith like him/her!" You don't know what that person had to endure to trust Him like they do!! Look...I don't boast because, in the natural, I understand I've believed and stood (through HIS grace) in what most may consider foolish! What's that to boast about?! LOL!! Talk about humility! Oh yes, completely humble and boastful only in His ability to keep me sane when it honestly felt like I was losing it! So walk out YOUR faith! Be an example to other believers!! Use your faith! Faith is currency, as I have heard over and over again. Trust me, I had to learn this and depend on it.
Wherever you have to start or wherever you begin to believe, I encourage you to use your faith!
Begin by praying that He gives you a revelation of who He really is and how much He loves you! This makes all of the difference.
I will include a few resources that jolted my faith but the best and most reliable is the Word.
Hmmm.....something told me that this was going to go in a different direction than usual. LOL Somebody just say, "Hallelujah."
If this blessed you, share it with someone else and bless them!! In faith! :)
#iAgapeYou #aCall2Purity