Walking in faith and giving God glory

One of the things we studied last Sunday is that there is a redemptive quality to our pain and suffering.

God can bring good out of evil. God uses difficult times to bring growth in our lives. Now then, please understand that God is not the author of evil or suffering, but he can use it to bring about good.

During this whole relocation we have (and continue to face) enormous challenges. It is as one would say, "an impossible situation."

Debbie and I have commented to one another recently that after we have moved out to 183rd street that we are going to say to one another, "it was God".

While we continue to work hard, and I am EXTREMELY GRATEFUL for those who stand side by side with me in the project, ultimately, I know and you know that it will be because of God and his leadership in our lives that we will succeed.

That takes faith. It takes faith to continue working. As I said last Sunday, Faith is facing the reality of a situation (the facts) and not getting discouraged.

Faith is not pretending that everything is great and saying, "everything is wonderful." Everything is not great. There are bad things in the world. There are mountains to be conquered. Faith is facing the facts and not getting discouraged.

Here's what I know: We can't control everything in life. But I do know this - God is in control. And that takes faith.

Hebrews 11 is the classic chapter on faith. Verse 6 says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God.” If I’m not ministering in faith, I’m not pleasing God.

The Bible is even more specific than that. It says, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” If I’m not walking in faith, I’m walking in sin. That’s strong stuff!

What does it mean to walk in faith?

1. BELIEVING WHEN I DON’T SEE IT

Faith is visualizing the future in advance. It is seeing the future in the present. Every great achievement began when somebody saw it in advance. We didn’t put a man on the moon until one day JFK stood up and said, "Let’s put a man on the moon.” When he said that, the technology had not even been invented.

By faith I see our building completed and people driving into the parking lot at 183rd street and walking into our building, connecting to Christ and growing in God.

Faith is believing when I don’t see it. Some things have to be believed before they can be seen. The world says, "Seeing is believing.” God says, “Believing is seeing.” You have to see it in advance.

2. OBEYING WHEN I DON’T UNDERSTAND IT

Has God ever told you to witness to somebody when you didn’t have the time? Has God ever told you to leave a comfortable church ministry and go to an unknown quantity? That’s walking in faith. It’s obeying when you don’t understand it.

Throughout this entire building process we walk by faith. There have (and continue to be) many occasions when I have stopped and said, "I don't understand what is going on"! But we continue to press on by faith.

Abraham is a classic example of obeying when he didn’t understand. He was about 75 years old, and God asked him to give up all his security – right at an age when Abraham should have been getting Social Security!

God said, "I want you to leave. Pick up everything and get ready for the greatest adventure of your life."

The scary part of it is God gave Abraham no details. Abraham says, “Where are we going?” God says, "You’ve never heard of it." “How long is it going to take?” "You’ll find out." “How will I know when I get there?” "I’ll let you know!"

Sometimes God will tell you to do something in your walk, and you’ll think, “There’s no way this is going to work!” Yet, God says, "Do it"!

And guess what? It works!

3. GIVING WHEN I DON’T HAVE IT.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:4 “In faith Abel was commended as a righteous man and God spoke well of his offering.”

Isn’t that interesting? Giving and faith go together. God uses money to test our faithfulness. God watches the giving of a Christian. The Bible says if you have not been faithful with unrighteous mammon, who will entrust you with true spiritual riches?

There is a direct relationship between how we use our money and how much of God's power we experience in my life. It influences how much God can bless my life. We cannot out give God.

4. PERSISTING WHEN I DON’T FEEL LIKE IT

How do you develop persistence? How do you develop the kind of persistence that keeps you in a position when God has put you there, when every bone in your body says, “let's quit this project!” Where do you get that kind of persistence?

Hebrews 11:27 tells us “It was by faith that Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the king’s anger. He held onto his purpose like a man who could see the invisible.”

Notice the key to persistence is that last phrase – he could see the invisible. Only as we see the invisible can we accomplish the impossible. The key to persistence is to keep our eyes on God. Keep our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Corrie Ten Boom says, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.” It all depends on where you’ve got your eyes.

5. THANKING BEFORE I RECEIVE IT.

A good illustration for this is Joshua. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days. Jericho was the most fortified city in the world at that time. God said, “There’s no way a bunch of slaves are going to take this thing, but here’s what I want you to do: March around the city seven times a day for seven days and then I’ll cause a miracle.”

What were they doing seven times a day for seven days? Thanking God in advance. Praising God in advance.

Faith doesn’t mean you believe God can do something. He can do it whether you believe it or not. Faith doesn’t mean believing He will do something. That’s hope. You hope He will. Faith is believing He’s doing it! That He’s already doing it. That the answer is already on the way.

Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “When you pray believe that you have received it and then you’ll be given what you’ve asked for.”

Will you join me in this prayer? "Father, we thank you for helping us relocate our church to 183rd street. We give you glory, knowing that ultimately, we will succeed because of you. Continue to help us oh God. Give us strength we pray. Amen."