I’m going to see a victory - That is God’s promise to you!
With the crazy things going on in our society right now, our faith often turns to fear.
We worry: What if this happens, or that happens? What will we do then?
There is a better way to live life.....
What does it take to please God? Ritual, sacraments, going to church, reading the Bible, following the rules, etc...?
God is not interested in religion or in rules. He is interested in relationship. To have a relationship with God, we must first have faith in God.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is believing even when we don’t see it.
We have to believe in God, they He exists, that He can protect us, & that He wants to have a relationship with you!
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11
God loves us and has a plan for our lives!
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”
Ephesians 2:8
This is a firm foundation that you can build your life on!
Faith is believing even when I don’t understand it.
“By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”
Hebrews 11:7
There is a direct correlation between faith and obedience! If we have faith, it will be evidenced by our obedience. We obey, we follow His direction, even when we don’t understand!
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.”
Hebrews 11:8-9
Could you do that? Launch out on a trip to a place where you have never been before?
Faith always involves risk. Will you follow God or will you play it safe?
Lots of times God’s ways don’t make sense.
For example: the Bible says when someone hurts us, we should forgive them. We are called to obey Him even when it does not make sense.
Faith is persevering even when you don’t feel like it! Don’t trust your feelings! Feelings follow your actions. So ACT the right way! Act is faith.
Successful people are ordinary people who do what average people don’t feel like doing!
“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.”
Hebrews 11:23-27
Faith is trusting even when I don’t get what I want (or think I need)!
God is not a genie. He won’t give you stuff just because you think you need it! This is not prosperity Gospel. Your faith does not force God to do something.
“And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”
Hebrews 11:39-40
All these great men and women of faith never saw what had been promised to them. Yet the still obeyed and acted and lived in faith!
God never promises us a rose garden. Living by faith does not exempt us from trial and tribulations (including viruses!). God’s desire for us is not happiness. It is joy, peace, and TRANSFORMATION! He wants us to become more Christ-like. This means He often leaves the trial in our life.
But if we live by faith, we can walk through this life singing’ “I’m going to see a victory!”
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