Be Immovable
ICS Daily Devotions
God respects our choices, and we either welcome Him or reject Him. Whenever we acknowledge He is the Lord of our home, cell group, company, and church services, He is free to manifest and do as He wills through the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we must desire God’s presence and come with a heart of expectation and faith, believing that God can do mighty deeds. We must also honour God, be open to receiving Him, and let Him minister through His servants as He wants to do mighty work among us. Finally, we must connect our faith in the Almighty God whenever we meet as a church and worship Him.
We must have the same attitude and faith as the four friends of the paralytic who, despite the crowd, lowered him from the roof to where Jesus was teaching. They had a dogged determination and faith that they would not return home unless their friends walked home with them. We need to have the same determination to be immovable by doubt and unbelief and by what we see, feel, and experience, but to stand on the promise God has given us.
Matthew 14:30-31(NKJV) But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
The devil knows how to steal the word and derail our faith in God by making us look at our circumstances. We are too used to “seeing is believing”. Peter walked on water after he had received the word “Come,” and indeed, it was a walk of faith that defied the law of gravity. Peter began to be affected by the surroundings instead of focusing on Jesus. Fear came into his heart when he saw the boisterous wind, and he doubted the Word. He started in faith but ended in fear when he looked at the circumstances. What gives substance to our faith is the Word of promise. It is a constant fight between what we believe and what we see. Faith pleases God. Strong faith is taking God’s Word for it.
Mark 4:39-40 (NKJV) Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
When Jesus walked on water, He gave Peter the word “Come”. Similarly, before calming the storm, He told the disciples, “Let us cross over to the other side” (Mark 4:35). These instructions were the anchor and substance of their faith, and Jesus expected them to have faith in His Word. The lesson for us is: Don’t be moved by the circumstances; strong faith is taking God for His Word.
Sermon Series: Faith cannot coexist with Doubt
