ICS Daily Devotions
My Immovable Faith
When we are going through a difficult time in our lives or journeying with someone who is, we need to receive a word from God or ask those whom we are journeying with if they have received a word from God. It is difficult to stand in faith without a word from God. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. What gives substance to our faith is the word that God has spoken to us personally. THEREFORE, FAITH HAS TO BE ESTABLISHED ON GOD’S PROMISE AND A PERSONAL WORD FROM HIM. Our faith will bound to waver if we walk out our lives without a word of promise from God or an assurance from the Holy Spirit. Faith is not established on a prophetic utterance by a speaker though it can act as a confirmation. Faith is also not established by asking for a SIGN!! It is important to have the word from God to build our faith upon it because without the word then is silly, wishful thinking and even presumptuous that God is in it!
What is the word that God has given to you? Share it with your friends so that they can stand on the promise with you! We need to know that there is a process after we received what we have been promised.
Hebrews 6:11-12 (NKJV) And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Faith is believing you have received once God has spoken to you personally although you have not seen or experienced it yet. We should hold onto this conviction.
We have read from the experience of the centurion and the Canaanite woman whose servant and daughter respectively were healed on that hour. But we need to bear in mind that not every promise is manifested immediately after we have received the word from God. Everything takes time and we need patience to stand on the promises of God to wait for the manifested answer or else we will give up easily especially while we are so used to instant messaging and everything comes so quickly in the services provided in Shanghai.
2 Corinthians 5:7(NKJV) For we walk by faith, NOT by sight. (emphasis added)
Many believers give up halfway because they are too used to being moved by what they see, hear or experience rather than to stand on the promise and to have patience. It is normal to be affected emotionally and our faith can be shaken when we are seeing and hearing news that’s contrary to what we are believing. Don’t quit if you are convinced that you have heard from the Lord. It is a fight of faith between choosing to believe what we have heard from the Lord and what we are experiencing every other day. It a choice to stand on what you believe and focus on Jesus. That’s why it is always helpful to have one to two faith filled friends to journey with us, remind us of the word given to us and help us refocus on Jesus when we feel shaken.
REMEMBER, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Therefore, let us keep our eyes focused on God and His spoken word to us.
Sermon Series: Friends to Look for in a Crisis
