Of late, I’ve been humming along to these words that we used to sing back in Sunday School:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way,
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey
Holy Spirit has been ministering to me consistently about trust and obedience as the two evergreen supernatural keys that will grant access to new levels and open doors for believers in n this season and beyond.
Evergreen (adjective): universally and continually relevant; not limited in applicability to a particular event or date.
Hebrews 11:6(a) lets us know that but without faith it is impossible to please God. In other words, if we lack faith, God cannot be well pleased with us. Matthew 3:17 records that a voice was heard from Heaven saying, “‘This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased’” in the validation of Jesus. So for God to take pleasure in us, be favorably inclined towards us, and be preferred and thought of as good, we must demonstrate faith.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). One of the Greek definitions of faith, pistis, is a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God, with the included idea of trust.
Strong’s Concordance defines “trust” as to seek and make refuge, to put trust in God, to confide, or hope in God. The dictionary definition of the word is an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength or truth of someone or something.
Essentially, faith and obedience must go hand in hand. A study of James 2:14-26—appropriately titled as ‘Faith and Works’ in the Amplified Version—shows us why these 2 keys must work together.
For just as the (human) body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works (of obedience) is also dead (James 2:26 AMP)
Faith is fruitful: From verses 14 and 18, we can see that there is no benefit to faith that has no good works as evidence. A mere claim of faith is not sufficient. Genuine faith produces good works.
Faith is proactive: Verses 15 to 17 shows us that words and blessings are not enough, if they are not backed up by practical action. Faith without works to back it up is by itself dead; useless inoperative and ineffective.
Faith is MORE than belief: From verse 19, it is foolish to say you have faith, just because you believe that there is one God; because even demons believe that there is one God and tremble in terror.
Faith AND obedience assure us of a good report: James 2:21-24 credits Abraham as being justified by works of obedience which expressed his faith when he offered Isaac his son on the altar as a sacrifice to God (verse 21). In verse 22, the Bible says that Abraham’s faith was working together with his works, and made his faith complete. From verse 24, we learn that a born-again believer reveals his faith by his acts of obedience and not by faith alone.
Hebrews 11 richly summarizes the collaboration of faith and obedience, listing down Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the people of Israel, Rahab and the prophets— who all obeyed God’s different instructions and obtained a good reputation because of their faith (verse 39)
Everything that we do for God has a reward attached to it. Hebrews 11: 6(b) tells us that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
The rewards for obedience are outlined in Deuteronomy 28:1-14. Verse 2 in particular lets us know that we will experience all these blessings (listed from verses 3-14) if we obey the Lord our God. The curses outlined Deuteronomy 28:15-68 are a frightening consequence of refusing to listen to the Lord God and to obey His commands and decrees.
The results of not trusting and disobeying God are catastrophic, not just for yourself but for generations coming after you.
Imagine with me for a minute what would have happened if Abraham had not obeyed God’s voice?
What would have happened if Moses’ parents had not hidden him away for 3 months when he was born?
What would have been the consequences if Prophet Samuel had not anointed David as king?
History is tied to your faith and obedience.
Receive this reminder that radical faith and obedience are your keys to unlock all the promises and inheritances that God has for you, your family, your bloodline, and your nation through all the seasons.
Did you hear about The Builder's Collection?
As builders, we believe that building the Kingdom of God is more than just a noble endeavor - it's a calling. That's why we've curated a collection of products that empower and encourage those who are committed to advancing the Kingdom.
We invite you to join us on this journey of faith and growth. Whether you're a seasoned Kingdom builder or just starting out, The Builder's Collection has something for you. So why wait? Visit our website today and explore our collection. Let's build the Kingdom together!
コメント