Pitfalls to Avoid on Your Faith Journey
In the last blog, we looked at symptoms and what to do when we are suddenly assailed with instant pain, or some other physical malady. We learned that there is a spiritual battle going on and we need to know how to fight for our healing. Today we’re going to look at what keeps us from receiving our desired outcome, or hoped for healing, job, life mate, or any other number of things.Let’s take a look at the children of Israel. What was their downfall? What kept them from entering into their desired promised land? Well for one thing, they were very impatient, and they built a golden calf while waiting for Moses to come down the mountain as he was receiving the 10 commandments from God! Wow! Doesn’t that blow your mind? Here God is with them in cloud and fire, and he’s a stone’s throw away on the mountain with Moses, yet they don’t believe in Him and they build a golden calf. I researched this for my book, Victory Over Backsliding, and I came upon some really interesting, rather startling conclusions about why they did this. They had hearts that loved this present world. They couldn’t have loved God, therefore they didn’t trust God. They loved the things of this world instead.
When you love the world, the things of the world is all you get. And we all know how temporary those things really are. And so, the first generation of Israelites never entered the Promised Land. Read all about it in Psalm 106, and of course, the play by play account in Exodus. It’s fascinating history, and from it you can gleam many important spiritual truths that apply to us today. I’ve written about some of them in my book about backsliding. I’ll be doing a promo video on this book in the near future.
So, if you haven’t reached your promised land, what’s keeping you from entering into yours? It’s something to think about, and pray about, isn’t it? If you’re like me, perhaps there’s a lack of faith
and too much skepticism. I want to have more faith, don’t you? So how do we get more faith?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Where does faith itself originate?
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
Your faith in God is very important to God.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
What faith actually means is that it is whatever we put our trust in, the thing that we trust. Do we trust in God, or money or our job? What exactly do we put our trust in? In these days of news about the Covid-19, do you find yourself turning to the news mor than you ever did? Perhaps, like me, you want to know what’s going to happen? When will the government call off the social isolation? When will this thing be over? It is tempting to look to government and health officials, but frankly, they don’t know much more right now than we do. The virus is unpredictable, and in many ways, still unknown just how deadly and far reaching it is. So, we really have to put our trust in God, as He is the only one who knows about the virus and how long it will be around.
For me, I am working on putting much more trust in God, and reading the news much less. But I need to try harder. And its not enough just to read the Word. We also need to apply it. At some point there’s a launching off. And sometimes it will be truly terrifying because we are going into the great unknown. I can only imagine that’s what bungee jumping is like. There’s a thrilling exhilaration, but you will never know if you’ll make it and stay tied to your anchor until you jump. Faith is like that. And our anchor is in God. Thankfully, He loves us and He will never let us go! Isn’t that a comforting thought?
In one of the Indiana Jones movies, near the end of the action-packed movie, he takes a step to get from one high mountain to another and there is no bridge available. And as he puts a step forward, a bridge suddenly materializes. It’s as if it was there all the time. Faith makes a way where there is no way. It’s pretty exciting stuff!
Let’s take a look at one of the faith Patriarchs of the Bible, a hero of faith. That hero is Abraham.
I love the story of Abraham and Sara, which also includes Abraham's nephew Lot. There is so much to learn from their faith journey. The contrast of loving God and loving the world are likely the most pronounced in all of the Bible, by the example of Abraham and Lot. Abram doesn’t know where he is going. He waits for God to lead Him and show him the land that will be given to his descendants. And at this point he doesn’t even have an heir. He and Sara are old already, long past child-bearing years. Can you imagine the amount of faith it would take to believe all this?
And then there’s Lot. He sees a desirable city. He follows his senses, and look what happens - cheap thrills and temporary pleasures. The city is so evil and immoral, God judges it with fire and brimstone. He decimates it after Lot narrowly escapes with his family. His women folk have become corrupt. His wife turns back and becomes a pillar of salt. His daughters commit incest and bear children that are often at war with the Israelites.
Abram doesn’t know where he is going, and yet, look at the long term effects of God’s choice for him. Everything that God has promised comes to pass. We read about this account in Hebrews.
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she waspast age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Heb 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one,and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
The most miraculous event is that in their old age, Sara got pregnant and had a son, Isaac. God had promised it, but notice, it took a long time. This is where many people fail — they don’t want to wait for what they’ve asked for. How many young people have perhaps married when they should have waited for the right one? Or they sleep together and had a baby before they were even married? Or maybe had an abortion. Even though God can and will redeem all our mistakes, the regret and sorrow can still linger. Our mistakes made in haste would more than likely bring a lifetime of sorrow. This is not God’s best for us. Waiting on God brings His best, and brings joy, not regret and sorrow. Patience is extremely important when you’re believing for healing, a lifetime mate, a child, or whatever it is. Waver not! And you need courage. You have to be brave when it comes to faith!
Stay tuned for blog number 5 in this exciting series!
No comments:
Post a Comment