WHEN OUR FAITH CATCHES ON FIRE

For a Christian, there is perhaps nothing more important than looking deep inside to see exactly “Where Your Faith Stands” ! When we look at Faith, we must realize just HOW IMPORTANT it is in our relationship and connection to God. FAITH is where our relationship with God begins. It is the Ancient Path that takes us all the way back to Abram. Living in the middle of a Babylonian World, Abram heard the voice of God call to him. God was seeking to have a relationship with the man who would be the Father of multiple generations of God’s people. Abram couldn’t SEE God, or TOUCH Him, and yet HE BELIEVED WHAT HE WAS TOLD, AND WANTED THAT RELATIONSHIP IN HIS LIFE. God established a Covenant with Abram, changing his name to “ Abraham”, cementing the man as his chosen “Father” Of Many Nations. Abraham’s FAITH IN GOD is our Solid Rock that we can look at as we contemplate God in our own life. Perhaps the most amazing thing about his faith was how grounded it was in COMPLETE TRUST ! Abraham was willing to follow God’s instruction to the point of sacrificing his son Issac because God had desired to test his faith. Perhaps more incredibly, God promised his fertility at 99 years old, and that, with a wife who was barren ! Can you imagine the faith it took to still follow God when his human mind was reeling with the logic and understanding of just how Impossible it would be ? Yet, his FAITH IN GOD STOOD STRONG.

THE LORD SAID TO ABRAM: GO OUT FROM YOUR LAND, YOUR RELATIVES, AND YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE TO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU. I WILL MAKE YOU INTO A GREAT NATION, I WILL BLESS YOU, I WILL MAKE YOUR NAME GREAT, AND YOU WILL BE A BLESSING. Genesis 12: 1-2

HE TOOK HIM OUTSIDE AND SAID, “LOOK AT THE SKY AND COUNT THE STARS, IF YOU ARE ABLE TO COUNT THEM.” THEN HE SAID TO HIM, “YOUR OFFSPRING WILL BE THAT NUMEROUS.” ABRAHAM BELIEVED THE LORD, AND HE CREDITED IT TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Genesis 15: 5-6

THEN ABRAHAM FELL FACEDOWN AND GOD SPOKE TO HIM: AS FOR ME, HERE IS MY COVENANT WITH YOU: YOU WILL BECOME THE FATHER OF MANY NATIONS. “YOUR NAME WILL NO LONGER BE ABRAM, YOUR NAME WILL BE ABRAHAM, FOR I WILL MAKE YOU THE FATHER OF MANY NATIONS. I WILL MAKE YOU EXTREMELY FRUITFUL AND WILL MAKE NATIONS AND KINGS COME FROM YOU. “I WILL CONFIRM MY COVENANT THAT IS BETWEEN ME AND YOU AND YOUR FUTURE OFFSPRING THROUGHOUT THEIR GENERATIONS. IT IS A PERMANENT COVENANT TO BE YOUR GOD AND THE GOD OF YOUR OFFSPRING AFTER YOU. “Genesis 3-7

How incredible is it that as God Promised, multiple generations and nations came from this man, and continue today. So, that was a long time ago…is it Relevant For Us Today ? As we look at our lives, can our faith truly BE LIKE THAT ? If we truly sit down and contemplate all that God has done since Abraham, it can become easy to lose track of just HOW IMPORTANT OUR FAITH REALLY IS. Sometimes in our walk with God today, we can become a little too complacent and comfortable with who we are and where we are. I have my challenges. Circumstances are not always easy. But, have I really been tested like Abraham ? I know that when I accepted Jesus as my Lord, Savior, and King I had a deep need for Hope and Purpose. As I matured, God was never far from me, but WAS I ON FIRE ? No one ever explained to me what my TRUE IDENTITY WAS IN CHRIST. No one showed me the true nature of knowing about God versus ABIDING IN HIM and WALKING WITH HIM. The depth of HIS LOVE FOR ME. The Truth in HIS WORD, and the PROMISE of HIS KINGDOM. For a lot of my life I spent time seeking God, but was I truly on fire ? I have shared my moment of awakening before, but it bears repeating. Your life with God catches fire when you move from belief into COMPLETE FAITH, TRUST, AND OBEDIENCE. GOD BECOMES EVERYTHING TO YOU AND YOUR LIFE BECOMES IMMERSED IN HIM ! 24/7. Your focus changes, your needs change, your paths change and YOUR PURPOSE CHANGES :) HE BECOMES EVERYTHING !

AND PETER SAID TO THEM, “REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT . FOR THE PROMISE IS FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR ALL WHO ARE FAR OFF, EVERYONE WHO THE LORD CALLS TO HIMSELF.” Acts 2: 38-39

AND WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, FOR WHOEVER WOULD DRAW NEAR TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS AND THAT HE REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK HIM. Hebrews 11:6

THEREFORE LET US BE GRATEFUL FOR RECEIVING A KINGDOM THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN, AND THUS LET US OFFER TO GOD ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP, WITH REVERENCE AND AWE. Hebrews 12:28

FAITH. FAITH ON FIRE ! Seek it with all your heart. Let it be your goal and passionate desire. The world we live in is but a temporary season in the True and Complete Life We Are To Live. IN CHRIST OUR LIFE IS ETERNAL :) Our FAITH gets us moving and cements our FUTURE ! Ask God to fill you with a Faith that BURNS all the time for HIM. Light the Fire by Being in His Word, Being in Prayer, Being in Fellowship and Seeking HIS KINGDOM ! Each day provides a chance to be like Abraham. Can you open your ears and hear His Voice ? Will you find the strength in Him to leave your current focus and life ? Will FAITH AND TRUST replace comfort and conformity ? I promise you that once you CATCH FIRE, you will never be the same, because GOD HAS YOU AND YOU HAVE HIM ! SEEK FAITH ON FIRE/JAA

BUT GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. TO HIM BE THE GLORY BOTH NOW AND TO THE DAY OF ETERNITY. AMEN. 2 Peter 3:18