This past month sure has been a difficult but spiritually accelerating time for Gabby and I. I want to talk about what we are learning as Jesus leads us through this transition, specifically the realm of living by faith. In no way do I claim to have much experience or even deep insight on walking by faith as I have not been through that many intense situations. But, I will say this last month sure has brought me into a new place of understanding of faith and what it means to live by it.
Romans 10:17
"So then faith comes by hearing, and by hearing by the Word [Rhema] of God."
(Rhema meaning Spirit of God; voice of God; Holy Spirit)
Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Faith is not just an idea disconnected from actual results. Faith brings into reality what is spoken by God. James 2:18 "I will show you my faith by my works." Faith manifests the results by our actions, our cooperation, obedience to the Word spoken by Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit and I have been going over these two passages a lot lately. He is helping me understand the life Gabby and I are supposed to live. Now I will say this life is not just for us uniquely because of our choice to be missionaries. It is the only way one can walk with the Father. Without faith we cannot know God. Also, the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 11 verse 6 "But without faith is is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
2 Corinthians 5:7
"For we walk by faith not by sight."
The way we act, interact, think, make choices, and perceive life is by what we see and hear the Father doing. Not by how much money is coming in, nor by how the world is acting, or the way situations seem to be playing out. Yes, there must be a sobriety to all those things and they have some truth to them. But I will say this, most of those things when they are not brought subject to the Kingdom of God will remain as they are and be our only guide for truth and reality. This life has to be lived out in relationship with God. He put all things into existence and to this day give us breath in our lungs and allows our heart to continue beating. He may a greater statement of His love and existence by sending His Son, Jesus the Messiah to die in our stead giving us the opportunity to be fully released from the bondage of our depravity with no hope at all. Yet now our hope is established through Christ Jesus. Salvation itself is only awarded by faith for "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." What is seen is only part of the picture. What is seen is the result of what is happening in the spiritual realm. This is why we must be in relationship with the Father. He is always up to something and we must be able to spiritually perceive what He is doing and what the devil is doing so that we may cooperate with God and destroy the works of the devil. Lest we find ourselves subject to the kingdom of darkness that unrelentingly wages war against our lives. Watchman Nee says in the Spiritual Man, the moment we stop pressing into the kingdom of God and offensively coming against the devil we have lost ground because the devil will not let up until he is bound on that great and terrible day of the Lord.
What am I getting at here?
Gabby and I are learning to live life pressed against the chest of our Father to hear clearly His voice and step out in faith, obedience to see exactly what He speaks come to fruition. Faith is a huge risk! We are essentially putting all our chips on one number in hopes that it comes up. But the word of God still again says "Hope does not disappoint". God is faithful! This process of support raising surely draws out the truth in your heart. And we are going off of the Word of Faith that what He has spoken to us will come to pass regardless of what we are perceiving in the natural. No man can truly know the thoughts of the Lord and the plans of the Lord. But we surely can trust and believe it is for good and for the purpose of discovering Him more!
Walking by faith is the only way we can live first because without faith we cannot please God. That doesn't mean walk around without a job and any sense of purpose because even in proverbs the writer says those who do not work don't eat. Again faith is full of action and Jesus Himself tells us ASK, SEEK, KNOCK. Despite the risk, the uknowns, the tension this walk with Jesus brings to our hearts we have not felt more free to trust and believe God is who He says He is.
I challenge you as we are challenged to press into God daily to grab hold of what He is saying to you each day in every situation. Take those words how simple and profound they may be and believe for something different and then take the necessary steps to see it come to pass.
I will end with a few passages of scripture that I have been meditating on to bring me peace and confidence. God Bless You!
Psalm 27:13,14 "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
Psalm 119:49,50 "Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life."
Psalm 121 "I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth! He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."
