BUILDING YOUR FAITH
FROM THE GENERAL OVERSEER,
Pastor (Dr) E. O. Abina
GOFAMINT
BUILDING YOUR FAITH
Sunday 10th April, 2016.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it 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.
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith (Heb. 11:1-7).
The Apostle James writes, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith…. Faith building is not an event but a process which every child of God should take seriously. Faith in God and His word is an important element in all of our Christian growth, experience and maturity. He who claims to be a Christian should understand that he declares that he is a person of faith, because what makes him a Christian is faith in Christ.
As we start our Christian journey by faith at conversion, we should continue to grow in the same faith in God and His word. A Christian should understand that he or she is not an ordinary person our faith in God has taken us above the ordinary persons in the world.
The apostle John writes, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith” (John 4:4). A believer is therefore an overcomer. From the passage selected for this message in Hebrews 11 which is the ‘Faith’ chapter we have records of people who did a lot of exploits through faith. Hebrews 1:11 explains to us what faith really means and it was through this faith people of God in the ancient times had records of exploits that they did, not by human might, power, fame, social status and so on but through faith in the only true and Living God. If you dwell only on what is humanly possible you are living at the same level with the unbelievers you cannot know the power of the God you claim to serve, you will also lose a lot of blessings in your life.
A true and dynamic child of God should operate at the level of appropriating faith- taking God at His word. You believe that what God says is true, you act it and get your result. It may take sometime but it will surely come to pass. We have many precious promises in the word of God for everyone of us to read, claim and tenaciously wait for the result like the Canaanite woman who came to Jesus for the healing of her daughter, like the centurion who told Jesus….only speak a word, and my servant will be healed”. It is high time members of GOFAMINT stand firm on ‘FAITH’ which is the middle word of our name. When we preach the gospel, people need faith to appropriate its blessings. (Rm.10:17) It is the faith in the gospel we preach that motivates mission.
You can build your faith daily when you study the word of God daily, meditate on it, chew it very well as you bite the meat you eat at meal, get stucked to the promises, the instructions, the directives of the word, no matter the situation is, make sure you do not doubt what God says and you will get surprises. Remember building your faith is a process, not an event. As you continue to live by faith in God and His never failing words and promises you also will join the list of faith heroes. May it be to you according to your faith.
Prayer Points
1. Lord, help me to overcome the world through faith in You.
2. O Lord, increase my faith.
3. My faith in God will not disappoint me in Jesus name.