Thought for Today: FAITH IN GOD

There are many who say they believe in God. There are many who say they know God. But how does a person know they truly have FAITH IN GOD? You see it is very easy to have faith in God when you can see Him active in your life. It’s easy to have FAITH IN GOD when you hear His still small voice give you instructions. It is easy to have FAITH IN GOD when He reveals Himself in ways that all you or those around you can say it was nobody but God.  

And despite what religion teaches, it does not take great faith to believe in a great God. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove; AND NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE UNTO YOU.”  

Only one place that I know of (because I am not one who says I know all the word) but in only one place in the word of God I have read, seen, or heard anyone ask of the Lord: “LORD INCREASE OUR FAITH” and that is found in Luke 17:5. 

Very few ask this of the Lord for one simple reason, how would you know God has increased your faith if He does not put you in a position to exercise that increase faith in Him that He has given you?  

As I said before, it’s easy to have FAITH IN GOD when you actually see Him provide for you.  It’s easy to have FAITH IN GOD when you see Him protect you and your family. It’s easy to HAVE FAITH IN GOD when He shows you His grace, mercy, love, power, authority, wisdom and understanding.

 

Right now, you feel like your FAITH IN GOD is being tested by the world, your flesh, and the devil. And those around you are pushing you to believe that you have said something wrong, you have done something wrong, you have acted in a way that is not pleasing to God, or you have opened the door for the devil to come into your life and have his way.  

Sometimes God allows things to happen in your life to show you just how much FAITH YOU HAVE IN HIM. For the word of God says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God) for he/she that cometh to God must believe that He is a rewarder of them that DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.  

 

You trust in God, you rely on God, you depend on God, you adhere to God. You read His word every day, you pray in season and out of season, you worship God in spirit and in truth. I came by on my way to heaven to open the eyes of your understanding. This is not just an attack of the enemy. You are in a season where God is showing you that your FAITH IN GOD is more than what you are feeling. For the word of God says, “There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man; BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT” 1 Corinthians 10:13.

 

Listen to me, whatever it is you are going through, stop fighting in your flesh (feelings and/or emotions.) Grab the word of God, find out what God says about the situation, and no matter how it feels, no matter what it looks like, no matter how crazy you may sound, say what God said about the matter and know that you will be showing GOD HIMSELF THAT YOU HAVE FAITH IN HIM. Simply because you TRUST GOD even when you can’t see HIM. You know that Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  

For it is written, “Behold I go forward but HE (God) is not there; and backward but I cannot perceive Him (God). On the left hand where He (God) doeth work but I cannot behold Him (God) He (God) hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot see Him (God) But He (God, himself) knoweth the way I take (this is how you know your FAITH IN GOD IS GROWING) when He (God) has tried me (when God has given me an opportunity to exercise MY FAITH IN HIM) I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held HIS (Gods’) steps His way have I kept and not declined” (Job 23:8-11). 

In this season you need to know it’s not just about the enemy attacking you, it’s also God allowing you to exercise your FAITH IN HIM. Grow your faith in God today by holding on to what God said, no matter how crazy it looks, feels, or sounds.

Be Blessed

Thought for Today: Distracted

There is something that the devil has come to the point of understanding. He understands that he can’t prevent you from believing in God anymore. He can’t convince you that God is not all knowing, all seeing, all powerful and everywhere at all times.  He can’t convince you that God does not love you, does not hear you, does not see you, and that God does not know you. And it seems like in this season all hell is breaking out in your life and you have no idea why. You are trying to figure out THE WHAT of everything that is going on right now. 

The spirit of the Lord says to you, “by attempting to figure out THE WHAT of what’s going on, the enemy has lured you out of your position in the kingdom of God. You are so distracted by THE WHAT, to a point that you have taken your eyes off the reality of WHO I AM and who YOU ARE in Christ.” For the word of God says “But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior) to them (this means you) gave Her power to become the sons/daughters of God. Even to them that believe on His name which were born not of blood, nor of the w3ill of the flesh, nor of the will of man but of God” (John 1:12-13).

I don’t know who I am talking to but you need to hear this truth that the sickness that has come upon you or your loved one did not make you, GOD DID. That division and stress in your marriage did not make you, GOD DID. That need that has come into your life did not create you, GOD DID. That dark area of your life that you cannot see your way out did not create you, GOD DID. 

This is what is meant in Job 29:3, “When His (God’s) candle shine upon my head and when by His light I walked through darkness,” YOU HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED by the strategies of hell. The devil wants you to look at the trials, the devil wants you to look at the need, the devil wants you to look at the sickness, the stress, the confusion, the agony, and the hurt. 

Religion has taught so many to just act like those things are not there, act like there is no need, act like there is no stress, act like there is no fear, frustration, hopelessness, or unbelief. And that is simply not true. For the word of God says, “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Listen to me, I need you to focus on the WHO and not the WHAT. That means acknowledge all the bad things that are going on in and for your life right now, acknowledge them, and then remember this one truth: GOD IS STILL WITH YOU. 

This is what is meant in Psalm 23:5, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” Don’t act like what the enemy is doing or trying to do to you does not exist. Acknowledge what the enemy is doing, BUT DON’T GET DISTRACTED. Focus on the table that God has already prepared for you. 

Yes the enemy has brought sickness to you or your loved one, BUT DON’T GET DISTRACTED. Focus on the word of God which says, “By his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Yes, the enemy has put you in a place where you need this or you need that, and you can acknowledge that but don’t get DISTRACTED, for the word of God says, “But God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philipians 4:19).

Yes, the enemy has brought division in your relationship with someone, acknowledge the division but DON’T GET DISTRACTED, for the word of God says, “What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6). The enemy has put you in a position where you now need money. Acknowledge that, but DON’T GET DISTRACTED, for the word of God says, “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God; FOR IT IS HE THAT GIVETH THEE THE POWER TO GET WEALTH” (Deuteronomy 8:18).

I know you are thinking, “Pastor Erick, why are you telling me to focus on what God said?” Because when you focus on what God said you are placing your focus on God. “How can focusing on what God said make me focus on God?” Here, read this, John 1:1, “In the beginning was THE WORD, and THE WORD was with God and THE WORD WAS GOD.”

For it is written, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you AND LO I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD” (Matthew 28:20). 

Don’t get DISTRACTED when the world, your flesh, and especially the devil come at your way with all their drama. Acknowledge what the enemy is trying to do, but focus on the word of God and watch the Father show you that HE IS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.