Great Faith

Bible Matters 525: Great Faith

People of great faith will always overcome.  Their stories are throughout the bible.  With the power of God, they were able to overcome their enemies and give glory to God in their daily activities.  The only thing standing in the way of you overcoming your addictions and enemies is great faith.  Everything you do starts with faith. 

Noah had great faith. He saw the wickedness of man.   He knew exactly what God had wanted when he was told to build an ark of gopher wood.  Noah spent 100 years building the ark with his three sons.  Did Noah attempt to out think God and make excuses for not working on the Ark…No.  Did Noah doubt God’s ability to save the animals of the world…No.  Noah had great faith.

Genesis 6:5,8-9,13-14,22 – And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.  These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.  And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.  Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.  Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Joshua and Caleb had great faith.  They witnessed and felt the power of God, as the Israelites were led out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, through the wilderness and up to the cusp of the promised land, full of fruits, milk and honey.  Joshua and Caleb did not fear the giants that lived on the other side of the Jordan. 

Numbers 13:27, 30 – And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.  And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 

Noah, Caleb and Joshua had great faith.   Knowing the power of God and God’s request, they knew exactly what they needed to do.  They hoped for the outcome of the directions provided by God.  The evidence of that outcome could only be accomplished by great faith.  They did not doubt God’s power.   They acted on God’s direction.  God provided the outcome!

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The Hebrews worshipped God, the creator, for approximately 1400 years from the time of Moses to the birth of Jesus.  God gave Paul had a special assignment to present God’s gospel of love to the Hebrews.  The Hebrews knew God.  The Hebrews worshipped in temples as directed by the priests, Sadducees and Pharisees.   God ruled their lives.   Jesus sent his disciples two by two to witness to the Hebrews.  The Jews were commanded to depart from Rome.  Paul was a prophet that was sent to witness to the Romans.   

Acts 19:20-21 – So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.  After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

Paul then remained in Rome and dwelt two years in his own hired house.

Acts 28:30-31 – And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,  Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Once you believe in the power of God, there will be no stopping you.  God says to endure to the end!   Never doubt the power of God.  When God promises you the land of milk and honey, then you do the will of God.   Did you ever ask yourself, what happened to Moses?   He never made it to the promised land. 

Throughout his ministry, God directed Moses and told him exactly how to serve him.  God knew the sorrows of the Hebrews.

Exodus 3:7 – And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

God said if the children of Israel did not believe that God sent Moses, then tell them that the I AM THAT I AM, hath sent you.

Exodus 3:14 – And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Moses told God that his speech wasn’t eloquent.  God said to use Aaron thy brother.  Do not make God angry.

Exodus 4:10,12,14 – And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he sees thee, he will be glad in his heart.

Exodus 4:30-31 – And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.  And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

 God directed Moses, as the plagues were spread onto the Egyptians.

Exodus 7:20 – And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

Exodus 9:8 – And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

Pharaoh did not hearken unto the Hebrews. 

Exodus 9:12 – And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.

God directed Moses every move.  The question I ask, does that take great faith.

Exodus 14:15-16- And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

When the children were hungry, God sent manna from heaven.  God just wanted them to follow his laws.

Exodus 16:4 – Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

Regardless of the miracles, plagues and gifts that God sent, the people did not believe on God. 

Numbers 14:6-11 – And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.  But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.  And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

The children of Israel did not hearken to God’s word.  God knew that Caleb and Joshua had given God their heart!  For their belief God promised them the land of milk and honey.

Numbers 14:22-24,26-27,30-31 –  Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;  Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:  But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,  How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.  Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.  But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.

Moses died, looking over the Jordan at the promised land.  Joshua lead the people over dry land in the river Jordan.

Joshua 3:7,17 – And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.  And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

God is real and rewards those that diligently seek him.  Give God your heart.  With great faith and the power of God by your side, the devil will cringe.  Use the power of God to cross over your river Jordan and never look back.  God will magnify you and enjoy that power by serving God and neighbor.  Go live God’s gospel of Love.  God will put you where he needs you, as God did with all people of great faith.

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.