Faith Through the Famine

Transcription

1 Faith Through the Famine

2 Romans 4: For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father ofusall, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

3 Romans 4: Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness ofsara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, hewas able also to perform.

4 Faith has the ability to put that which is in the future into the present with conviction and complete confidence that it is done. Faith does not try to manipulate the process, time, or method in which it will be done; faith just knows that the results will manifest. This is why vision is so important: vision is the legitimate way to speak the language of the Spirit and put that which is in the future in time into the present. My faith must have a destination --the ability to begin with the end in mind, or end product, in my mind.

5 Faith must be aware that there is a period of time necessary for a process if there is going to be a earthly or physical evidence presented. Faith is required to understand that obstacles and challenges are a part of that process and necessary. It is your faith that allows you to overlook your present condition and see another outcome that you desire. Don t look for others to join you in your faith walk because most of them are not on your journey; neither are they interested in where you are going, especially when they don t even know where they are going.

6 You must guard your faith and only share your faith as you would your most valued possession; treat your faith like it is a precious and valuable treasure that you don t casually share with strangers. People --even your closest friends-- will damage your faith when they are clueless of what you are trying to achieve. Initially, your faith is like a tender seed planted in fresh soil: it doesn t take much to dislodge it, the birds will easily pluck it up, and the enemy will kill it the first chance he gets.

7 There were many things that tried to destroy Abraham s faith as he went through his faith journey. Your faith must survive the famine; there is no person who does not go through a season of famine.

8 Genesis 12: And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

9 Genesis 12: And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. 17 And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.

10 Genesis 12: And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

11 Famine is the time in your life when it looks like nothing around you is producing your expected results. Famine is a time when you end up substituting what you believe God for, for that which is readily available. Famine will cause you to take detours and experience all kinds of adversity and struggles because your faith is not yet strong enough to overcome the famine. So what do you do in the midst of the famine? You remind yourself of what God promised; confess what you believe in the midst of the famine.

12 Remind yourself that God s grace is sufficient, that your famine cannot outlast God s grace and mercy. Remind yourself that God is in control of the famine and that the famine has a purpose in your process. Remind yourself that this famine is just for a season and that God will send the rain in due season. Remind yourself not to be weary in well doing, for in due season, you shall reap if you faint not.