The Faith Album -- part 6
Today we conclude by looking at the final two pages of our Faith Album. I pray that this series of blogs on the topic of faith has been a blessing to all our Mothers of Nations!
WORLD-OVERCOMING FAITH
Maybe you as a Mother of Nations have the type of faith on our next album page. “World-overcoming faith” is for everyone born of God.
I John 5: 1-5 (NKJV) tells us, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
World-overcoming faith sounds so powerful and so large, doesn’t it? But in truth, it is the ability for you and me as Mothers of Nations to step out of our fear of man or our rejected state of mind and begin to walk into faith. It is faith that will cause us to share the gospel without fear. It is faith that will propel us to lead our neighbors, relatives, and friends to Christ. It is faith that gives us the boldness to go where others would not dare go, preach what others are afraid to preach, and confidence to challenge the world and its corrupt, ungodly systems. May each of us desire to daily walk in world-overcoming faith!
EXCEEDINGLY GROWING FAITH
Last, but certainly not least in our faith album, is “exceedingly growing faith.”
In II Thessalonians 1: 3-4 (NKJV) Paul writes, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure.”
Paul recognized that love and faith were growing in the Thessalonian people, helping them to overcome and be victorious in all their trials. They were enduring until the end because of the exceedingly growing faith they were developing in their lives.
Chapter eleven of the book of Hebrews is often recognized and quoted as the “faith chapter” of the Word of God. It lists those who went before us and the faith they exercised in their life experiences. These people were urged on by faith, prompted by faith, and waited expectantly by faith. They received because of faith, remained sustained by faith, and were actuated by faith. They were aroused by faith and continued in faith.
Mothers of Nations, many of us operate in more faith than we realize. It takes faith to be saved, faith to continue our Christian walk, and faith to lead someone to Jesus Christ. Faith is required to believe in eternal life and to walk the walk of faith.
II Corinthians 5: 7-9 (NKJV) reminds us, “For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” We know that without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11: 6a NKJV)
In Matthew 9: 28b (NKJV) we read about Jesus questioning the blind man. “Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him, Yes, Lord.” To the woman with the issue of blood Jesus said in Matthew 9: 22b (NKJV), “Be of good cheer, daughter, your faith has made you well. And the woman was made well from that hour.”
To blind Bartimaeus our Lord said, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Mark 10: 52 NKJV) To the disciples in the boat when the wind came up and started to toss them, Jesus asked, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4: 40 NKJV)
Mother of Nations, where is your faith today? I encourage you to read and further meditate on the Scriptures listed throughout these blog entries. Weigh and evaluate yourself in all the areas and types of faith. Try to discover on what page or pages of the album of faith you are found. Set goals to develop and grow in all the types of faith we need to further the Kingdom of God in these days in which we live.
We certainly need faith operating in our lives today. We need faith for our children, for souls to be saved, for miracles, for His glory to come to our cities, for healing, for deliverance, and for God to move on the hearts of mankind.
Work with the faith you have. Your faith will multiply as you put it to use. Be aggressive with your faith, wielding it as a shield in the warfare of life. Faith says, "I can, and I will fulfill the purposes God has for me on this earth!”
Last of all, in Jude 20 (NKJV), the Word of God tells us, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” To continue in faith, we must learn to pray in the Spirit and hear the Word. We must always remember that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word. (Romans 10: 17)
PARTING THOUGHTS …
As you look back over your personal album of faith, there may be days where you remember walking in great faith and other days when your faith level felt weak or little. No matter where we find ourselves in the album of faith, we are children of God, learning to exercise faith on a continual basis.
If you are not certain that Jesus Christ is your Friend and Savior, I encourage you right now to ask Him into your heart. Just pray this simple prayer that will change your life for eternity:
Jesus, I ask you to come into my heart today by faith. Forgive me of all my sins and be the Lord of my life. Teach me about faith and help me to grow in my understanding of You. Amen.
If you already are a Christian and a Mother of Nations walking by faith, then this prayer is a prayer for you.
Lord Jesus, I want to be a person of faith, someone you can call Your friend. Help me to mature in faith and grow into an overcoming, faith-filled person who changes their world for the Kingdom’s sake. Please grant me wisdom and insight, courage and boldness, and an overflowing abundance of faith. I desire faith for salvation, faith for healing, faith for miracles, and faith for my walk on this earth. Let me hear Your Word, receive Your Word, and act on Your Word daily. In Your precious name I pray, Amen.
Hebrews 11: 1 (NKJV) reminds us, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
By faith you and I trust in the promises of God to fulfill our purpose here on earth as Mothers of Nations and to live a life of faithfulness unto Him.
Pray and listen, learn, and obey. Faith is how the righteous live!
Dr. Sharon Predovich
