Be Faithful through it all

Every journey in life begins with you taking the first step. I want to take you through some examples of the steps needed to build your faith with giving you biblical examples and principles, as well as day to day examples on how to build your faith. Now lets think of a baby who is at the stage in life where he or she begins to walk. No one can teach him or her how to walk but its something within that child that gives him or her the desire to take a step. Its a risk that this child is taking, but this desire was already inside the child at the time of conception. And I believe that we need a generation of Christ followers who are willing to take and be risk takers for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As a child who trust his mother or father who's standing before them with their hand waiting "just-in-case," we have to look at God this way. If God is your father or your partner, then you need to make your plans big, take a step of faith and make it big. But a parents first reaction is to think "safety first." This isn't a motto for the risk takers, nor does it work in the field of faith. Faith, to be biblical faith, has to be courageous. Anyone can believe God once he has all the facts, but courageous faith obeys regardless of the situation. A person who's courageous makes a way where there is no way. We need to break out the box that the world tries to place us in. Boxes are intended for storage and God didn't create you to be put on a shelve or to tuck you away in a corner in the closet. It's time for the people of God to put on their shoes of faith and start to take the incredible journey with God. Gods is looking for women and men who will believe that with Christ nothing is impossible. Henry Ford said, I'm looking for a lot of men and women who have an infinite capacity to not know what can't be done. Bishop Jack C Wallace would have us confess, I am an awesome spirit being with infinite potential, I am the head and not the tail, I am blessed in the city and I'm blessed in the field, blessed coming in and going out...

But how can one believe this if they have no faith? What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Faith is believing something that you know with your mind hasn't manifested in the natural but in the spirit it already exist, if you dare to believe. As stated earlier a baby taking his or her first step simply by trusting that his mother or father will be their to catch them. When you began to ride a bicycle, we begin to find out that the bicycle would carry our weight and that as we begin to balance and pedal that it will stay up. Or when you hear your phone ring, you're absolutely certain that you will hear somebody speak on the other side of it. So why is it so hard for Christians to obey God when He speaks? By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going,( Hebrews 11:8) He heard the voice of God and he obeyed. By faith Abel offered the acceptable sacrifice. By faith Enoch walked with God. By faith Noah built the ark. By faith Abraham left His home and traveled to an unknown land. He pulled up roots, leaving everything familiar to obey the voice of God. Where is God calling you?

We have a choice: we can be average or exceptional. The choices that we make will determine the road we take. Choices have consequences and they will reveal our true character. Will you walk with Christ? Can you be identified as a follower of Christ? We have to make a decision to live our lives not based on the world standards of success, but you can ask God to show you who He wants you to be and how He wants you to live your life. Stepping out for God always involves steps of separations. You can't be a coward but you have to be courageous. Courage is a pattern and a path that will keep us going when all around us are is falling and failing. God's calling on your life isn't a vacation but a vocation. When you hear God you have to go hard after Him. When you are believing for a breakthrough this is a turning point or a pivotal moment when you have the opportunity to believe God for something greater to happen in your life. Lets look at some steps needed to help you build your faith in order to inherit the promises God has for you.

6 steps needed to build faith

1. Obedience- the consistency of you responding that goes beyond your comfort level

2. Action- the performance beyond your preference. We must remember the words of Jesus when He called His followers to leave and follow Him (Luke 9:57-62)

3. Decision- the process of determining you will react promptly. God didn't show Abraham everything. Your responsibility is to take that initial step of faith and leave the results to God (Gen.15:1-8)

4. Sacrifice-the destruction of ones own values in order to gain a deeper desire for God. Galatians 2:20 (NIV)²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

 It will require you to commit, worship and to renew/expand your relationship with God by building your "alter." Signs of Abraham's faith were the alters he built. The alter we establish is a relationship with God and to renew our commitments to God daily.

5. Courage- this doesn't mean the absence of fear, but its responding in spite of fear. Courage will place you in a battle that fear would run from, but God is "your shield"Genesis 15¹ After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield,^[a] your very great reward.^[b]”  Be courageous and face the tests of life head-on.

6. Trust- assured confidence that you have placed in the truth of something you do rely in.          (Prov. 3:3-6)Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

When you begin to apply these steps in your life, you're now walking out the faith process. This is something we must do on a daily bases and it's a lifestyle and not just something we do for a season. The actions you then will display are that of faithfulness. Bishop Ben Gibert, pastor of Detroit World Outreach in Redford, MI.(http://www.dwo.org/) defines faithfullness as consistent, reliable, sure, conscientious in commitments to people and principles. Character that is completely credible. My prayer is that you will chose to live a life based upon faithfulness. That you will receive the promises God has for you and you will declare once and forever that you will walk by faith and not by sight. You will not allow the natural circumstance to move you. You live a super natural life and that you are now a target, an instrument for His Glory, and that you will see God manifest in your life like never before, in Jesus name I pray expectantly.

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