PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV)
NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons)
MA, PhD.
EXERCISING YOUR FAITH
Devotional
Text: Matt. 17:14-20
Introduction:
Simply put, faith is trusting God for something. It is believing
Him until He releases an answer to a given prayer or request. On the other
hand, exercising one’s faith means acting on God’s Word already believed, for a
desired result.
GENERAL
REMARKS
(1) The just
shall live by faith, (Rom. 1:17)
(2) Without
faith it is impossible to please God, (Heb. 11:6).
(3) Faith comes
by hearing God’s Word, (Rom. 10:17).
(4) The smallest
faith can move mountains, (Matt. 17:20).
ACTS OF FAITH, (MATT. 9:20-21)
For faith to produce the desired
result(s), it must take a three dimensional steps. The woman with the issue of
blood is a good example of faith acts.
(i) She
conceived faith (verse 20)
(ii) She
confessed faith, (verse 21)
(iii) She acted
faith, (verse 20).
WHAT FAITH CAN DO, (Eph. 6:16)
From every biblical indication,
it is obvious that faith can quench every attack that comes from Satan and his
evil forces. Specifically also, faith can;
(i) save a
sinner, (Eph. 2:8-9)
(ii) heal the
sick, (Matt. 9:22).
(iii) produce
evidence, (Heb. 11:1).
(iv) move
mountains, (Matt. 17:20).
OBSTACLES OF FAITH
Faith encounters three major
obstacles. These obstacles include;
(i) Fear: (Luke 8:50; Mk. 5:36)
(ii) Doubt: (Mk. 11:23; James 1:8).
(iii) Unbelief: (Matt. 17:20; 13:58).
Experience has sown that when one prays
for healing, the prominent attackers of the “healing faith” are “fear” and “unbelief”, (Luke 8:50; Matt. 17:20). Similarly, when one is moved
by faith to move the mountains of problems, what attacks in the process is doubt, (Mk. 11:23). Furthermore, it is
important to note that “unbelief”
generally hinders miracles, (Matt. 13:58).
Finally,
“let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is
faithful that promised”, (Hebrew 10:23).
No comments:
Post a Comment