WALKING WITH GOD

Hebrews 11:5,6

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

What we are doing is taking these heroes of faith and see what we can learn from them. From Enoch we see that to live a life of faith is to please God. Or let me put it in another way, faith makes you please God with your life. The Scriptures said of Enoch, he had a testimony before he was taken. I

FAITH IS EXPRESSED THROUGH GIVING

Heb 11:4

“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

It is important to understand that living by faith does not mean anything goes. To be successful in your faith walk, the best is what you give to God. Whether it is your time, talents, or treasure, if it is not the best, it is nothing. Besides giving to God, it need be said also that faith does not excuse shoddy services. 

That is you do not give shoddy services to people in the name of ‘you are looking to God and not to man’.  The text says Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice, by faith. Look at what characterize the sacrifice or giving, it is more and it is excellent or the best. This is how you can know if your giving is motivated by faith, it will always be more and it will always be the best you can give at that particular time. Do you know that faith is also expressed through giving?

“Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham “made right with God by works” when he placed his don Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works?” (James 2:21,22 MSG)

In this case what works is the Bible referring to but the offering of his son, in other words, giving? This is why when you can not give God the tithe (which is the minimum), because you think what you have is not enough, you have just expressed your lack of faith in God’s ability to provide for you. 

Living by faith will make you a giving person, this is the witness of Abel to you. When faith is combined with a liberty in giving, such a one cannot be stopped, you will come into dominion with acceleration.

CONFESSION/PRAYER: 

I pray for you today, that your faith be strengthened in the area of giving like Paul told the Corinthians that they abound in this area also. May your faith abound in this also, in Jesus name. 

MY REINS SHALL REJOICE

   Proverbs 23:16

“ Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.”

   Proverbs 15:30

“The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.”

The issue of confession cannot be overemphasized in teaching or talking about faith, that is, making sure that one is speaking the same thing God’s word is saying on any situation. Our verses for meditation today further underscore this. Here we see that it says even your body parts respond to words.

The word “reins” actually refer to internal organs, notice it says they rejoice when you speak right things. Then the next one says a good report will make your bones fat. You may be reading this today and doctors have given you a report which cannot be called a good report that some of your organs are failing or something is wrong with your bone. 

Well, here is the word of God that says you can change what doctors might have seen about your internal organs. The way to go about that is to begin to speak right things about your body, say what the word of God says about your body parts. Your speaking will affect the condition of even your internal organs, so speak life into them. 

If need be God can change your damaged body part and give you a new one.

PRAYER: I PRAY FOR YOU RIGHT NOW NEEDING A NEW BODY PART, RECEIVE RIGHT NOW IN JESUS NAME. I COMMAND THERE TO BE A TRANSFER FROM THE STOREHOUSE OF HEAVEN INTO YOUR BODY THAT PART YOU NEED NOW IN JESUS NAME.

CONFESSION: MY REINS ARE REJOICING AND MY BONES ARE MADE FAT NOW IN JESUS NAME.

FAITH IS A TITLE DEED

Hebrews 11:1 (amp)

“NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

It says faith is a title deed. What is title deed? Now anyone who has ever purchased a property, would know what a title deed is. But let us see from the dictionary:

Title deed; A legal document constituting evidence of a right, especially to ownership of property.

That is, something that shows you a particular thing is yours. Now there is a property that I have bought, that physically, I have not seen but I have the document that proves its existence and another document registered with the government that says it is mine. If we want to give a name in scriptural terms, we will call that document faith. 

Now there is a document that is evidencing or gives proof to what is rightfully yours, that document is the word of God. So when the devil comes to you to tell you that you are not healed or your need is not going to be met, show him your title deed, the word of God. It is enough to make him to flee and leave alone. 

That is what Jesus did when He was tempted, He said it is written! He showed the devil the document and the bible said he left. Today let the devil know what is written concerning you. The bible is a legal document, signed and sealed in the blood of Jesus, attested to by heaven, respected and adhered to by hell.

CONFESSION: QUICKEN ME O LORD ACCORDING TO THY WORD FOR I HAVE HOPED IN THY STATUTES.

The shield of faith

Eph 6:16

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

Faith here is symbolized as a shield, which is very instructive and encouraging. This is so because when Paul was penning this passage of the scripture he had before him in full view how a Roman soldier is dressed in their full armour. 

The shield back then is not like the tiny ones we see in our books now. The Roman soldier’s shield is such that when it is held, it gives full covering to the soldier and does not leave any part of him exposed. So you

Faith is the conviction

Hebrews 11:1 (amp)

“NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

Again we see from the amplified translation, faith is the conviction of the reality of something. In other words you are convinced that something exists without seeing it. Now there are a lot of things that we are convinced of their existence without seeing them. 

Every human being is convinced they have a brain even though they may not have seen their own (or even somebody else’s for that matter). But what brought such conviction, because they have heard it being taught in a biology class or something. 

Well there is something also that you can use to convince yourself of the reality of your healing, blessing, that fruit of the womb you need, etc. It is the word of God. Now don’t wave that off. 

The scriptures say there was nothing that was created that wasn’t created by the word. So if anything should know about the existence or reality of anything it should be the word of God. And if you cannot be convinced about the reality of anything from the word of God, then your conviction will be flaky.

CONFESSION: Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy word. 

Confidence in God's ability

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

“NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

We see from the amplified translation many things faith is. Firstly it says faith is  the assurance someone has about something. What is an assurance? It is defined as:

 confidence in one's own abilities or certainty.

This would mean then to have confidence in God’s abilities. Faith then is having confidence in God’s abilities about the things you hope for, the desires of your heart. Confidence is the state of mind of being certain. What this means is that faith is not about you making anything to happen, it is being certain in God’s ability to make it happen for you. 

You are not to heal your own body, you are not to meet your own need. All you need is to be certain that He has the ability to heal you, meet that financial need and then you sit back and watch Him do it. That is faith! So the question today is: how confident are you about God’s ability to do what His word said He can do?

CONFESSION: 

Unto God who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all I can ask or think, I submit myself today. 

Another look at faith

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Let us use what the above text says, faith is to understand faith better. We will use the different translations. Beginnning with the King James version, it says Faith is (the) substance. What is a substance? It is defined as:

       “ the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists.”

       “ solid basis in reality or fact”

This means faith is the physical matter of things hoped for or gives a solid base to things hoped for. So the question is what do I have that is like physical matter to what I am hoping for, or gives a solid base to it? You do not need to look far: “ The Word (of God) is nigh thee, even in thy mouth…” (Romans 10:8). 

The word of God gives materiality to things hoped for. Faith is like stepping out on water, but after you have stepped out, that is when you realize, you are been sustained and you are not sinking.

“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.”  (Matthew 14:23-29)

What held up Peter on the water? The word provided materiality to what he hoped for, to go to Jesus.

The word will hold you up too.

CONFESSION:  

I lay down and slept; I wakened again for the Lord sustained me. I am being sustained by the word.