Month of March: Faith that produce Good Report By Dr. Lewis Akpogena Dateline: 1st March 2014 at Salvation Ministries’ Holy Ghost Morning service, my Pastor David Ibiyeomie declared the month of March, 2014 as the Month of Good Report reading from Hebrews 11:2: “For by it the elders obtained a good report. In searching the Scriptures on how to activate and experience/receive good report or become embodiment of good report in the month of March, this feature is the result of the search. On how the elders obtained good report the Scripture reads: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear…. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:1-3, 39, 40 KJV) What does it mean to receive or experience good report? Good report use in biblical terms means good testimony, good reputation and noble character. A testimony of good deeds, lifestyle and divine commendation on account of faithful and covenant work. This good report is testimony of better things from God based on better promises from God’s word acted upon by faith. Meaning you can be good testimony by reason of your covenant walk with God by faith in the precious promises of the Word of God (2 Pet. 1:3-4). Why good report? We are commanded to have good report less we be snared: “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:7 KJV). Good report makes for good health: “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health” (Prov. 15”30 NLB). Good report attests to divine calling, apostleship ad assignment/impacts (2 Cor. 6:8). We are commanded to think on good report among other things: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”. (Philippians 4:8 KJV). God reward good report Numb. 14:6-38). Examples of people of faith that had good report abound. Ananias: “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there” (Acts 22:12 KJV) Demetrius: “Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true”. (3 John 1:12 KJV). Cornelius: “And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee”. (Acts 10:22 KJV).Faiths Good Report: Hebrews 11:2 For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good report. In Hebrews 11:1, we saw that faith, which develops from a revelation of GODS Word, is the proof of the unseen. This proof becomes the solid foundation, platform, launching pad for our expectations. At this point, we can truly expect to receive what we desire from the LORD. At this point, faith becomes a present reality to be exercised NOW! It might serve us well to add that faith comes by hearing the Word of GOD in our heart. That Word may come as a direct revelation to our spirit, or by way of the written Word. Whatever the case it is important to know that the Spirit will NEVER contradict the written Word. Many times I have received a Word in my Spirit to believe on and act on, only to find later that this Word was written within the pages of Holy writ the entire time. Our Scripture today tells us that by such faith the elders obtained a good report. The Greek word for “obtained” here means “to bear witness, to become a testimony.” Faith connects you to the supernatural! Jesus said that with GOD nothing is impossible. Then HE connects the believer to GODS unlimited power by saying that all things are possible to he that believes, or to he that has faith. The elders became a testimony, bearing witness to GODS power by the supernatural lives that they lived as they walked by faith. Faith is not a passive thing. Faith is a great motivator because when Bible faith comes alive within you, you cant help but act! The Scripture tells us that through faith they (the elders) subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. A group of missionaries came to our school when I was a child. They said that while they were there walking through the thick jungles a mountain lion jumped out in front of them. They said that their Spirit filled guide rebuked the beast in the Name of Jesus and it fled immediately! The Scripture goes on to say that the elders Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again! I have known personally at least seven men who have seen the dead raised in their own ministries and one man who himself was raised from the dead after three days! Through faith women are still receiving their dead raised to life again! Praise GOD! Faith makes conquerors of men! We have seen how faith causes us to conqueror, but the Scripture goes on to show us how that faith helps us to overcome in suffering. Some had trial of cruel mockings and scourging, of bonds and imprisonments. They were stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain with the sword, they wandered in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented. They wandered in deserts, in mountains, in dens, and caves of the earth. Of whom the world was not worthy. I say with tears that we have many, many dear brothers and sisters in Christ going through these things right now in different parts of the world. How, you may ask, does suffering demonstrate a dominate faith? Hebrews 11:35 says that some were tormented, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection. They, like Christ, set an example by faith for all who will suffer persecution after them. When they are tried their faith will come forth as pure gold that has been tried by fire. On that great resurrection day these dear saints will shine forth with the radiance of the sun! Oh, how unworthy this wicked world is of such, but it is just such a witness that is capable of converting the hardest of heart. Remember it was the death of Stephan that became the seed to converting the Apostle Paul. Paul saw that just mans face shining like the sun with the glory of GOD. He heard Stephans gracious testimony of Christ. The hardened Saul heard first hand when Stephen cried out to GOD for the forgiveness of his persecutors. Lets pray heaven that some of these modern day Stephens who are laying their lives down for the LORD make some modern day Pauls who will shake nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! When we activate our faith we become a testimony, bearing witness to the miracle working GOD that we serve! Make up your mind today that you too will obtain a good report through your faith! Joshua and Caleb demonstrated how we can obtain good report and become testimony in our generation. How? Read Number 13:1-25. The report of the ten spies: “26And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan”. 30And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Numb. 13:26-33). The report of Joshua and Caleb: “6And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not”. 20And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word: 21But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. 22Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 24But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it” (Numb. 14:6-9, 20-24). In brief to experience good report and become a testimony this month, Like Joshua and Caleb, You must believe in God and His word and act by faith. Do you believe in God? Have faith in God (Mk. 11:22). You must hear and obey the word of God concerning your circumstance. Do you believe on God’s promises concerning your situation. Believe and doubt not. Don’t stagger. Stand on God’s promises. God is able to make His word come to pass in your circumstance (Rom. 4:17-22). Confess the word of God concerning His promises to you inspite of contradicting circumstances (2 Cor. 4:13, Job 13:15, 19:25-26, Col. 1:23, Heb 3:12-14, 7:25). Speak and think positively about yourself and your circumstance. Declare what you expect to see, experience and have this month (Ps. 2:8, Job 22:28, Mk. 11:23, Rom. 4:17, 10:8-10, Heb. 11:3). If you need favour. Show favour to somebody. If you need financial breakthrough, sow financial seed, give your tithe to God, give to your prophet/man of God, help the needy/poor and give to your parents/elderly, etc. Serve in your Church’s service units. Think and do something to help someone out of trouble. And expect to receive your expectations and needs being attended to speedily by God. And remember to return the testimony with thanksgiving to God(Rom. 4:21-22). Be a testimony: To become a testimony means to make things happen. Don’t surrender the leadership, control of your life to circumstances that limit your rising. Rise like Jonathan did in 1 Samuel 14:1-6 and Peter and John did in Acts 3:1-11.Testimonies can be inherited through covenant; it can be transferred through will and it can be conferred upon you. But most important you can create a testimony by making things to happen. As co creator with God, God out of void, chaotic situation and he spoke forth light that drove away darkness (Gen. 1:1-3). You can frame your future. It is not in the hands of Satan, witches and wicked people. You decide the situation you want to see in your life this month and call it forth. Don’t beg and pray to God. God has invested the authority to do that on you right now (Lk 10:19, Mk. 16:15-20, Mt. 28:18-20, Heb. 11:3). Good testimony terminates the reign of the tormentor says Prophet Ezekiel Duke. How we can obtain a good report? Read these Scripture out loud, pray with them and apply them as it relates to your circumstance. Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 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. Heb 11:5 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. Heb 11:6 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. Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the kings commandment. Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter; Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Heb 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise”. You are blessed for life. Have question, you may call: 08033399821 or write: akpogena@yahoo. Stay blessed. . Dr. Lewis Akpogena, a Christian Devotional Writer/Minister, Education Management and Media Consultant write from Port Harcourt
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 15:07:45 +0000
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