RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY, MARCH 22ND PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME MIX HOPE WITH FAITH AND LOVE For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews 4:2) The Word of God ministers hope, faith and love. Many times, when people hear the Word, the first thing it gives them is hope. However, hope is not enough. Hope gives you the picture afar off; pictures of possibilities; it shows you the blessings that could result from acting on God’s Word. Faith, on the other hand, is the response of your human spirit to that hope that God’s Word has ministered to you. While love is the way you act upon it; the way you live by the Word that God has given you. When the Word of God ministers hope to you, you have a choice to mix it with faith and love for it to produce the results that God wants. If you don’t mix it with faith, you’ll get a different result. For example, in the Old Testament, Sarah, Abraham’s wife, heard the Word, that she was going to have a son for Abraham (Genesis 17:16). But at that moment in her life, she didn’t mix the Word with faith. She tried to make God’s Word come to pass her own way, by contriving to give her maid, Hagar, to Abraham so she could get a son through her. The Word brought her hope, but God required her faith as well. However, things didn’t quite work out as she expected. Hagar did bear a son for Abraham, Ishmael by name, but that wasn’t the result God wanted. Sarah soon became frustrated and upset by the result she got (Genesis 21:9). Don’t try to make God do things your own way or try to “help” Him make His Word come to pass. The Lord never fails or disappoints. He however expects you to mix His Word with faith and walk in love, for faith works by love. PRAYER Dear Father, as I study your Word today, my spirit is enlightened to know and walk in the paths you’ve ordained for me. I declare that the power, glory and realities of your glorious Kingdom are unveiled to me as I fellowship with the Spirit, and the Word today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. FURTHER STUDY James 1:3(Amp) Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 1Corinthians 13:13(Amp) And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--convict ion and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love. Galatians 5:6(Amp) For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. DAILY SCRIPTURE READING 1 Year Bible Reading Plan Luke 4:14-44 Deuteronomy 22-24 2 Year Bible Reading Plan Romans 2:1-11 Psalm 90
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 21:09:02 +0000
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