faith | Revelations From The Road

Increase Our Faith

December 8, 2007 by Bill 2 Comments

Given November 14, 2007
First, I apologize for not writing for over a week. I was attending a state technology conference for most of the week and was unable to find the time. So, I will catch up beginning today.

After Jesus had told his guys to forgive somebody seven times as day, they said, “Lord, increase our faith“, Luke 17:5. That seemed a pretty tall order for those guys and they realized they needed more faith to do that. But Jesus began telling them that all they needed was faith as small as a mustard seed. They didn’t need any super faith, they had what they needed and we do too.

But, it made me think about seeds….if we have a seed that we want to produce a plant, we don’t take it to Jesus and ask Him to give us the increase. No, we plant it, water it, and do the things that we know will cause it to grow and increase. The law of seed-time-harvest is already in place, we just have to operate in it.

I think it’s the same with our faith. We all have a measure of it, (the seed), so we have to develop it with prayer, the Word, and exercising it. When we do those things, our faith will increase and we’ll be able to do great and mighty things through God who gives the increase by His plan according to Christ Jesus. Be blessed!

Thank You For The Harvest

November 22, 2007 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given August 8, 2007
As we gather today to celebrate those things for which we are thankful, I’m reminded of where the harvest comes from; the seed. “And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:12“. The things we are harvesting today come from the seeds we’ve planted in the past. If you’re not seeing the kind of harvest you want, or in the amount you want, try planting different or more seed.

This summer, after planting some bean seeds, I harvested a bumper crop. I love to count things, so I counted the bean pods I got off of several plants. You know I got 27 bean pods from one plant with about 8 beans in each pod. That’s 216 bean seeds that came from the one I planted! Now that’s a good return! I had planted a bunch of seeds so I got a bountiful return. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6“. And, since I wanted beans, I planted bean seeds. I sowed according to what I wanted to harvest.

But I didn’t just let the seeds sit there. No, I watered them, got the weeds out, kept the soil loose around them because I wanted the best harvest I could get. And it took awhile. But I had faith that the process would work. It works the same way in the Spiritual realm. You get what you sow and in the amount you sow it. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38“.

As we give thanks today for what God has done for us and the things He has given to us, realize it comes from this principle of seed-time-harvest; plant the seed, give it some time, reap the harvest. You know, we should be out looking for opportunities to plant into the Kingdom of God in many areas of our lives and expecting, by faith, a bountiful return.

Be blessed!

Faith AND Patience

October 16, 2007 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given October 16, 2007
Faith and patience. The Bible says we all have a measure of faith, Romans 12:3, and patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit. We, however, think of patience as something we need to help us endure a trial or wait out some hard time. And maybe that’s true to a point. But I’ve gotten another view of faith and patience.

When we pray, we are to pray in faith, nothing wavering, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. James 1:6“. That means that no matter how things look or feel, after we’ve prayed, we don’t waver or doubt the Word of God for our situation. Sometimes our answer comes quickly and we rejoice but what about the times when we don’t readily see the answer. What about those times when we wait and wait but it seems God is silent. That’s where patience comes in!

Remember Daniel? He prayed for an explanation to a vision he’d had concerning the people and the answer didn’t come right away. He prayed and fasted for three weeks! He didn’t give up but exercised patience in the matter. Then, after three weeks, he heard from an angel, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, Daniel 10:12-14“.

Since the first day Daniel prayed, his prayer was heard and the angel was dispatched according to his words. But there was resistance in the heavenlies and Satan tried to mess things up. What if Daniel had quit? What if he’d said, “Ah, just forget it!”? His words would have canceled the answer. Daniel used patience and kept with it, fervently continuing in prayer until the answer came. He mixed his faith with patience and got his answer. We need to do the same.

Show Your Faith

October 4, 2007 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given September 7, 2007
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Mark 2:5“. Remember this story? The friends of the sick guy went to the trouble of making a hole in the roof to get their buddy to Jesus, and Jesus noticed their faith. We have to ask ourselves, ‘How does Jesus see our faith?’.

He’s given us all a measure of faith, Romans 12:3 , so we all have some, right? I think we need to exercise our faith and increase it so it will be visible. Just like our muscles…we all have muscles but those who regularly exercise them cause them to grow and people will notice. Have you ever seen a muscular guy and thought, “You can tell he works out!”. It’s the same with our faith. We should exercise our faith by learning who we are, what we have, and what we can do from the Word of God then practising it in public.

I know it’s misguided but almost every day we see the radical Islamist’s faith. Determine in your heart to not be a “Sunday morning only” Christian but show your faith wherever you go. The Bible says signs and wonders will follow you, Mark 16:20.

Talk, Walk, Talk

September 22, 2007 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given August 22, 2007
I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “You gotta walk the talk!” See what you think about this: You can talk it after you walk it, but you have to talk it before you walk it, to see it. Man, does that statement make you squint your eyes and shake your head? Well, let me try to explain what it means.

It is said in Romans 4:17 that God, “calls things that are not as though they were.” God told Abraham that He had made him the father of many nations. Abraham believed God and, I imagine, he went around saying, “I’m the father of many nations.”, even though he was a hundred and his wife was barren. He was talking it BEFORE he saw it or walked it. He kept on talking it until he saw it, which was his son Issac. Then, after he’d talked it, and saw it, he could then walk it.

Abraham talked and walked by faith at first, saw his faith come to life in Issac, then he could put his arm around the boy and talk it some more. Then, I imagine, he said something like, “Look what the Lord has done!”

“It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’ With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13“. If we speak the promises of God, believe what we say, and walk in it, then we can talk about it afterward and give God the glory!