Stepping out on Faith!

In sharing this massage I invite you on a journey to a very special story in the bible - Genesis 22: 1-18, of a man called Abraham (The Father of many nations). God had formed a covenant between Him and Abraham; that he would be exceedingly fruitful to produce nations. Certainly this would require a tremendous act of faith by Abraham to please God in honoring His covenant. So God tested Abraham’s faith - to go to a land called Moriah and offer his only son Isaac whom he loved dearly as a sacrifice. Abraham then gathered his things to prepare the burnt offering, his men & of course Isaac and they went up the mountain. ~ No questions asked, no contradictions made, no seeking to make sure he had heard correctly, no fasting or praying…He just did as God instructed Him to do!

I believe that every human being that breaks the womb has a measure of faith and the ability to perceive beyond ones experience. This innate ability was already mandated inside of us to grow and accomplish that which we were placed on the earth to do, but unfortunately very few of us exercise it. It then means that for a lot of us whom God had spoken – we have to develop the faith necessary to fight for that WORD to become fruit in our lives. The bible says if you have the faith of a mustard seed you’ll be able to say to the “Mountain” be removed and cast into the sea; and so it shall be. But in order to do this you have to grow and work your faith to a place in God where limitation does not exist! Will there be oppositions along the way? Yes! There might be skeptics like the doubting Thomas, who refuse to believe that anything good can come from you, you might even be the Thomas in yourselves. Ultimately, the conception and manifestation that will produce that Word – is that Word and your Faith! God already did His job when He impregnated us with His Word; it is then left up to us to foster healthy wombs in order to produce our destiny. Therefore we must be careful that we do not abort our purpose by our doubts, when He penetrates us with His truth. Your faith is needed to produce the intentions of God. Why God would choose you to do something is not necessarily about you. Yes, you’ll be blessed by Him using you, but more importantly it is so that mankind will glorify God. Your little act of faith or an arduous journey like Abraham’s not only glorifies Him through your divine accomplishments, but subsequently you will prevent generations from dying with their destiny still inside them. Ephesians 2: 10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that, we should walk in them”. God is saying that He needs you to step out by your faith so that he may bring out that which was already produced in you. There is something powerful about you which is why you were created and here today. There is another realm, a deeper level and a new dimension already predestined that you must tap into to give birth to this purpose. The simple truth is - no one else can deliver your purpose, but you! Of course any mother can tell you, you’ll never know the power of the birth experience until you become pregnant yourself and have to deliver –  the same analogy applies to your faith.

  

As we continue with Abraham’s story, I surmise him like many of us today, struggling in his mind about what God told him to do…and of course the rewards promised in the end. I’d like to believe that it was the hope and faith in God to see these promises fulfilled that prompt his confidence and obedience to move. Surely it could not have been easy to raise a knife to slay his own flesh and blood. Gen 22:11 “But the Angel of the Lord called to Him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham”!  See~ suddenly…God can/will show up - at that desperate moment to provide your greatest need for the fulfillment of your destiny. Proving all the more that all he really needs is your faith; He’ll provide the miracle himself! So do not allow the absence of the resource to cause you to doubt God. If He tells you to something, you have to obey Him. Furthermore, He will allow every window and door that is aligned to your purpose/ that Word in which He had spoken- to become open. Out of no thing He can/will richly, exceedingly and abundantly supply all your needs, because He is God.  So in Abraham’s desperate moment of need, He sent a ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.  “14- And Abraham called the name of the place, “Jehovah Jireh” - The-Lord-Will-Provide”! In the end God rewarded Abraham the promises of His covenant.

Many years ago I began to chronicle my life events in journals as a therapeutic way of dealing with them. I didn’t realize in those moments how much He was molding my passion as a writer, and ultimately preparing me for my purpose. Around that time, God gave me a Word that the afflictions I was going through would become a testimony one day to help others overcome in theirs. The bible makes no indications as to how Abraham being a human, dealt with this tremendous task. But for me I certainly had my share of doubts which hindered my faith to move in doing what God was calling me to do. Had I not decided in my mind to overcome the doubts, fears and distractions that surrounded me ~ you would not be reading this message today. My thoughts became my worst enemy! I reminisced on how the people criticized- judged – condemned and ridiculed the Messiah and Savior our Lord Jesus Christ for his ministry especially those that didn’t understand. So as I thought about my own ministry I was deeply afraid of these trials.

 However, through the inspiration of my brother Paul I was reminded that it is only through boldness and confidence that we can accomplish anything through Christ…I also apprehended that my vindication and/or validation does not come from man; but through God himself and only Him! Simultaneously, I became extremely exhausted from disobeying God... tired of doing my own thing, and especially looking to people and places for satisfaction. In my heart I knew that there was a God-Sized void that only He could fill. Only God could satisfy my soul and that satisfaction would only come through the fulfillment of living in my purpose through Christ. I had to make a conscious decision to forget about myself and walk into the calling that was on my life - acknowledging, that He who started the good work in me will bring it to completion. So with my whole armor put on I courageously stepped out on my faith like Abraham and I truly believe that He’s looking down at me smiling as a proud Father for my obedience.

A lot of you have been praying and believing God for extra-ordinary things, and maybe at this point you’re even angry with Him because of the time it’s taking for this miracle to happen. Let me say this: “Your blessing is beautifully wrapped – in your Obedience”! God is so smart that He is more than willing to provide that miracle that you’ve asked/prayed/believed for, but He wants you to trade Him your obedience in what He’s asked you to do. Even if it takes you eighty years like Moses to finally get it together and lead His people out of Egypt (whatever He’s told you to do), He’ll patiently wait on you to do it. My friends take it from someone with first hand experience -You cannot get out of your purpose! Can you run? Yes! Can you delay the time you take? by all means…take as much time as you think you need – but I recommend that you spare yourself the pain of going around the mountain time after time, beaten and defeated, before surrendering your complete Yes to God ~ In fact all He needs is your “Yes”!. He promises to provide everything you need for the climb of obedience just like He did for Abraham. I encourage you to allow God to order your steps by activating your faith to the utmost highest and trusting Him to help you... Your miracles and blessings are waiting to be released!

Through time, I discovered the power inside me and more importantly in my own testimony and prophecies of God’s word. By the operation of the holy-spirit in me I had the privilege not only to be a witness in people’s life, but I also had a front row experience of God’s healing and deliverance through me. There are so many instances that God had instructed me to do something in which the outcome left me in Awe of Him!  I recall a few years ago a friend and I were commuting to our respective jobs and he had the worst spasm of hiccups I’d ever seen. ‘Three days!’ He said. I had a bottle of Aloe vera juice in my bag that I love so much (-so just imagine how hard it was to give awayJ), immediately I heard the Lord telling me to give it to Him. So I did as I declared with my FAITH that his hiccups would be cured. With looks of dubiety he took it as we parted ways. To my surprise, I received a call from him later that afternoon extremely astonished that his hiccups were completely gone. Honestly shocked myself – but humbled at another opportunity to be used in such little act of faith and sacrifice – for Him to produce a miracle and be glorified. I have to admit that this step was much bigger, because now God required me to no longer be silent or hide from the crowd while doing His works- but like Jeremiah, speak to nations. Jeremiah 1: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations”. It took every ounce of Boldness and Confidence that I lacked, but through Christ Jesus to start my ministry. Now more than ever, I understand that like everyone else’s my story is unique. I felt the weight resting on my shoulders of the lives that were waiting for me to show up. I also recognize that by me being authentic and vulnerable with my story and the truth of God, it can/will create change and make a positive impact for these lives. Not being an easy thing to do- I had to fight many Giants including me, but through my faith conquering everyone to see the fruit of that Word today which the Lord had spoken over my life.

 In the same way, creations groan and wait for you to show up and perform the work that God has instructed you. Know that the circumstances you faced yesterday and still might be facing today are not only to stretch you, more importantly you’ve endure them to help someone else overcome their struggles tomorrow. Furthermore, your experiences are what makes you who you are now. And who you are now makes you more than qualified to reach those people God has set before. Stop trying to measure yourself to others to do what God has told you to do- in Christ there is freedom and liberty to simply be you and get the job done, ultimately accomplishing His will!

As for Abraham I suspect that this climb must have been very grueling and burdensome on top of the sacrifice he had to make...but it didn’t stop Him from necessitating the faith required by God to deliver obedience. In the end He was rewarded multiples of descendants – which possibly might include you and me. What will you allow your Faith through Christ Jesus to produce?!

Consider this: If your Blessing is a reward for your Obedience, then how much will your disobedience cost you?

Prayer: Father I thank you for this word, knowing that it is for someone that you’ve called to step out by their Faith - so greatness which you’ve place inside them will be produced. Lord let this message penetrate their heart and become flames of fire under their feet, allowing them to move in obedience! To fulfill their destiny and glorify you in Heaven. Amen.