DON’T KILL YOUR FAITH

BY: PASTOR DR. PETER KAYODE

“Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” Hebrew 1 verse 1. Every person on earth has great expectations, aspiration and goal but most times such expectations delays in fulfillment partly because they do not fall in line with God’s purpose and plan or perhaps God’s time has not yet materialize. It takes the understanding of God’s mind, purpose, plan and will to wait patiently in faith in order to experience God’s supernatural purpose.

As Christians, we should be able to please God in faith because the bible says; only faith pleases God. We pray, fast and attend church service because we have faith in God and believe that He is working out solutions to our problems and also knowing that at His own time, He will remember us. No human being can force God to do what he is not ready to do and also nobody has the capacity to stop what He has determined to accomplish.

God has special plans for everyone but the time of accomplishment varies and also lies solely in his hands. Therefore those who love God and have absolute faith in him will always wait without wavering or doubting God’s ability to bring to pass what he has promise to do.

JESUS SAID “Everything is possible for those who have faith in God”. He also said, if we have faith as little as the mustard seed, we can overcome every problem confronting us.

However, the pertinent question many people ask is

HOW LONG SHALL WE WAIT?. This reminds me the case of Abraham whose wife Sarah was barren for many years, God made a covenant with Abraham promising to make him father of all nations. This destiny encounter happened when Abraham was over 70 years old. Abraham obeyed all God’s instructions because he had absolute faith in him. He waited patiently until the Lord answered him when he was over 90 years old.

Our problem is impatience and doubt, we often forget that God is not a man who can lie. Whatever he promise, he will surely bring it to fulfillment. Our part is to believe and wait in faith.

DON’T LET YOUR EXPERIECE AND SITUATION KILL YOUR FAITH IN GOD Undoubtedly; you might have experienced a lot in life though you have been a Christian for several years, yet your situation remains unchanged. You have prayed, fasted and visited many prophets but all to no avail.

Friends have betrayed you, your finances and business has grown down turn. Upon all these, you are also sick. You assume God has forsaken you and you doubt if God has any good plans for you. Base on these assumptions you have stop attending church service, you have completely backslided and you have lost faith in God. My dear brethren don’t let your situation kill your joy. Listen to me in your state of poverty, you can still worship God truthfully. From that poverty level, you shall be blessed. Your faith is just being tested or probably your time haven’t come, but certainly your season of glory is near that you can imagine.

Jabez was a person whose financial position was so bad such that everyone in his time ignored him. He was considered an outcast because of his worse situation. He was the lowest among his peers. Jabez did not allow his situation kill his faith in God, instead of accusing God, he rather prayed and cried unto the Lord, and God answered him. He became more blessed and honorable than his kinsmen. He became wealthy but served the Lord till the end of his life.

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers His mother named him Jabez saying I gave birth to him in pain. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory, let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. And God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4 verse 9.

The story of Hannah the wife of Elkanah in, 1 Samuel 1 is another example of absolute faith in God. Hannah was a barren woman who did not allow her situation, isinuation and provocation from her rival Peninah to distract her focus and hope in God for a child.

When it was time for Elkanah and his family to travel to Shiloh for the annual celebration, Hannah did not stay bark because she had no child while her rival had children. At Shiloh, Hannah prayed to an extent that prophet Eli got it wrong thinking the woman was drunk. Eli misconception of Hannah’s posture shows that no prophet has absolute idea about the mind of God. God expresses his thought and mind as he will. At a point, a prophet can read correctly the mind of God, at another stage he has to wait on Holy Spirit Intervention and direction. Eli got it wrong when he assumed that Hannah was drunk but later got it right when he declared the mind of God to Hannah with a blessing of a child which came to pass as Hannah gave birth to Samuel the great prophet.

“In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. And she made a vow saying O Lord Almighty if you will only look upon your servant misery and remember me and not forget your servant but give her a son then I will give him back to the Lord for all the days of his life and no razor will ever be used on his head” 1 Samuel 1 verse 10,15

“Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, how long will you keep on getting drunk get rid of your wine” 1 Samuel 1 verse 10,15

Faith is the bedrock on which our Christian life is built. The foundation of Christian practice cannot be strong unless faith has been firmly planted. Christian cannot survive the turmountous upheavals of the world without faith in God.

Faith is the anchor which holds our spirituality firmly on course. Therefore brethren buckle up yourself again, awake from your spiritual slumber. Arm yourself with truth, grace and favour of God for an unstoppable onslaught into the Devil territory so that you can claim your inheritance and conquer territories which hitherto Satan have taken away from you.

The sickness and affliction tormenting you cannot kill you. Your healing has come through the power and name of Jesus. Remember the woman with the issue of Blood; she suffered bleeding for 12 years. But at the appointed time and by faith she touched the garment of Jesus Christ and instantly she was healed. What about the cripple man who had been in that situation from birth.

As he was begging for money at the beautiful gate, God’s power in Peter and John identified his weaknesses and the Holy Spirit through Peter and John healed him completely. He rose and walked to the glory of God.

As you read this message I know God has awaken your spirituality. Get ready to experience God’s supernatural power which Satan and your enemies cannot stop.

Trusting and obeying God opens the gate of heavens, with his blessing showering over you. And anything you touch will be blessed.

YOU ARE BLESSED