Text: Mark 7: 24-30
Introduction
As believers, we should not see the church as a social club. God resides in the church, you don’t need to feel something to know God is in the church. This is because we are not gathered under any other name but the name of God. As a worshipper, you don’t need to feel God’s presence to know He is here – in church. Only babes in Christ work by feelings.
The infallible word of God says, where two or three people are gathered in His name, there He is (Matthew 18:20). And so, faith is not a feeling force. Many a times, believers lose their encounter with God because they are waiting to feel something. Therefore, when we worship God, we should see worship beyond singing or even singing slow songs. Take a cue about worshipping God from Abraham who took a lamb and went to worship. Now, as we worship God, our sphere of influence begins to expand spiritually, over cities, nations and continents.
The Audacity of Faith
The audacity of faith is a matter of our lives as Christians. Our impact, voice and effect as believers is fundamentally the understanding of what faith we possess. Without faith, we cannot conquer territories. Faith, then, there is something you need to know and understand how it functions. Remember, every nation has its currency and in this kingdom of God, we operate by the currency of faith.
The consistent meditation on God’s word will find expression in us over time (Joshua 1:8). As Christians, we must eat the word (hearing over and over). In Matthew 15:27, the Canaanite woman was persistent and would not take no for an answer, showing how much faith she had in Jesus. Interesting, Jesus did not address the demon oppressing her daughter. He said, “be it done for you as you desire”! Isn’t it amazing that the more of God you know, the more you will know that you don’t know him!
Faith is always a product of our consciousness of the personality of God. This means understanding the person of God. Only then does your faith become alive. Our faith as believers seems shaky because we don’t understand the personality of God. In parallel, our knowledge and consciousness of God informs our form and mode of worship. Many Christians don’t know God. To know God is beyond knowing Him in the ordinary sense – See John 4:46-54.
When Abraham knew his wife physically, it was an intimate process. However, knowing God is more than that. It’s putting your ears on His heart and feeling His heartbeat. Knowing God truly makes your faith audacious. When we know God, we become unshakable.
Another interesting story is the case of David. Now, God didn’t expressly tell David to go fight Goliath. He went based on his experience of God’s personality. In essence, there is no explanation as to how he could have defeated Goliath physically. David charged towards Goliath with faith even when Goliath took just a step. As Christians, this is the same way we should charge towards our fears. Our faith should influence our confidence. Know that as long as we are on earth, there will be challenges. Our faith then determines if we will overcome these challenges based on our understanding of God. Know God. (Philippians 3:7-11).
We should also understand the character of our adversary and the character of God. Know that faith never fails (Hebrews 11:33). And so, we must be critical and evaluate our relationship with God. Our relationship with God should go beyond signs and wonders. Signs and wonders are just the byproducts of our walk with God. Also, understand that the character of Satan is destruction. It’s in his nature; hence it comes normally to him. It’s normal for the devil to be evil (I Peter 5:8). There is a restraining power of God that only when lifted can the devil do whatever he wants to do (II Thessalonians 2v7). In the case of Egypt and the plagues, the restraining force was lifted, and Satan could carry out his activity.
Conclusively, your faith is a function of your knowledge of the person of God. Until we come to the knowledge of the person of God, our faith will not be substantial. Faith is fueled by the knowledge of God and when faith is in place, you’ll be able to charge towards the challenges people run away from.
Prayer of Repentance
Dear Jesus, thank you for today and for your word. Thank you for dying for me. Despite my state of sin, you still found me. Thank you. I accept you today as my Lord and Savior. Wash me from all sins and fill me with your Holy Spirit. From today, help me to serve you. Be real to me as a man is real to his friend. I want to know You, see You, and touch You. And above all, help me to make eternity. This I ask in your mighty name. Amen!
Shalom!