Stepping out with Faith
The past few months have been a period where the Lord has particularly impressed on me the importance of stepping-out in faith with Him.
Just a few days ago Lynda shared this verse from Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that He is real, and that He rewards the faith of those who give all their passion and strength into seeking Him.”
And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat.
Reading Joshua 6:20
The Lord told Joshua to tell the people to march around the walls of Jericho seven times, to blow the trumpets, to make a great shout and the walls fell down flat. These were massive walls – an estimated 2 metres wide at the base and more than 4 metres tall - and very well-built, but they fell flat because God told the people what to do, and they stepped-out in faith accordingly.
We need to do what the Lord tells us to do and sometimes it does not actually make sense. It does not add up. What is God telling you to do today? It might be something that in the natural seems totally ludicrous, something that makes no sense at all!
In John 2:5, we read “Mary then went to the servers and told them, “Whatever Jesus tells you, make sure that you do it!” Under Jesus’ instructions the servants filled six stone water pots that each held 80-100 litres, perhaps 600 litres of water in total, and miraculously, that water turned into the finest wine ever.
It has become increasingly evident to me over the past few months that we need to do what God tells us to do. No more and no less. Keep in mind that God’s economy usually does not work the way we think. One plus one does not always equal two with the Lord. It equals three or four, or sometimes more. We need to be obedient to what God is calling us to.
Some years ago, I heard someone refer to the scripture Jeremiah 33:3 as God’s telephone number - “Call to me and I will answer you…..” Do this and see where God might lead you? Be expectant for your faith to be built as the Lord leads you into new and exciting places.
“Let the faith of God be in you” (Mark 11:22). It is by believing in Him, and by embracing Jesus that we are given the authority to become the children of God.
We need to step-out in faith today. Jesus will equip us for the challenges that we are going to face this week, this month, next year. When you call to the Lord as in Jer 33:3 do not be timid, but rather expect something that is so big that if it is not of God it is doomed to fail.
Reading Proverbs 2:10 – “When wisdom wins your heart and revelation breaks in, true pleasure enters your soul.” If ever we needed wisdom, the time is now. In a world that has literally gone upside down, where people are scrambling everywhere, where people must make serious choices, they need wisdom. You and I need wisdom. And the source of that wisdom is through the Bible, through God’s Holy Word.
And we need to be extravagant.
If ever there was a time for Christians to stand up and be counted, then now is it, to attempt great things for God and expect great things from God. In the words of the evangelical Christian author John Ortberg – “If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat”
“Why?” you might ask. Well, because the boat is sinking, and it is only men and women of faith that will survive.
Nearly twenty years ago I read the autobiographical book “Faith Like Potatoes” by well-known South African evangelist Angus Buchan. The title of this book is derived from the following events in Angus’ life-walk with the Lord.
Extended and widespread drought conditions prevailed throughout southern Africa. At this time Angus was desperately seeking the Face of God, and he very strongly felt the Lord say to him: “Go home to your farm and plant potatoes.” At the time Angus was leading in prayer a large crowd of thousands in Kings Park Rugby Stadium in Durban, and he told them all that this is what he planned to do. This was an outrageous statement since the land was gripped by drought. He would be planting potatoes into dry, dusty soils on his farm with no prospects for rain anytime soon and with no available irrigation.
Why step out on a limb like this? Because people were losing hope, people were panicking, and the Lord clearly spoke to him, “This is not a time Angus to draw back.” If Christ be for you, there is no man who will stand against you.
Immediately following the prayer rally in Durban, Angus went home to his farm, prepared the fields, bought the seed potatoes, and proceeded to plant with no irrigation and no prospect of rainfall. His neighbours were extremely concerned for him, “Angus, this will send you one way. You will go bankrupt.” His confident reply to them was, “No, I have a clear word from God”, so he planted those potatoes and as his faith increased he proceeded to also lease neighbouring farms as well to plant potatoes and maize, all the while trusting in God.
As I recall it was not an easy growing season, with things being touch-and-go on many occasions, constantly testing the limits of his faith over the months following planting. In the end, however, the Lord came through, and Angus harvested good crops of potatoes and maize when no one else in the region did apart from those farmers with irrigation.
Do not be afraid. Seek wisdom. Seek the Word of God. God is on your side. Just listen to what He tells you to do and then be faithfully obedient. As you do what God tells you to do, rest assured that He will see it through. In a time where there is no more normality we need to go to God’s Word.
Joshua and the Israelites stepped-out in faithful obedience to God’s instructions and what happened? The walls fell down.
The servants did what Mary told them to do, by instruction from Jesus, and what happened? The water turned into wine.
Stand before the Lord with expectation and full of faith, and be prepared to step out with Him well beyond your comfort-zone. Do not be afraid to get out of the boat; you are not going to walk on the water by staying put inside.
Questions to ponder?
What are you believing God for currently in your life?
Recall a time when you stepped-out in obedience in a situation that in the natural seemed “crazy” – what impact did this have on your faith-walk with the Lord?
Are you ready when the Lord calls you to “step out of the boat”?
