Victory Life KY

The Faithful III

Episode Summary

• Everything pertaining to God’s Kingdom operates under this principle of sowing and reaping. Remember, whatever we sow we will reap if we don’t give up.

Episode Notes

• Luke 16:10,NKJV- “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”

• Galatians 6:7-9,NKJV-  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for WHATEVER a man sows, that he will also reap. 
• For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 
• And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in DUE SEASON we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

• We can’t forget that everything pertaining to God’s Kingdom operates under this principle of sowing and reaping. Remember, whatever we sow we will reap if we don’t give up.

• This includes being faithful with our faith, here’s the deal, if we never sow into our faith, there’s no way we’re going to reap from our faith.

• What every believer has to understand is that we’ve all got to start somewhere, and usually it’s with one small decision, the another… (Mustard Seed)

• This is Jesus’ point when He told us that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing would be impossible for us.

• This is why God told us not to despise the day of small beginnings. Just like a seed. Remember, the kingdom of heaven is like a seed.

• At some point we’ve got to acknowledge this reality, God’s ways are different. All His promises, His covenant comes from a world we can’t see in the natural. And it’s only through faith that we bring them into this world.

• God rarely asks us to take giant leaps of faith, usually He’s simply encouraging us to take small, everyday steps discovering our life in Jesus.

• What we have to understand is, God’s not asking any of us to do anything He hasn’t already done. 
• That being said, we have to remember, not only is God a faith God, Corinthians tells us He is the faithful God. Bottom line, there’s absolutely no other way to experience a life in Him outside of faith.

• Hebrews 4:2,NKJV- Indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith...

• What we have to understand is that our born again nature is built to live according to what He says, not according to our intelligence. 

• Jesus’ mother summed it up perfectly when she told the workers, “Whatever He says to you, do it!”

• His Word is truth, it’s eternal, spiritual, the written image of Himself.

• Jesus not only instructs and encourages us in how we are to live an anointed life, He demonstrates it. This is why He tells us, the righteous are to live by faith.

• Romans 3:3-4,NKJV- What if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar...

• On the other side of us saying yes to God, there will be uncertainty, opinions, challenges, fears, obstacles we have to overcome. Maybe the question each of us has to answer is, which part of His word do we actually believe?

• Like He said, it all starts out like a seed, then grows to greatness.

• Proverbs 4:18,NLT- “The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.”

• Psalm 68:19,NKJV- “Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits”

• If we honestly believe God daily loads us with benefits, we should get up every morning actually counting on them? We’ve been asking this question throughout this talk, how faithful are we with our faith?

• It’s those little steps, little adjustments that keep us moving closer to our purpose.

• After all, we are new creations in Christ. Designed to live out of a different world right in the middle of this one. But make no mistake, our new life demands faithfulness.

• Philemon 1, The sharing of our faith becomes effective when we acknowledge every good thing that Christ has put in us.

• One of my favorite leaders from the OT is Nehemiah. But he didn’t start out that way. What interesting is that his name actually means, “God comforts,” which eventually does happen.

• But probably the most outstanding characteristic we see in Nehemiah is a faithful, no quit attitude, simply stepping into his God ordained path.

• Isaiah 58:11-12,NKJV-  The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

• The revelation of this prophecy is timeless, and I believe is speaking to us today. Nehemiah is a perfect example of one of God’s faithful, walking out a specific word of the Lord in his generation.

• There is a generation we cross paths with every day who are without God and they're convinced they're ok the way they are.

• But the reality is, their lives are in ruins and their walls are crumbling.

• This is why the Holy Spirit is constantly looking for those who’ll let Him creat a faithful heart in them.

• Y’all have heard me talk about Nehemiah so many times, but he really does represent us today.

• He's not a prophet or a priest, he doesn’t have some prestigious title or position, as a matter of fact, at the time he’s a slave.

• But what I love about him is that none of that moves him. Right in the middle of impossibility he rises to the occasion, becoming one of God's faithful people that saw a need, heard the heart of God and said, ok.

• Instead of just settling for the comforts of slavery, or assuming someone else take care of it, or playing the I'm too busy card, Nehemiah said ok Lord.

• Nehemiah is the perfect example of how we respond to the prophetic words of Isaiah, and become a rebuilder of the broken.

• He not only said yes to God, he was willing to stay with it until! He was one of God’s faithful. I can’t help but wonder if God knew this all along, that’s why He pulled on Nehemiah’s heart.

• Just like Nehemiah, today God is simply looking for people that’ll not only say yes, but stay with it, until! He’s looking for the faithful.

• One of the greatest lessons Nehemiah shows us is what happens when we don’t give up. Lets not forget, he was a regular guy just attending church, minding his own business, and God tapped him on the shoulder.

• I honestly believe that God is using Nehemiah to show us just how vital, faithful, hard working believers are to His plan.

• Nehemiah is one of Israel’s exiled and is a slave to king Artaxerxes and he’s people have been freed to go back home, but things aren’t going well, there’s no vision for restoring Jerusalem, so Nehemiah fasts and prays.

• Nehemiah 2:1-4,NLT- Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 
• So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.” Then I was terrified, 
• but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” 
• The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”

• Now watch the favor of the Lord Nehemiah finds himself in.
• Think about it, the king just told the slave he would help him.

• Nehemiah prays and the king gives him all he requested, sending him on his mission according to the hand of the Lord on him.

• Nehemiah 2:17-18,NLT- But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” 
• Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.

• And one of the first things Nehemiah does with his assignment is challenge everybody to show their faith with their actions.

• One of Nehemiah's finest qualities is that he consistently expresses practical, everyday faith.

• He rolled up his sleeves and did whatever it took.

• Nehemiah 6:3,AMP-  "I am doing a great work and cannot come down."

• Galatians 6:7-9,NKJV-  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for WHATEVER a man sows, that he will also reap. 
• For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 
• And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in DUE SEASON we shall reap if we do not lose heart.