(2nd Corinthians 5:7 KJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.
For the remainder of this week I am going to share messages with you from previous series’. This morning’s message comes from a 2007 series entitled: “Overcoming the Fear Factor.” With all the people I know facing challenges today, I was led to share this message with you:
If anyone should know that the Word will be tested in our lives I should. James said, “The trying of your faith develops patience” (James 1:3). The word there for patience literally means: the force of consistency. I have stated many times that the only fight that we fight as believers is the fight of faith (1st Tim 6:12). Paul taught us that faith comes by hearing and receiving the Word of God (Rom 10:17). In other words, the more Word we have on a given area, the more our faith will be developed in that area; and we should expect our faith to be tested. The enemy will do everything he can to get us to abort our faith, to cause us to doubt, and to lead us to fear. I know this first hand. My faith was tested on love several times while I was teaching the series on love. The same happened when I taught on patience, on faith, on the power of your words, and etc. So I guess I should have expected my faith to be tested in the area of fear when I began this series. Sure enough, I have had several things happen in my life, since this series began, that have caused me to choose either faith or fear. I have had to remind myself time and time again that I am a person of faith and not fear; and that fear has no power over me.
Yesterday I had lunch with a friend of mine and we were discussing a major event that will happen in my life within the next year. We strategized some things and I told him what the “one thing” was that I did not want to happen. This was the “one thing” I was concerned about. I specifically remember reminding myself, while I was at lunch, that I was not afraid of this thing happening, but that I simply did not want it to happen. Sure enough, not even an hour after I got back to my office, it happened. I received notice that the “one thing” I did not want to happen, had. I will be honest with you and let you know that I allowed it to affect me. I prayed, I talked to my Pastor, and I talked to my wife, but it still affected me. It affected me for hours, until I casted the “care of it” over to the Lord (1st Peter 5:7).
In our text for this morning Paul said that we, as believers, “Walk by faith, not by sight.” What does that mean? It means that circumstances change. Things can go from good to bad in a matter of seconds, but our life, hope, and faith cannot be subject to the whims of this world. The fact that something changed from good to bad proves it can change. Just like it changed from good to bad, it can change back from bad to good, and the way God works, He normally changes it from bad to better-than-good. The point is that things may change, but our faith must remain the same. Sure, we might have lapses in our faith, like I did for a few hours yesterday; but we must make every effort to get back on track as quickly as possible. If we don’t, fear will grip our heart and we will never make it back to the realm of faith.
David said, “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5 KJV). You can’t trust and fear at the same time. Paul was facing prison if he went back to Jerusalem, but the Holy Spirit was leading him back there. Paul decided to be obedient to God and to go where God told him to go and to do what God told him to do. As it relates to the impending imprisonment, Paul said, “None of these things move me” (Acts 20:24).
So what does this mean to you today? It simply means that you must have a “None of these things move me” attitude when it comes to God. Walk by faith. Don’t make permanent decisions based upon temporary circumstances. Trust God and He shall bring it to pass!
Closing Confession: Father, I trust You will my whole heart. I cast my care upon You, because I know that You care for me. I will not be moved by circumstances. Life is full of ups and downs, but I will not allow my internal condition to me moved by the constant variations in external circumstances. I walk by faith and not by what I see. I commit my way unto You, I trust You, and I know that You will bring to pass Your best for my life. Fear has no power over me. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
