(Rom 4:20 KJV) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.
This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” by picking up where we left off in the story of Abraham. If anyone learned to operate in faith without wavering it was Abraham. While he was not always this way and his failures are well documented, Abraham got to the point in his life where He believed that God would do what He said He would do, even in spite of overwhelming natural evidence in the contrary. If you and I can get to this point in our own lives, we will be able to see God do the seemingly impossible. Let’s take a closer look at this verse:
1. “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief.” There is a difference between a nonbeliever and an unbeliever. A nonbeliever does not believe something at all. They have not developed any capacity to believe in a particular area. An unbeliever has the capacity to believe, but they choose not to. Abraham chose to believe and he, like all of us, had to resist the urges cross over into unbelief. I am sure that over the years the devil put thoughts of failure in his mind. I am sure Abraham had to combat thoughts that it would not happen. But our text says that he “staggered not at the promise of God.” Abraham did not stagger, stumble, fall, or fail. Why? I believe the key is found in the previous verse. Yesterday we read, “Abraham didn’t focus on his own impotence… Nor did he survey Sarah’s decades of infertility.” Abraham chose not to focus on the negative aspects of his situation. Another translation says, “He considered not.” In other words, Abraham was able to “stagger not” because he chose to “consider not.”
Application: If you are reading this message you are more than likely a Born-Again believer. You believe in an invisible God who blesses in visible ways. If you want to see the manifestation of the things God has promised you, then you must stop considered failure. If you choose to consider failure, over and over again, eventually you will stagger. But if you “consider not” you will be able to get to the point where you “stagger not.”
2. “but was strong in faith.” I have defined faith as an expression of your confidence in God and His Word. Abraham definitely fits that definition. Abraham stood on a Word from God for 25 years. He refused to give up, cave in, or quit. Abraham’s faith was strong because it was built up over the years. Early on Abraham operated in fear, doubt, and unbelief. But over the process of time Abraham was able to get to the point where he operated in strong faith.
Application: We don’t all start out at strong faith, but we are all dealt “the measure of faith” (Rom 12:3). Our faith should grow as we go through different experiences and we expand our capacity to believe God.
3. “giving glory to God.” This is the key. Abraham was not standing on his ability, but rather God’s ability; and he was not looking to be blessed just for himself, but God had promised that he would be blessed to be a blessing. God said that all the families of the world would be blessed through him (Gen 12:3). Abraham wanted to bring glory to God by being a blessing to others.
Application: What are you expecting God to do in your life? Now, what are you going to do with it when you get it? Is your motivation to bring glory to God or to bring glory to yourself? Pride will keep you from receiving from God. James said, “Yet even when you do pray, your prayers are not answered, because you pray just for selfish reasons” (4:3). Remember to keep the proper perspective when exercising your faith. Your focus should be to bring glory to God and His kingdom, not just to get money or fame.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that the more you can believe, the more you can stand in faith for. The more you stand in faith, the more God will do in your life. The more God does in your life, the more glory He expects to get from it. The focus of your faith should be to bring glory to God.
Closing Confession: Father, I do not stagger at Your promises through unbelief. I have developed the ability “consider not” thoughts of fear, failure, doubt, and unbelief. I resist every negative thought and I focus on Your Word. I am convinced that You will do what You said You would do in my life. I am strong in faith and fear has no power over me. I stand for as long as it takes and when Your promises are manifested in my life I will deflect the glory back to You. The focus of my faith is to bring glory to Your name! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
