(Rom 4:24 CEV) They were written for us, since we will also be accepted because of our faith in God, who raised our Lord Jesus to life.
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. Some may question the relevance of studying the life of Abraham. There are many believers today who ignore the Old Testament altogether; claiming that New Testament believers should simply focus on studying New Testament principles. However, you cannot truly understand the New Testament without the Old. We must study the entire truth to live entire lives before God.
Paul points out a great benefit to studying the life of Abraham. He says that Abraham’s uncommon capacity to believe that God could revive the deadness of Sarah’s womb and the deadness of his own body was imputed to him as righteousness (v.22). Meaning God accepted Abraham as “right” in His sight because of his ability to believe in the God of the impossible; the God of no limits. But Paul goes on to say, “But these words were not written only for Abraham. They were written for us, since we will also be accepted because of our faith in God, who raised our Lord Jesus to life. God gave Jesus to die for our sins, and he raised him to life, so that we would be made acceptable to God.” Get the picture? Just like Abraham was made acceptable because of his capacity to believe God and operate in faith, we also become acceptable to God because of our capacity to believe and operate in faith. The difference is that Abraham’s righteousness came when he believed God would do (future), but our righteousness comes when we believe what God has done (past).
The event that separates Jesus from every other religious figure in history is the resurrection. If you do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then you are not a Christian. We study stories like that of Abraham to solidify and strengthen our belief system. We must settle in our heart that there is nothing too hard for God. Just like God put life back into the deadness of Abraham and Sarah’s bodies, He put life back into Jesus’ body after three nights and three days. If you can believe that, then you should be able to believe God for whatever you are facing this morning. Our issues seem to pale in comparison to what He did for Abraham and Jesus. We serve a God of no limits. Surely, He can do what you need Him to do today. No matter what you are facing, have faith in God and add patience to your faith, so you can hold on until you see in your hands what you have received in your heat. Our God is a God of no limits. He is only limited by your capacity to believe Him!
So what does this mean to you today? It means that God has gone to great lengths to provide you the 66 books of the Bible, so that you can expand your capacity to believe Him, to the point where you can face every day with fearless confidence in your limitless God. If you believe what God did for Abraham and you believe God resurrected Jesus from the dead, then you must believe that God can turn your situation around! Belief says “It can,” faith says, “It will!”
Closing Confession: Father, I am a believer and not a doubter. I live by faith and not by fear. I believe what You did for Abraham. I believe what You did for Jesus. I believe what You have provided for me in Your Word. I believe every miracle, every story, and every account. My belief in what has happened helps elevate my belief for what will happen in my life. As I read Your Word I expand my capacity to believe You and my faith is built up. My faith is growing every day and it is getting to the point where fear is not a factor for me. I enter this day with fearless confidence and I believe You will do all that You have promised to do in my life. I hold on and my faith does not waver, no matter how long it takes! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
