This morning I continue our new series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.” This is Part 3. We are looking at the life of Abraham. Let’s get into the Word.
(Gen 16:1-4 ERV)
Sarai was Abram’s wife, but she did not have any children. She had an Egyptian slave named Hagar. Sarai told Abram, “The Lord has not allowed me to have children, so sleep with my slave. Maybe she can have a son, and I will accept him as my own.” Abram did what Sarai said. So after living ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai gave her Egyptian slave to Abram as a second wife. Abram slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When Hagar realized this, she became very proud and began to feel that she was better than Sarai her owner.
(Gen 16:15,16 ERV)
Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son, and Abram named the son Ishmael. Abram was 86 years old when Ishmael was born from Hagar.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Anyone can believe initially.
a) Like we studied in the parable of the sower, the issue is not receiving a Word from God when He says it. The rocky and thorny grounds did that. The key is holding on to that Word until it comes to pass. That’s the hard part. Anyone can get excited when they hear from God, but when days turn into weeks, when weeks turn into months, and (sometimes) when months turn into years, we all feel the pressure to give up on what God said. You must resist that pressure and continue to believe God. If God said it, it is only a matter of time before it comes to pass.
b) Every believer wants strong faith, but many fail to properly understand how to measure its strength. The strength of your faith is not in HOW BIG you can believe God, it’s in HOW LONG you believe God! Abraham had enough faith to believe that God would make he and his wife parents and leaders of a great nation, even though he was 75 years old and his wife was a 65 year old barren woman when they received the call. They believed BIG ENOUGH to leave everything they knew. But after 10 years, they were not believing LONG ENOUGH to see the dream come to pass.
c) Opening your heart to God’s dream is one part of the equation. Believing BIG ENOUGH is one level. But you then have to HOLD ON to the dream until it comes to pass. This is where many believers fail. They dreamed BIG ENOUGH, but they do not believe LONG ENOUGH!
2. You must resist the urge to come up with a PLAN B.
a) After 10 years of waiting on God, Sarah came up with a PLAN B. God was taking too long for her. So she decided to have her husband sleep with her servant. This was NOT the will of God and it caused all sorts of issues (both then and now).
b) The rift between Jews and Muslims started with two women in the desert and it will not end until Jesus returns. This could have been avoided if Sarah had not come up with a PLAN B. Beware of the PLAN B’s you come up with, because when you step OUTSIDE of God’s plan, you will have to deal with the repercussions of your decisions.
c) Faith believes God. Faith believes that God will do what He said He would do and it keeps on believing until it comes to pass. NO PLAN B. If God said it, that settles it!
d) Either you are going to live by faith or you are not. If you choose to live by faith, it means you are going to live by every Word you receive from God. And you are going to continue to believe until you see the manifestation of what God said. This is not always easy. But it is the life we have been called to. It is the life of faith!
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. My expectation is tied to Your Word. I live by every Word You speak to me. I live by every promise You have spoken over me. I believe BIG ENOUGH to open my heart to Your dream. And I believe LONG ENOUGH to resist every urge to come up with a PLAN B. I don’t have any other plan. I don’t have any other option. You are my ONLY HOPE! I believe You will do what You said You would DO in my life! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
