This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.” This is Part 12. We have been looking at the life of Abraham. Let’s go back to his story today.
(Gen 17:23-27 CEV)
On that same day Abraham obeyed God by circumcising Ishmael. Abraham was also circumcised, and so were all other men and boys in his household, including his servants. He was ninety-nine years old at the time, and his son Ishmael was thirteen.
When you read the stores of what Biblical characters did, you must remember that they were not superheroes with capes or superhuman power. They were simply men and women who believed and obeyed God. It is very important to point out that they did both: believe and obey. I will talk about both today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. It does you no good to expand your capacity to believe if you are not willing to obey what God enables you to see.
2. Obedience is the key that has unlocks the door to God’s best. If you study Biblical characters, you will find that The Blessing was not fully experienced until they obeyed what God told them to do.
3. The Promise of God is a revelation of divine intent. God reveals to us what He planned to do in our lives before the foundations of the world. He gives us this revelation to inspire our faith and our actions. Without our obedience, in faith, we can miss out on God’s best.
4. Abraham was blessed because he obeyed God.
a) In Genesis 12 God said to Abram, “Leave your country…” (v.1). What was Abram’s response? The fourth verse says, “So Abram left, as the Lord had told him.”
b) In chapter 15 the Lord revealed Himself to Abram in an illustration that required natural animals. The Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” (v.9). The very next verse says, “Abram brought all these to him…”
c) In the 17th chapter the Lord reiterated the promise of children through Sarah and wanted to seal the covenant through a physical sign. The Lord said, “Every male among you shall be circumcised” (v.10). In verses 23-27 we see that Abraham circumcised himself, his son, and every man and boy of his entire household on the SAME DAY. Do you see a pattern?
d) What was the key to Abraham’s walk with God? Why does the Bible call him the father of faith? Why are we still discussing him today? Because he believed an invisible God. He believed this invisible God would bless him in visible ways. He proved his faith by DOING whatever this invisible God told him to do.
5. Faith is not faith until you perform an action based on what you believe God said. You can believe without doing. But you cannot release faith without doing. Faith requires you to PUT LEGS what you believe in your heart.
- Dr. Mike Murdock said, “Obedience is the only thing God has ever required of man.”
- Faith is an action word. God is not just looking for you to believe what He said. He is looking for you to DO what is required to walk in the path of manifestation. That’s faith!
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. I believe You. I believe every Promise You have ever spoken over me shall come to pass! I believe The Promise is a revelation of Your divine intention and You revealed it to me because You wanted it to fuel my faith and actions. I declare that it does. I perform the actions I believe are required to take me down the road of full manifestation of every promise. You are committed to Your part. I am committed to mine. I believe in my heart and I am committed to DOING whatever is required of me to experience Your best. I live by faith and my faith is proven in my obedience to what You lead me to do! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
