“……… but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. “ Hebrews 4:2 KJV
A catalyst facilitates change; it makes things happen! For example, Alka-Seltzer without water has no effervescence, flour without yeast produces no bread, seeds without sunshine means no flowers, blue without yellow means no green, a spark without air produces no flame. Faith makes God's Word work in your life. Without it absolutely nothing happens. Talking about the Israelites, The Hebrew writer said, “ For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”
“When the storm has swept by……. but the righteous stand firm forever.” Proverbs 10:25 NIV
A couple of weeks ago, I was walking in our neighborhood, about 2 miles away from our home and was caught in a rain storm. Well, you know how I looked by the time I made it home….soaking wet! Two things I failed to do, number one, I did not listen to the forecast. And number two, I did not take with me an umbrella to shelter me from the rain.
“...God...calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Rom. 4:17b
Someone has said, “It is not what others call you, it’s what you answer to that matters”. What really matters is what God says about you! You must believe what God says about you, over what everyone else says! Stop listening to those who always seems to have something negative to say about you or about what it is that you are doing. Definitely stop listening to those people who claim you'll never amount to anything. So what, you made a mistake. So what, you might've had a bad childhood. So what, you may have experienced a bad or failed marriage or career. The Bible says, “...Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before [you]” (Philippians 3:13 KJV). The Bible doesn't say that WE call those things which are not as though they are. Nor does it say OTHERS have the power to speak things which are not as though they are over your life. No, it is GOD, through His Word, Who speaks into existence His will for your life. And I don’t know about you but I am glad about that.
“…. I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth…..” Matthew 25:25 KJV
Matthew 25:14 through 30 records a parable about the master of an estate who gave each of his servants a sum of money to invest for him. One man got five talents, the second man received two talents, and the third man one talent. The servants with two and five talents turned a respectable profit, while the man with one talent told his master, “I was afraid, and…hid your talent in the earth…”. One of the major lessons in this story is that fear makes you unproductive!
“Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net” Luke 5:5 KJV
The disciples were overwhelmed by a sense of failure: “We have toiled all night and caught nothing” (v. 5 NKJV). Look at them, washing their nets--the last thing fishermen do before they pack up and head for home. And that's when Jesus showed up! Even today, Jesus waits until you and I have reached the end of our rope, he waits until you and I reach our wits end….. and then He steps in! Why? Because as long as we think we can solve the problem on our own, we won't reach out for Him.
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” Phil. 4:4-5
I must be honest with you church, as I write these words of encouragement to you, they are really for me. In the morning, Tuesday, January 10th, my doctor is going to administer a Cervical Epidural Injection in my neck. Was I worried? Absolutely yes! Am I worried now? Absolutely not! What changed was my mind set.
“...I will wait, 'til my change comes.” Job 14:14 NKJV
Before you quit and give up in discouragement, consider the long and difficult transformational process by which a butterfly emerges from its cocoon. If you try to rush God's purpose and process in your life, you'll produce something deformed, something that can't get off the ground and fly. Perhaps you're thinking, “I can't wait for this to be over.” That's understandable. Job couldn't either. He said, “All the days of my hard service I will wait, “til my change comes.” But by God's grace he survived, and ended up with twice as much as he lost. So hold on, your change is coming! God won't give up on you, so don't give up on Him! There's a work going on in you right now. You may not be able to see it or even understand it all. But understand this…. God wants to do a transformational work in your life.
