Faith Sees beyond the Senses
Faith is of the Heart pt. 2
Proverbs 4:20-23
20. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
In my prior teaching on this topic, it was stated that everything that’s worth engaging in must be done from the heart. If not, very shallow activity will proceed. And you know, you can’t swim in the shallow, you must go out to the deep. You’ve got to go deep with God’s word or it want be real to you. A casual glance, no. But a steady gaze, a fixed mark that you lock in on. The Word has to so capture your attention that everything around will be swallowed up in the power between the pages of his Holy word. Hear me today. To the degree that you focus in, is the degree of the victory you’ll win. A mind full of the word, that won’t let it depart, moves the word from your head, down into your heart.
Aw, we see to have Faith in your heart it takes time and plenty of effort. It would be great if we could just hear the word once and bang! It’s in our hearts in abundance. But as a child growing naturally, it takes time to learn. It takes time to see into the instructions of your mother, your just learning to talk. Or your just learning to walk. Does a baby start speaking fluently once it mom speaks up to him or her? Does a baby take off running when his parent is holding him up? Hears the thing about God you may not have known. He’s just like that mommy or daddy. He will cheer you on when you try to talk Faith talk and when you stumble, he’ll pick you up and hold you in his arms and hug you up so tight. And say, “you’ll get it next time. Come on let’s start again.” He’s Father God. Full of Gentleness to make you great! Begin to worship him and let’s learn this thing. You’ll be so proud of yourselves, then you will give God all the glory.
Let’s look at another witness as we sit together. This witness will let you know that faith has to see beyond the senses. Genesis. 12:1-5
The Calling of Abram
1. Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
4. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. Abram was a willing vessel, as the story progresses. You see the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: Now the land couldn’t hold Lot and his substance, and the substance of Abram. Then they parted ways. Okay, let’s hear the Lord speaking to Abram again. In Gen. 13:14-17: 14. And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15. For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17. Arise walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Before we go any further, understand that Abram was 75 years of age his wife was past the childbearing age. And the biggest problem yet, was that his wife was barren, never having the ability to conceive. Consider the fact that the natural senses were a mountain in between what God said, and what Abram saw. How was God going to be able to change his inner image? The sense knowledge picture, had been developed in them both for many years? You see you’ve have lived with that handicap sense birth. “And now you say that I can walk? “You’ve struggled with that addiction for it’s seems like an eternity. “Yet you say I can be free?” That daughter has been in an abusive relationship and won’t let it go. “But your saying God will deliver? Oh my God, if that’s possible, I’ve prayed and I’ve prayed.” Think of what they both thought of at first. Let’s continue to read. Gen. 15:5 5. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. The Lord took him by the hand and told him to look to the stars. What is God doing? He’s giving him a visual image to replace that image of the impossible. This is what the Holy Spirit is sent to do for us. As we consume God’s word meditating on it day and night. He paints the picture on the canvas of our hearts. So that we see from the inside out. This develops hope. You can’t receive from God without hope. For faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Then the scripture said in verse 6. 6. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. See Abram was just like you and me, he was struggling with that word, yet he believed in God. After a while, Abram caved in. His wife said now the Lord hath restrained me from bearing. Go into my handmaiden, and maybe through her shall we obtain seed from the Lord. Gen. 16:2 He did, and Hagar bear him a son. This created such a tension between his wife and Hagar, that Sarai cast her out with her son. Now, it looks like it’s all over. This tore at his heart that his son through the flesh was cast out. And they definitely were off course with God’s plan. But God is not a quitter. That’s so good for you and me to know. And when Abram wanted to quit, he called out to us once again. God be Praised! Look at Gen 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. God requires us to be obedient, then he can continue to fulfill his plans that he had for us from the start. Gen: 17:3. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
4. As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. Here we see that God changed his name to Abraham, which means a father of many nations. Aha, he’s going to get everyone around to call him that. And every time his wife calls him, she’s saying “Abraham, father of many nations.” He changed His wife’s name to Sarah. Which means a princess. So now they have the image, he wanted them to see by speaking, over and over what he says they are. Then, then, ohh, then, look what occurs. Gen:18:1 18. And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. They dialogued. Abraham fixes him a good meal the God says, Gen.18:10….I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. Wow! Something had to have turn over in Abraham. Sarah was still struggling, but thanks be to God, Abraham became strong in his faith. Now this saga concluded in this Happy way. Gen. 21:1-3 1. And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. Whew! It came true! And there’s nothing left to do, but to give the Lord another chance to build the image inside of you! So see the picture, And speak his words. Keep your focus steady. Hold it right there! For faith see past your senses. Then at your appointed time as you‘ve believed, your hearts desire you shall receive. Remember natural growth and spiritual growth are similar. But if we start now, with the stuff we know, it won’t be long till God’s faithfulness he’ll show. Gen. 25:7-8: 7. And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. 8. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.