A story… It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky, he couldn’t tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared.
Also, being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?"
"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed," the meteorologist at the weather service responded. So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared.
A week later, he called the National Weather Service again. "Is it going to be a very cold winter?"
"Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied, "it’s definitely going to be a very cold winter." The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find.
Two weeks later, he called the National Weather Service again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"
"Absolutely," the man replied. "It’s going to be one of the coldest winters ever."
"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked.
The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting wood like crazy."
As much as 77% of everything we think is negative and counterproductive and works against us. People who grow up in an average household hear "No" or are told what they can’t do more than 148,000 times by the time they reach age 18. Result: Unintentional negative programming.
Shad Helmstetter in Homemade, Jan, 1987.
2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
So how can we be sure about God?
- Ex 14
Exodus 14:16KJV
16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
THE SECRET OF FAITH IS:
❶ Focus
Ex 14:2 - speak unto the ... Israel
Ex 14:4 Note God’s Action
I will harden
I will be honored
I am the Lord
Ex 14:10 - Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptian
- Know that God’s action often does not make sense
- My Automatic Action “sore afraid” (exceedingly)
Psalm 53:5KJV
5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
Isaiah 8:12-13KJV
12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
- My Reaction is assuming the possible outcome
- v. 11-12 - Pessimistic
- Worry looks around Faith looks up
❷ Courage
Ex 14:13-14
- We can’t annihilate our Egyptians
- We can’t dry up our impassable sea
- The secret is to trust Him
Psalm 27:1-2
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. - The secret of faith is to fear not, Stand still, Let God
Isaiah 40:31KJV
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
❸ Obedience
Ex 14:15 - Go Forward
We are paralyzed with our thinking “ I can’t”
We are faithless because of seeing the sea of discouragement and difficulty
No progress possible unless God speaks
His words to us
Go forward in Prayer Mt 7:7; Mt 21:22
Go forward in holiness Ps 1:1 (Ahab) 1 Ki 16:31
Go forward in bible study Ps 1:2
Go forward in ministry Ps 1:3; Jn 15:2, 6
Go forward in H.S.
Zechariah 4:6KJV
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with manyc, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.
v. 25- The battle is the Lords
- David with Golliath
1 Samuel 17:47 KJV
47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.
- He can send hail from heaven - Jos. 10:11
- He can stop the sun from setting - Jos 10:13
- He can open the earth and swallow up people - Nu. 16:31-35
- He can feed 5,000 with 5 loaves & 2 fish Mt 14:17
- He can cause you to walk on water - Mt 14:29
- He can put dirt and spit into your eyes for you to see Jn 9:6-7
- He can be beaten, speared, nailed to a cross & die and come forth from a sealed and guarded tomb alive again
- Israel had done nothing but obey & God wins the victory
❹ Worship
- One expression of worship is a song
- Ex 15:1-2, 21 - They sang
- Power in Praise
- We have seen His salvation
- A singing Christian is a victorious Christian
- A singing church is a growing, witnessing Church
Conclusion
1 Corinthians 15:57KJV
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- It’s time to Know, Trust & see Him work in our lives
