LET FAITH ARISE!
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
FAITH = TRUST
Faith comes from the Latin fides, meaning “trust, confidence.”
Trust stems from traust, meaning “confidence, help, protection.”
If Faith is about Trust - then who are we trusting?
Here’s a fact, MOST People Have Faith. It's the question of FAITH in what? IF you look at global statistics:
60% of people believe and TRUST that their financial stability is the key to Success and Happiness. They have FAITH in their financial stature because it reduces stress, provides a SENSE of Control and POWER.
40% of people have faith in their NATIONAL IDENTITY and in their governments because it offers national pride, security in social order or protection and STABILITY.
Here’s the Key Truth Brothers and Sisters:
Faith Finds Its Worth In The Character Of The One It Trusts.
SURE, You can have sincere faith in Money and Materialism, In Governments or the power of your passport. BUT these are NOT faith in secure things BUT in unstable things — money loses its value, your government will fail you. You can have SINCERE FAITH in these good things BUT sincerity doesn’t guarantee SECURITY.
You can sincerely believe your savings will protect you—until inflation hits or markets crash.
You can sincerely rely on a government—until corruption, instability, or policy shifts expose its limits.
That’s why the PSALMIST said in Psalm 20:7 –
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
Similarly,
Proverbs 11:28 -
Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
In 1 Samuel 8, The Israelites were directly under the grace and power of GOD, meaning GOD was ruling them directly, perfect KING, perfect Government. Perfect system. BUT they were jealous of the other nations, they wanted to be like the other nations, they wanted a better system, a better government - a better way of LIVING! They wanted a different kind of SECURITY! AND so they told Samuel they wanted a different KING! a human King just like the other nations. And SAMUEL was devastated! He was upset! HE felt they were rejecting HIM as their judge and prophet and so HE goes to GOD and bears his heart before GOD. In Gods LOVE And MERCY, you know what God says to Samuel:
“It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.” — 1 Samuel 8:7
They have lost faith in GOD! They have put their faith in money, materialism and wanted a new government!
God told Samuel, go, give them what they want. BUT WARN THEM:
Governments will form Armies and militaries and require men to serve in the military, there will be forced labor, you will lose your daughters, your properties will be confiscated, there will be TAXATION AND when you seek for JUSTICE, your cries will be unanswered. IF you put your TRUST and FAITH in government and systems other than GOD, this will happen.
AND guess what Church, ALL these warnings, from the time of Samuel to our modern day age - have come to pass!
Mandatory Military Service, Check, Forced Labor, even child labor, check, Loss of daughters, gender exploitation, CHECK, Land grabbing, corruption, CHECK, Heavy Taxes and Economic dependence, CHECK! People crying out for justice, CHECK!
WHEN we put faith in money, materialism and government IT will FAIL! BUT When we put our FAITH in the FAITHFUL GOD that we serve, we will LIVE in the peace, prosperity and protection that only HE CAN PROVIDE!
Jeremiah 17:5-8
This is what the LORD says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
The LORD is asking us all today, CHURCH, who are you trusting? Who is the object of your faith?
The Israelites had a faltering FAITH in GOD because they had a faltering relationship with HIM. They had a weak FAITH in GOD because their relationship with Him was weak.
AND this my dear brothers and sisters, is the SAD TRUTH with many Christians TODAY!
Many Christians have an unsteady FAITH in GOD because their connection with HIM is unstable.
Their faith felt distant because they had drifted from intimacy with God. That’s the truth!
I give you an example! You pray to GOD for a miracle, the LORD tells you to fast. And you find reasons not to! Your excuses gets in the way of your FAITH
You wait for the LORD to answer your prayers, HE tells you to attend overnight prayer service - to pray for 5 hours straight with your fellow believers - BUT you tell HIM you are too busy! Your busyness gets in the way of your FAITH.
James 2:17 says this:
“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
You ask the LORD for a breakthrough in your life, the LORD ask you to break free from your elicit relationship - You say NO! You cling on! YOUR Emotions GETS in the WAY of your FAITH.
You ask the LORD for Prosperity, for Blessings, for an Increase, The LORD asks you to Give an OFFERING in FAITH. BUT you hold on to that LITTLE that you have expecting the BIG thing you are asking for! YOUR Greed is getting in the way of your FAITH
You ask the LORD for your spouse to Love you MORE, To respect you more - The LORD asks you to SUBMIT to Him, But you REFUSE. Your EGO gets in the WAY of your FAITH
You pray TO God to fix your relationship with your Parents, To fix your relationship with your DAD, The LORD asks you to FORGIVE! You Dont want to forgive, you tell HIM I’m hurt! They should say sorry first! Your pride is getting in the way of your FAITH!
You pray to the LORD for HEALING, He tells you to LET GO of processed foods, softdrinks, pork, HE tell you to STOP. Your HARD HEADEDNESS tigas ng ulo is getting in the way of your FAITH.
You pray to the LORD for Promotion, He tells you to Be a good steward of what HE has given you, You tell Him you are already doing your best - Your limitations are getting in the way of your FAITH!
AND REALLY, the bottom line is that YOU DO NOT TRUST GOD enough TO obey HIM when He tells you to ACT.
If you are really being honest with yourself - You DO NOT TRUST God to deliver on His promises because you don’t have a deep relationship with GOD! You don’t know HIM enough to TRUST in HIM!
Where is your FAITH?
Remember this dear friends -
Faith Finds Its Confidence In The Constancy Of God’s Character.
DANIEL was 80 years old when he was the SENATE PRESIDENT during the time of King Darius. His corrupt, co-senators conspired against HIM because they were really pissed at him, really upset! Because Daniel was a FAITHFUL Servant of GOD!
Lets read that in Daniel 6. We’ll take it from verse 3.
Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree in writing.
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.”
When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Underline that in your bibles or your bible APPS: And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Okay, Let continue lets take it in verse 25:
Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
Daniel walked into the LIONS DEN Because HE trusted in HIS GOD! HE trusted in HIS GOD! He knew GOD so well that HIS trust in GOD never wavered. HE knew GOD so well that when HIS FAITH Was tested He passed.
People think that DANIEL was a Great Man of FAITH! No, dear brothers and sister. HE was not a great man of faith, in fact if he was here today he will tell you this himself. If we introduced HIM to the crowd here in church, He will not want us to call him a Great Man of Faith but instead he was a MAN of FAITH in a GREAT GOD!
Daniel FAITH is based upon HIS relationship with our GREAT GOD! He trusted GOD because GOD is great!
Daniel said - My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.
The Object Of Faith Determines The Outcome Of Faith.
When You Magnify The Greatness Of God! Your Faith Will Arise!
Say Let FAITH Arise.
And everyone around you will say, just as the King decreed:
“For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.
He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
Daniel knew this about GOD already! His relationship with GOD was so deep. He was NOT afraid to walk into the Lions Den!
How about you, dear friends? When will you exercise your faith?
Daniel Chapter 6 ends in verse 28
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
We LOVE to hear this word PROSPER. We love to pray this prayer PROSPER.
Gusto natin umunlad ang ating buhay. We want success, wealth, profit, riches, security,
But many of us are not willing to walk into the LIONS DEN. Many are not willing to DO what DANIEL did.
Daniel did not compromise HIS faith. He prayed even when he knew it will cost him his life.
He stood out in FAITH because his relationship with God was deeper than HIS fear.
Faith Rests Secure In Who God Is.
Let me end with this:
When God Calls You To Step Out In Faith, He Expects You To Count On Him To Deliver.
IT’s NOT by your strength. Let me say that again.
When God Calls You To Step Out In Faith, He Expects You To Count On Him To Deliver.
You may be part and parcel of the circumstances, I mean it is you who needs HIM. So GOD expects you to tap into HIS power to ACTIVATE your faith.
1 Corinthians 2:5
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
LET FAITH ARISE!
In conclusion, Lets all read Proverbs 3:1
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
We will end with this truth:
Your Faith Will Change Your Fate.
Altar Call….
PRAYER: A Position. Prayer is more than a conversation with GOD, it’s a posture of the heart and a position of the spirit.
Your Circumstances is essential to the rise of your faith. Your circumstances brings about a realization that the GOD you serve is FAITHFUL.
While Daniel was praying, Gabriel was arriving. God responds to prayer. It’s not about the power of the one praying, its on the one we are praying to! PRayer is rooted on who GOD is. Similarly, its not about the amount of FAITH you have, its about the FAITH of the one who you are TRUSTING! For God is faithful even if you are not faithful. Let me say that again. For God is faithful even if you are not faithful.
But your faith is directly proportional to your relationship with God.
All scripture is equally true BUT not equally clear.
VISUALIZATION to work. Make the visualization ugly. Low perceived finishness. Pencil Selling.
Lead with Visual Metaphors.
Trust Fall!
Majority of Filipinos will go through
YOUR FAITH will change your FATE.
Whomsoever you put your FAITH in will determine your destiny and your destination.
In John Chapter 6 - There is this familiar story where JESUS fed the 5 thousand. Lets read that: Verse 5-9
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
Dear Brothers and Sisters. When GOD asks you a logical question, HE is not seeking a logical answer. HE is waiting for a FAITH FILLED RESPONSE.
Because OUR response to JESUS is reflective of our LEVEL of FAITH in HIM.
The right response of PHILIP to the question of JESUS:
Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”
should have been:
You, oh LORD JESUS shall supply ALL our needs according to your riches in glory.
The right response of Andres should have been:
You, oh LORD JESUS is the GOD that can do ALL THINGS, you are ALL POWERFUL, YOU are the bread of life, let your light shine and your power flow through this situation at hand.
That is the right response dear friends. A response that demonstrates our TRUST in JESUS Christ.
How about you? What is your response when faced with seemingly difficult situations?
Lets go back to John Chapter 6 and now in verse 10:
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
Faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of GOD.
Lets break this down.
