Series Title: Champion of Faith
Ariel F. Tenorio
Part 1: Faith that Pleases God
Part 2: Faith that Sees Beyond
Part 3: Faith that Defies Logic
Part 4: Faith that Challenges Others
Part 1: FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD
Introduction:
Everyone of us has a desire to be known, to be successful, and to be a champion in life. All these desires are normal for our Maker wants us to be great and to be blessed. And the Father wants us to live by faith and not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7) To trust Him and His word is faith, which is the language and the currency that connects us to the Father. Our faith is the way to access and receive every thing the Throne of heaven has to offer and receive every promise we have from Him.
“1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders OBTAINED A GOOD REPORT.3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:1-3
There are champions of faith who were well recorded in the Bible. These men & women areORDINARY PEOPLE with EXTRA-ORDINARY RESULTS.They were not champions because they were super human but because they knew how to tap into the power of God. They are normal people like us. They believed & lived their lives in FAITH to the one and only TRUE God. For FAITH IS THE POWER OF GOD IN ACTION.
Gideon is a picture of a weak man who does not believe in himself but ended as a hero. Daniel was at his lowest as a captive in a foreign land but ended at the top, next to the leader. David was a ‘NOBODY’ even to his family but ended up as a mighty and successful king. Esther started as a slave girl but became the queen of the most powerful king of the most powerful kingdom at that time. Joseph was a victim of all sorts of childhood and household conspiracies but became one of the most powerful, talked-about, preached-about and celebrated men in history. Guys, welcome to the team of the champions!
Our faith in God is what distinguishes us. It is what connects us to God for divine intervention. Faith is the spiritual force with which ordinary people accomplish extraordinary feats. Faith makes us a winner where others are losing. It is our access to a life of freedom. Faith is what guarantees us a place in the frontline.
It is the believer’s guarantee of victory in the battles of life.It is where everything is anchored.
ME (GET ATTENTION)
When I was in my elementary days, I started attending DVBS (Daily Vacation Bible School) every summer vacation. I already had a desire to follow and serve God but I didn’t know how. It was during late high school that I encountered God and I was willing to lay down my whole life and serve him. So when I got to college and met Destiny family that's when I surrendered everything and followed Him whatever the cost. For I desire to please Him all the days of my life. And I know it's only by faith that it will be possible.
WE (PRESENT A TENSION)
Do you find it difficult to obey God and lay down everything to do His will? Do struggle when God challenges you to do something you are not certain about? Do you have battles in your mind with what if’s? What if I am alone? What if no one will believe me? What if they will not listen? What if I am wrong & did not hear it right?
GOD (PROVIDE A SOLUTION)
A life that pleases Him starts from willingness to follow Him with all our heart and leave everything behind. For what pleases God is also what will make us happiest and most satisfied. Ultimately, we will be most fulfilled when we fulfill God’s purpose for our lives—because He loves us and wants the best for us.
We PLEASE HIM when we:
- Fear God - "The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.” Psalms 147:11 NKJV
- Do God's will - God’s will for us goes beyond just knowing what He wants. It involves doing “every good work”—working at maturing spiritually and becoming more like God.
“make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:21 NKJV
- Obey God“So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD?Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice...” I Samuel 15:22 NKJV
Speaking of OBEDIENCE, let's learn from the life of Abraham. Before we start studying his life, it's good to understand Abraham was not cutout above the rest. He was not perfect and godly. Actually, Abraham was a moon worshipper. Butit was God who INITIATED and INVITEDAbraham into a Journey through a promise.
“Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country,From your familyAndfrom your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.I will make you a great nation;I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; Andin you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV
When God initiated a journey with Abraham, it started with a "challenge to obey"and it must have been a surprise to receive a direct revelation from Yahweh.
I could only imagine how challenging or difficult it would be to be in a situation like Abraham—to obey God when all his life he was used to believing other gods; to leave his comfort zone, his family and to go into a place where he had never been. Can you just try to imagine and put yourself in his situation? Imagine God asks you to go to a place you have never been and you know no one... It's not easy right? (Pls. give your specific life situations that people could identify)
The challenge of God is to leave geographically and to trust Him completely.For when God did the challenge, He also gave a PROMISE.A promise that can only happen thru obedience. Our obedience to Him will require our full trust and our faith in Him.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
Having read the invitation and the promise of God, we can identify with Abraham. Some of us, we are in our comfort zone or in a situation that we need to make a decision to leave our current picture to fulfill our call/purpose. Some of us, literally it's about time to leave our home/family and go to a place where God is calling us. It can also be a work, business or whatever situation that's causing us to be stagnant and not doing His will.
There's a blessing and promotion that awaits us that will only be released in our obedience thru faith. And in those blessings and promotions is where we can bless others.
“So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him..." Genesis 12:4 NKJV
Abraham obeyed the Lord at the expense of his comfort zone but it was the most exciting and rewarding journey he had. For when Abraham decided to obey, God made a covenant with him and made Himself one with him. (Covenant means to "make one" and it's like the wedding covenant). Gen 15
We are part of this Abrahamic covenant where God put himself on the line and what He has is ours. So what do we have to worry when He is backing us up with all that He has? He is only requiring us to be obedient to what He promised.
YOU (HOW IS IT RELEVANT TO THE AUDIENCE)
If you are in Abraham's situation, what will you do? Will you struggle to follow God knowing the journey is uncertain and challenging?
Do you think it's worth the trade? If you are experiencing the prompting of the Holy Spiritto let go and follow, will you?What if it would cost you your personal ambition? Would you still follow him?
WE (SPARK AN INSPIRATION)
So what are you waiting for? Are you willing to step out and embrace where God is calling you? The very desire of the Father is for us to leave behind what is stopping us and live the life that He promised us that will please him. Will you respond to God who initiated a journey with Him? A life that is blessed that blesses others and a life of significance? Today, you can make that choice and make a decision in your heart to leave the things He is asking you to leave and embrace your call.