30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 17 3-6 Faith and relationships 09 To walk by faith and not by sight
📖 Luke 17:3-6
05Jul2020 - *To walk by faith and not by sight* - _Luke 17:3-6_ - FAITH AND RELATIONSHIPS 9 – Bible reading: _I Peter 1:3-9_
_Luke 17:5 And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." (6) So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you._
Faith in God is not just about building the body of Christ, faith is foundational in our relationship with God. The Lord longs for us to come to Him with our doubts, our cynicism, our pessimism and all our baggage and cry out to Him, as the father cried, “Lord help my unbelief”. This is the mustard seed of faith. Faith in God is about taking our eyes away from our circumstances and focus on Jesus.
“O Lord save me” is a defeated prayer. Let us rise above our circumstances and live our lives in the eternal domain, for our eyes are on Jesus.
Let us now see the big picture of what God is accomplishing. _I Peter 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,_
God has begotten us by His mercy to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that is reserved in heaven for us. God is bringing all things back together in Him and this is our hope, which is sure. In preparing us for our final destination of eternal rest in Christ, we are being kept here on earth through *faith in Him*. _(5) who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time._
We must, therefore, be sure of what God is doing and not be anxious and troubled by our circumstances. We can rejoice and give Him glory for we know that we are being prepared for that eternal rest with God. _(6) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,_
This period of crisis is not a meaningless experience that we must somehow survive. We, as His people, go through this period of calamity, rejoicing and also embracing the trials. We are conscious that these tribulations are not worthless processes but they are the means through which we are being purified, in order that when the Lord returns, we will receive Him with garlands of praise, honour and glory. _I Peter 1:7-9 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,_
Reaffirming and reconfirming that *faith is about seeing Jesus and not seeing our circumstances*. This is a liberating, joyful and glorious experience, which the world will not be able to understand but will be intrigued and seek to know Jesus because of our life of faith in Him. In other words, if we are not going to be people of faith, at this precious period of human history, we will not have left a stamp of God to our disbelieving world. _(8) whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,_
_(9) receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls._
The Lord justifies and considers us righteous before Him by our faith in Him. Faith in Jesus is what makes us be children of Abraham. _Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all_
What shall we say then? God has placed all things before us and has invited us *to walk by faith and not by sight*. Will we bring joy to His heart or will we bring Him sorrow, for the Lord has expressed His concern over us? _Luke 18:8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, *will He really find faith on the earth*?"_
We call ourselves, ‘believers’. Will we commit ourselves to be true to our name?
*Thought to ponder*
```Mark 8:35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.```