Time to believe God
Rev. Michael L. Moore - St. James Missionary Baptist Church
Friday, March 14, 2008
If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
— Matthew 17:20
Faith, or belief, can only operate in the present. It takes no faith to believe what has been -- that’s settled. Likewise, it takes no faith to believe what God can do, for with God all things are possible.
Faith functions in what you believe God is going to do right now. Jesus told his disciples, “If you have faith ... nothing will be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20). Then, Jesus demonstrated such faith as he healed the boy that his disciples had failed to heal. When he did this he said to the boy’s father, “All things are possible to him who believes.” Then, scriptures says, “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.’” (Mark 9:23-24)
Our Lord is constantly assuring us as well of what can happen if we but have faith in him. This is especially true in our work places, our homes, and our churches. For us, it is time to believe God. God’s people desperately need to experience God mightily at work in their lives. And a seeking, searching world must also see God working. So, all waits on our faith as children of God.
The writer of Hebrews in chapter 11 lists the “heroes of faith.” But he does not stop there; he goes on to urge all believers to join the ranks with their walk of faith: “therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the same, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1-2)
Today, it is now our turn. And from the scripture, what should we do? For Hebrews 11:6 claims that “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.”
Therefore, in these urgent days let us:
Come to know him.
Believe him (as he has revealed himself to us)
Seek him
Expect him to respond
Come to the full knowledge that nothing is impossible with God (Jer. 32:27; Luke 1:37; 18:27; Matt. 19:26)
Be satisfied with nothing less than the mighty works of God through faith in him (John 14:12-14).
Remember, now is our – “TIME TO BELIEVE GOD” – in our personal lives, our homes, our workplace, and in our churches.
F “Sunday Sermon” is a forum for Emporia area ministers to share their sermons, thoughts and observations. This week’s sermon is from the Rev. Michael Moore of St. James Missionary Baptist Church.