Active Faith: The Power of Belief and Obedience

Devotional

Day 1: Active Faith in God's Unchanging Nature

Faith is not merely a passive belief but an active declaration of God's promises over our lives. It requires us to engage in fervent prayer, seeking miracles for ourselves, our families, and our communities. This active faith is rooted in the understanding that God is unchanging and faithful, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Despite the obstacles we may see with our natural eyes, we are called to trust in God's ability to heal, deliver, restore, and vindicate. By choosing to trust Him, we align ourselves with His power and purpose, allowing His promises to manifest in our lives. [29:51]

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23, ESV)

Reflection: What specific promise of God do you need to actively declare over your life today, and how can you incorporate this declaration into your daily prayer routine?

Day 2: Intentionality in Building a Relationship with God

Our relationship with God should be intentional, much like planning a vacation or a date. It is not about religious rituals but about a genuine connection with Him. This intentionality involves setting aside dedicated time for God and engaging in spiritual disciplines such as fasting, which is a sacrifice that draws us closer to Him. The current fast is a corporate effort to seek God for various needs, including personal purity, intimacy with God, and revival. By being intentional, we ensure that our relationship with God is vibrant and life-giving, rather than routine and stagnant. [44:18]

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Reflection: What specific time and place can you set aside this week to intentionally connect with God, and what spiritual discipline will you focus on during this time?

Day 3: Obedience as a Sign of Submission

Obedience to God is a sign of submission to His authority. It requires us to comply with His commands, even when it is difficult or when we do not understand His ways. The story of Saul and David illustrates the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of repentance and obedience. Saul lost his kingdom due to disobedience, while David, despite his sins, was restored because of his repentant heart and obedience to God. Obedience is not just about following rules but about trusting God and aligning our lives with His will, which ultimately leads to blessings and fulfillment. [56:33]

"And 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, and to listen than the fat of rams.'" (1 Samuel 15:22, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life is God calling you to obedience, and what steps can you take today to submit to His authority in that area?

Day 4: The Power of Repentance and Restoration

The story of Saul and David serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of repentance. While Saul lost his kingdom due to disobedience, David was restored because of his repentant heart and obedience to God. Repentance is not just about feeling sorry for our sins but about turning away from them and aligning our lives with God's will. It is through repentance that we experience restoration and the fullness of God's blessings in our lives. [01:19:38]

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area of disobedience in your life that you need to repent of today, and how can you take steps towards restoration and alignment with God's will?

Day 5: Obedience as a Pathway to Blessing

Obedience to God releases blessings in our lives. It shows trust in God and aligns us with His will, leading to fulfillment and favor. We are challenged to examine our lives for any areas of disobedience and respond with repentance and a renewed commitment to obey God. Obedience is not just about following rules but about trusting God and aligning our lives with His will, which ultimately leads to blessings and fulfillment. By choosing obedience, we open ourselves to the abundant life that God has promised us. [01:34:06]

"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth." (Deuteronomy 28:1, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific area where you can practice obedience to God this week, and how do you anticipate this obedience will bring blessing into your life?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, the focus is on the power of belief and obedience in our walk with God. Despite the challenges and circumstances we face, we are called to declare our faith in God's ability to heal, deliver, restore, and vindicate. This faith is not passive but active, requiring us to pray fervently for the miracles we seek, whether for ourselves, our families, or our communities. We are reminded that God is unchanging and faithful, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, we must choose to trust Him, even when our natural eyes see obstacles.

The sermon also emphasizes the importance of being intentional in our relationship with God. Just as we plan vacations or dates, we must intentionally set aside time for God, ensuring that our relationship with Him is not about religious rituals but about genuine connection. This intentionality extends to our spiritual disciplines, such as fasting, which is a sacrifice that draws us closer to God. The current fast is a corporate effort to seek God for various needs, including personal purity, intimacy with God, and revival.

Obedience is highlighted as a crucial link in our spiritual chain, connecting us to God. It is a sign of submission to His authority, even when it is difficult or when we do not understand His ways. The story of Saul and David illustrates the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of repentance and obedience. Saul lost his kingdom due to disobedience, while David, despite his sins, was restored because of his repentant heart and obedience to God.

Finally, the message challenges us to examine our lives for any areas of disobedience and to respond with repentance and a renewed commitment to obey God. Obedience is not just about following rules but about trusting God and aligning our lives with His will, which ultimately leads to blessings and fulfillment.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith in Action: Believing in God's power requires active faith, where we declare His promises over our lives and pray for the miracles we seek. This faith is rooted in the understanding that God is unchanging and faithful. [29:51]
2. Intentional Relationship: Our relationship with God should be intentional, not based on religious rituals but on genuine connection. This involves setting aside time for God and engaging in spiritual disciplines like fasting to draw closer to Him. [44:18]
3. Obedience as Submission: Obedience to God is a sign of submission to His authority. It requires us to comply with His commands, even when it is difficult or when we do not understand His ways. [56:33]
4. Repentance and Restoration: The story of Saul and David illustrates the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of repentance. While Saul lost his kingdom due to disobedience, David was restored because of his repentant heart and obedience to God. [79:38]
5. Obedience Brings Blessing: Obedience to God releases blessings in our lives. It shows trust in God and aligns us with His will, leading to fulfillment and favor. We are challenged to examine our lives for any areas of disobedience and respond with repentance and a renewed commitment to obey God. [01:34:06]
** [94:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:51] - Declaring Faith in God's Promises
[30:33] - Praying for Miracles
[31:11] - Restoration and Surrender
[37:37] - God's Faithfulness as Our Anchor
[39:23] - Overcoming Regret
[42:02] - Trusting in God's Plan
[44:18] - Intentional Relationship with God
[45:10] - Beyond Religion: Building a Relationship
[46:14] - The Power of Fasting
[48:01] - Corporate Fasting and Prayer
[50:40] - Anchored in God
[53:07] - The Importance of Sabbath
[56:33] - Obedience as Submission
[60:19] - Obedience Leading to Righteousness
[61:47] - The Challenge of Obedience
[63:16] - Jesus' Example of Obedience
[65:23] - Obedience Over Sacrifice
[69:27] - Personal Obedience and Idols
[70:46] - God Requires Our Obedience
[71:57] - Disobedience Breaks the Chain
[73:53] - The Tale of Two Kings
[81:36] - Obedience Shows Trust
[82:43] - Blessings of Obedience
[85:02] - Joseph's Story of Obedience
[89:15] - Integrity and Obedience
[94:06] - Examining Our Obedience
[95:48] - Repentance and Restoration
[99:11] - Quick to Obey
[102:50] - Childlike Faith and Obedience
[103:48] - Obeying God Over the World
[108:17] - Closing Prayer and Repentance

Sermon Clips

We need God every single day. Time in worship, time in the word, time in fellowship, in community, and it is an intentional thing that we do. We intentionally set aside time to spend it with him. All of you this morning, most likely, intentionally set aside. For the most part, I would even venture to say that most of you in here this morning, you said, tomorrow morning when I wake up, I'm going to get ready and I'm going to go to church, and it's why you're here. You intentionally said it. [00:43:31] (31 seconds)

And so I encourage you, be intentional in spending time with God. If you're not, it doesn't happen. In the same way that, hey, if you don't start planning a vacation, you don't take it, right? If you're not intentional, if you're not intentional about planning a date with your wife, it doesn't happen. We got to be intentional in our relationship with God, because with God, it's not about religion. [00:44:22] (26 seconds)

And God wants to have relationship with us. And the most amazing thing is that we can encounter God corporately, like we're doing right now, but we can also encounter God individually, in our home, in our car, with our spouse, with our children. We can pray. We can worship. And God shows up. [00:45:56] (19 seconds)

And the fact that fasting is sacrificial. It is a sacrifice. Listen, this guy up here, he likes to eat. So when I feel in my heart to fast, it takes intentionality. I sacrifice. Yes, we love you, Jesus. Let me tell you what's really hard when you fast, when you got children and you got to cook for them. [00:53:29] (45 seconds)

The definition of obedience is to comply. The definition of obedience is to submit to the authority of someone else. When we look at that word, it says this, compliance with an order or law. Submission to another's authority. Compliance. I don't know if you've heard of compliance. I don't know if you've heard of compliance. I don't know if you know about this, about me. I like speed. [00:56:33] (30 seconds)

And obedience is a sign of submission. My children are submitted to me. They obey what I tell them to do. It's a sign of submission. Hey, go clean your room. I may not want to, but they go do it. Because there was a sign of submission. And with God, obedience to him, obedience to God, it's a sign of submission to God saying, God, I am coming under your authority. [00:59:36] (27 seconds)

Obedience to God shows trust in God. It shows trust in God. Can we be authentic for a moment? Everybody in here, you vow we're going to be authentic for a moment, okay? Have you ever been told the same exact thing by two different people? Have you ever been told the same exact thing by two different people? Have you ever been told the same exact thing by two different people, but you believed one of them and not the other? [01:21:30] (20 seconds)

And they were saved because of a guy that chose to be obedient at 18, 19 years old. When his master's wife said, sleep with me. I'm going to obey you, God, over this. And it brought forth blessing. Obedience brings blessing. Again, this doesn't mean that if something bad happened, it's because of disobedience. It's because of disobedience. Can it be? Absolutely. But it's not always the case. [01:33:37] (32 seconds)

We obey god regardless of what the world says the world may say this but if god said this right as far as i know there is no law in this country against getting drunk there's laws against drunk driving but you know what the bible says don't get drunk so even though it's not illegal i'm going to choose to obey god and that's the obedience that god is requiring of us obey me regardless of what anybody says regardless of what the world says and so church as a worship team comes to the altar i i know i went long but the holy spirit is here listen let's be quick to obey let's be quick to obey can you throw first samuel back up the the verse uh first samuel verse 20 let's be quick to obey let's be quick to obey let's be quick to obey let's be quick to obey five two there's 22 of it 15 22 [01:46:44] (60 seconds)

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