Embracing Now Faith: Trusting God's Active Presence

Summary

In today's gathering, we were reminded of the ever-present and active nature of God in our lives. Despite the challenges and trials we face, God is not distant or unconcerned. He is actively involved, ready to meet our needs and provide for us in every situation. We were encouraged to maintain our faith, especially in times of difficulty, as faith is the currency of the kingdom. It is through faith that we can access God's promises and see His hand at work in our lives.

We heard powerful testimonies of God's miraculous interventions, such as healing from cancer and personal transformations, which serve as reminders that God is still moving and performing wonders today. These testimonies are not just stories of the past but are meant to inspire our "now faith"—a faith that is active and present, not just a memory of what once was.

The message emphasized the importance of having faith right now, as God is looking for those who trust Him in the present moment. We were challenged to not be swayed by the enemy's attempts to weaken our faith or convince us that God is not concerned with our current struggles. Instead, we are to stand firm, knowing that God is mindful of us and our situations.

We were also reminded that our self-worth is not determined by external appearances or material possessions but by our identity in Christ. Whether we struggle with low self-esteem or pride, we are called to see ourselves through God's eyes, recognizing that we are more than flesh and blood; we are spiritual beings loved by God.

As we continue our journey, let us hold onto our faith, knowing that God is in control and that He is working all things together for our good. Let us be encouraged to walk with Jesus, trusting Him to guide us through every circumstance.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Active Presence: God is not distant or unconcerned; He is actively involved in our lives, ready to meet our needs and provide for us in every situation. We must maintain our faith, especially in times of difficulty, as faith is the currency of the kingdom. [47:30]

- The Power of Testimonies: Testimonies of God's miraculous interventions remind us that He is still moving and performing wonders today. These stories inspire our "now faith," encouraging us to trust God in the present moment. [55:39]

- The Importance of Now Faith: God is looking for those who trust Him right now. We are challenged to not be swayed by the enemy's attempts to weaken our faith but to stand firm, knowing that God is mindful of us and our situations. [01:11:38]

- Our Identity in Christ: Our self-worth is not determined by external appearances or material possessions but by our identity in Christ. We are called to see ourselves through God's eyes, recognizing that we are spiritual beings loved by God. [01:25:19]

- Trusting God's Control: Despite the challenges we face, God is in control and is working all things together for our good. We are encouraged to walk with Jesus, trusting Him to guide us through every circumstance. [01:37:58]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[47:30] - God's Active Presence
[55:39] - The Power of Testimonies
[01:01:44] - Faith and Victory
[01:11:38] - The Importance of Now Faith
[01:17:41] - God's Mindfulness
[01:25:19] - Our Identity in Christ
[01:37:58] - Trusting God's Control
[01:40:07] - Prayer for Faith
[01:42:39] - Invitation to Salvation
[01:45:08] - Church Information
[01:47:51] - Offering Time
[01:49:54] - Acknowledgments
[01:54:28] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
- Psalm 8:4 - "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"
- Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does the sermon suggest about the nature of God's involvement in our lives, especially during difficult times? [47:30]

2. How did the testimonies shared in the sermon illustrate God's miraculous interventions? [55:39]

3. According to the sermon, why is "now faith" emphasized as crucial for believers? [01:11:38]

4. How does the sermon describe our identity in Christ, and what implications does this have for our self-worth? [01:25:19]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "now faith" in Hebrews 11:1 challenge believers to live in the present moment rather than relying on past experiences? [01:11:38]

2. In what ways do the testimonies shared in the sermon serve as evidence of God's active presence in the lives of believers today? [55:39]

3. How does the sermon interpret Psalm 8:4 in relation to God's mindfulness of us and our situations? [01:17:41]

4. What does Romans 8:28 suggest about the relationship between our faith and God's control over our circumstances? [01:37:58]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did your faith influence your response to that situation? What might you do differently next time? [47:30]

2. Think of a time when you heard a testimony that strengthened your faith. How can you share your own experiences to encourage others in your community? [55:39]

3. How can you cultivate "now faith" in your daily life, especially when facing uncertainty or doubt? What practical steps can you take to strengthen your faith today? [01:11:38]

4. In what ways do you struggle with self-worth, and how can viewing yourself through God's eyes change your perspective? Identify one specific area where you can apply this new perspective. [01:25:19]

5. Consider a situation where you felt out of control. How can trusting in God's sovereignty, as described in Romans 8:28, bring you peace? What specific action can you take to remind yourself of this truth? [01:37:58]

6. Identify a person in your life who might be struggling with their faith. How can you support and encourage them to trust in God's active presence and promises?

7. How can you incorporate prayer and scripture reading into your routine to reinforce your identity in Christ and maintain a strong faith foundation?

Devotional

Sure, let's proceed with the 5-day devotional based on the provided sermon summary.

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Day 1: God's Active Involvement in Our Lives
In the midst of life's challenges, it is easy to feel as though God is distant or uninvolved. However, the truth is that God is actively present in our lives, ready to meet our needs and provide for us in every situation. This understanding calls us to maintain our faith, especially during difficult times, as faith is the currency of the kingdom. Through faith, we can access God's promises and witness His hand at work in our lives. We are encouraged to trust in God's active presence, knowing that He is not only aware of our struggles but is also working to bring about His purposes in our lives. [47:30]

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him." (2 Chronicles 16:9 ESV)

Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you need to trust God's active involvement today, and how can you express that trust through a specific action or prayer?

Day 2: The Power of Testimonies
Testimonies of God's miraculous interventions serve as powerful reminders that He is still moving and performing wonders today. These stories are not just relics of the past but are meant to inspire our "now faith"—a faith that is active and present. Hearing about healing from cancer or personal transformations can encourage us to trust God in the present moment, knowing that He is capable of doing the impossible. We are invited to let these testimonies fuel our faith, encouraging us to believe that God is still at work in our lives and the lives of those around us. [55:39]

"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." (Revelation 12:11 ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a testimony you have heard recently. How can this story inspire you to trust God for a specific need or situation in your life today?

Day 3: Trusting God in the Present Moment
God is looking for those who trust Him right now, in the present moment. The enemy often tries to weaken our faith by convincing us that God is not concerned with our current struggles. However, we are challenged to stand firm, knowing that God is mindful of us and our situations. This requires a "now faith"—a faith that is not just a memory of what once was but is active and alive today. By trusting God in the present, we open ourselves to experiencing His guidance and provision in our lives. [01:11:38]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God in the present moment? What step can you take today to actively place your trust in Him?

Day 4: Our True Identity in Christ
Our self-worth is not determined by external appearances or material possessions but by our identity in Christ. Whether we struggle with low self-esteem or pride, we are called to see ourselves through God's eyes, recognizing that we are more than flesh and blood; we are spiritual beings loved by God. This understanding frees us from the pressures of the world and allows us to live confidently in the truth of who we are in Christ. Embracing our identity in Him empowers us to live out our faith authentically and boldly. [01:25:19]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

Reflection: How do you currently view your self-worth? What steps can you take to align your self-perception with your true identity in Christ today?

Day 5: Trusting God's Sovereign Control
Despite the challenges we face, God is in control and is working all things together for our good. We are encouraged to walk with Jesus, trusting Him to guide us through every circumstance. This trust in God's sovereignty allows us to face life's uncertainties with peace and confidence, knowing that He is orchestrating everything according to His perfect plan. As we continue our journey, let us hold onto our faith, assured that God is working behind the scenes for our ultimate good and His glory. [01:37:58]

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9 ESV)

Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing where you need to trust in God's sovereign control? How can you surrender this situation to Him today and rest in His peace?

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Quotes

1. "Just in case the devil has caused you to believe that God is on a vacation, that God is somewhere sitting on a beach with his feet propped up, not worried about you, not worried about a thing, not concerned about your problems, amen, but our God, I mean your God loves you and our God loves us so much that the Bible says and the word was made flesh and dwelled among us, I wouldn't want to serve a God that couldn't take the time to check out on me, amen, to check in on me, anybody you need God to check in on you right now, you're up, your back is up against the wall, you've done everything you can do and still there's something that needs to be done and you're wondering, you're flipping through your Rolodex, trying to see who can I call on, amen, perhaps somebody's in need of a financial blessing, normally I don't go this route, but you know what, what I've come to discover, is that finances is one of the main things that keep people from praising the Lord, but my brothers and sisters, we serve a God that's able to meet every need, he's still moving, he's still on the throne, he's not retired, but he's what, he's still proven, he says try me and" ([00:49:56] (109 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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2. "Now, I don't know what it is, who I'm talking to, because what we've come to learn is, that this broadcast reaches all across the globe, we got folks periodically that tune in from the Philippines, tune in from Africa, tune in from South America, but how many of you know that we serve the God of the universe, the only God, the only true and living God, and it's him that we're going to go to in a word of prayer, I don't know what you're going through, my brothers and sisters, medical, financial, psychological, yeah, I'm just coming to let you know that God is still on the throne, and he's still moving, Evangelist Clemens, can bear witness, that there were times, there were folks that came into this place right now, I'm just trying to give you one location, that God is still moving in, and the sister's not here right now to testify, but one of the ones that was, that witnessed the miracle, sister had breast cancer, amen, she had breast cancer, and Evangelist Clemens, just come here for a second, because amen, we got folks, as I said before, that the enemy will cause you not to praise the Lord, because you've received a bad report, amen, and the doctor has given you, he's written you off, he said, listen, this goes beyond my experience," ([00:53:43] (108 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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3. "But I know that God ain't through yet. I know that God ain't through yet. Amen. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I want y 'all to hear something real quick. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah. Sister Hibbler, if you wouldn't mind, hallelujah. Just come here just for a second. Sister Hibbler is one of them quiet ones, but she got a powerful testimony. Man, she shared with us a testimony of her salvation and how, amen. I wouldn't want to put words in her mouth. Amen. But she went to a meeting and some happened as a result of her going to the meeting because God was still moving. Well, amen. Saints of God, you might be asking, why is it that we're taking this time? Because my brothers and sisters, the enemy comes to attack your F -A -I -T -H. Anybody know what that spell? F -A -I -T -H. Because he know that if he can destroy your F -A -I -T -H, it'll be impossible for you to please God. For the Bible says without faith, it's impossible to please God. Anybody here want to be pleasing in his sight? Anybody out there want to be pleasing in his sight? I want to be pleasing in his sight. So if you're going to be pleasing in his sight, I want to be pleasing in his sight. I want to be pleasing in his sight. You're going to have to have faith that God can do anything but fail. Sister Hibble, amen. Just come over here. Amen. I'm not." ([00:58:22] (86 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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4. "And so, my brothers and sisters, when it comes to this journey, this life that we're on, I want to let you know that there's more to this life than what meets the eye. And so, amen, you might have received a bad report. You might be going through a situation that is of substance in the natural. But my brothers and sisters, I come to let you know that when you don't have what you need in the natural, you need to realize that you always have God. Amen. He's what you really need not to get by. But to get through. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. And that's what wrong, that's what wrong with some folks. We don't want to go through nothing. Amen. This generation of folks, I don't know how y 'all going to make it during this generation. Because it's not going to get no better. It's going to get darker. Somebody say, Pastor, what kind of uplifting message is that? I'm going to tell you the truth. The days are going to get darker. Amen. Situations are going to get worse before they get good. But I come to let you know. For we know that all things in the end work together for the good. But you're going to have to be prepared to go through some things right now." ([01:25:56] (76 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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5. "And so since God has not exempted us from circumstances, from situation, from diseases, from heartbreak, from all kind of manner of things that affect us because we are still flesh and blood. But how many of you know that we're not only flesh? We're flesh and blood. Hallelujah. Amen. Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord. Hallelujah. Look at somebody. Because what some folks, amen, the devil speaks to folks in all kind of ways. That's why some folks got low self -esteem. Some folks got too high esteem. Amen. folks amen amen they need to to have a balance amen you need to have a balance but so the devil would have you believe for those of you that have low self -esteem he would have you to believe that when you look in the mirror you don't see no good thing but my brothers and sisters i come to let you know that there's more to you than meets the eye and so amen no need and you holding your head down in the gloom and doom saying amen nobody loves me look how i look nobody loves me amen nobody think i'm pretty nobody think i'm cute because when you turn on television all you see is a mixture of five figures and fine frames but my man the difference between you and them is that you realize that if you don't realize i come to help you recognize that there's more to you than meets the eye so let them shimmy and shake let them walk the red carpet let them amen try to intimidate you by how they look i'm going to encourage you stop looking to them and look to jesus because when you look to jesus when you look at yourself through the eyes of jesus you'll see more than just flesh and blood what you'll see is that behind this flesh there's a soul that loves jesus anybody love jesus oh how i love jesus oh how i love jesus oh how i love jesus because he first loved me and so i'm not going to be discouraged by what i see or what i don't see in the mirror now those with low self -esteem they don't see what they like and so amen their dreams are dashed now there's another group of folks that when they look in the mirror they think they all that and then now god has to amen he gotta check you before you wreck yourself too because when you look at yourself in the mirror you don't see nothing wrong you see all everything exactly the way it's supposed to be amen you like that person in the bible amen that that the church amen in the bible that they're saying i have need of nothing i'm increased with goods and i have need of nothing i got more cars than i can drive i got more suits than i can put on when i go to my closet not me i'm talking about that person amen they go to the closet and they spend about 15 20 minutes trying to decide which suit to wear then they spend another amount of time figuring out which pair of shoes to wear with the suit that they just selected then they gotta pick out all the accessories because they're only concerned with the man on the outside but my brothers and sisters you need to go to the closet and you need to go to the closet and you need to take a closer look in the mirror and realize that there's more to you than what meets the eye because you might see yourself in need of nothing but to that prideful individual for that person that had no need of faith i got a word for you today i come the word let you know that pride goeth before destruction and a hearty spirit before a fall and so those of you that got low self -esteem or too high esteem i need you to take another look in the mirror and see yourself through god's eyes for those of you that are children of god that recognize that we are nothing without him now that's the place where you need to be that's the balance so when you look in the mirror and realize that god without you i can do nothing without you i would fail and so god i by faith i look to you because i realize today that the spirit of god is in me and i can do nothing without him and i can do the situations that i'm in the situations amen that i'm in right now whether i put myself in it or whether somebody pushed me in it regardless of it god i need you right now and so i live my faith my faith looks up to you right now and god when i come to you right now i come to you with the commodity of the kingdom now can i break that down with the currency of the kingdom how many you know that in the kingdom of the new and by the flow of the earth i bring you new leaders of a new this country the thing that moves and shape things you want amen how many you know it takes money to buy land how many you know that it takes money to operate in this land and in this land called the united states it takes dollar bills amen you can come here with your pesos all you want but you're gonna have to exchange those pesos sooner or later for some dollar bills anybody here can use some extra dollar bills i need some dollar bills amen i'm some george washington i need some hamiltons and all those amen i now move beyond my degree amen hallelujah but the point i'm saying is when you come into this country you're gonna have to exchange your currency for the currency that works in this land now can i talk to you in a spiritual way how many you know that god allows us to sit in heavenly heavenly places and what i want you to understand that in the heavenly places the currency is f a i t h amen hallelujah don't come to god with your wallet you better come to god with some f a i t h don't come to god with your degrees when you come to god you better come to god with the substance that gets things done and in the kingdom of god the only substance that gets things done is f a i t h but not just f a i t h in anything but" ([01:25:44] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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6. "Faith in god anybody out there got faith in god you put your trust in god you put your confidence in god you put your soul in god's hand and so my brothers and sisters if i'm talking to you then we talk in the right language we ain't necessarily talking english we ain't talking spanish we talking the kingdom language the kingdom language requires f -a -i -t -h which requires you to look beyond what you're going through and see god my brothers and sisters some folks can't look beyond what's going on in their life today and so because you can't see beyond your circumstance you'll never see god because you can't look beyond the doctor's report you can't look beyond the doctor's report you can't see god because you can't look beyond the balance sheet you can't see god but my brothers and sisters if i was you i take the if i was you i put my attitude on it's time to put on your attitude put on an attitude that says hallelujah hallelujah ask yourself the question ask those around you the question what shall separate me from the love of god shall situation situation shall persecution shall affliction hallelujah shall finance shall romance shall any kind of thing what shall separate me from the love of god look at somebody and tell them i'm here to stay hallelujah i'm here to stay why because i've got the victory and i'm here to stay by faith it doesn't matter come hell or high water i come to let the devil know that i'm here to stay because i'm here to stay because i got now faith i got now faith to believe that god is able i got now faith to believe that there's nothing too hard for god i've got now faith to know that hallelujah that the judge shall live by faith so it doesn't matter what's falling apart all around me it doesn't matter what i have or what i don't have in the natural the only thing that matters is that i got god but can i make a choice i can't make a choice i can't make a choice i can't make a choice i can't make a choice i can't make a correction the only thing that really matters is that god has me and so help me preach the sermon today look at somebody and say god's got you hallelujah hallelujah god's got you god's got you right where he wants you to be in his hand god's got you right where he wants you to be safe and secure in his hand i'm in the hands of the lord and i'm so glad the name of the lord is a strong tower the righteous run into it and they are saved hallelujah god's got you and so the next time you find yourself with your back up against the wall the next time you find yourself and you don't know who to call my brothers and sisters i need you hallelujah to hit the activate button on your now faith it's time to have faith in god now faith" ([01:32:00] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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7. "Hallelujah hallelujah anybody out there got faith in god and so right now i encourage you as those that have testified tried to encourage you letting you know that there's nothing too hard for god if you need healing evangelist let you know that God is a healer by faith if you need salvation sister Hibbler let you know that he that cometh to God he will no last no wise cast out but he will receive you with open heart and so I can almost hear the words of sister Hibbler in another word say I went to a meeting one night hallelujah I went to a meeting right one night and my heart wasn't right but something got a hold of me something got a hold of me I heard the word and I had faith I heard the word I heard the preacher say it's time to get right and by faith I stood up and said I want to be right I want to be right I want to be right I want to be right I may not have come right but I'm gonna lead right I might have come wrong but I'm gonna lead right I'm gonna lead right because right now" ([01:35:29] (91 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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8. "Got faith All you need is a little bit of faith Faith is everything you need When you're in trouble, have faith When you're up against a situation That's beyond your control Now let faith have you Let faith keep you How many of you know he's a keeper? How many of you know he's a keeper? When you should have lost your mind Faith kept you When you should have thrown in the towel" ([01:37:23] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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9. "Glory, glory, glory to God. Those of you wherever you might be, whatever situation you may find yourself in, just know, hallelujah, that all you really need is faith in God, to believe. I believe God by faith. I believe God. We believe God with you. We believe God with you. He's going to bring you out all right." ([01:40:06] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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10. "We believe and teach what is already in our hearts. been believed and taught we believe what Jesus taught the disciples they brought it so glad that we throughout the years we caught it and we've been carrying on until this day preaching the same thing because ain't nothing changed why ain't nothing changed because God is God and he never changes he said what he meant and meant what he said and for those of you that are in need of salvation" ([01:43:09] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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