What Are You Afraid Of?

Has God ever told you to do something and you let intimidation get in the way?

In Exodus 3:10, God told Moses "So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out Egypt." Moses replied in verse 11, "Who am I, that I should go..?" Moses had the spirit of intimidation. When you feel worthless, you feel valueless and sometimes despicable. Moses told God again in Exodus 4:10-13 how useless he felt.

Fear and intimidation will hinder your walk with God.

When God imparts upon your heart to do something, He will be patient up to a point with you. After that, His patience runs thin. If you're not willing to do what God asks, He will find someone else to do it. Moses wasn't willing so God tapped Aaron to do it and replaced Moses.

What Moses wasn't willing to accept was that God would do the talking for him (I hear you God, but I'm not listening to you!).  God does not use people who know how to minister and preach because that is the ministry of man. Those who have the ministry of the spirit, God uses.

The devil has done his homework on you. Although you may not turn your back on God, he will still try to immobilize you to where you feel powerless. If you are fearful or intimidated by what God is calling you to do, you'll never move in faith. It's time to move forward in victory in Jesus name!

(Barbie will be the guest speaker at First Assembly of God in Pelahatchie womens luncheon Saturday. She will also present Rodan + Fields in Carthage at 2pm.)

Barbie is away for a while and will return on Friday, April 27.

Feel free to browse the blog and read her previous entries.

Theological or Genuine Faith?

Monday I blogged about the Canaanite woman who asked Jesus to heal her daughter who was ill in Mark 7. We've read the story many times, but have you ever noticed her faith?

Matthew 15:21 tells the same story. Except this time, we learn how persistent she really was. Verse 22 says the lady cried out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." Even the disciples noticed her tenacity and told Jesus, "she keeps crying out" (verse 23). Then she came and knelt before Jesus and said, "Lord, help me!" (verse 25). And a third time, she shares her heart and why she needs a miracle (verse 27).

There are 2 kinds of faith in this world: theological and genuine.

Theological faith wants a quick fix. When faith isn't working, theological faith gives up, quits and eventually dries up.

Genuine faith doesn't care what others say about the situation. It doesn't care what others think or what others do. Genuine faith keeps praying, keeps believing, keeps asking. Genuine faith won't quit!

Sometimes we must go through a test of faith to determine which one we have. This test of faith can often shine the light on what's wrong with us and reveal which faith we honestly have.

Could it be that Jesus was testing this mother's faith? She came back 3 times and even then, she had no intention of leaving. She cried out to Jesus, she humbled herself, asked for mercy, and knelt before him. Jesus saw the outward display of her faith and also saw her inner spirit. Jesus commented, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed immediately (verse 28).

Which faith to you find yourself having when you're in your darkest hour: theological faith or genuine faith? Only one gets Jesus' attention.

When God Hasn't Answered Your Prayer

Have you ever wondered why God doesn't answer your prayers right away?

Mark 7:24 tells the story of a mother who's daughter was possessed by an evil spirit. The mother was upset, as any parent would be in watching their child suffer. The Bible says "She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter" in verse 26. She obviously had faith in Jesus; otherwise she wouldn't have come to him and asked for healing. Jesus told her in verse 27, "First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." But the mother showed her faith and replied in verse 28, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Her persistence in asking for the Lord's help indicates much more than her tenacity, but her faith in him.

Sometimes faith will take you down a hard road leaving you there for a long time.

Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (One version says "those who diligently seek him").

So what does He reward the believer with? Not money. Not success. Those who diligently seek Him are rewarded with the very thing they are seeking---God Himself. He is the a Rewarder. Persistence in faith and prayer will bring God's grace and mercy. That's enough of a reward.

God has a reason and an answer for your need.