Hall of Faith

I have always been a big sports fan. As a young boy I dreamed of making it to the NBA, becoming a big star. When I learned the dedication necessary to become great I followed. I would play basketball hour after hour even in the rain and snow. I dreamed of being the next Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson. I would watch the games on TV and go outside and try to model their game. I would spend hours studying the players statistics in the sports section of the newspaper. I was a dedicated sports fan and player. Now as I got older other interests like girls, making money, playing football got my attention and my dedication was not the same. My game began to slide, and after being promoted to the varsity team as a Senior I was shortly demoted back to Junior Varsity as I was not meeting the coaches expectations. The same passion I had for sports was redirected towards Christ after my conversion. I would spend hours studying the bible. Learning all I could of all the heroes of the bible, so I can model myself after them. Just like with basketball, I have found my dedication waver, my attention has gone to other interests, and God is calling me back to just seeking His face.

Football has a place set apart like a museum for all the great former players called the Hall of Fame where you go and learn and be inspired from their stories. God also has a place for His great ones and that is Hebrews chapter 11. This book explains how and gives us the examples of what made these ones great. It is called the Hall of Faith. Getting in the Hall of Fame comes from one's personal achievements, Getting into the Hall of Faith comes from one's ability to trust God to do the impossible. The fame I now want comes from giving God glory for the things I allow Him to do in and through me. Come on this journey to discover what walking by faith really looks like and be inspired for God to use us greatly to advance His kingdom today.

Hebrews 11:1-2 "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation."

A coaches responsibility is to help each player believe in themselves, by motivating them to work hard in practice, helping them see their potential, building the confidence necessary to bring victory. If one believes they will win even before the game begins a determination will set in even against great odds that will usually bring forth what they hope for. A team that does well over a long period of time begins to build a good reputation. A good team always has a good coach. Why then, since we have the best coach, Jesus Christ, we have such a bad reputation. It must be that we are not showing up for practice, not listening to his instructions, and therefore not ready for the game. The kingdoms of Satan are advancing not the kingdom of God. We are in retreat mode rather than advance mode. Christianity is being pushed out of society rather than influencing society even the more. It is time to regroup and let our coach build our faith again.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

I have heard and witnessed amazing sport stories where a team has been down and come back against all odds and won the game, usually it has been a player or coach who motivated their team with words that inspired them to believe that they can achieve the impossible. The bible says death and life is in the power of the tongue. There is the old saying sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me, wrong! Words are the most powerful force in the world. I have spoken words especially towards loved ones that I wish I could take back, but once spoken, there is no turning back, and conflict always follows.

Genesis 1 says that the world was void and without form, then God spoke and creation formed. For the world to be in right order God's word must be spoken. The state of the world is the condition of our heart. For the bible says out of the abundance of our heart the mouth speaks. For the world to change our heart must change. As we allow God to change our heart and renew our mind, our words change to His word, and our once chaotic life will begin to come into divine order. We look to leaders to bring change but they are limited, yes they do have influence, but when it comes to it, until the heart of the people change a nation will not change, no matter what policies or laws are passed.

Words cannot be seen yet they create life. That is how faith works! It is by the confession of our mouth that we are saved. It is by the words of our mouth that death or life come forth. The spirits of this world speak fear, the spirit of God speaks Faith, by what spirit are we being led by? Jesus Christ came to give us life and life more abundantly. Why then do so many Christians live no differently than the world? Because of the power of agreement! When everything is okay it is easy to speak positively, but when the squeeze is on what comes out of our mouth determines the state of our heart. Our Faith will be tested, now if we don't waver in our faith, but hold fast, meaning our confession does not change, that which we have spoken will manifest. Since Faith is a verb meaning action what we say we will also do if we really believe it. So walking by Faith is seen in both our words and actions only then what we confess be believable.

All whom God has used to advance His kingdom had great faith. They believed God at His word and acted upon it both in word and deed. Next week we will go on the journey of learning from the Great Patriarchs of our faith how to advance God's Kingdom.

Challenge this week: In each difficulty this week, let's examine our heart by what comes out of our mouth, repenting when we are agreeing with the world, and rejoicing when we are agreeing with the Word, continuing to ask God to increase our faith and help us in our unbelief.