Faith Life 22 (FAITH TAKES THE EXTRA STEPS NEEDED)

GRACE ABOUNDS ONLINE BIBLE STUDY
THEME: FAITH LIFE OF CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS (Part 22)
TOPIC: FAITH TAKES THE EXTRA STEPS NEEDED
SPEAKER: Peter Ayoola Fakeye (PAF)

Hebrews 11:8
I remember my friend and I were discussing about different ideas in the engineering field. And my friend made a sincere statement that, “men are not actually suffering from ideas but men are suffering from taking the extra steps.” Of a truth, if I ask an average person (especially a graduate) on different ideas on how to make money, I believe I will receive a lot from people. So having an idea is not the major problem, but the extra and appropriate steps is what most people might be lacking. And Faith in CHRIST is that which will help us to take the necessary steps needed to walk the journey of victory in different sphere of our lives.

Romans 8:29
From the above scripture, we’ll see God’s design and purpose for man. God’s destiny and inheritance for us is to be conformed to the image of Christ. In other words, it is to manifest Christ in all His fullness and Grace, such that we are saturated spirit, soul and body with the life of Christ. And then, we will be able to have impact with this material world as we relate with it. This is what the Holy Spirit want to achieve in our lives and it starts from here. In our previous discussion, we saw from the scripture how we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit so that He can always focus our attention to what we have become in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). This would be a life-long experience with the Holy Spirit as long as we are on this earth, although the climax will be when we see Christ face to face. 

God’s destiny for your life is not first to be a pastor, or doctor, or teacher or any other profession. Although these can be means or platforms which the Holy Spirit might use to achieve His purpose for our lives. But I want you to understand that the ultimate purpose and intention of God is that He conforms you to the image of Christ through which we can be able to impact our generation.

The Bible made us understand that Abraham went out without knowing where he was to go. This is a serious step and it only take a man of faith to take such steps. Abraham has an understanding of the personality that has called him; his belief in Him kept him going all through the journey and that was what drives him all along. This is the reason I keep on emphasizing that the correct knowledge of God is what will keep driving us wherever God wants us to go.

Another thing that is very important to learn about Abraham’s journey is that, our faith should not be in the destination but in the designer of our destination. Abraham didn't bother where he was going, he didn't bother himself with the details or the specifics. This is because he knows the personality of the person he has encountered and has called him. He knows He loves him and He will not lead him to destruction.  He knows His plan for his life are good and not of evil because He is a good God. When you see how Abraham deal with God, you will see a ‘love relationship’ existing between them. This is very important to consider if we will be ready to take the first step when God had inspired us even when we have not gotten all the details. Sometimes God has given us an inspiration that will help us in the journey of life, but because we are concerned about the destination and not the designer, we become skeptical and at times, we hibernate the vision and in severe cases, we kill the inspiration of God in our heart. Most times we are so concern about the destination and we begin to ask questions such as, “What if? What if it doesn’t go well? What if I am dropped out? What if I fail? What if they don't Patronize me? What if they don't accept me?” We have become so skeptical about the destination, so we pay little attention to the fact that the God of all flesh has inspired us. No wonder we get stuck because we neglect the inspirer. I pray that the Lord will forgive us and cleanses our thoughts from these our wrong deeds in Jesus' name.

As we have seen that God has prepared an inheritance for us and Jesus Himself is our inheritance. Therefore, the Holy Spirit wants to conform us to His life, in our actions, reactions; in our disposition and relations with people and things. So He provides us with some channels and platforms so that His purpose can be made manifested even right here on earth. Some of these channels can be our professions, placements, ministries, etc. At times it comes in the form of Inspirations, ideas and open doors, etc. In spite of all these that the Holy Spirit brings in our way, we actually need faith to take the first move, and this faith comes as a result of the correct knowledge of God which we can only be gotten as we focus on the resurrected Christ.

Dear believer! We must trust the Holy Spirit and have confidence in Him that He is ever present with you. We must know that we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. This gives us the impression that we have God's mark with us. So you can't just be touched or swayed away with depression that this world offers when you are conscious that God seal is on you. Even when it doesn't seem as though things are working, you are still with Him in the process. 
The ultimate purpose of God for your life is not your profession or your ministerial calling but It is that you are being conformed to the image of Christ in such a way that you are able to transform and impact your generation for God. If you find yourself in a particular channel and it is hindering this ultimate aim, then something is very wrong. Two things would likely have happened; it is either that such channel is not what the Holy Spirit has provided for you to achieve God's destiny for your life or you have not yielded to His approach. Brothers and sisters, there is a channel God has provided for you and one of the way you will know, if it is not taking your focus from Christ and from who you are in Him.  Although at times, it may be the right channel, yet someone may still not be focus if he does not approach it rightly. Such should check his approach. It has to be an approach from the Spirit and not flesh; from Grace and not law.

In conclusion, I want you to know that God's ultimate purpose of becoming like CHRIST Should be your priority and not just the channels He has provided for you.

Stay blessed! 
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