"Building By Faith"
Pastor Albert Almore
We’re kicking off 2023 with our brand new series called, "BUILD” a study on the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was best known for rebuilding the wall for God’s people, but what about you???
WHAT IS GOD ASKING YOU TO BUILD?
WHAT IS GOD ASKING YOU TO START?
WHAT IS GOD ASKING YOU TO RESTORE?
When I say build we’re not limiting that to an actual building or edifice. In fact,
Our vision here at Motion Church is to:
BUILD PEOPLE
BUILD COMMUNITIES
BUILD THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16:18,
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I WILL BUILD My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18
God wants to build something on you. God wants to build something through you. We’re called to build up people and places spiritually, mentally, emotionally, economically, and anyway possible. This is why Isaiah 58:12 declares,
“Those from among you Shall BUILD the old waste places; You shall raise up THE FOUNDATIONS OF MANY GENERATIONS; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.”
Isaiah 58:12
Anytime you’re talking about building something, whether it’s your purpose you’re looking to build, a dream you’re looking to build, or a generation, one thing that it’s going to require is FAITH. That’s why I’ve titled this morning’s message,
BUILDING BY FAITH
Hear me church, whatever you do, DON’T DISMISS THE CONVERSATION OF FAITH.
Here’s why. Hebrews 4:2 says,
“For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH in those who heard it.”
Hebrews 4:2
Hebrews 11:6 goes on to say,
“But WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6
After Jesus visited His hometown, Matthew 13:58 concludes by saying,
And He did not do many miracles there because of their LACK OF FAITH. Matthew 13:58
This is why we can’t dismiss the conversation of faith. Here’s what I know about whatever God is asking you to build. Here’s what I know about whatever God is asking you to do….
📝 It takes faith TO GET STARTED.
📝 It takes faith FOR THE MIDDLE.
📝 It takes faith TO FINISH.
So let’s talk about faith for a moment. Hebrews 11:1 gives us the definition of faith, it reads,
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
In it’s simplest form,
📝 Faith is the ability to move when "HOW” is absent.
Another way to look at it is….
📝 Faith is the ability to believe God EVEN WHEN IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE.
Faith is a big deal. Hebrews 11:2 says,
“For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [DIVINE] APPROVAL.”
Hebrews 11:2
While we’re having the conversation of faith, we need to understand this about faith…
📝 Faith doesn’t consult with COMMON SENSE.
📝 Faith doesn’t come with DETAILS, but it does come with GOD.
This is evident from the life Abram, whom would later be named Abraham, THE FATHER OF FAITH. Genesis 12:1 reads,
“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house TO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.”
Genesis 12:1
This is what I mean when I say Faith doesn’t consult with COMMON SENSE.This is what I mean when I say Faith doesn’t come with DETAILS. I don’t know about you, but I want to know first, then I’ll go. But faith doesn’t live by those rules.
Faith lives by…
GO and God will SHOW.
Faith lives by…
Go NOW and God will SHOW you where LATER.
“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I WILL show you.”
Genesis 12:1
“And I WILL make of you a great nation, and I WILL bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”
Genesis 12:2
“I WILL bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I WILL curse…
Genesis 12:3
In three verses, God says, "I will” five times. Faith doesn’t come with DETAILS, but it does come with GOD and that’s good news because I saw something in Hebrews 11:6 that I want to show you. It says,
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that HE IS, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11:6
He is??? He is what??? How are you just going to leave us hanging like that??? The writer had to leave it at, "God Is” because God is absolutely our EVERYTHING! There wasn’t enough space or time to describe the vastness of our God, so the writer just left it at, "GOD IS!” Faith doesn’t come with DETAILS, but it does come with GOD and that’s good news because GOD IS!!!
God is my DELIVERER.
God is my SAVIOR.
God is my HEALER.
God is my HOPE.
God is my STRENGTH.
God is my DEFENDER.
God is my PROVIDER.
God is my COMPASS.
God is my ADVOCATE.
God is my COMFORTER.
God is my PEACE in the storm.
God is my SHELTER from the rain.
God is my cloud by day.
God is my fire by night.
God is my BREAD when I’m hungry.
God is my WATER when I’m thirsty.
Simply put, God is MY EVERYTHING.
Faith doesn’t come with DETAILS, but it does come with GOD and that’s good news because GOD IS MY EVERYTHING.
This next verse that I’m getting ready to read shows Abraham the father of faith in the making. Genesis 12:4 says,
“SO ABRAM WENT, as the Lord had told him…”
Genesis 12:4
After hearing the word from the Lord to “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house TO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.”
Genesis 12:1
Abram didn’t consult with common sense. Even though Abram was lacking the details, the Bible says, “SO ABRAM WENT, as the Lord had told him…” Abram left everything that he knew. Abram left the familiar. The Bible says so Abram went.
Later on one of the most significant moments happened in Abrams life. Genesis 15:1 says,
“After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.””
Genesis 15:1
“But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?””
Genesis 15:2
“And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.””
Genesis 15:3
“Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.””
Genesis 15:4
“He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.””
Genesis 15:5
All of this is good and dandy, and I hate to break up the moment that you’re having with God right now Abram, but can I remind you about your wife Sarai? The one we read about in Genesis 11:30 where it says,
“Now Sarai was childless because SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO CONCEIVE.”
Genesis 11:30
With ALL of this running through Abrams mind against what God just said, we find one of the most beautiful significant verses in the Bible for us to glean from. Genesis 15:6 says,
“ABRAM BELIEVED THE LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
Genesis 15:6
It was such significant moment that Paul made mention of it Romans 4:3,
For the Scriptures tell us, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” Romans 4:3
That’s it right there. That’s our big idea for today.
📝 BELIEVE God.
📝 Align your THOUGHTS, align your WORDS, align your ACTIONS with what you’re believing God for.
It’s not always easy. The story of Jairus teaches us that. Mark 5:21-22 reads,
“When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet.”
Mark 5:21-22
“He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.”
Mark 5:23-24
Fill in the story about the woman with the issue of blood. While the crowd was cheering that the woman with the issue of blood had been healed, news came in from Jairus’s house.
“While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?””
Mark 5:35
“As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; ONLY BELIEVE.””
Mark 5:36
I know the dream seems BIG. I know the prayer request feels like a long shot but, “Do not be afraid; ONLY BELIEVE.”
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS?