William Shakespeare – “There is a history in all men’s lives.”
Forward Thinkers, the goal of this teaching/preaching series is to stir up your faith and cause you to aggressively pursue your place in history. Let me add, the right side of history. The winning side of history.
YOU CAN’T DO BIG THINGS WITH LITTLE FAITH.
“Pastor, what about the mustard seed? It was very small and Jesus said we could move mountains with faith the size of a mustard seed?”
Forward Thinkers, I did my homework and I challenge you to search the archives of preaching and teaching to see if anyone has ever discovered this.
There are 40 different kinds of mustard seeds but in the area of Jesus ministry, the black and brown mustard seed was grown. The seed was small on the outside but it was loaded on the inside and what was on the inside made all the difference.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POTENTIAL AND POWER OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE LOADED WITH FAITH.
Hebrews 11:1-2 The Message (MSG)
Faith in What We Don’t See
11 1-2 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
FORWARD THINKERS, THE SIZE OF YOUR FAITH IS A DIRECT INDICATOR OF YOUR ABILITY TO LIVE A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE.
BEFORE GOD PUT YOU INSIDE YOUR MOTHER’S WOMB HE PUT PURPOSE INSIDE OF YOU THAT WILL REQUIRE YOU TO STIR UP YOUR FAITH TO GET IT OUT OF YOU.
Hebrews 11:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 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.
Forward Thinkers, in the church world Hebrews Chapter 11 is known as the Wall of Faith. Notice the bible says by faith so and so did great things worthy to be included in the history of Wall of Faith Walkers.
Matthew 9:29 New International Version (NIV)
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”
-Forward Thinkers, your faith this season will reshape your vision.
-Forward Thinkers, no more excuses. Everything depends on your level of faith.
Luke 17:5 New International Version (NIV)
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
-Forward Thinkers, yes, there are different levels and degrees of faith.
Forward Thinkers, we know that the measure of faith given to every Believer can grow. Your faith can be strengthened by feeding it on the Word of God and by exercising it or putting it into practice.
God’s Word is faith food, and if we want our faith to grow, we must feed it more than once a week!
If you want your faith to grow, you have to start where you are. No one climbs a ladder starting on the top rung. You’ve got to start on the bottom rung and climb up if you’re going to reach the top. That’s the thing that defeats a lot of well-meaning Christians—they try to believe beyond their faith.
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.
IT WILL NOT ADVANCE IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE A CHANCE.
Matthew 14:28-31 New International Version (NIV)
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
THANK GOD PETER REFOCUSED HIS FAITH AND THAT’S NOT HOW HIS STORY ENDS. NOW SEE YOURSELF REFOCUSING YOUR FAITH AND PURSUING YOUR PLACE IN HISTORY.
“A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.”
Acts 2:14-41 New Living Translation (NLT)
Peter Preaches to the Crowd
14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ God
says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away[f]—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
Forward Thinkers, Peter is a perfect example of an ordinary man pursuing his place in history and impacting others in such a way his story brings God glory. Let’s follow Peter’s lead and pursue our place in history in such a way it will impact those around us in a life changing way.
Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church and is also the Co-Founder of the No More Blood Shed Movement in Houston, Texas. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pastoreadeckard@pdq.net ,or follow him by downloading the Green House International Church App. through your App. Store.