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GOING WHERE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN

And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. (Joshua 3:3-4)

If God told us everything, we would not have to walk by faith.
Mark Hankins

Joshua needed to have a spirit of faith to lead the nation of Israel out of the wilderness into the Promised Land of Canaan. The people were commanded to move from their place, keep their eyes on the ark, and follow it at a certain distance. They were going into new territory. They had never passed that way before.

It seems that God led them in increments of 2,000 cubits (or about 3/5 of a mile). God often gives us only one or two steps at a time. He tells us enough so that we can obey by faith. He doesn’t always tell us everything, but He tells us enough so that we can obey and walk by faith!

Confession: The Lord orders my steps. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delighteth in his way. (Psalm 37:23) A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV)

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PIONEERS, SETTLERS, AND MUSEUM KEEPERS

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. (Hebrews 11:24-25)

The spirit of faith will make you leave your comfort zone. Mark Hankins

There are three kinds of people: pioneers, settlers, and museum keepers.

Museum keepers are content to dust off the memories of previous generations and talk about the exploits of the past. They live off of the experiences of others and never see God’s power operate in their own
lives.
Settlers travel for a while, but become weary of the journey and stop too soon. They get comfortable and never press on to the possibilities ahead. Some of the tribes of Israel settled too soon and never crossed the Jordan with Joshua.
Pioneers are those who venture into unknown or unclaimed territory. They are the ones who open up new areas; they prepare the way!

We should qualify as pioneers because the spirit of faith never stops pressing on! With God all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26)

Confession: The spirit of faith is a pioneer spirit. The spirit of faith in me will push out from the shore and launch into the deep at God’s Word. (Luke 5:4-5)

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JOURNEYS IN JOY AND FAITH

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8)

The spirit of faith is a pioneer spirit. Mark Hankins

The Apostle Paul had a spirit of faith. He was a happy man, even in the worst circumstances. He thanked the believers in Philippi for their partnership with him in the Gospel, and he blessed them with a Word from God. The Word He spoke guaranteed that every need of theirs would be met as a result of their giving. (Philippians 4:19)

Paul wrote in Philippians 1:25, And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith. The word furtherance could be translated the pioneer advance of the Gospel and of joy and faith.

God want us to make progress in the Gospel and go where we have never gone before in expectation, joy, and faith. Now is the time for ever-increasing faith!

Confession: I have a pioneer spirit! The joy of the Lord is my strength! I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Nehemiah 8:10; Philippians 3:14)

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CHANGED BY FAITH

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (I John 5:4)

Any man may be changed by faith no matter how he may be fettered. Smith Wigglesworth

Some people disqualify themselves from the blessings of God because they think they have too many flaws. You don’t have to be perfect to have a spirit of faith. While it is true that you are to keep growing spiritually, you do not need to have reached perfection to have a spirit of faith. Consider the great faith heroes of Hebrews chapter eleven! There is not one perfect person listed in that tremendous list of faith giants. There were flaws in Abraham, Sarah, Noah, Moses, Samson, David, and many others in the Bible who had a spirit of faith.

I am glad that God works with imperfect people! The spirit of faith enables you to overcome in every area of your life! “But we all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Confession: I have the spirit of faith. I am changed by faith! I am an overcomer! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Philippians 4:13)

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SHOUT FOR THE VICTORY

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

No man can doubt when he learns to shout! Smith Wigglesworth

The spirit of faith will often cause a person to look as foolish as Naaman did, when the prophet Elisha told him to dip seven times in the muddy Jordan River (II Kings 5:14). What God required of Naaman for his healing from leprosy was not difficult, but it seemed too foolish. Naaman’s reasoning almost made him miss his miracle. He finally acted on the prophet’s word and was totally healed!

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” (I Corinthians 1:27)
In Romans 4:17, we read of Abraham: “I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Smith Wigglesworth said, “You must learn to take the victory and shout in the face of the devil, ‘It is done!’”

Confession: I will shout, “It is done!” in the face of the devil and take my victory. It is not by my might, but by the Spirit of God that I will see my miracle come to pass.

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