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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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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)

InRomans 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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SHOUTING, DANCING, AND RUNNING

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God…every one’s bands (chains) were loosed. (Acts 16:25-26)

When the glory of God manifests, it brings the supernatural power of God!

Mark Hankins

Thespiritoffaithwillcauseyoutoshoutwhilethe wallsarestillstanding,likeGod’speopledidatJericho beforethewallscamedown(Joshua 6:20). The spirit of faith will cause you to dance like David did when the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem and the glory returned (II Samuel 6:14-15). The spirit of faith may cause you to run like Elijah did when the hand of the Lord came upon him (I Kings 18:46). The rain he had prayed and contended for was coming, and he outran the king’s chariot. The spirit of faith will cause you to sing and praise God loudly, as Paul and Silas did at midnight when they were imprisoned in chains! (Acts 16:25).

All of these demonstrations of the power of God were connected to the expressions of faith made by God’s people! GodwatchesaswedemonstratefaithandactontheWord!

Confession: I lift my voice with a shout of victory! My faith acts on the Word of God! I will rejoice in the Lord always! (Philippians 4:4)

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REASON TO SHOUT

Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.   He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel:  the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. (Numbers 23:20-21)

Once you know your covenant and who you are in Christ, there will be the shout of a king!

Mark Hankins

If the Israelites were shouting under the Old Covenant, we have even more of a reason to shout under the New Covenant. You are in an even better position in Christ than the Israelites were in the Old Covenant. What does this mean to you? If you have been made the righteousness of God in Christ, God sees no iniquity in you. You have a reason to shout!

It’s time to get the Bible out and say, “Devil, if you can’t read, let me read it to you!” The communication of your faith will become effectual as you acknowledge every good thing that is in you in Christ! Hallelujah!

Confession: I have a reason to shout! I have been made the righteousness of God in Christ and God sees no iniquity in me! Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place! (2 Corinthians 2:14)

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SHOUT IT OUT

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. (Romans 1:16)

“Everything changes when you begin to understand who you are in Christ and begin to act like the Bible is true.” – Mark Hankins

The company that makes Shout detergent uses the slogan: “For those tough stains, you have to ‘Shout’ them out!” I couldn’t agree more. Make sure you know what you are shouting about and let it rip!

Smith Wigglesworth said, “Some people would be giants in faith if they just had a shout.” Faith shouts while the walls are still standing. He also said, “You need to see how wonderful you are in God and how helpless you are without Him.”

Mom ran around the church in West Columbia, Texas, for many years. It is much larger now than it was when I was a child. More educated and prosperous people joined the congregation, but she would still say, “Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!” She continued to shout, “Woooooo!” and ran around the church.  The only thing that changed over the years is that in the later years, I would run with her!

Confession: God has brought me up out of a horrible pit, and out of the miry clay. He set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings! He has put a new song in my mouth!  My mouth is full of His praise! (Psalm 40:2-3)

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