Posted on August 13, 2017 by Steven Richichi
In The Mountain of the Lord
Romans 10:17 (ESV) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. We must hear the message of Jesus Christ for faith to be awakened. Faith is confidence that you know the will of God. Hearing Christ’s message awakens your faith in order to move your will to obey the message. EVERY CREATURE NEEDS A PREACHER! Not to do what you know to do is unbelief and disobedience.
1 John 5:4-5 (ESV) For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? “…Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world…” FAITH CANNOT BE DEFEATED! Even the smallest amount moves mountains.
Grace is, among other things the power of God exerted to accomplish His will. Faith and grace do not operate independently. It is only when the two meet IN THE “BEAKER” OF A COMPLETELY OBEDIENT WILL that the power of God is released to carry out His will. Acts 5:32 (ESV) And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who OBEY HIM.”
The principle is stated in this verse; those that accept the word bear fruit. Your obedience will be affected by what you hear. Mark 4:20 (ESV) But those that were sown on the good soil are THE ONES WHO HEAR THE WORD AND ACCEPT IT AND BEAR FRUIT, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
- Mark 4:24-25 (AMPC) And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear. 25 For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away [by force], As a parent, you are responsible for what your children are hearing, including who they are spending time with. You are not your children’s “buddies,” you are their parents and are responsible to lead, guide and discipline them.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (AMPC) And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is EFFECTUALLY at work in you who believe [exercising its SUPERHUMAN POWER in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it].
Pressure is the crucible of faith and obedience. What will you do when the pressure is on? Where will you look for help? 1 Samuel 13:7-14 (NKJV) As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. 11 And Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, 12 then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.’ THEREFORE I FELT COMPELLED, and offered a burnt offering.” 13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. YOU HAVE NOT KEPT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHICH HE COMMANDED YOU. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” Saul yielded to the pressure rather than trembling at the word of God. The pressure was on as the people were leaving and the enemies increasing. Pressure said, “Do something!” God had said, “Hold Steady!” Saul said, “I felt compelled!” He yielded to the pressure of the moment instead of the word of God. Since when do numbers mean anything to God?
David’s response to pressure was completely different! 1 Samuel 30:1-8 (NKJV) Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 SO DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” David was in perhaps a more difficult position, but he inquired of the Lord instead of looking to relieve the pressure. God said he was a man after His heart.
Genesis 22:1-14 (ESV) After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” God tested Abraham …will you obey Me completely? The mountain is where you see God’s provision, but only obedience in the valley will get you there! When you obey God completely He will reveal Himself to you. That’s why Abraham is called the Father of Faith. The valley of pressure, adversity. Faith always draws an opponent. Go to the top of the mountain where God’s provision is. God will move when you stand through trouble.
James 1:2-4 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. Faith becomes alive, energetic and at work when you obey God to completion instead of escaping the pressure. This is why the Church in America is so weak…we are always looking for the easy way out of a difficult position. Character and faith are both forged in the fire of affliction.