EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES
THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 36 – Sunday 13th September, 2020
(Lk.23:46, Heb.11:6)
THE MARVELING FAITH OF CHRIST
As human beings, we are consistently engaged in the influencing actions and the power of the works of faith. Just think about it; human beings walk about on the ground not minding the possibility of the ground caving-in underneath their feet.
Virtually every hour men are involved in air travels, unconsciously committing their lives into the hands of pilots trusting that the pilots will do the most necessary to ensure their safety. Men never question about the experience or the inexperience of their piloting crew. These are all actions of faith. Why then is it that fear nevertheless still has its way in man.
The simple answer is that faith operates on two separate platforms. First is the platform – the realm of the unconscious. Second is the platform of the conscious reality. This is the more difficult platform where the natural man cannot operate. Just think about the depth of fear which grips men at the announcement by their pilots that the aircraft was swaggering in the downward direction of the atlantic.
Imagine the panic in the hearts and minds of men who have once believed unconsciously in the ability of their pilots to guarantee their safety and safe landing. The reality of danger which instigates fear always trigger the dawn of faith in the heart and mind of only the spiritual man.
The story was told about the man whose aircraft in which he was traveling crashed into the ocean. No one survived. For one strange reason or another, he managed to escape from the sinking aircraft. Landing in the water, he kept the confessional expression of faith, ‘I cannot die’. To his shock, he soon noticed that a hand was holding his hand and head up afloat above the water. There, the hand sustained him until rescue arrived several hours later. Such a man is the sort in whom dwells the marveling faith of Christ.
Imagine the unusual man, Christ, who forsook certainty for the most bizarre uncertainty. Imagine Christ going into the region of the dead where there is only an exit out of life without the possibility of reentry. Yet, Christ did the strangest thing ever, committing His life to the invisible having the firm faith that the invisible but existing Jehovah was faithful enough not to forget Him in that region of the dead.
What an unusual faith! Why did Christ not consider for a moment that He might not return? The simple answer is that Christ had and still has singleness of mind on the kind and eternally faithful God. The simple answer is that there is no faith in making alternatives.
When men make requests to God and yet occupy their minds with alternatives, the result is always delay, disaster or shame. Making alternatives with God is tantamount to making a preference for humanity as against divinity. Making alternatives with God is an expression borne out of preferential fear. The presence or the allowance for preferential fear simply means the absence of God. For fear is the perfect opposite of faith. For whatever lacks faith lacks God , and can never be of God.
The Holy and glorious Scripture informs us in Hebrews chapter 11:6 that ‘without faith, it is impossible to please God. For whoever cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him’.
The duty of man is to tender requests to God in faith. It is God’s own task to answer by glorifying Himself. When we set alternatives, we directly dishonor God. I tell us a mystery: if we make requests to God and we know that we do not have the faith to receive, there is a wayout provided by the Holy and glorious Scriptures.
Simply make your requests and equally tell God that ‘Lord, my faith is little to obtain these demands. Please help my unbelief’ (Mark.9:24). Hear the mystery further dear brethren: mercy is the foundation of all, including faith (Ps.89:2).
Mercy begets faith; where faith fails, the mercy of God can stand as substitute. And indeed, mercy is the superior substitute. What then is it that you desire O brother, and by every level of faith, you cannot have that desire fulfilled. Then count on God’s mercy and ask Him calling on Him to perform that desire simply on the basis of His mercy.
Mercy is grace turned inside-out. Mercy is the flipside of grace. Just as grace is unmerited favour. So too, mercy is grace and favour freely given with or without asking and always undeserving. Then someone will arise and question: since mercy can be available and we can equally obtain from God through mercy, why not abandon faith?
First, understand O brother, O sister, that mercy is the expression of kindness flowing from the Almighty to man. Mercy makes man to know how kind the Almighty can be. Conversely, Faith is human expression of how worthy, honourable, reverent and valued the Almighty is as best understood by humanity.
Second, by faith, man acknowledges to God that He is greater than the confronting circumstances. By faith, man tells God that He, the Almighty is the last resort and unless He does something nothing will happen. By the prerogative of mercy, God speaks to man about His divine nature.
Third, although mercy births and indeed, it is the foundation of faith, nevertheless, faith expressed by man onto God attracts divine action by mercy. Our expressions of faith in God tells both God and men the depth of our relationship and such level of revelational understanding of God and His outworking power resident in man.
IN THE END THERE IS NO BETTER EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW OTHER THAN JESUS. FOR OUR DYING GENERATION, AMONG THE SO MANY, THERE ARE TWO MAJOR SPIRITUAL TREASURES THAT WE URGENTLY NEED: PURITY OF HEART AND THE FAITH OF CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.
Question and Answer Section
Question: The great questions again! When was the last time that you preached to any soul? Do you serve God with joyful heart or with reluctance? How much hurt is in your soul against that fellow? Won’t rather forgive them and forget their mischief so that you can rightly serve your loving Father? When was the last time you smiled genuinely and truly from your heart about yourself bearing in mind the bright days to come? when was the last time you heard a force praying within your belly without your consciousness? When was the last time you gave some thing to support God’s work apart from your tithes and offerings? When was the last time you supported any man to fulfill a divine or a personal agenda? When was the last time you put smile on the face of someone?
Answer: Hmmm!.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Counseling, Prayers and Appointments: Please contact contactus@expressimageglory.com Alternatively, meet us every Sunday at the address below:
Suit 26, 2nd Floor, Nikky Africana Plaza, 70C Allen Avenue, Opposite UBA/MTN Office, Ikeja, Lagos.
Further information: Be informed that this Ministry has only one Facebook page and no other. Any other Facebook page is counterfeit. Any Concerns or questions about this facebook page should be directed to: contactus@expressimageglory.com
The General Superintendent Minister of this Ministry therefore pleads and urges you to desist from all such fake and ungodly Facebook pages. Our website is: www.expressimageglory.com
ALTAR CALL:
Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).
HYMN: Faith Of Our Fathers
PRAY NOW:
1. Genuinely repent for every action of faithlessness.
2. Read Ezek.3:22-24 and pray: O Lord, just as it happened to prophet Ezekiel, so let Christ’s Spirit of faith enter into me and change my life forever.
3. Present your personal petitions in faith now.
Turn onto the hands of divine mercy and present your personal petitions again.
