Hope Worth Having

BREAKING THE BARRIERS TO FAITH

 

    Are you facing a situation that demands an immediate decision, but are unsure about what direction to take?  The way before you may seem dim, even dark.  Perhaps there has been a sudden change in your life, and you are wondering what to do next.

    One thing remains true in your life; God has a plan.  He is the light of our hope, and if you trust Him, He will make a way for you through even the darkest of times.  Life has mountains and valleys. Yet our God is the God of the valley, as well as the God of the mountain.  

    There are many barriers that exist in our lives that keep us from having faith in God when we don’t understand our circumstances.   These barriers are the same barriers that Moses faced when God called out to Moses on the backside of the desert.  What are these barriers that limit our faith to trust God in the darkest days of our lives?

BARRIER # 1:  INSECURITIES

   When God extended his call upon Moses He was communicating to him that He believed in him and believed Moses could do the job he was called to.  But Moses struggled with this calling because he thought he was incapable of doing the job.  Therefore, Moses began to list to God all of his excuses on why he could not do the job.  Why was Moses so insecure about who he was and what he should do?  Because of his past failures Moses struggled with insecurities.  The call upon Moses was not a new call, but a call he was running from. 

   Do you feel insecure about what God is asking you to do?  Do you make up excuses why you can’t?  Do you allow your past failures to limit your life?

   God has a strategy to overcome insecurities in your life.  Step one is to quit comparing yourself to other people.  Moses thought God had the wrong person.  Surely someone else could do a better job.  When we compare ourselves we are telling God that we know ourselves better than He knows us.  God never makes mistakes!  He knows our strengths and weaknesses alike.

Step two is to find your confidence in Christ.  God never asked Moses to depend upon himself, but rather upon God’s power.  The Apostle Paul Said, “I can do all things through Christ.”

Step three is to recognize God as the one who will provide for you.  He is the source of our strength.  He is the one who will provide for us.  When we feel insufficient, He is sufficient.  When we feel overwhelmed, He will help us overcome.

 

BARRIER #2:  IGNORANCE

Moses lacked faith because he was ignorant of who God is and what He can do.  Ignorance limits our life, especially when it comes to spiritual matters.

In his book The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer writes: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”  Therefore, what should we do?

Begin to seek God’s face on an intimate level.  The more we know Him, the more we will know what He can do in us and through us.  How big is your problem?  How big is your task?  I assure you God is bigger.  How big is your vision?  Is it a God size vision?

In addition we should be willing to step out by faith with obedience to God.  As your knowledge of God increases you will sense more confidence in Him and will be more willing to obediently step out in faith.

 

BARRIER # 3:  INIQUITIES

Sin can be a devastating barrier in our life.  We can’t ignore personal sin and we have to make it right.  Therefore, let us be proactive in removing the barrier of our iniquities.  How do we do that?

First, we must confess our sin.  The Bible teaches very clearly that when we are honest with God and confess our sin He will forgive us.  As God speaks to our hearts about our failures don’t argue or deny His truth.  Simply humble yourself before His presence and make things right with Him. 

Second, we must forsake our sin.  That means to not engage in the sinful deed or thought anymore.  Build protective walls in your life that help you to forsake sin in your life.

Finally, we must put our sin behind us.  I meet so many people who are still carrying the guilt of their sin with them even though they are forgiven.  Quit beating yourself over the head with guilt once you are forgiven.

If God is not remembering our sin why do we?  If God is not bringing up our sin that he has forgiven why are we?  Today make a commitment to enjoy the forgiveness of God.

As we close i want to remind us that we can break the barrier to faith in our lives.  The goal of faith is to teach us to trust God on the basis of who He is, not what he provides.