As I go through life, in community, in missions, in everything... I can't help but notice a lack of faith in the Church. Yep, I said it. Lack of faith. That means not a whole lot of faith... Wow, this is getting more awkward as I type it.
Let me encourage you that I too am in this lack of faith Church. However, I desperately want to change it. So often I see people operating out of fear and not faith. I see back up plans, cautious and strategic life choices, and doubtful dreams take a backseat. I see lots of Plan B's just in case God's plan doesn't work out. When you say it out loud it sounds ridiculous... As I type it it sounds ridiculous. To doubt God's voice. I am all about planning too by the way. Faith is NOT an excuse for lack of planning. The fear I am talking about is when you make a back up plan IF something doesn't work out, not actually planning something out before you act in faith. You get what I mean? You are operating from a place of fear not faith, doubting that this is "of God" or that God will come through for you if you make a wrong turn or decision and are stuck. This breaks my heart into a million small pieces that I know are broken for a reason. When the Holy Spirit worked this "faith" thing out in me, it changed my life forever. I want you to experience it too. It brings true freedom and true confidence. And the way I learned it was watching other people live it and knowing the heart and character of the God I claim to follow.
So let's be a generation and a body of Christ who operates FROM faith. Who believes God when He speaks. So many times we over analyze this and think "does God really want me to go on this missions trip?" "does God really want me to..." and so on and so on. The beautiful thing about these questions is that they are answered through His Word! We already know the answer. So many times we get caught up trying to "hear the voice of the Lord" when He really wants us to know His voice by knowing Him and act in faith so that His glory may be revealed in our lives. So many times we "wait on the Lord" out of fear, out of questioning, out of worry. Do you know someone who lives by faith? There lives are radical testimonies of God's glory and faithfulness and huge encouragements. Watching my boss's (Tim Scott & Will Decker) live by faith is a huge encouragement to me, they seriously believe what God says in His Word and operate out of that belief. They pray knowing that they have already received! (Mark 11:24 & Matthew 21:22). They believe that when they lay hands on the sick they SHALL recover (Mark 16:18). They believe that God will take care of them (Matthew 6). God rewards faith. I know we don't like to hear that in Church either... that God "rewards" people, but it's true! (All of the Gospels & Hebrews 11:6) Faith is the access to all the things of God. If you believe, you will be healed (another awkward "did she just go there moment") but come on you guys... read the Gospels! "Go, your faith has made you well" "Your faith has saved you" and so on. God LOVES it when we are radically dependent on Him and believe His Word. He will show up. Always.
Want more faith? Thinking to yourself, "Ok cool Lindsay, I am glad you think this way but I just can't." I would challenge you to abide in scripture. The fancy way of saying read your Bible. You probably hear this often, and rightly so, for it is Life to all who hear. Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by ONE way, hearing, and hearing the Word of God. Read about God's faithfulness to you and all of mankind between Genesis and Revelation. Read about His marvelous deeds in redeeming Israel and delivering them to the Promise Land! Read about Jesus, who was God! Read about the life He lived to redeem you, bless you, heal you, and make His home in you! There is a reason why all throughout the Psalms you read "I will remember your marvelous works", "I will recount your faithfulness", etc. It is vital that we remember God's faithfulness, provision, and blessing not only in our own lives but throughout all of time! It's insane. If you actually read the Bible and believe that it is to you and for you. It is real. It is literal. All of it is done. Jesus has already died for your life, for your healing, for your joy, for the power of the Holy Spirit to be in you, etc. But until you receive it and walk in it, it is idle. Anything that is NOT said or done in belief is idle. You must believe it.
So when Jesus says in Mark 16, that I will be protected from all harm when I preach the Gospel to all creation and that when I lay hands on the sick they WILL recover... I believe it. When Jesus says to pray, believing I have already received, I believe it. When God says that I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me, I believe it. When God says greater is HE that is in me, than he who is in the world, I believe it. When Jesus says I am more than a conquerer in Him, I believe it. When God tells me that He will come again and wipe away every tear, I believe it.
Let's be children who believe their Father. We all like to believe the verses like the last one I said. That He will wipe away every tear.... but do we believe all of them? We must. And if you do, you will be a recklessly abandoned follower of Jesus, going from momentum to momentum conquering the enemy constantly and winning many to Christ. Take His Word in and speak it out, for what you say will rule you. Operate from faith, not fear. And encourage your brothers and sisters to as well. If someone comes to you and tells you what the Lord is putting on their hearts to do and it seems crazy to you, like a huge leap of faith. BLESS THAT. They are living by faith and risking probably something they really love or are used to having or doing to follow the radical footsteps of Jesus! Don't speak doubt into their life, don't instill fear because you think what they are doing isn't "logical" or "smart for their future", etc. How dare we as the Church come against a fellow brother or sister walking by faith. How dare we. Let us be the ones sending them off with blessing, encouragement, prayer, and provision! Faith doesn't always make sense, or agree with the waves of society, or normal "American" life. But that's the fun of it. Living by faith is the funnest, most adventurous life you can ever imagine. It will take you places spiritually and physically that others have not wandered and you will never regret taking that leap. So jump. Remember who owns your life and has the very numbers of hair on your head numbered. This life is but a vapor and what is only done for Christ will last as this life will surely pass.
In Him,
The Third World Girl
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