This 11th chapter of Hebrews, reminded us of the heroes of the faith and said of them, “…all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, DID NOT RECEIVE THE PROMISE, God having provided something BETTER FOR US, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” (Heb. 11:40) None of them were able to receive Christ in their lives, to be Sanctified and Filled with the Holy Spirit!!! “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, and THE SIN which so easily ensnares us, and let us RUN WITH ENDURANCE the race that is set before us, LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith, who for THE JOY that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.” (Heb. 12:1-2)
Jesus has called us to run a race. It’s a faith race. It’s long-distance and has a variety of challenges. We’ve been trying to run but we’re wondering why it’s so hard. Why do we get winded so quickly? Could it be that we’re not taking this race seriously? We are racing against UNBELIEF. How do I know this? “Most assuredly (certainly, definitely), I say to you, HE WHO BELIEVES in Me, the works that I do HE WILL DO ALSO; and GREATER WORKS than these HE WILL DO, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12) What we need DESPERATELY to do is, lay aside this weight of UNBELIEF!!!
How do I know the problem is unbelief? Because if we believe, we’ll do these things!
Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to STEAL, KILL, and DESTROY. I have come that they may have LIFE, and that they may have it more ABUNDANTLY.” (John 10:10) The devil is in the process of stealing our belief, telling us we cannot do these greater things. He wants to kill our confidence in doing these for God. He wants to destroy our trust in God. Jesus says He will give us life (zōē: the absolute fullness of life, which belongs to God, and He gives it to us abundantly: over and above, more than is necessary.)
JESUS, LET YOUR FULLNESS OF LIFE THAT IS OVER AND ABOVE ALL WE NEED TO KILL OUR UNBELIEF, BE OURS TODAY…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham