Nurturing faith in a world of fear

-Hebrews:6

-1 element of faith is approaching God in the fight way

-faith--> to approach God in the absolute confidence of God's character that everything He said is going to/ already being done & will happen in your lifetime

-faith doesn't really become faith until you pass the test

->you can believe, but you have to start exercising your faith

      -> ex: trying to lose weight: you may agree w/ the doctor that you need to lose weight but just agreeing [ or in the spiritual sense, nodding your head and saying "amen"] will not slim you down. exercise does.

-don't panic when the test(s) show up because they are needed for promotion [you will keep dealing w/ the same test until you show God that you have passed it]

-we have to make sure we look the same on this side of the test as we do on the other side, because if we don't, we are compromising our faith...

-trick of the enemy = to get you to think that the storm you go through is bigger than God

-->pressure causes amnesia!! -> when you're pressured[going through tests/difficult times] you begin to get so consumed w| the size of the storm/ test that you FORGET about everything God has ALREADY brought you out of.

-view your troubles/ trials as a way to promote you--> hold fast to your faith, believe in the true character of God & knowing that you will see his plan for you revealed in his lifetime...

-be faithful to God and ourselves to prepare/study BEFORE the test arrives!

--> sometimes you may be hearing the same messages/words from God multiple times because that is God's way of getting your attention. he is saying "Hey!! this is important!!" --> he is preparing you for the test(s) that are ahead.

--> you have to latch on to every word God reveals to you so that you will be ready to face whatever may be heading your way [like students studying multiple topics for an exam in school]

-our revelation has to match God's preparation

-every test isn't handled the same way: some tests you have to speak to [bind in the name of Jesus, speak scriptures, etc.], some you have to run from[ not as a coward, but like Joshua fleeing his master's wife], soe you have to be bold and faithful enough to attack head on, etc.

-the margin between your test and God is the "stretch"

   -> stretch [as a runner does to finish first in a race by crossing the tape first]

            --> spiritually, it can be taken to mean putting yourself in a position that may not be comfortable and may look like you are about to fall..

if you don't practice/stretch/pressing toward God

 BEFORE the test, you may find that your timing is a little off when you are trying to apply that practice in the middle of the test

-matthew 15:21-

- 1 element of 'stretching' [faith] is having a certain level of humility

ref'd scriptures: 1 Peter1:5- ; Phil3:10- ; 1Cor6:18- ;1Cor10:13- ; acts 27:9- ; mark 4:16-17; Rom10:17