Whatever the situation, whatever the challenge; however big the mountain; however wide the sea: nothing is impossible if you can just believe.
And if you are prepared to believe, then you must participate in the preparation of receiving whatever it is you seek for. There was a man who had a withered arm, and all of the muscles had wasted away over years of letting it just hang there uselessly. He happened to be around when Jesus was visiting and got noticed by him in the crowd. Jesus said, "Stretch forth your arm!" (Matthew 12)
Now, he knew his arm was useless and incapable of doing anything. It had hung there by his side for years, and no matter how he tried, it would not respond to any of his thoughts or his will-power. Maybe he thought that Jesus should heal it first, then he could stretch it out; but Jesus told him to reach out when it was seemingly impossible to do so. And yes, he did what he did not think was possible, and immediately strength and healing flowed into his useless limb, and he was made whole.
Some of us are just waiting for God to perform a miracle in our lives or circumstances. We have waited years perhaps in the hope that this week might be the week for it to happen, but sadly, once again we walk away with nothing.
Miracles require a catalyst in order for them to manifest. What I mean by that, is we need to do something in order to see the fulfillment. It may be as simple as praying, but very often it can be actually doing something in faith to receive the promise. It might be making a phone call, going to meet someone, or doing something in preparation for things to happen: but just sitting there moaning about the situation will do nothing and release nothing either.
The first concert I ever did with my band was born from faith. I hired a big theatre (in faith), and spent 6 months visiting all the schools in the area with a three piece music set-up, speaking to over 10,000 pupils. We had no money except the meagre amount of personal income that dribbled in, but in spite of that, we got onto the television, played on BBC radio, printed thousands of leaflets, and erected banners on nearly every road in and out of the area. It was to be a three night event with a three hour concert each night, and we practised constantly to do something we had never done before.
On the first night we drove down to the venue wondering whether anyone would come, and trying not to think of the bill I was going to end up with at the end! Our faith was rewarded when we saw a queue of people stretching right round the whole block where the theatre was situated, and coaches as far as the eye could see unloading their passengers. A packed house every night with free admission, and a gentleman who came the first night and asked me how I was paying for everything. After saying to him that I was not quite sure of that issue, he responded by telling me to bring all the bills and costs to his business office, and he would pay them all, which he did in full. He then called me in to his Subaru dealership and gave me a beautiful car and trailer for the work that we were doing.
I could tell you of many similar stories where I have watched God take care of all my needs time and time again. I have seen miracles and interventions that were quite impossible for man to accomplish. But God expects me to act in faith, not just sit there and wait for him to come and simply deliver all that I need. He wants me to get up and do something, and exercise the faith that I claim to have. If I know that there is something I have to do to start the action of faith, then I must be prepared to go and do whatever it is.
It is not about what you do not have, but its more about what is in your hand, or house, or in your business right now. You may view it as inadequate, but what do you know? The disciples had some scraps of bread and a few small pieces of little fish in their baskets and were told to go feed five thousand hungry people with them. The miracle did not happen until they obeyed Jesus, took the little that was in their hand, and began to distribute it and give it away to the crowd.
If they had stood there waiting for the increase before going, then nothing, but nothing would have happened, and the bread and fish would have dried up along with all of their dreams and promises. We ignore what is possible because we are always looking for the bigger miracle, but the bit that is possible (that which we can do) is actually the key to opening the doors of blessing. Until we begin to operate according to this principle, then we will but live in hope, but not a hope that will open the doors to the dream.
Don't mess around with faith. Faith is nothing, unless you get up and obey God and do what he tells you, or has repeatedly told you to do. There is no excuse. Better to try and fail, than to sit there on your wish list asking God to help you.
Faith moves mountains, but mountains will not move unless you go to that mountain and order it to shift. Faith is no faith when there is treasure in the field, but I decide to wait for a bulldozer to dig it up. The man who found treasure in the field went home, sold everything he had, and bought a shovel and climbed up the hill (Matthew 13:44). The first part of the miracle was the fact that the treasure was under his feet all the time and in due course it was revealed to him. The second part was going and doing whatever it was he could do to get it, and not give up until he started digging. The real miracle was getting the owner to sell the field to him and give him the title deed. It took effort, and more effort, and then, and only then, could he rejoice for the rest of his life.
You can find yourself saying (like the lazy stoics of old), "Well, if its God's will, then it will happen". Faith don't work like that. Your armchair will become your inheritance and your dream will fade into, "Well, it could have happened", or, "it should have happened"; or just blaming your laziness and unwillingness to act in faith on the devil, and say that it was his fault.
'Expect great things from God: attempt great things for God', were the words of a young man who left England and his security, got on a slow boat to India, and brought the gospel to that needy land. The first part and the second part of that statement of his are bound together, and will not work apart.
Nothing is impossible to him or her who can believe; and to believe is to to do something quite unexpected, sometimes seemingly risky, and other times to put on my boots and coat and cut a path to my destiny.
JGM 2022
