Hindrance 13: Not building up your faith
Rom 10:17 "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the
message, and the message is heard through the word of
Christ." NIV
If you do not build your faith up, you are heading for a
painful disaster. How can you build your faith up? By
reading and meditating God's Word, by communicating with our
loving God. Without working on your relationship with God,
you will not be able to hear from him. Here is a clear
illustration on this subject:
"The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to
turn. So he went to see the old preacher. Pacing about the
preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problem.
Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, "I've begged God
to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn't
God answer?" The old preacher, who sat across the room,
spoke something in reply -- something so hushed it was
indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room.
"What did you say?" he asked. The preacher repeated himself,
but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man
moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher's chair.
"Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you." With their
heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. "God
sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to
hear Him." This time the young man heard and he understood.
We all want God's voice to thunder through the air with the
answer to our problem. But God's is the still, small voice.
. . the gentle whisper. Perhaps there's a reason. Nothing
draws human focus quite like a whisper. God's whisper means
I must stop my ranting and move close to Him, until my head
is bent together with His. And then, as I listen, I will
find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer to God."
Author Unknown
Mark 6:5-6 "He could not do any miracles there, except lay
his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was
amazed at their lack of faith." NIV
Jesus could hardly do any miracles in his hometown. Why?
Because of their lack of faith.
Contrast this with His reception at the land of Gennesaret:
Mark 6:53-56 "When they had crossed over, they landed at
Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of
the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that
whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they
heard he was. And wherever he went-into villages, towns or
countryside-they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They
begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and
all who touched him were healed." NIV
