Part 3
Please read Part 1 Jamaica, round and round the mountain we go. and Part 2 Jamaica- the vision
Making the decision to walk by faith and not by sight seems so easy in the moments or even days after we hear God speak to us whether it be through His written or spoken word. When we stand with Him, immersed in His presence, His faith is flowing through us. It encourages and empowers us to go forward without fear.
However, as Jesus talked about in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. Here He tells us that God sows His word in the hearts of me, but that word does not automatically grow into a fruitful planting. In fact 3/4 of the crop fails, because it did not fall on good ground.
“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; “yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Mat 13:18-23
In order to understand how to be successful in our faith walk we must first understand the pitfalls, or snares of the enemy, Satan, who comes to steal away that faith that God is planting in our hearts.
Failure to correctly and fully understand what God has said, is the first snare we will face. Which is why it is so important to seek out wisdom and understanding on a matter that we might fully know the will of God.
Wisdom is the principal thing;
Proverbs 4:7
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
We must have the full understanding of the matter if we are to give answer to the question “Has God said?” Spending time in the wilderness, alone on the backside of the desert as Jesus did, allows God to prove His words to us are true. There in that quiet solitude, we also learn the intimate details of who God is, His character, His nature… His love for us.
For me personally, if anyone was to come to me and ask, “Are you sure God said, Come to Jamaica”? The answer comes with zero hesitation because I have sough Him out on the matter. I know His words, His Voice, His Character. I know that if He asks something of me, no matter the cost, the reward waiting on the other side of the trial will be more tan worth it.
Yet there have been many times in my walk when I have received some revelation from Him, but because I did not fully search out the matter my faith failed along the way. This doesn’t always mean the opportunity is lost, but if often means, one more time around the mountain. In other words you will keep facing that same trial in different circumstances until you can learn how to be victorious and overcome.
The way to get the full counsel of God on a matter is simple, read and listen. Study to show thyself approved. Open your Bible and search it out, search out the heart of God. Seek him in the secret place. Learn to be still and listen for his voice.
Write down everything you hear and learn. Test everything with the written Word of God. This process will undoubtedly bring up more questions, and this is good. Take those questions back to Him. It is this process which builds incredible mountain moving faith!
When you have exhausted every question then, and only then are you ready to move on to the next challenge?
“Who am I?”
The Devil will inevitably ask you this question at some point in your walk. It may not be phrased quite like that, but it is the underlying question. This question has a very important role to play in God’s plans concerning your preparation. We must fully believe who God says we are, in its purest form, without pride and religion getting in the way.
Without this understanding our answer is always going to fall short because we will question our own abilities. To be an over-comer we must allow God to answer all the unanswered questions in our heart.
“Why would God call me to do this?” “What qualifications do I have? “How can I be of any value to the Kingdom?”
It took me years to fully answer this question for myself. You can read more about my answer here.
When you have allowed God to answer these questions, you’re well on your way to victory!
