the new Jerusalem

Victories in Faith

• Subir Joshua Gorey • Season 3 • Episode 14

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What comes first—your step of faith or God's action to change your situation? This question lies at the heart of our journey on Earth and the answer transforms how we approach impossible situations.

If you are stuck for an answer on the way forward, this message is for you.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

- Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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Speaker 1:

Today I want to start with something that I want to set very deep into your spirit and leave it to you in your thought processes. And leave it to you in your thought processes, something that you should remember always and something that you should go back to every time. And I'm starting directly from the word of God, where it says in the book of Hebrews and pay attention to it this morning. This is going to change some of your futures and some of your lives, always and forever. And the bible says without faith, it is impossible to please God. Hallelujah. Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that he is Hallelujah. It's from the book of Hebrews and I want to tell you that today I have a very, very short word, but after you hear the word, I want you to sit back and make it an agenda today for yourself. Sit back and take a few seconds to look at the avenues where you need to take a step of faith and do something about it. Do something about it immediately. And that's why I'm here, probably this morning, to leave you at the entrance of that door where you need to take a step of faith, because the Bible says it's not me without faith, it is impossible to please God. So I don't know about you, but I definitely want to please God. I've reached a point in time where I don't care to please my boss, I don't care to please my colleagues or the people around, but I definitely care to please my boss, my true boss, and wait, but I definitely care to please my boss, my true boss, and wait. I didn't get into the last part of the scripture. The last part of the scripture says and he's a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. So I'll encapsulate that entire scripture again Without faith, it is impossible to please God. For he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Hallelujah, he's a rewarder of those that diligently seek him. And I told you today I want you to rest in your spirit, I want you to rest in the recesses of your mind. And you told you today I wanted to rest in your spirit, I wanted to rest in the recesses of your mind, and you need to go back to this, accept this word this morning and go back to it and meditate on it. And today, through a few examples I'd like to share with you and then go back to your situation, where I believe you need to take a step of faith.

Speaker 1:

And before I get into these examples, today I want to tell you about. We just came to me out of nowhere today, this debate, this it's a joke of some sorts and at some point of time in life it has all come to us, always come to some of us, I'm sure. And that's that. What came first? The chicken or the egg? And I know I've had a few laughs about it with some of my college friends and school friends and but today I want to ask you this what comes first for faith or the action that follows the faith from God? And I told you, I'll share with you a few examples and today I will leave you at that door where you will know that you need to take a step of faith. But remember this what comes first? Faith or the action that's followed by God? That's what I want to leave you with.

Speaker 1:

And I'm going to start directly with Moses. Hallelujah, and we all know the story of Moses, and Moses was a man who was happy with his life. He was a shepherd, he was on a mountain somewhere with his flock and God speaks to him through a burning bush and he just takes a regular man. Moses was no one, he was just a regular man. He takes him and he sends him in front of the most powerful king of all times. It's like God picking an individual. It's like God actually picking you and sending you to the president of the most powerful nation or the prime minister of the most powerful nation on the planet, and at that time it was the Pharaoh.

Speaker 1:

The Egyptians were ruling the world at that time and the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians. And God takes Moses, this guy who's just walking his flock, and he gives him a staff and he sends him in front of the Pharaoh and I'm going to leave aside the 10 plagues that he brought onto Egypt and today I want to take you to the time when Moses frees the Israelites and they're going to the promised land, the land that God has promised them, and the Bible says that the Egyptians are behind them and they come to a point where the Red Sea is in front, and the Bible even says that God asked Moses. Why do you cry to me? In case you didn't know, it's from the book of Exodus, and God turns to Mosesoses and says why do you cry to me? Raise your staff and move forward. That is insane. If you ask me and let me tell you how this pans out, and I'm, I'm quoting into you from the book of exodus, the 14th chapter, the 21st verse, which goes on to say say then m Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, wait, wait, wait. In case you didn't get it. They're standing in front of the Red Sea and I'm calling it out to you again. They're standing in front of the Red Sea and the people are crying and the people are ready to stone Moses, the Bible says, and kill him there. And of course Moses, who's taken every step only with God, turns to God and says he probably asked him like what am I supposed to? And God asked him why are you crying to me? Take your stuff and stretch it over the sea and listen to this. Moses, the Bible says in the very next chapter, the next verse, I'm sorry. The Bible says stretched out his hand over the sea. And the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land. Oh, hallelujah that the waters were divided and the sons of Israel walked through it in the midst of the sea. Oh, hallelujah, exodus 14, 21. All that God told Moses was why do you cry to me? And Moses did what God asked him to do Stretched out his hand over the sea with his staff in his hand, hallelujah. And got part of the Red Sea, hallelujah.

Speaker 1:

If that's not enough, I want to take you to a second example, and this is my favorite, one of my most favorite stories in the entire Bible, and I never miss an opportunity to actually share this story. For most people it's so big on you know, giving people faith, or raising your feet, for that matter. And I'm going to get straight into it. And this is from the life of three guys and, by the way, they were friends of daniel and it comes from the book of daniel. And these three guys are shad, shadrach, meshach and Abednego, hallelujah. And some of you might have heard this name, these names, from here before. Maybe you've not, but I want to tell you the story about these three guys. And they're at a time and the Bible says, just to let you know, they're friends of Daniel.

Speaker 1:

And they're at a time in the life of a king whose name is Nebuchadnezzar or Nebuchadnezzar, and the Bible says that this king sets up an image of gold. I always thought it was a pillow of gold or a statue of gold. It's actually an image of gold, the Bible says and he sets a decree saying that every time a decree, I'm sorry, every time the instruments will play. And he sets a decree saying that every time the instruments will play the horn, the flute, the lyre, the harp and the psaltery the Bible says and at that time everyone in the land will be able to hear the music and they have to bow down to this image Gold image set by the king. And of course, let me just tell you I'm going to cut the entire story and get straight to the point where these three guys, of course, are not going to do it because they believed in the Most High.

Speaker 1:

And the Bible says that King Nebuchadnezzar gets enraged, like he's extremely angry with them, and he calls them in front of the crowds and of course it's a big ploy for the crowds to actually trap Shadrach, meshach and Abednego. And the bible says that they had passed a law that whoever does not bow down to the image of gold will be put to death. So the king asked them is it true, or shall I drag me shack and abednego that you are not bowing down to the image and the law that I have passed? And here's the response, and I'm reading it to you directly from the word of God, from the book of Daniel, the third chapter, the 16th verse oh king Nebuchadnezzar, oh, oh, I'm so sorry they don't even use the word king. Hallelujah, oh hallelujah, oh nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter and if it be so, our god, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will deliver us out from your hand, oh king, and even if he does not, let it be known to you, oh king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image, the golden image that you have set up, oh hallelujah. That's the response of shadrach, meshach and abednego to the decree that was passed that you will be thrown into a furnace if you do not bow down to the image of gold. Right, and I'm going straight to the part where the Bible says that he tells the people in his court to turn up the furnace. And they turn up the furnace seven times hotter than what it was. The bible says that people who took shadrach and mishak and abednego to the furnace got burnt. Even the people who took them to the furnace got burnt. And the bible says that they tie them up, all these three guys, and they take them to the furnace to be thrown into the furnace. And unfortunately, shadrach, mishak and Abednego are thrown into the furnace and wait.

Speaker 1:

From Daniel 3, chapter 24, this is the end of the story. Then, nebuchadnezzar, the king, was astounded and stood up in a haste and he said to his high officials was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire? They replied to the king certainly, oh king. He said look, I see four men. Look, I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire, without harm. And the appearance of the fourth is in the midst of the fire, without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like the son of the gods Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. I want to go to my third story.

Speaker 1:

There's a time in the Bible when Jesus this is in the time of Jesus. The earlier two were the Old Testament when Jesus was not here, and Jesus is. He's on this mountain and he's, you know, jesus always had crowds with him and he's healing the sick and the poor, healing the sick and the blind, and the paralyzed are walking and there's stuff, the sick and the poor, uh, healing the sick and the blind and the paralyzed are walking and there's, there's stuff happening all over the place and people are following him and he's speaking to them, he's teaching them. And the bible says he's at a mountain and he's with crowds and he tells his disciples to go ahead on the boat to the other side of the mountain. And he tells them, while I, while I, send the crowds away and Jesus, the Bible says, sends the multitudes home. And after they all left, the Bible says that Jesus goes up on the mountain to pray by himself and he's alone there.

Speaker 1:

The Bible says and just to let you know, this part comes from the book of Matthew and I'll come to it, I'll share the scripture with you and then, of course, after Jesus prays, the Bible says by now his disciples are on a boat in the middle of the sea and he decides to go to them. And the Bible says it's the fourth watch of the night, which means in our time or our zones that we understand, is 3 am to 6 am in the's the fourth watch of the night, which means in our time or our zones that we understand is 3 am to 6 am in the morning, the fourth watch of the night. And the Bible says that Jesus walks on water toward the boat. In fact, the Bible says Jesus walks on the sea to the boat and of course there would be pandemonium if somebody sees someone walking on the sea to the boat. And of course there would be pandemonium if somebody sees someone walking on the scene toward them and the disciples are afraid and everyone's scared and they're calling out to each other that it's a ghost. It's a ghost. And Jesus calls out to them saying don't be afraid, it is me. And then Peter says Lord, if it you command me to come to you on the water. And Jesus just says one word. He says come, hallelujah. I just want to tell you that the supernatural happens. A man walks on water, hallelujah. And all that Jesus said was come. There were 11 other disciples in the boat, but only one steps out of the boat, hallelujah. He stepped out of the boat into the sea, hallelujah. That's Matthew 14, 29, the 14 chapter to 29 verses. And he said come. And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and went toward Jesus. Oh, hallelujah. Matthew 14, 29, hallelujah, hallelujah.

Speaker 1:

And the last story I want to leave you with is this as a person who's suffering and god is walking through that place and most of you know the story and some of you don't the bible says it's a woman and she has an issue of blood for 12 years. She has an issue of blood for 12 years. The bible says she spent all her money, all her money, on physicians and yet it only made her worse. That must have been a horrible, horrible phase to be in, and I want to tell you that you have to go back in time to a different timeline. This is when Jesus was on the planet. It was a very different timeline. This is when Jesus was on the planet. It was a very different timeline and anyone who had an issue of blood would have been an outcast in society. I mean, she would have definitely not had a husband. And if she spent all her money on physicians and now she had nothing and she only got worse, which means she must have been in a bad state, she have had no money, she must have had no one around her and she was just probably alone and, if you ask me, I think waiting to die.

Speaker 1:

And there's this news that jesus is walking past and she thinks to herself. I don't know why she thought it, but she thinks to herself. If I may just know why she thought it, but she thinks to herself if I may just touch the hem of his garment, I will be made well. And I'm going to cut to the story. And the Bible says Giles is walking through the place and the crowds are thronging against him. The Bible says, and I can only imagine it, I can only imagine it, and and those of you have a lovely imagination can too that the crowds are pushing against him and his disciples are probably protecting him and they're probably getting swayed left, right and all over the place and wait for it. The bible says jesus stopped and he said who touched me? Hallelujah, jesus stops and he says to his disciples who touched me? The bible says who touched me? Power has gone out of me. He says hallelujah, hallelujah, who touched me? Power has gone out of me. Who touched me? Ah, the touch of faith. Then the touch of faith.

Speaker 1:

Then Mark, the 5th chapter, the 34th verse, says the lady, trembling, was scared. But I want to tell you something. Can you imagine if somebody was thronged by people and crowds, how could she touch the hem of his garment? For those of you who don't know, the hem of the garment is the edge of the garment. That means she probably crawled on the ground to touch him. Hallelujah, and she did, because that's all that she might have decided that she wants to do is just touch his. I've given up on everything. I just want to touch the hem of his garment and I know I will be made well. And that's the outcome. Who touched me? Power has gone out of me, mark 4.34. And he says to her Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction. Hallelujah, hallelujah. Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go, you are free. Hallelujah, you are free, hallelujah, hallelujah. Moses paths the Red Sea, dance in a furnace With Jesus, peter walks on water and a woman who gave up on life or had nothing to look forward to Gets healed.

Speaker 1:

And I am coming back to my question. Remember this question, right, what came first? And I'm asking you this morning what came first? Is it faith or the action that's followed by God? And I'll tell you what? Here's the answer in the words of Jesus. Who touched me? Hallelujah, who touched me? Power has gone out of me. Who has touched me? Hallelujah? Yes, you need to take a step of faith. I told you this morning I'm going to take you to that door, I'm going to leave you there. I've answered.

Speaker 1:

The question that I wanted to answer is what came first, and for most people who like to use the phrase that it's catch 22. It's not a catch 22. It's very clear that you take the step and he will back you. Moses raised his hand and the Red Sea parted. Peter stepped out of the boat and he walked on water. Sadrach, meshach and Abednego stood firm in front of a king and said we won't do what you ask us to do and even if God doesn't come to save us, we will still not do it. Hallelujah and Jesus danced in a furnace with them and a lady who had an issue of 12, issue of blood, for 12 years and spent everything and had nothing to show for it and only got worse, touched the hem of his garment. And the creator of heaven and earth, who's walking on the planet, stops and says who touched me? Power has gone out of me.

Speaker 1:

I want to tell you this morning, the amount that you get of god is the amount of faith that you touch him with. Hallelujah, hallelujah. And today I'm again. I'm going back to that beautiful passage of Scripture and, in case you didn't know, it's Hebrews 11, 6. It says but without faith, it is impossible to please Him. For all who come to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hallelujah, he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hallelujah, hallelujah, alleluia. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, alleluia.

Speaker 1:

Today, take some time and go back to that place where you need to take a step of faith. And I want to tell you maybe some of you don't Good for you, praise God that you're in a very good place, but maybe some of you do, and only you will know the answer to that. And I'm telling you, take some time, shut that door and think about your situation and you will know that you will need to take a step of faith and he will back you up. If these examples were not enough, believe me, I can go on forever with examples on how God backs up a step of faith. In fact, one of my again, one of my top, most favorite stories I've not even shared with you today Joshua, making the sun stand still and the moon not move. God didn't tell him to do it, he just did it. And God made the sun stand still, hallelujah. This is for someone this morning.

Speaker 1:

Isaiah 45.2,. The Bible says and in case you're thinking that it's too difficult a decision for you to make, this is for you. This morning. Isaiah 45.2 says I will go before you and make crooked paths straight. I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. For you, hallelujah, amen. Isaiah 45 to mark it down. And for you, who is having a tough time in taking the step I will go before you, says the creator of heaven and earth, and make the crooked places straight. He doesn't say I might, I'll think about it. He says I will go before you and make the crooked places straight. I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. Amen, hallelujah. Let's all stand up as we pray. If you can stand up, it'll be beautiful.

Speaker 1:

Jeolada, thank you for this beautiful time. I thank you for your double-edged sword that does not go back until it has achieved what it has been set out for. I thank you, lord, for giving us a clear, clear answer, lord, through your word and all these examples that you are a rewarder of those who diligently seek you, lord, and I thank you that you are helping people take a step of faith, lord. I thank you, lord, that you're increasing their faith this beautiful morning. I thank you, lord, that you will see their faith, just as you saw the faith of all these people and you saw the faith of the four friends who broke the roof and lowered their friend down that he may be healed. I thank you, lord, for this beautiful time in your presence.

Speaker 1:

I thank you for changing situations. I thank you, lord, for your promise from isaiah 45, 2 that says you will go ahead and make every crooked path straight, lord, and you will go ahead and make every crooked path straight, lord, and you will break that gate and you will shatter into pieces, lord, that nothing may stand in our way and that nothing may stand in the way of your people. Thank you for this beautiful time, lord. Thank you for your beautiful presence that's in people's homes. Thank you that you're changing situations, lord. You've already changed situations, hallelujah. Thank you, lord for some of them who are already taking a step. Thank you, lord, for your beautiful, beautiful presence. In Jesus' name I pray.