Taking steps of faith (2)

Numbers 13 and 14 describe how having crossed the desert the Lord’s people became frightened and would not enter into the land God had promised to give them.

‘So, we see that they were unable to enter in because of their unbelief.’ Hebrews 3:19

Faith is finding a promise of God and daring to believe it.

When I was a student the leaders of the Christian group I was part of taught us two things. They taught us that giving money away was an important part of our discipleship; Jesus said, ‘Give and it will be given to you’

And they taught us to believe that God will provide what we need.

‘My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:19

Around that time, I was invited to attend a summer Christian Camp. I wanted to go, but I had no money. So I started giving money away to others, and I asked the Lord to provide money for me to go to the camp (I didn’t tell anyone what was happening). A few months later, my father wrote to me out of the blue with a cheque for £56, explaining that he was passing on to me some money from an elderly relative (who I seem to remember had died). So I was able to sign in to attend the camp, and it turned out that the total cost for the camp and the travelling was about £56.

There were two other similar incidents around that time in my life, and they formed and shaped my faith powerfully. Since then, over several decades of church leadership I have watched the Lord provide what is needed many times. Sometimes he provides money – occasionally the exact amount. Other times, he provides people – the right person just when someone with that particular skill set is needed. Other times, he provides vision. Often he speaks his word and makes a promise.

Faith is finding a promise of God and daring to believe it.

It involves giving money.

It’s about taking God at his word and trusting him to sort out what happens next.

It’s about obedience coming before provision.

It’s about walking on the promises of God, like Peter obeying Jesus’ call to walk on the water: ‘Come Peter’.

Mark 11:24 ‘Therefore I tell you whatever you ask for in prayer believe that you have received it and it will be yours.’