Faithful Christian Commitment and service
in the Middle East for almost 150 years The Nazareth Trust Healing in the Name of Jesus Since 1861
in the Middle East for almost 150 years The Nazareth Trust Healing in the Name of Jesus Since 1861
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Welcome
Welcome to our latest bulletin, over an exceptionally hot week in Nazareth!!
We were joined for our service this week by the group from Meadgate Church, lead by Rev Mones Farah, who also gave this week's message. The group have been volunteering at the hospital, giving their time and energy in painting, teaching and prayer with the SERVE Nazareth team and hospital staff. We were delighted to have the opportunity to share with this second group from Meadgate and look forward to the next team that comes!
Devotion
The subject for this devotion is the meaning of faith. Some people consider faith as a condition for the things of God, others believe it is a gift and the key to the things of God. So what is the difference? If faith is a condition then it is dependent on us to work it out. However, if it is a gift, then it is given to us by God in order to access Him.
Faith is something which God gives to us. There are different types of faith but they each depend on whether we accept them or not.
Hebrews 11: 1 – 3
“ Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
Are you certain you are going to heaven? Are you certain there is a heaven? If there is, are you sure it is a good place?
If you can answer yes to any of these questions, this is faith. You have not seen heaven but you are sure of it. Why? Because you trust the person who told you about it. God told you and you know His voice.
So why is faith so important?
Faith for Salvation
We cannot be sure of our salvation without faith.
Hebrews 11:31 “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.”
Rahab, listed here for her faith, asked the spies to protect her and her family when they conquered the city. She had faith that a bunch of people fresh out of the desert could defeat the strongest fortified city and would still keep their word and protect her. This faith preserved her and put her in the lineage of Jesus.
Faith for Walking
We can continue in our Christian lives by ourselves, in our minds, through the guidance of others, but we would always lack the Father’s guidance.
Hebrews 11: 8 – 10
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”
God never gave Abraham details of where he was going. He promised to lead him where He wanted him to be and asked Abraham simply to walk with Him. Incredible faith and trust. We also need that kind of faith, to go where God prompts us to go.
Faith for Miracles
Hebrews 11: 29 – 30
“By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
Faith is the key that opens the door to the miraculous changing of the physical world around us. Miracles occur when the hand of God moves and touches people, doing the impossible.
However there is a problem with faith. There is often a delay in provision. So often we can lose heart just before the promises are fulfilled. We are told that though He may delay, He will appear. So even when we experience delays, we still need faith than He who promised is true.
Mueller said “If God fails me this time, it will be the first time.”
The parable of the Bridegroom and the virgins is usually told to illustrate the concept of “being ready”. However, it can also be understood in terms of faith. The virgins needed to have faith that the Bridegroom was really coming. What Bridegroom arrives at midnight? He was delayed.
However, even though He may delay, He will provide. His provision is always timely. It is about His timing and our trust. We may often forfeit on promises just as they are about to happen because of delays.
God is looking for a people of faith. Are we able to be a people of faith?
Speaker: Rev Mones Farah