THE GOOD NEWS COMES CLOSER

All the things I held in my possession I lost them all; but all that I placed in the power of God by faith, that I still have in my possession.

Genesis 45:1-15; Romans 11:1-2, 29-32, Matthew 15:10-28

Great Faith Rewards

Faith Explained

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. (Hebrews 11:1-2)

Faith is God's light that guides you through the darkness.

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times. (Martin Luther)

To trust God in the light is nothing, but trust Him in the dark, that is faith. (C. H. Sturgeon)

Faith is all about believing in God. You don't know how it will happen. But you know surely it will.

Faith in God draws the poison from every grief, takes the sting from every loss and quenches the fire of every pain. Feed your faith and the rest will all starve.

The scripture explains, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." 

Paul continues by quizzing, "But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

If we have heard the Word of Christ, why do we still lack or have little faith?

HINDRANCES TO FAITH IN CHRIST 

- Anxiety. 

"...O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’" (Matthew 6:27)

Will I make it? I'm I going to fail? Will I ever marry? So, I'm I going to have my own child ever? I'm I going to die poor? and so on and so forth.

These thoughts and self questions kill or hinder our faith in God.

All the things I held in my possession I lost them all; but all that I placed in the power of God by faith, that I still have in my possession.

- Fear.

“Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

- Doubt.

"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." (James 1:6)

Your faith can move mountains and your doubts can create them.

- Self-Sufficiency.

Jesus said, "...apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5)

Let nothing hinder you from attaining greatness.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is not to be anxious, not to fear, not to doubt, not in yourself or obsessed. Just trust in Jesus the Christ, and faith that everything will work out for the best.

GREAT FAITH REWARDS

To set this topic in perspective, we would look at people who exhibited great faith in our God and consider the results.

The Bible is so clear on rewards of great faith. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, we meet situations of how great faith in God pays.

- Abraham, the father of faith. His faith was rewarded with the promised son, Isaac when the wife Sarah was even 70years.

In the mist of all the impossibility analogy, Abraham had a son and we're now His descendants.

Genesis 45:1-15

- Joseph, the 11the son of Jacob. As a young boy with many dreams, he was sold off but never abandoned the faith. Even in slavery he still would not sin against God.

He says, "How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9)

Even in prison for doing the right thing for God, Joseph still held on to his faith. Though he walked through the valley and the shadows death he was so much in faith that God was with him.

So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. (Genesis 45:4-5)

Note this, Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep the faith fire burning. It will all be worth it in the end.

Great faith truly, REWARDS.

The faith of Joseph made him see the evil works from his brothers as God's mission to save lives. He says, "you sold me, God sent me."

There is a song which says, 'let their evil thought and works turn to be a blessing for me.'

I pray for you my dear reader, that every manipulation of the enemy against you, all the downfalls set against you be turned into your blessing in Jesus' name, Amen.

Great faith rewards 

- Some friends brought a paralyzed man to Jesus.

Matthew 9:2 

"Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”"

Jesus saw their "faith" and there was forgiveness and healing.

Great faith rewards

- A woman had been bleeding for 12 years. She touched the hem of Jesus.

Matthew 9:22

"Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment."

Great faith rewards

- There were two blind men. They called on Jesus.

Matthew 9:28-30

When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him [Jesus], and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored.

Great faith Rewards 

- One day, a Centurion asked Jesus to heal his paralyzed servant. Then he expressed faith in Christ's words to heal the servant to His presence.

Matthew 8:10, 13

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith... Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

The common thing people see Jesus do in Ministration at the time had been His presence and touch. So when this man carried his understanding as a military man into the divinity of Christ, Jesus categorized his faith as great.

We usually believe in what we see and adopt the form as it is, but God expects our faith to go beyond what we see. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:27)

I once prayed for a woman who had come to speak about her situation. As she was about to exit my office, she asked, "Papa, is that all?" Expecting some oil or water or some direction (akwankyere). So I told her, go in the faith you came with and you shall see the hand of God. 

She came later on to me after one Sunday Service saying, "Papa, God has been so faithful. Thank you and God bless you."

The Centurion believed that it is not Christ's physical presence that brings the miracles but in His Words.

You have neglected His Word and going after items because somebody said it worked for them. Build your Great Faith in Him to see your Reward.

- Matthew 15:10-28

A Canaanite mother with a demon-possessed daughter came to Jesus.

Jesus tried to refuse help to this woman because she was not an Israelite saying, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 

But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 

Jesus tried another reason for not healing the daughter. He said, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 

With great faith, she never gave up but persisted saying, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Jesus categorized the faith of the woman as great because she was not ready to let any reason be an impediment to the healing of her daughter. 

For what reason have you given up on Faith in Christ Jesus?

It sometimes feels God has neglected you and do not really care. But think of this, would you have done it been better if you were God?

Great faith does not make things easy, it makes them possible.

CONCLUSION 

"I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:1,2,29,36)

Great Faith indeed Rewards as David puts it, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous [one with great faith in God] forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing." (Psalm 37)

GREAT FAITH TRULY REWARDS