Christian A.C.T.S.: Steps of Faith~ 2ed Sunday after Penecost

I Kings 18:20-39:Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal in front of all of Israel to prove to them who is the real God.

Ps. 96:Sing unto the Lord for he is greater than other gods.

Gal. 1:1-12: Paul warns the church in Galatia to return to their faith in Jesus Christ.

Luke 7:1-10:Jesus is asked to heal a centurion's servant. Jesus goes to do so, but before he gets there the centurion sends word to Jesus to just say the word and his servant would be healed. Jesus spoke of how great the man's faith was. When the messengers returned, they found that the servant was now well.

In the Old Testament, the prophets was often called on to steer God's people from false gods to the one and only true God. One prophet who did so was Elijah. He was brave enough to challenge the false prophets to a spiritual duel. In this duel, both the prophets of Ball and Elijah would call to their god to prove that their god was the real God. Where the real boldness of Elijah came in is that he called for this duel to be done in front of all of those in Israel. Elijah set his test up in a way where there could be no doubt in any one's minds to who was the real God. For he poured a lot of water over the sacrifice before praying asking God to send down fire to burn it and prove that he was the one and only real God. Of course, God won and the people's faith turned them back to the real God(I Kings 28:20-39).

When Jesus was on earth doing his 3 years of ministry. There were people who believed in him and had faith and those who did not. One man who showed great faith in Jesus was a centurion who had sent word to Jesus asking that he please heal his sick servant. While Jesus was still a ways away from him home, he sent messengers to tell Jesus not to come into his home to heal his servant for he was not worthy of his presence. But he believed that all Jesus had to do was speak the word and his servant would be healed. Jesus found this man's faith so great he used it to teach his followers a lesson. Did Jesus heal the servant? Yes, for when the messengers had returned they found that the servant was totally well (Luke 7:1-10).

Paul wrote the churches in Galatia to remind them of what Jesus had done for them, and warned them their lack of faith in Jesus.Then he warned them of people who would lead them away from Jesus and their faith in Him(Gal. 1:1-10).

We too need to stop from time to time to check ourselves to see how our faith is.

Are we living in great faith like the centurion and Elijah, or are we living in lack of faith and growing cold spiritually like the Galatians? Theses day, the world around us is trying to pull us away from our first love~Jesus. We need to challenge that for ourselves and all those around us. For only when we have faith in God will we be able to truly sing from our hearts Psalms 96.

Challenge of the week:

Take the time to look at you faith and see if you are growing hot or cooling off in your faith. If you are growing cooler, take the steps to get closer to God. How read his Word, and talk to him daily. If you are spiritually hot in your faith, take the time to sing praises to Jesus for what he has done for you.

Accomplishment of the week:

So, where did you decide you stood spiritually? What was your responds to this?