It's Not About Me!

Greetings,
Hebrews 11:32-34:
32. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
33. who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34. quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

The Lord is speaking through this chapter known as the "faith chapter". Throughout the chapter the writer mentions several people who did various things through faith. The writer describes faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." "Through faith Abel...Abraham...Moses...Joshua..."; on and on it goes. Here in the 33rd verse we see that through faith people can subdue what needs to be subdued, they can work what needs to be worked, obtain what is to be obtained, and they can stop what needs to be stopped. All these things can happen, when faith in God is involved.

Something else must be seen, especially in the selfish day and age we are living. The scriptures warn that in the last days there will be a falling away from faith; and a large reason for that will be that they are lovers of themselves. 1 Timothy 4:1,2: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron...". 2 Timothy 3:1,2: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves...". Deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons doesn't necessarily pertain to things of the occult or new age. Eve was deceived when the fruit looked good IN HER EYES, regardless of what the Lord had said. Perilous times, stressful, hard to deal with times, will come because people put their own selves above all else. This is especially true in the American church. Too often it's not about the Kingdom of God, but about "how can this benefit me?". "How can this church, this message, this worship experience, etc., benefit me?" This is not the essence of the Kingdom of God. This is not the essence of faith.

The faith chapter reveals more than just the fact that people pleased God by faith. God teaches that those who did all they did by faith understood a very important principle: walking in the Kingdom ISN'T ABOUT ME! It's not about my pleasure. It's not about my comfort. And, it's not even about my victory! It's about HIM.

Hebrews 11:34 says that through faith people quenched the power of fire. When I read that, I remembered the Lord saying in Isaiah 43:2 "...When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." He didn't keep them from the fire, but from the power of the fire. Fire is necessary where the purification of gold is concerned. Gold isn't destroyed by fire, it is made better. But going through fire still isn't exactly a fun thing to do. However, by faith, we can go through it and escape the power of it. By faith, God's purpose for the fire will be realized and the enemy's desire will not succeed! Remember though, that faith isn't about me, or you. Living by faith isn't about how comfortable I am, but am I right in the midst of His plans and purposes.

The move God intends to see birthed in these last days will be marked by faith, power, deliverance, miracles, and multitudes of people won into the Kingdom of God. God is presently sifting, shaking, purifying, and equipping His people to be Kingdom people; people who have gotten over the "me" issues and have developed a Kingdom vision. It's these kind of people God will use to "subdue kingdoms, work righteousness, obtain promises, stop the mouths of lions, and quenched the power of fire".

It's not about me, it's about Him!
Pastor Jan