We have lived difficult days, days of uncertainties, through a pandemic and now war; we see a troubled world and many declaring that the worst is yet to come and that we are heading towards a third world war. On TV we see destruction of nations, war refugees, the death of adults and children, hunger, etc.
The Will of God and the Power of Faith
Why does God want to talk to you about Faith?
Because just as faith comes by hearing, unbelief also comes by hearing!
You are hearing and seeing bad news every day and all this information can destroy your faith!
But when you hear about the true faith and the power of God, your faith grows. When you believe and confess what you believe you experience the supernatural of God.
I was in prayer and I asked God for a Word to share with the church, and God spoke to me!
He said: Marcio tell my church that “I Am the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega and everything is in My hands and I am the Lord over all the Earth.”
“Tell my people that I am the beginning and the end! The end of everything is under my control, the end of everything is already written and determined”
Those who read this book (Bible) need not fear, but rejoice, for Our God Reigns and He rules over all the Nations of the Earth.
“But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And he will be secure, without fear of evil.”
Proverbs 1:33 NKJV
The world is in darkness, but the people who know their God are strong and active, because we know how the story ends; the Lord will judge the nations and we will reign with the Lord for ever and ever.
The word that God has placed in my heart is: Do not fear, only believe!
“As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid; only believe.”” Mark 5:36 NKJV
What are you hearing on TV? What are you hearing from doctors? What are you hearing from the government? Jesus is saying to you: ignore all these words, only believe!
God’s word for you is: believe and use your faith!
Our God who parted the Red Sea, turned the water into wine, healed a blind man in Jericho, multiplied loaves, raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, the One who operated uncountable miracles, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And He’s saying Don’t be afraid, just believe and use your faith.
God told me to say, use your faith, for my righteous shall live by faith!
“Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38 NKJV
I love teaching and preaching about faith, as I have seen many miracles happen because people believed; and also because God is pleased with those who have faith!
Know that God has a will and He wishes to perform miracles in your life, but He will work at the limit of your faith!
Let me be clearer: Many things don’t happen in our lives, not because of God’s unwillingness, but because of our unbelief.
This is why I’m preaching about: The Will of God and The Power of Faith
“And Jesus did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” Matthew 13:58 NIV
Jesus didn’t perform miracles not because He didn’t want to, but it was people’s unbelief that stopped Him!
Many of us put the blame on God and on His “will”. When we fail we tend to say that it was God’s will that did not permit certain things to happen!
Miracles are performed by God but only through those who have faith! Doubt and unbelief will always be an obstacle for miracles.
How many of you want God to work miracles in your life? How many here need a miracle? I’m sorry to say it, but unfortunately not everyone will receive their miracle!
There are some misunderstandings about miracles, so I want to teach you something very important:
Miracles are not for those who deserve them; they’re for those who believe!
If miracles were only for those who deserve them, no one would ever receive them.
Miracles are not for those who need them! Miracles are for those who believe!
Most of the miracles that happened through my prayers were not when I was in church, but with people outside the church, people who believed and received because they believed in the miracle.
Let’s look in the Bible for more examples of what I’m teaching you. Matthew 15:21-28.
Jesus came to the people of Israel, but once a Greek woman came up to Jesus. She cried out to Him “Jesus heal, my daughter!” Let’s see what Jesus said to her:
“Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Matthew 15:21-28 NKJV
First Jesus ignored her, He would not even answer her, then He actually said “no” to her three times, and still she didn’t give up!
My question is: Why did this woman receive her miracle? Because of her faith and her insistence!
“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.”
Jesus said: Because of your faith, your daughter has been healed! You can go home.
This woman received the miracle not because of Jesus’ faith, not because of God’s will, she got it because she believed in it and she went after it. Jesus said: let it be as you desire! What is your desire?
Miracles are not for those who deserve it, they’re for those who believe and go after it.
So you have to remove all that is hindering your faith. If you listen to what the world says, if you listen to what people say and you keep looking at the circumstances around you, you won’t get your miracle.
Because miracles are not for those who need them, miracles are not for those who deserve them, miracles are for those who believe!
Once a man came to Jesus and asked for help for his son:
“….. Jesus if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:22, 23 NIV
He came to Jesus and said: I have a need, can you operate a miracle? Jesus answers his question with another question: Do you ask me if I can? Everything is possible for those who believe!
Do you believe the words of Jesus? Everything is possible for those who believe!
Many come before God feeling they are undeserving, some say: I’m not going to ask for anything, if God wills it, He’ll give it to me! Sorry but this is unbelief!
““Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
It is not your need that will generate the miracle, it is your faith! God is happy to give us things. God loves you and He wants to give you gifts! God loves you so much!
We need to have a faith that works, you have to use your faith because Jesus came to this earth, died for you and asked us: Have faith in me!
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:11-12
Jesus said that the kingdom of God is advancing because of Christians with violent faith.
You are in a spiritual war against the darkness, against Satan, and you need to have a violent faith, we need to use our faith. Jesus says that the Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force and those who use this force will take it.
What force is it that Jesus is talking about?
It’s The Power of Faith, that’s why we’re talking about faith!
We need to have the kind of faith that takes “no” for an answer!
The Greek woman (syrophenician) received a “no” from Jesus. Jesus said: I came to the people of Israel, you have no right to receive miracles. But she insisted and used her faith. Jesus praised her faith and so she received her blessing, her daughter was healed.
People of faith are those who don’t give up, they impress and thrill God.
To the Greek woman Jesus said: “Woman, you have GREAT FAITH ! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.” Matthew 15:28
To a centurion Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such Great Faith.” Matthew 8:10
But to his own disciples He said: “You of LITTLE FAITH , why are you so afraid?” Matthew 8:26
If Jesus were to look at you today, what would He say about your faith? Great is your faith or people of little faith?
I believe in the Power of Faith and the power of prayer for those who have faith!
I believe that we can change situations through our faith and prayer.
Jesus said that in the end times we would have wars, but we have to pray against wars and God will hear our prayer.
Jesus said we would go through tribulation, affliction and suffering.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”” John 16:33 NKJV
What did Jesus say about your life in this world?
Jesus said we would have much tribulation!
But what do you do when you are in trouble?
Do you just sit and wait for your problems, temptations, illnesses, storms, to go away while you keep quiet and tell yourself “it’s all God’s will” ?
Or do you pray, intercede and rebuke the storm?
Through our prayers and repentance we can change even what God has already said!
Yes, you can change even what God has said and what was predicted!
1 “In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’ 2 ” Then he turned his face toward the wall , and prayed to the Lord.
5“Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David his father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you.” II Kings 20:1-2, 5 NKJV
Through your prayer, intercession, your repentance you can change things. Including wars!
I want to conclude showing you again that you have to seek and cry out for what you need and not only say, God do your will!
Mark 10:46-52
Here we see a blind man who ran after Jesus for his miracle!
It wasn’t Jesus who went after him! He went after Jesus!
People told this blind man to be quiet and stop bothering Jesus, but he didn’t stop and he didn’t give up!
Jesus eventually calls to him and asks this blind man: What do you want me to do for you?
What a question! Jesus knew he was blind, Jesus knew his need, but the man had to say what he wanted!
Beloved, miracles will not happen just because it is God’s will!
Miracles will happen when a hungry heart full of faith runs to the Lord Jesus and says: I want to be healed! I want to be freed!
What do you want Him to do for you?
“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” Luke 18:1, 7 NIV
Miracles are results of perseverance! You should always pray and never give up! Because God will listen to those who cry out to Him day and night!
Beloved, God has His will but God loves those who have faith and God answers to Faith and not to need!
The world is full of need, but God will respond to those who have faith, those who believe and seek God!