Packaged Faith from the Sewer

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

From Dei Wellman on Faith: the young in Christ need to understand that it takes time to gain a relationship with Jesus — it’s not instantaneous. One has to work at a relationship, in order to gain Faith, to understand that God has got them in the palm of His hand. Learning and understanding and doing Provers 3: 5 – 8 takes time. James 1:6.http://ladydeidre.com

From Pastor Rob Barkman on Faith: It is one thing to want to believe that God exists and He is watching over us etc etc etc. It is an entirely different thing to come to an end of ourselves, where we see we have sinned against God, we can do nothing to save ourselves and we can only come before Him. Knowing that He must save us from our sins because we can do nothing to merit that salvation of our own doing. I believe this is the first step to God-given salvation. Our greatest need is to come to understand the person of God, His holiness and justice; the nature of sin and it’s fruits; and our sinful condition.
http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com

 

God just comes up with some of the most fascinating ideas. He performs what we don’t see coming. He adds parts of this and that and lo and behold we receive loads of what we didn’t ask for.

It’s kind of like “packaged salvation.”  We received it all when we accepted Jesus as our Savior but that is only the beginning.

Visualize a newly, endorsed convert. The enemy runs and hides, angels begin singing “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” and God gets to tear open another package of damaged goods so he can fix it.

The package comes with an index full of directions, plans and additions. Like most people, (especially men) they don’t read the directions! They ignore the detailed plans and the execution of those plans.

The process of repair can take a very long time. Some need to be sent off to a “repair shop” for an overhaul.

Others want reconditioning, reconstruction or replacement of parts.

And some, well they just need to learn how to read the directions.

No matter where you are in the packaging process, God adds qualifications or character traits to each follower as they mature. For instance; who knew God would provide a need for someone they didn’t think about or even know to do anything about because they were so busy doing what they were suppose to do to start with?

A few years ago I noticed a foul smell coming from our bathroom. It seems that someone prior to living in this house really liked flossing their teeth. Instead of throwing the floss in the trash, they threw it in the toilet! It became apparent the sewage line was backed up…….whew…..it was awful. Anyway I called a plumber and begged them to send someone ASAP. They did. He was as shocked as I was when he stuck the long, long, very long snake in the sewer line in the yard and came out with floss. A lot of floss. Wads of used floss. He shook his head and told me, “You wouldn’t believe what people put down their toilets.”

Writing him a check for his work, I sensed the Holy Spirit telling me to ask him about his family, and life. He had lost one job, but finally found that one. His wife had been sick for 5 years and could not work due to a brain tumor. He spoke of how he loved this woman and how he had taken care of her, but wished he could do more for her. All their money had been spent on medical bills.

He started to cry. Her washer machine had broken and she had to wash their clothes by hand. He told me he couldn’t afford to buy her a used one much less a new one.

I handed him the first check.

I handed him the second check.

Gazing at the 2^nd check he asked me “what is this check for?”

I replied, “Go buy your wife a washer machine.”

Tears flowed from his eyes like a flood.

“I can’t take your money. You don’t even know me.”

“Yes I do” I replied, “You are a man trying to do the right thing. Now go buy your wife a washer machine.”

Hugging me and thanking God, he waved goodbye and drove off.

I refrained from telling Mark this story until……3 weeks later I received a letter in the mail from his wife. Now it was my time to cry.

The letter remains in my desk drawer as a reminder of how the Holy Spirit works behind the scenes. You see, it wasn’t about the money or the sewer backing up and it certainly wasn’t about me.

God knew what he needed. God knew how he had unselfishly cared for his sick wife. God knew this man needed a faith pick me up.

When we prioritize our lives with God, that which we don’t see coming, shows up in a package of faith he gives us. He takes care of us in areas we don’t have time or the ability to deal with because we are wrapped up in doing his work to begin with.

As God gives us the Gift of Faith, it grows with each and every one of his miracles he performs; and most of the time when we least expect it.

God will place people in our path, give us favor with those we don’t know and even use a stopped up smelly sewer as a reason to build not only our own faith, but to pass it on.

http://media4lifeministries.com/2011/11/09/faith-a-gift-from-god/

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