Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of Scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
All around the world, you will find numerous windmills that dot the landscape, and their constant movement can be very comforting to watch for many people. They have been used for centuries, harnessing the power of the wind in order to mill grain, pump water, and more recently, creating electricity. I have driven past many large tracts of land that are filled with these huge creations, rotating high up in the sky.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Windmills have a power acting upon them that we cannot see, but genuine faith is the same way. We cannot see the invisible things of God, but we know that He is there through the evidence of someone’s faith. Those who truly believe in Christ Jesus are like Spiritual windmills, revealing His unseen forces that keep them turning in the wind.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” — Hebrews 11:1
We cannot see the wind, but we can see the effects that it has on certain things. For example, when you are out on a sailboat, you can’t see the wind, but you can watch as a large gust approaches, rippling across the top of the water. Eventually, it will fill up your sails, and power your vessel quickly across the lake. Likewise, faith is the evidence of things unseen. When you lay down on your picnic table on a hot summer day, and watch as the clouds move across the sky, you can’t see the wind, but you know that it’s pushing them along. Likewise, faith is the evidence of things unseen. A housewife cannot see the wind, but she knows that it is there, as she watches her wet laundry flapping in the breeze. Likewise, faith is the evidence of things unseen.
Faith can cause a person to take a completely different direction in their life. This is because they are led by the Spirit of God rather than the spirit of men. Their obedient lives are the outward evidence of the unseen things of God at work inside of their heart. Moses is one such example, who was seeking after the invisible things of God. Although we cannot see the Holy Spirit, we can see the effects it has on someone’s life.
Hebrews 11 ²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; ²⁵ Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; ²⁶ Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. ²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. ²⁸ Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. ²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
The faith of Noah was evidence to this world of God’s impending judgment against sin.
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” — Hebrews 11:7
The Apostle Paul was originally a Pharisee, yet his life went in a completely different direction. He became a new creature, transforming from a sinner into a saint. Rather than trying to destroy churches as he had done in his past, he began to plant them, devoting his entire life to furthering the gospel of Christ. Many people in the church glorified God in him, as his conversion and life of faith was the evidence of God’s handiwork.
1 Timothy 1 ¹² And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; ¹³ Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ¹⁴ And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. ¹⁶ Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Outward works of faith are the evidence of God’s presence in somebody’s heart. Paul was filled with many wonderful works, but he gave the glory to whom the glory was due.
“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
The Lord Jesus was filled with so many good works that all the books ever written could not contain all the wonderful things that He did. They were the evidence of God the Father working in His heart.
“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” — John 14:10
John 14 ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. ¹² Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Genuine faith will have evidence to back it up.
James 2 ¹⁷ Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.¹⁸ Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. ¹⁹ Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. ²⁰ But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Spirit-filled works are the indication that God is doing something in your life. Repentance, conversion, and sanctification are the confirmation of the presence of God’s grace. We might not be able to see the wind, but we can see how it empowers a windmill. We might not be able to see God, but we are reminded that He is there, each time that we see another one of His Saints…
……Turning in the Wind
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious goups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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