 Exercise great faith | 1 Thessalonians 5 | Image: Colin Behrens 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it! I wrote last time that however unprecedented 2020 has been, however much change we’ve had to adapt to, we’re not done with change. And the Church needs to be front and centre of helping people navigate their way through an ever-changing landscape. But to do that we’re going to have to exercise great faith. You have to use it or lose it A summary of the verses 16-22 could be “you have to use it or lose it.” In a recent preach I said we can’t leave our faith lying around on the sofa getting fat; we have to exercise it. We walk by faith, not by sight. As we move from an unprecedented time into an unpredictable one, we will not naturally be able to plan for changes. Which means we will need revelation. The only way we are going to be able to plot a course through this particular landscape is if we rely on our spiritual insight, not our natural experience. Because Scripture tells us it's only when our natural resources come to an end (Elijah and the oil, Jesus and the wine) that the supernatural provision begins. And it is crucial we grab hold of two principles. First, that what we did in the past will not serve us in the future. Bernie prophesied that at the same time as he prophesied the shaking we’re now experiencing. The past is for reference, not for residence. God is doing a new thing. And we have to be aligned with what he is doing now. Second, in 2021, if we look to the circumstances more than we look to the Lord, we will face an uphill battle because our faith will be shaped by the inferior things of the world not the superior things of the Father. The consistent challenge from God to me this year has been to come up higher in order to look and see what HE is doing. Because he has the bigger picture. He has the insight and knowledge and plans and strategies to enable me to fulfil his purposes even in this extraordinary time. And he has them for you, too. But it takes great faith to believe in the possibility of going higher. It takes great faith to believe God has more for us. It takes great faith to think God might be able to use us for his purposes. And I just want to say something here about busyness. The world has made an idol of busyness and we’re in danger sometimes of bowing to that idol. We can be out every night at a church meeting, doing horrendous hours at work, running from one community service opportunity to another and still not be exercising great faith because we’re so busy we have missed the still small voice of God that tells us where he wants us be and what he wants us to do. Nor does “exercising great faith” mean that we do it in our own strength. Peter shows us that. There is no more determined or bullish disciple. “I will never deny you!” he says to Jesus. But we know how that ends. Compare that to John - the disciple Jesus loves - whose most profound and significant acts are resting his head against Jesus’ chest at the last Supper and then being the only disciple at the foot of the cross publicly acknowledging his love for Jesus. Our ability to exercise great faith is a product of our surrender to Jesus. Which is why Paul tells us to 16 rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; 19 don’t quench the Spirit. 20 don’t treat prophecies with contempt 21; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. Those things position us both close to the heart of God and at the foot of the cross. In 2021, we are not going to be able to go the distance if we’re keeping our distance from God. Exercise great faith. You have to use it or lose it Until next time L x 
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Author "Life is short; eat dessert first." Loraine Davies Archives
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