Last night I went to the Wednesday night service for Inspire and got to hear a powerful message from Banning Liebscher. He shared scripture with us from Haggai and then into 2 Kings to emphasize how faith looks like something.
Faith requires work that looks like something
‘on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ “This is what the Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Almighty.”’
Haggai 2:1-9
God has something greater coming and so do not fear, be strong, and work. In James we’ve read faith without works is dead, and hence faith looks like something active. Faith isn’t doing nothing but rather faith is active and should be producing something different and look different than when there is no faith.
Faith requires us to act and prepare for what God is about to do!
In 2 Kings, we read:
‘The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”’
2 Kings 4:1-7
Faith requires action that is preparation for what God is about to do.
Faith required preparation because God was about to do something miraculous. How great is your faith and how many jars would you have gotten? God is able to take what you have and use it to meet your needs. Let’s have faith that puts us into action, preparing to receive what we have been praying for and about what God has promised. As we’ve read in Hebrews 11 before we need to remember how faith is active and looks like preparation. Noah’s faith got him to build an ark in the desert. So, as we go into today, let’s remember what God is telling us, his calling upon us, and start to prepare now for His outpouring of blessings that is on the way. When people see our faith, they will see us in action, preparing!
‘Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.’
Hebrews 11:1-40
Today’s Reading:
My Notes:
I thank God that His Word is active and alive. I am not sure what you took away from God’s Word yesterday, but He answered my prayer for wisdom and direction and prepared me for the day. It allowed me to have peace even in the midst of difficult situations and build up my faith in Him. It grew even more when last night’s message came speaking of the need to prepare. Even though I can’t make it to the one-day conference, I am glad I got to join the first service for the week. So today, I still recommend you use the links above and read or listen to it being read over you and receive what God has to say to you today about where you are at, what He has for you, how you should respond, so that in and through it all, He will receive the praise, the honor, and the glory and you will receive all He has prepared in advance for you in this moment.
Genesis 34
Consequences of Disobedience
We encounter the troubling account of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, being violated by Shechem, a Hivite prince. This distressing event highlights the consequences of disregarding God’s commandments and the importance of maintaining purity and integrity in our actions. Just as Dinah’s violation led to strife and revenge, our disobedience can bring about chaos and suffering. The chapter serves as a sobering reminder of the need for discernment and obedience to God’s principles in all aspects of our lives (Genesis 34:1-31).
- Dinah and the Shechemites
Genesis 35
Renewal and Restoration: Jacob’s Encounter at Bethel
We witness Jacob’s return to Bethel, where God reaffirms His covenant with him. This chapter emphasizes the significance of seeking God’s presence and guidance in our lives. Just as Jacob built an altar and worshiped God at Bethel, we too should prioritize cultivating a relationship with Him through prayer, worship, and obedience. Additionally, the renaming of Jacob to Israel symbolizes a transformation and a new beginning, highlighting God’s power to redeem and restore (Genesis 35:1-15).
- Jacob Returns to Bethel
- The Deaths of Rachel and Isaac
Genesis 36
God’s Faithfulness Across Generations
Lastly, we encounter the genealogy of Esau, highlighting the importance of lineage and heritage in biblical narratives. While this chapter may seem less significant compared to others, it underscores God’s faithfulness to His promises and His sovereignty over all generations. Every individual mentioned in the genealogy played a role in God’s plan, reminding us that our lives are interconnected and part of a larger divine narrative (Genesis 36:1-43).
- Esau’s Descendants
- The Rulers of Edom
As we reflect on these chapters from Genesis 34-36, we are reminded of the timeless truths embedded within these narratives. The consequences of disobedience, the importance of seeking God’s presence, and the faithfulness of God across generations serve as valuable lessons for us today. Just as Dinah’s story warns us of the dangers of straying from God’s path, Jacob’s encounter at Bethel inspires us to pursue renewal and restoration through intimacy with God. And while the genealogy of Esau may seem distant, it reminds us of our place within God’s overarching plan. Let us heed these lessons, striving to honor God in all our actions, seeking His presence continually, and trusting in His faithfulness to guide us through every season of life.
Today is a day that thanks to Jesus is filled with inspiration. So let us make sure we receive the gift of grace through Jesus by faith in Him and step up and out to accomplish all the good works He has prepared in advance for us to accomplish. If you haven’t received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not choose today to be the day your life is transformed and you become a new creation and start the journey of becoming everything God created, purposed, and planned for you to be?
Let’s pray:
God's story through my life from 2005 to eternity... 
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