Jeremy McGarity
·
July 22, 2020

Interested or Committed?

What are you expecting God to do in your life?

There’s a law that God has established … I call it “the law of expectation.” The fact is, we tend to get what we “expect” out of life. We often see what we expect to see, hear what we expect to hear, feel the way we expect to feel, and succeed at what we expect to succeed in. God says you get to choose! It’s actually “the law of faith,” because “according to your faith it will be done to you” (Matthew 9:29). 

In Luke 17:5, we see the apostles ask the Lord to increase their faith! They had no idea how difficult that would be for them. The problem with acquiring more faith is the process.  We all want more faith, but nobody likes what it takes to get there. 

"There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in something you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something you accept no excuses, only results." 

–– Ken Blanchard

During this time of Covid craziness you might be wondering what God is up to in all of this. How is He going to use this for good, how in the world is my faith supposed to grow through this time? Well, that depends. Are you interested or committed to growing your faith? The next natural question is how does God increase our faith? ... He tests it!

Everyday we have faith building opportunities. And, these times of quarantine, open, close, reopen, do this, don't do that, can drive any person crazy. But, we have to be committed to seeing these problems as faith building opportunities.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t recognize conflicts or hardships as opportunities. Instead, we let our circumstances push us away from God. I believe this time of quarantine is more than a season of conflict, hardship, and restrictions. It’s actually a faith building opportunity!

You see, faith is like a muscle. It has to be worked out, stretched, and pulled with resistance … consistently. Just like consistency is key in getting bigger and stronger muscles, consistency is key in working out your faith muscle! In fact, James 1:3-4 reminds us of this when it says “… the testing of your faith produces perseverance … so that you may be mature and complete …”

A faith that stretches is uncomfortable, but it’s also healthy! Look at your faith like a tree. It requires nurturing and ultimately we hope to produce delicious fruit. But fruits don't arrive over night. It’s the wind, rain, and storms that challenge the tree's roots to go deeper and stabilize the tree before the season of harvest returns. 

I want to encourage you to continue to follow Jesus and live out Colossians 2:6-7 which says, 

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.

Let the roots of your faith grow deeper throughout this time of Covid, no matter how long it lasts. If you are committed, your faith WILL become stronger. I’m confident that this time of quarantine is an opportunity that will lead you to trust God more than you ever have before. Use this time to allow your roots of faith to 'grow' to a whole new level.

The reason that your faith needs testing is because God wants to increase it! God is never going to say “you’ve arrived,” “there’s nothing else for you,” or “that’s all I have to teach you” … He’s always going to want us to take that next step of faith!

So let me ask you again ... What are you expecting God to do in your life? Are you interested in Him working in your life or committed? Can you hang in there a little longer, lean on Him a little more, and trust Him to come through? Will you do it with an expectant heart knowing that He has promised to move according to your committed faith?

I am believing that your faith is going to grow in new ways and we're going to come out of this season stronger than ever! I'm committed to it, and I expect it!

5 comments

5 thoughts on “Interested or Committed?”

  1. Rocky Kelly said:

    Amen!

  2. Margaret White said:

    I trust and believe my faith in God is getting stronger and stronger every day. That God is always by my side, protecting and shielding from Satan and his evil, demonic ways. That he loves so much that he give his only begotten son Jesus who died for my sins and rose back up on the 3rd day and will return. I want to be ready for when he does come back for me. That the blessings I receive was because of my strong faith in God who strengthen me every day that I wake up to see another day he created. I love, honor and praise my Lord and Savior Jesus. That you Pastor Jeremy for reaching out and reminding me of the love God has for us all. Stay safe and be blessed Skyline Church. 🙏🏼♥️😊♥️🙏🏼

  3. tr4il_4ngel said:

    Rock… SOLID!

  4. Sherry Mead said:

    Food for thought that I wasn’t expecting, but needed. A very different twist on faith.

  5. Susan Evans said:

    I’ve understood that the first shot fired at the beginning of the civil war was by a pastor…a true shepherd of Gods people protecting his flock! Thank you, Pastor Jeremy! Wish I i was still in SD to thank you in person!

    You’ve just fired another amazing shot!! Truth dispels lies and evil! Thank you for your boldness and bravery in speaking the truth! You gave people the facts and dispelled the evil spirit of fear! People need to do nothing more to protect themselves than they would have done during every previous flu season! This has all been a manmade satanic evil sham with so much distortion if facts it’s almost inconceivable! Doctors have been forced to lie about causes if death. Someone dying in hospice is listed as C19! Someone dying in an MVA is listed as C19! All lies!!

    PROCLAIM your freedom and protection under the Lords wings! Voice it out-loud! Be BOLD! Take your place as a warring son of the most high! Know who you are!

    Of all things…DO NOT FEAR! He said “when I come will I find faith?”
    For me and my house…we declare “yes, Lord! Having done all I know to do I stand! I pray, I fast, and I STAND firmly believing and TRUSTING solely in you and your word! I refuse to waver! (Satan comes as an angel of light!) I rebuke the satanic lies! Lord, I claim YOUR promises and YOUR victory! I remind you of YOUR words to us! I declare I will stand and see you receive the reward of your suffering! This land and this people belong to you! We’re ready! We’ve put on the breastplate of righteousness, we take up your shield and the sword of the spirit is in our hands! Your words are living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword and they in our mouths! Lord, you spoke and it was! We speak and so it shall be! Whatever we bind shall have been bound! Our eyes are focused! We’re determined! Just like David when he slew Goliath! He was not intimidated! We are not intimidated! We’re bold! We act victory, we walk victory, we think victory, and we speak nothing but your Victory!“
    Our Lord said “it is finished” when He was on the cross! He has already won this war! Do we believe that??
    He gave us ALL THINGS pertaining to life and Godliness! Victory is ours because He dwells in us!! We march into this spiritual and physical battle knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that the victory has already been won by our Lord!! “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven!“ We carry on doing His will as we boldly come before the throne of grace and enter into His kingdom! So let it be, so let it be done!

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