PUSH BUTTONS
Offer, Walk, & Build
By Faith, the Elders obtained a good report
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. — Hebrews 11:4–7
I heard what I am about to share with you a while ago and it blessed me — I believe it would bless you too.
I want us to look at what the first set of people that were mentioned in Hebrews and scriptures did by faith i.e. how they obtained their own good report, so we are looking at:
Abel — We are told that Abel offered God a more excellent sacrifice by faith.
The Genesis narrative is focused on Cain’s reaction after the murder. Abel’s sacrifice was given by faith. Though my emphasis is not on why it was accepted, Pastor Dami already did a great job teaching us this here — my emphasis is that the first Patriarch that obtained a good report (walk in faith/ did this faith thing) OFFERED unto God. He gave and what he gave made him a man of Faith.
Enoch — Enoch was translated and didn’t see death because he had a testimony that he pleased (had faith in) God. What did Enoch do to have this report in Hebrews? Let us Look at the source file in Genesis 5:24;
And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
The secret is that he WALKED with God.
Noah — I prefer NIV, it says By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By Faith Noah BUILT an ARK
So the first three persons recorded for us in the scriptures that did things by faith did the following; offered unto God, walked with God and built for God.
- Offering unto God.
We see that giving is an act of faith and also, done by Faith. It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). We see from the first time giving was done in the bible, one was accepted, one was rejected (50% accepted, 50% rejected) — so there is a way to offer unto God. God accepted Abel first before his gifts. We can offer our resources — time, influence, money, platforms, energy, skill, you name it. What and how we offer unto God is an indication of our perception of Faith.
By Faith, we OFFER.
2. Walking with God.
Walking with someone means being in harmony, resonance, or alignment with them, often implying a deep connection or shared values. You are close. You talk, laugh, listen, and share your hearts. Your attention is focused on this person to the exclusion of almost everything else. This implies that you are saying NO to walking with several other possibilities.
To walk with God means that you and God agree on your life. “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3, NKJV). To walk with God means you have aligned your will with His and seek every day to consider yourself “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20). We honour God with our choices in every aspect of life. Our heart desire is to be pleasing to God, and we are to be willing to let His Spirit conform us to the image of His Son.
By Faith, we WALK.
3. Building for God.
Noah created a system for God to actualise his agenda still and ensure the preservation of a remnant by what he built. Building for God is according to pattern and instruction — His Word (Not vibes or how we feel), it is you ensuring that the dimensioning of what is being built can host God’s agenda. By faith we are to build our Conduct, our manner of life, our Love walk, our doctrine, our longsuffering, perseverance, our Persuasions in Godliness.
Like Apostle Peter said we add Virtue to our faith, to virtue — knowledge, to knowledge — self-control, to self-control — perseverance, to perseverance — godliness, to godliness — brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness — love. For if these things are ours and abound, we will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5–8)
We can’t build anyhow with/for God.
The good thing is that we have the mind of Christ so we can compare spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13) and therefore build what would bring glory.
By Faith, We BUILD.
So, we see that in the journey of faith, we start from offering unto God, then walking with him and then building for him — in addition to other things we can do by faith and through faith, the above are prime on the list.
What would you be doing this week?
a. Offering unto God.
b. Walking with God.
c. Building for God.
d. All of the above.
Have a Blessed Week!
Grace, Growth, and Glory.
Ayomide Arowele
— IG/X: @thearowele
Push Buttons is a weekly devotional of The Powerpoint Tribe.
