Advancing Encouragement By:
Bishop James Jr. Hairston
Romans: 4:17: (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickened the dead, and called those things which be not as though they were.
The idea behind this passage of scripture is the fact that God called some things into Abraham’s life that was not as if they were. In Genesis 17:5 God changed Abrams name to Abraham because he would be the father of many nations. Abraham believed God without any doubt in his mind and it was accounted to him as righteousness because of his faith in God. When you believe something you will talk about it to God and call it to yourself assure in your spirit that it is true without a shadow of doubt. It is like knowing something to be so true that you can eat it, taste it and smell it right there in front of your face. Have you ever known someone that is so assure of himself about something that is about to take place that he actually believes it without seeing it. While other people think he is crazy yet, he thinks of himself sure, sane, and accomplished in the thing he believes true. Well, this is the way Abraham was with what God told him calling those things that are not as if they were. However, here is the knowledge of what was happening in Abrahams life that in-turn as Abrahams seed or the children of Abraham we to are to have the same faith. What Abraham was calling into his life as the Father of many nations is what God had already promised to Abraham and he just believed it. God called something into your life that has been planned for you to do and not only that there are some events waiting to happen in your life that will bring God glory and you victory. God called success in your life, prosperity in your life, health in your life, love in your life, peace in your life, joy in your life, happiness in your life, contentment and favor in your life. When you call those things that are not as if they were in your life, you are calling those things that God has already ordained to happen and you just believe it by faith and with Abrahamic faith. Like Abraham called those things into his life because he believed what God told him and responded in this way: 18: Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19: And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21: And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. In-spite of Abrahams age he was able to perform his duties as a man of faith and so it came to pass. Today my friend start calling those things that are not as if they were into your life by; speaking it to pass, believing it by faith without any shadow of doubt and finally be persuaded to perform what was promised to you by God. In other words it is not going to fall out of the tree you have to put your faith into action and it shall come to pass with success my friend and believe it in Jesus Name…
James Jr. Hairston