I’ve been going to church at Christmas time for 62 years now. Admittedly one of those years I was in utero. None the less, figuring a minimum of four Christmas sermons a year, not including Sunday evening services which were a thing for my first couple decades and allowing for Sundays with programs instead of sermons, etc, etc, etc… maybe I’ve heard 248 Christmas sermons in person, not to mention hundreds or thousands more on radio, cd, cassette, etc. (Also not to mention preaching a few myself.)

This creates a strong temptation for me. I can go to church and check-out during the sermon. But hey–nothing wrong with that, right?

Let’s take a step back for a minute.

Paul tells us in Romans 14:

…and whatever is not from faith is sin. – Romans 14:23

This verse has nagged at me for–well a good long time.

You see, I learned the definition of sin as rebellion–active hostility–toward God. And it’s true–active hostility toward God and rebellion pretty much depicts me in my pre-Christ state.

But zoning out during a Christmas sermon? Is this rebellion?

Well, that word, sin, hamartia in Greek, means missing the mark. I always felt this definition for sin was lukewarm and too mushy. I heald on to the rebellion theme. It’s a much more manly definition.

The effect of my manly definition was to cut myself slack for dozing through sermons, because, hey, I know this stuff! I’m not in rebellion!

But God placed in my heart the realization that without being in open rebellion, and while my efforts were hitting the target–I was smugly satisfied with my arrow striking one of the outer rings. My lack of faith for revelation in a Christmas sermon was FAR from the bull’s eye. I was missing the mark. I was in sin.

You see, works without faith are just as dead as faith without works.

Then I saw it!

Anointing only comes by faith. Seeds only grow by faith. The Word of God if not mixed with faith is dead and useless and of no effect.

On the other hand, if I open my Bible, get out my notebook, stir up faith and believe God for anointed revelation from the sermon, my faith will change the environment. God honors faith, and it pleases Him. He rewards those who diligently seek Him. My faith, sitting in my pew (or cushioned chair) will increase the anointing on the preacher, and increase my capacity to receive revelation.

Just imagine if two people in the congregation were actively exerting faith toward the preaching of the word – or three – or four.

Can you fathom what would happen if one hundred men and women were in agreement touching the preaching of the Word in Church this Sunday? What would God do? What kind of revelation would be possible? What kind of mind renewal could take place? How much transformation would take place in a church full of faith for anointing?

Lives would change forever!

We would leave motivated, empowered, Blessed, and ready to wreck the devil’s plans to rob the story of the incarnation of its power to change the world.

I see now that though I might not be wielding weapons of warfare against God, when I do anything without faith, without expecting God to be in it with me and for me, I miss the mark of His high calling.

At the same time, if I go into everything I put my hand to, whether it seems like the most commonplace of activities, with the expectation of God’s presence and help, everything I do will prosper and God will be pleased with my faith.

What are you doing that needs to be mixed with faith?

This helps me!

Hope it helps you, too.

See you again soon,

Ben