Faith that produces fortune is the central tenet of our discourse, emphasizing the necessity of obedience, endurance, and the rejection of shortcuts in the pursuit of divine promises. As we delve into the narrative of Abraham, we uncover the essence of biblical faith, which is characterized by unwavering belief and consistent action despite uncertainty. We must recognize that while many desire the rewards of faith, few are willing to undergo the rigorous formation that true faith demands. The episode serves as a clarion call to refuse the temptations of impatience and compromise, urging us instead to cultivate character and capacity while we await the fruition of God's promises. Ultimately, steadfast faith yields fruit over time, reinforcing the imperative that we must remain vigilant and committed to our divine journey, eschewing the allure of immediate gratification for the sake of lasting fulfillment. The discourse on faith that produces fortune delves deeply into the essential nature of genuine faith as delineated in Hebrews 11:6. The speaker emphasizes the distinction between superficial expressions of faith and those that yield tangible results, asserting that true faith necessitates obedience, even in the face of uncertainty. This message is framed within the context of Abraham’s journey, highlighting his unwavering commitment to God despite the absence of immediate clarity or reward. The speaker cautions against the allure of shortcuts—represented metaphorically as ‘Ishmaels’—which arise from impatience with divine timing. Such compromises, it is argued, ultimately lead to long-term sorrow rather than the promised blessings. By illustrating Abraham’s faith journey, the message encourages believers to embrace obedience as a pathway to fruition, stressing that true prosperity is birthed from patience, character development, and a steadfast commitment to God’s instructions, regardless of the temporal challenges faced. The overarching call is to cultivate a faith that not only believes but also acts, ensuring that one's actions align with divine purpose and timing, thus leading to a legacy of righteousness and abundance that transcends personal gain.

Takeaways:

1. Faith that produces fortune is characterized by obedience, endurance, and the refusal of shortcuts.
2. True faith necessitates risk and often requires us to act without clarity or certainty.
3. Impatience can lead to the creation of 'Ishmaels', which are consequences of our unwillingness to wait.
4. Wealth acquired through dishonest means ultimately results in loss, while diligent labor increases prosperity.
5. God's promises manifest at the proper time, requiring us to maintain faith and perseverance until that moment.

Brothers and sisters, listen carefully.

A lot of people want fortune, but they don't want a formation.

They want harvest, but they hate plowing.

They want oversight, but they despise obedience.

That takes time.

And I need to tell you the truth.

There is a type of faith that makes noise.

And there is a type of faith that makes results.

There is a type of faith that shouts in church.

And there is a type of faith that stands up Monday morning and obeys God when nobody claps.

Today is message three in our series.

Abraham, father of faith and fortune.

And this message is called faith that produces fortune.

Not faith that produces vibes.

Not faith that produces goosebumps.

Not faith that produces fruit.

It's faith that produces fruit.

Because if your faith never changes your behavior, it's not faith, it's just religious imagination.

And I'm here not to babysit fantasy.

I'm here to disciple faith.

Hebrews 11:6 says, 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.

God rewards seekers, not dabblers, not half hearted people, not part time believers.

Those who earnestly seek Him.

Now what kind of faith produces fortune?

Now let's define terms.

Biblical faith is not denial.

Biblical faith is not pretending.

Biblical faith is not calling irresponsibility trust.

Biblical faith is hearing God, believing God, obeying God, enduring with God until the promise manifests.

That's faith.

And Abraham is our model because Abraham is not a perfect man.

He is a covenant man.

He had moments of strength and moments of failure.

But he kept returning to God, aligning again, moving again, trusting again.

And that's why God can use him.

Let's go to point number one.

Faith is obedience with risk.

Brothers and sisters, faith is not safe.

If your faith never requires risk, it's probably just comfort.

With Christian language.

Hebrews 11:8 says Abraham went even though he did not know where he was going.

That means Abraham obeyed without clarity.

And that's where many believers fail.

You won't mind obedience when we can predict the outcome, we'll obey God.

If the numbers add up, we will obey God.

If the relationship is guaranteed, we'll obey God if we can control the risk.

But faith begins where control ends.

Let me say it like this.

If you can't do it without God, it's not faith.

If you can do it without prayer, it's not faith.

If you can do it with your strength only, it may be talent, but it's not faith.

Faith is obedience with risk.

And risk doesn't mean stupidity.

Risk means stepping up with wisdom into what God said.

Even when your feelings are trembling, say this, I will obey anyway.

Again, I will obey anyway.

Because fortune in the kingdom is often on the other side of an instruction.

Let's look at Abraham's moment in Genesis 15.

In Genesis 15, God speaks to Abraham.

Do not be afraid, Abraham.

I am your shield, your very great reward.

Then Abraham says, lord, I have no child.

And God takes him outside and says, look up at the sky and count the stars, so shall your offspring be.

And verse six says, abraham believed in the Lord and he credit it to him as righteousness.

That's faith, believing God's word against visible reality.

But now here's the issue between believing and receiving.

There's actually a space called waiting.

And in that space, your character gets tested.

Point number two.

Faith refuses shortcuts.

Now when we have to talk about the part of Abraham's story that exposes us all.

Genesis 16.

God promised a child, but time passed.

Abraham.

And instead of waiting in faith, Abraham and Sarah tried to help God.

And they produced Ishmael.

Brothers and sisters.

Ishmael is what you produce when you get impatient with God.

Ishmael is the relationship you force because you don't want to be alone.

Ishmael is a business deal.

You compromise because you want quick money.

Ishmael is a lie you tell because you want the outcome fast.

Ishmael is a shortcut that looks like provision but carries pain.

And let me say something you may not like.

Many people are not under demonic attack.

They are under Ishmael consequences.

Because you can't pray away what you keep producing.

Now hear me.

God is merciful.

God can redeem.

God can restore.

But the lesson is real.

Faith refuses shortcuts because shortcuts create long term sorrow.

Proverbs 11, 13, 11.

Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase.

So if your prosperity requires compromise, it's not covenant, it's counterfeit.

And counterfeit blessings always come with hidden invoices.

If you have to sin to get it, you'll have to sin to keep it.

So faith says, I would rather wait clean than arrive corrupted.

Point 3.

Faith produces fruit over time.

Now here's the Good news.

Genesis 21:1 12 says, the Lord was gracious to Sarah, as he had said, because Sarah became pregnant and bore a son, as he had said, as he had promised, as he had spoken.

God is not a liar.

But God is also not a vending machine.

He performs people.

He matures People.

He expands capacity because you can receive a blessing.

You don't have the character to sustain and it will crush you.

So God trains you while you wait.

And this is why Galatians 6:9 is a lifeline.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up proper time.

Not your time, proper time.

And some of you are about to give up right before the proper time.

The enemy can't stop God's promise, so he tries to exhaust your perseverance.

He tries to make you quit in month nine.

He tries to make you quit at the last lap, but also holds the line, faith keeps doing good, Faith keeps obeying.

Faith keeps building brothers and sisters.

What does this look like in real life?

1.

Obey the last instruction God gave you.

Stop asking for a new word while ignoring the old one.

2.

Build capacity while you wait.

Learn the skill.

Fix your habits, heal your character.

Build systems, because God often answers by making you ready.

3.

Refuse Ishmaels.

No shortcuts, no compromise.

No.

4.

Keep sewing consistently in your work, in your marriage, in your health, in your giving.

Consistency is prophetic.

5.

Don't interpret delay as denial.

Sometimes God is protecting you from premature promotion.

Now let us talk politely, and then let's pray.

Some of you are calling impatience faith.

Impatience is not faith.

Faith has endurance.

James 2:17 says, Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

So don't tell me you believe God and you refuse to obey Him.

Don't tell me you trust God and you keep living in the same disobedience.

Living faith produces movement.

Dead faith produces excuses.

Choose living faith.

Right now, I want you to identify your biggest temptation.

Is it the fear of risk?

Is it impatience?

Is it compromise?

Is it quitting now?

Say this.

I will obey with risk.

I will refuse shortcuts.

I will endure with the proper time.

Here are some questions for reflection.

Where is God asking you to obey?

But you keep demanding clarity.

First.

What ishmael have you produced?

Or have you tempted to produce because you are tired of waiting?

What capacity is God telling you to build so you can carry the blessing?

What good work are you weary in?

Where do you need endurance?

Let us pray.

Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you that you are faithful.

I repent for impatience.

I repent for compromise.

I repent for trying to help you by producing shortcuts.

Lord, strengthen my faith with endurance.

Give me courage to obey even when I feel afraid.

Give me wisdom to build capacity while I wait.

Deliver me from Ishmael strategy.

Every counterfeit opportunity, every deal that requires disobedience, I declare that I will not be weary in doing good.

I will reap in the proper time.

I will not give up.

And Father, as you bless me, keep my heart clean.

Let my prosperity by covenant be covenant.

Prosperity with peace, with purity, with purpose.

In Jesus name, amen.

Brothers and sisters, message four is going to get serious about legacy, passing wealth to Isaac.

Because the goal is not to have money.

The goal is to build a righteous line that outlives you.