THE BALANCE TO CORRESPONDING ACTION !

THE BALANCE TO CORRESPONDING ACTION ! I'm sharing some practical teachings in this chapter concerning action. We are spending much time on this subject because there have been so many things left unsaid in the past. Let's go again to the foundation Scripture in Mark, chapter 4. "And he said, so is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that before corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come." (Mark 4:26--29). Now, let's zero in on verse 29. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle . . . When you have the full manifestation of the mature fruit, then the harvest is mature. Many deer people get excited about faith. But we don't want to just excite faith, we want to teach you how to operate in the kingdom principles of the God kind of faith. Sometimes those get excited go out beyond their level of faith. I don't want to lead or push people out beyond their level of development of the God kind of faith. EXCITED FAITH ! That's what happened to Peter when he jumped out of the boat to walk on the water. (Matthew 14:22--28). He was not ready for water--walking faith. But he saw Jesus walking on the water. I am sure they were saying, "If Jesus was here, things would be different." They looked up and saw Jesus walking on the water. Peter in his excitement said, "Lord, if it be you, bid me to come." Now, Peter was not ready for water walking, but his faith was excited. Peter forced Jesus into calling him out of the boat. He said, "If it's really You, bid me come." What could Jesus say ? He couldn't say, "No, it's not Me. Forget it, Peter, you're not yet ready to walk on water." Anything He said other than "come" would have been a lie. Even if He didn't answer at all, it would still have been a lie, for it really was Jesus. All Jesus did was answer Peter's question when He said, "Come." Peter did walk on the water. But his faith was not developed to the point that he was able to hold fast to that Word of faith ("Come"); he became involved with the circumstances, just like many of us. When he did, he begins to sink. Faith left him, and fear grabs hold of him. If you are not careful, you can excite the faith of people to the point where they will get so far out that they sink. Many people have gotten excited about faith because of some story someone told. They said, "This is the way it happened to me, and it all worked out good." But that person was operating it his or her level of development. It may be disastrous for you to do that same thing. Therefore, when you operate in the kingdom principles of the God kind of faith, practice them before you preach them. Many people are practicing what they preach; but you need to be preaching what you have already practiced don't just excite their faith. Get them involved with the kingdom principles Of the Gospel of Grace. You can excite people beyond their ability. That is what happened to Peter. He got excited and tried to operate beyond his level of faith. Jesus did intend for that to happen. Peter forced Him into it. You may have done the same thing. You said, "Lord, if it's your will for me to do this, then let this other thing happened to prove Your will." It was God's will for you to do that, but it wasn't God's will for the other thing to happen. You force God into a bad situation. You printed your self into a corner, so to speak.