Basilea Schlink teaches that faith, even in times of scarcity and challenge, unlocks God's almighty power to provide and build His kingdom.
In this devotional sermon, Basilea Schlink shares a powerful testimony of faith from the early days of the sisterhood’s founding, illustrating how trust in God’s provision enables believers to overcome scarcity and obstacles. She emphasizes the importance of prayer, endurance, and childlike trust in God’s timing, anchored by the promise in Mark 11:24. Listeners are encouraged to build their faith by bringing their needs to God and believing in His almighty power to provide.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today. He is building a kingdom for his children out of a very precious material. It is called faith.
Today's meditation by Basilea Schlink shares what happened when the sisters from the little land of Canaan tried to use this material, faith, to build a chapel. Oh, faith brings God's almighty power to men so weak and lonely. When tempted, victory we'll share if we have trust God holy.
For nothing can our way oppose. Even iron doors will give to those who trust in God almighty. After our sisterhood was founded in 1947, with our own hands we started to build a chapel and a mother house.
It was a time of great poverty when no one had anything. The song which the choir just sang came into existence during this time. At one point we had used up our entire supply of stones and it seemed that we couldn't go on with the construction.
We had been allowed to take building materials from the bombed out ruins of Darmstadt. But now we couldn't find any more and we had no money to buy more stones. What should we do? We had to believe and pray in faith.
For several days the whole sisterhood prayed that God would show his power by providing the materials in some way. Then, at just the right moment, help came in the form of a telephone call from an architect we knew. He had watched the sisters at work on the building and had suggested to the city council that we be allowed to take what we needed from the ruins of some barracks.
Our father had heard our request. Now we could continue to build our chapel to his glory. As we can see from this story, the Lord gives us many possibilities to build up our faith.
There is no one in the world who doesn't need something. But the person who believes in Christ need never be depressed because he is lacking something. God will use these very needs to kindle our faith, to make true his promise as found in Mark 11.24. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you will receive it and you will.
Shouldn't this promise encourage us and fill our hearts with joyful expectation whenever we lack something? Yes, how great and wide are the possibilities of faith! In whatever situation of need we may find ourselves, faith can triumph. However, when our Heavenly Father doesn't answer right away, we must endure in believing. His timing is not always our timing.
Therefore, begin to bring him your needs. Trust him in childlike faith. He will hear and answer your requests.
The trusting soul inherits all the heavenly kingdom's riches. The Father's hands let blessings fall while bond and deity changes. Though we be told of things you lack, in joyous faith we answer back.
We trust in God Almighty. You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org.
If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address. God bless you.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Power of Faith
- Faith as the precious material for God's kingdom
- Faith brings God's almighty power to the weak
- Victory through trust in God
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II. The Story of Building the Chapel
- Starting construction in poverty
- Running out of materials and resources
- Faithful prayer leading to unexpected provision
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III. The Promise of God’s Provision
- God uses needs to kindle faith
- Encouragement from Mark 11:24
- Endurance in faith when answers are delayed
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IV. Practical Application of Faith
- Bring needs to God in childlike trust
- Trusting God’s timing
- Receiving heavenly blessings through faith
Key Quotes
“Faith brings God's almighty power to men so weak and lonely.” — Basilea Schlink
“For nothing can our way oppose. Even iron doors will give to those who trust in God almighty.” — Basilea Schlink
“Therefore, begin to bring him your needs. Trust him in childlike faith. He will hear and answer your requests.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- Bring your needs to God with childlike faith and trust in His provision.
- Be patient and endure in faith when answers to prayer are delayed.
- Let your challenges kindle deeper faith and reliance on God's promises.
