Category: Faith

Faith Waits During Dark Days

 

 

 

 

 

Darkness often descends upon those who are waiting to receive a promise from God. God allows our faith to be tested to prove its genuineness. (1 Peter 1:6-7) Persevering faith brings great glory to God. King David spent years waiting for Samuel’s prophecy of his coming kingship to be fulfilled. Even though he was anointed king as a young boy, he had to wait for God’s timing. So did Abraham and countless others. Joseph was also a great example. The scriptures say the following about his wait.

Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the LORD tested him. Psalm 105:19 (NASB)

How discouraging and dark were those years of captivity in Egypt? How distant and unreal did those boyhood dreams of having authority over his brothers and parents seem? Was he tempted to cast away his confidence? There is no indication that he ever wavered.

The Letter to the Hebrews encourages us to likewise remain strong during our dark days of waiting on God to fulfill his promises to us.

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 (NASB)

Jesus told his disciples before he ever went to the cross that he would be crucified, but would rise again after three days. They were not able to grasp or believe his words. As he hung dying on that instrument of torture, the altar upon which he freely gave away his life as payment for our sins, he announced, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) He announced to the world, heaven, the angels, demons, Satan, and his Father that his mighty work of redemption was complete. Nothing more needed to be done on his part. All that remained was to wait for God the Father to do his part – the resurrection.

How do you suppose the disciples felt during that Sabbath between the crucifixion and the resurrection? Were they able to rest in and rejoice that, just as in the creation, God had finished his work? Or did they wallow in despair, confusion, and self-pity? What would you have done? What have you done when God has required you to wait for him to fulfill a very specific promise to you? Maybe you are in just such a time right now. How is your faith doing? Is it getting stronger? That is what God wants. That is what happened to Abraham when he had to wait twenty-five years for a promise to be fulfilled.

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19  And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. 20  Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21  He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. Romans 4:18-21 (NLT)

Faith is able to wait during dark days because it is focused on God’s faithfulness and it is upheld by God himself. He is the Author and Completer of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

However, Jesus is compassionate when we waver. This is shown in the resurrection account of his appearance to the two disciples who were walking to Emmaus. They had lost hope, but Jesus chose to appear to them before he ever visited his main disciples. How remarkable! In fact, his chief band of disciples still did not believe! If you are struggling to keep the faith during your wait for God to fulfill his word, know that God is there for you. Hang in there, just as King David wrote so long ago.

Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. 14  Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14 (NLT)
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Faith’s Reward

 

 

 

 

 

Faith is the lynch pin upon which hangs our salvation. The author of Hebrews spent an entire chapter illustrating this (Hebrews 11), which he summarized as follows.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)

Faith is the central thing God is looking for in us. We really don’t bring a whole lot to the table when we approach God besides faith. As we covered in the first article in this series, faith is loyalty to God because we are convinced that he is absolutely trustworthy. Faith honors God. Our faith opens the door for everything else. God sends his Spirit to indwell and transform those who believe, propelling us toward God’s goal for our lives – that we become like Jesus.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29  For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:28-29 (NLT)

God’s honor and glory is always the most important thing, but, since our Lord is the kindest and most loving Being, he always chooses to share what he has with those who trust in him.

Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8) administered by the Spirit of God, who is also called the Spirit of faith (2 Corinthians 4:13). We cooperate with God’s gift and Spirit by choosing to believe the gospel message of his resurrection from our hearts and giving Christ our full allegiance.

The Christian life can be thought of as an opportunity to display our loyalty to Christ, no matter what we may encounter.

Thinking of faith as allegiance helps make sense of why God allows us to face and endure difficulties, tests, and trials of our faith. As we maintain our faithfulness in the midst of these things, it brings great glory to God. And God, the most generous beings of all, will not let such allegiance go unrewarded.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4  and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5  And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6  So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7  These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:3-7 (NLT)

Therefore, the difficulties and tests we face in life are not pointless exercises in frustration and futility. Quite the opposite, seen in the correct light, they are God-given opportunities to earn eternal reward by maintaining loyalty to our unseen God.

Jesus accomplished this when he died on the cross. He kept his eyes on the reward by faith, which gave him the strength and endurance to continue faithful to the end.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3  Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NLT)

Never cast away your faith. It has a great reward.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36  Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 (NLT)
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Faith Is Boldly Courageous

 

 

 

 

 

By its nature, faith takes action. God is not fearfully passive, and neither are people of faith. Faith is convinced that what God says is true and lives accordingly. When we know that God is our Creator – Sustainer – Redeemer – Provider – Lord who keeps his promises, it gives us an enormous amount of confidence. If God will always be with us and has our back in every situation, we know that we can act boldly and courageously. If we know that God is ultimately in control of every situation, we can joyfully encounter the unknown and thrive in the midst of uncertainty. If we are convinced that death cannot defeat us, that life extends beyond the grave, and that Jesus holds the keys of hell and death, we can boldly face death and suffering.

Faith is known by its boldness and courage.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about Gideon, the timid man that God converted into a mighty warrior and leader of Israel. I will not recount the story here, but I encourage you to read it in its entirety. (Judges 6-7) Suffice it to say that God took a man who was afraid of his enemies and too timid to lead and made him into a fearless warrior who led Israel to victory in a battle against ridiculous odds. It was possible because God convinced him that he would always be with him. When God is with us, it is enough. That is what he told Moses (Exodus 3:11-12), Joshua (Joshua 1:5), and what he tells us. (John 14:16-17)

The first key to boldness and courage is knowing that God will always be with us.

A second component of the boldness and courage that belong to faith is being sure to what God has called us to do and embracing it.  Going back to Gideon, it took quite a bit of convincing to get that man to buy into God’s seemingly outlandish plan, but when he did, there was no turning him back. The steps in Gideon’s development were as follows:

  1. The Call. God called Gideon a mighty warrior and proceeded to give him a job to deliver Israel from her enemies. The call seemed crazy to Gideon, but he was willing to go with God on a faith journey. God revealed himself to Gideon as Jehovah-Shalom, the God who is peace, as he set him on a collision course with the enemies of God. God gives us peace as we stand strong in faith against God’s enemies.
  2. The First Test. God commanded Gideon to confront the idolatry in his family and tribe. If he could face the wrath of his own people, it would help prepare him to take on a vast enemy army. God was with him and protected him after he tore down the community altar to a false god.
  3. The Commission to Do the Impossible. God called Gideon to lead Israel into battle against an enemy whose forces were astronomically larger than his. It made no sense, but God went to great pains and was very patient with our reluctant hero in order to convince him that it was really God asking him to do this. Once that happened, Gideon was fearless. Faith enters our hearts when we know for sure what God wants us to do.
  4. The Victory. Gideon followed God’s specific instructions and led 300 God-selected men against an army of 135,000. That is 450 to 1! Numbers do not matter to God. All that matters to him is having people who boldly and courageously follow him.

Jesus called his disciples to go to “war” against equally impossible odds. The Jewish leaders and the Roman empire opposed them and their message. Jesus taught his disciples to boldly face death and persecution as his representatives, which they did. The early disciples were convinced that the Spirit of God was with them, that the gospel message would eventually triumph, and that death and pain were nothing to be feared. As John wrote:

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11  And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. 12  Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.” Revelation 12:10-12 (NLT)

My friends, I hope this meditation does not seem to be to you a lesson in ancient history. The accuser of the brethren, the devil, is still at work. We see him in operation on a daily basis as the politics of the day plays out. Our president has been constantly accused of being treasonous and illegitimate since his election. Those who follow the media have heard the chorus for his impeachment literally “day and night.” Those who vilify and curse authority are at war with God himself, who is the one who appoints all authority.

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. Romans 13:1-2 (NLT)

Whether or not leaders are righteous, we are still called to respect and obey them whenever they do not command us to do things that oppose God’s commands or our conscience. We should not think for a moment that the Left is merely opposing our president. We are in the midst of a movement to overthrow all vestiges of Christianity in our country.

Many Christians are concerned with what they perceive to be the increasing secularization of popular culture today. They express concern that Christianity will one day become hated and persecuted in America as it is in much of the world. That day may not be far off. (Life Site News)

Those who seek to conserve the founding values of our nation were described by then President Obama as “bitter” people” who cling to guns, religion, and hatred of those unlike them. This does not do justice to the Christians I know who oppose the godless drift of our culture and nation, but who care about their neighbors. As the nation rapidly shifts to a “Progressive” (shall we be honest and say, “communist”?) mindset, those who hold to Christ and his teachings are being positioned more and more like a group of people who stand in the way of enlightened progress. It is not hard to imagine the nation turning on us. I believe that we must prepare ourselves for the persecution that is surely coming. My friends, the Last Days are upon us.

Whether or not such a Last Days scenario actually develops in the near future, followers of Christ are called, like Gideon, to face up to a seemingly unconquerable foe, our culture, with courage and zeal.

We are not fighting with conventional weapons of war. We do battle in the spiritual realm.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

Part of the genius of Christianity is that we overcome by spiritual means – the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and courageous faith often leading to martyrdom.

Perhaps we will one day take our place in the history of Christianity alongside other martyrs. We shall see. Be strong in faith.

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 14  And do everything with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NLT)
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Faith Versus Magic

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus taught that people utter whatever fills their hearts. This applies to truth tellers and liars. What is inside is going to come out. We might think of the mouth as the pressure vent of the soul.

For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35  "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 36  "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37  "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:34-37 (NASB)

When we hear people lie, curse, mock, belittle, accuse, and vilify authority, we know that what fills their hearts is inspired by Satan, who is the arch rebel, liar, and destroyer.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13  “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14  “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15  “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16  in their paths are ruin and misery, 17  and the way of peace they have not known.” 18  “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:12-18 (ESV)

In contrast, when love for God and his truth fills us, it will be revealed in words of affirmation, praise, and faith.

Faith is the conviction that God is loving, kind, powerful, and utterly trustworthy and true to his promises. When we receive a promise from God by faith, it is the most natural thing in the world to share it aloud.

The night I first came to believe in Jesus, I immediately told my friends and dorm mates who were still awake. How could I not? I had just met the Creator of the universe, the risen Lord! I discovered that he is knowable and loves us! Everyone needs to know this, and I had to tell it. When we see how loving, kind, and generous God is, we want to tell others.

Making a good confession is the overflow of a grateful heart.

Over the years, however, I have observed another type of “confession” of faith that to me seems more like an attempt to control God and get the outcome we want through saying the right words. People who do this seem to believe that God will not bless us unless we maintain a correct attitude and expression of faith, which includes saying the proper faith words and not speaking words of doubt or unbelief. Although there is some truth to this position, I believe it tends toward what I call “magical” thinking and treats making a faith confession like reciting an incantation.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines an incantation as “a written or recited formula of words designed to produce a particular effect.” Many people confess words of faith in this manner, thinking that, if they say the right words over and over, being careful to avoid any negative words of doubt, God is bound to do what they confess.

Some even go so far as to say we create our own reality through our confession. This firmly plants on our shoulders the responsibility to obtain what God has promised by saying the right things. It portrays God as a rather stern legalist who blesses people if they keep the rules, but withholds blessings when they slip up. I strongly disagree with this view. We are already blessed with all blessings in Christ. Gaining this understanding causes faith to well up in our hearts, which will result in our confessing that faith. We don’t have to manipulate God through clever words to get his blessings. They are already ours.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)

Unenlightened people over the centuries have tried to use religion to control outcomes. Witchcraft by definition is an attempt to control people and situations through using spells, incantations, curses, and other means that employ the activity and power of demon spirits and evil. Those who try to control and use malevolent beings and power for their own purposes have to make an allegiance with the “dark” side. The Bible expressly forbids this. We should certainly never attempt to manipulate the powers of evil on our behalf. Neither should we think that God can be so manipulated. We serve him; not he us.

The God revealed through Christ and the New Testament writings is so completely committed to us that it is strange to think that anyone would believe that he requires us to say things “just so” in order to get him to bless us.

While our words are extremely important, God is not a stern taskmaster who is looking for any slip up in order to deny us what we need and want. I have been around many people who are battling cancer, but who are afraid of saying the “c” word, lest by doing so they somehow give that disease power over them. This is a very harmful form of magical thinking. Either we have cancer or we do not.

We need to be realists who accept that in our fallen world we have to face the reality of sickness and death. In fact, we cannot be healed unless we are first sick.

People who cannot even admit they are sick are living in a form of self-deception. Fear is usually the culprit that leads to such behavior. I remember hearing of a case when a young man’s family would not allow any person in the room with him as he was in the last stages of dying from pancreatic cancer, unless their confession of faith and healing was in alignment with the family’s. They apparently feared that a visitor’s unbelief might block his healing. How tragic. People who loved this young man were not allowed to comfort him as he prepared to transition into eternity. It is a very different thing to encourage a person to be healed and to prepare someone to die well. Dying is part of our human experience, and doing so in faith and peace is a mighty testimony, just as healing is. Think about it: healing is always a temporary stay of our confrontation with death.

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT) )

The God of the New Covenant is the initiator of our salvation. He chose us to be his friends and family before the world began. Christ died for us when we were still his enemies. (Romans 5:8-10) God gave us his best, his own Son, freely and without reserve.

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32  Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Romans 8:31-32 (NLT)

Why would we think that he would be hesitant to bless us, and maybe even refuse to heal or provide for us, unless we perfectly profess a testimony of faith?

What many people fail to grasp is that God is predisposed to bless us. Christ earned our blessings for us.

He is not looking for reasons to withhold good things from us. He has already given us all blessings in Christ. He does want us to grow in our trust in him and his promises. He may take us through some difficult tests and trials in life to develop faith in us, but he is a loving Father who carefully superintends the entire process.

I suppose that people try to use a good confession to “make” God bless them because they do not know or believe how much God loves them.

Their view of God does not line up with how the Bible presents him. For example, Abraham and Sarah both laughed at God’s promise that they would have a son in their old age, but God did not reject them or take back his word. Jacob complained that everything was against him, just before discovering that God had actually been working continually behind the scenes to give him the biggest blessing of his life – seeing Joseph again and having all his family’s needs supplied during a terrible famine. Gideon struggled with unbelief, but God did not cast him off. Jeremiah struggled with despondency at times, but God still used him mightily. Peter actually denied the Lord three times but was restored because he believed that Jesus still loved him. Thomas refused to believe that Jesus rose from the dead until our Lord appeared physically to him and told him to put his hand in his side and his finger in the nail holes. Does this sound like a God who would cut off a blessing to us if we fail to properly confess faith or dare to say the dreaded “c” word?

Confessing what we believe should be an natural response of a heart full of faith, not a contrived and contorted means to earn a blessing from a hesitant God.

Faith comes first, then the confession. When we get it backward, we start trying to confess our way to faith. Real faith knows it already has what God has promised and is unafraid to say so.

Magical faith is not sure that God can be trusted to bless us on his own and believes it must constrain God by properly saying incantational faith words.

Consider the following passage.

And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22  And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23  And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25  And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” Mark 9:21-25 (ESV)

The father of this demonized boy had very imperfect faith, but he knew enough to come to Jesus and not let go. That was what Jesus was looking for.

If saying, “I believe; help my unbelief!” is all it takes to persuade Jesus to help us, this is a bar most of us can get over.

Jacob was riddled with doubts and fears for most of his adult life, but his relationship with God was real and was based on God’s choice of him. (Romans 9:13) As he prepared to meet his brother Esau after years of being apart, he was terrified that his brother was going to harm him, as he promised he would do years earlier. The 400 armed men with Esau did nothing to calm his fears. The night before this reunion, Jacob wrestled with an angel from God. The angel overpowered him and commanded him to let him go, but Jacob said these very important words.

...“I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Genesis 32:26 (ESV)

Faith is a personal relationship with God. It understands that God’s heart is to bless us because he has chosen us before the foundation of the world and loves us dearly. Faith knows that since God has already given us Jesus, all other blessings come with him. Faith knows that it can hold tight to God until it receives all the blessings God has already given us in Christ. Faith knows that God loves us and is the greatest giver of all.

Faith rests in God’s loving generosity. It has no use for magic.

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Faith Produces Good Works

 

 

 

 

 

There is an apparent conflict between faith and works in the Bible. Paul taught that we are saved or made right with God by faith “apart from works.” (Romans 3:28) James, on the other hand, stressed that good works are necessary and actually prove the reality of our faith. (James 2:18) Is it possible to reconcile these two seemingly opposite views? Certainly, and it is not even difficult.

Paul meant that our faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross and in his resurrection makes us right with God, something keeping the Law could never do (Galatians 2:16), since we are unable to keep its requirements (Romans 8:3). In other words, Christ’s work on our behalf saves us, if we put our complete trust in him. Jesus confirmed this way of thinking by his response to a direct question.

Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" 29  Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." John 6:28-29 (NASB)

For Jesus (and us), putting one’s confidence and allegiance in him was a “work.” Faith in Christ requires that we follow him and his teachings. It means being radically committed to the kingdom of God. It is not mere intellectual assent or passive acknowledgement of his person and ministry. It is indeed a work because it produces something.

Faith resides in the heart and is manifested through our words and deeds.

Even Paul, the apostle of grace, acknowledged the necessity of the work of faith called verbal confession in order to be saved. He wrote…

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)

The work of confessing Christ publicly testifies to or gives evidence of the reality of the faith that resides in our hearts.

A public confession of allegiance to Christ moves us beyond a “safe” and perhaps non-committal silent assent to a realm in which misunderstanding or persecution may follow.

Faith by its nature proves or reveals itself by its words and deeds.

But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." 19  You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20  But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? James 2:18-20 (NASB)

Simply confessing Christ is not sufficient, however, unless it is accompanied by a changed life.

Saying we believe is much easier than living out our faith.

Our churches are filled with professing Christians who show little demonstrable difference that Christ has made in their lives besides church attendance. How we live is the litmus test for what we actually believe. That is why Jesus warned us that we will be judged for what we say and do.

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37 (ESV) 

"For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. Matthew 16:27 (NASB)

The faith that saves us is based on Christ’s good works, not ours.

The faith that saves us requires that we take hold of Christ in our hearts, confess our allegiance to him with our mouths, and live accordingly as his disciples. Any breakdown in the sequence reveals that our supposed “faith” is counterfeit.

Jesus told his disciples that we will be judged for how we treat the “least of these my brethren” – the poor, sick, imprisoned, naked, and hungry… the marginalized, despised, and neglected members of society. (Matthew 25:31-46) Paul admonished the church to live in harmony with our confession of faith in Christ.

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6  whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7  so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8  This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. Titus 3:5-8 (NASB)

The early Christians were known for fearlessly confessing Christ in the face of persecution and serving the poor and the sick. What are we known for?

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Faith Prays

 

 

 

 

 

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8  "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9  "Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10  "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11 (NASB)

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 (NASB)

Prayer and faith are inseparable. If we believe God loves us, rewards whose who seek him, answers our prayers, and is faithful to his promises, we will pray. The absence of prayer betrays an absence of faith, which probably has at its root a flawed or damaged relationship with Abba Father.

Many people feel awkward in God’s presence, not feeling truly assured that they are welcome and beloved, even though the Bible clearly teaches this.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15  For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NASB)

To be effective in prayer, we must learn to come confidently and often into God’s presence to spend time with him, listen, worship, make petitions, declare, and give thanks.

We may need for the Spirit to set us free from our fears of rejection or unwarranted guilt and shame. Satan desires to cloud our relationship with God by telling us we are unworthy to be welcomed into His presence. Jesus delivered us from all condemnation by taking our guilt and judgment upon himself, enabling us to have confidence with God.

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:33-34 (ESV) 

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:16-18 (ESV)

Once we have confidence to pray, it is important to align ourselves with God’s will and not simply ask for what we want.

Prayer is a way for us to gain God’s perspective and heart as well as to share our heart, concerns, needs, and desires with him. If we pray according to his will, we can be confident he will grant our petitions. He will not give us something that will ultimately hurt us.

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15 (ESV)

When we pray in faith according to God’s will sometimes God will answer immediately, but much of the time he requires that we persevere in prayer. Faith perseveres. Jesus addressed this aspect of the prayer of faith.

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2  He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3  And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4  For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5  yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6  And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7  And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8  I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:1-8 (ESV)

A long-term commitment to prayer is a sure sign of faith.

The absence of persevering prayer indicates an absence of faith, according to this parable.

While it is true that faith is a matter of the heart, it is also true that it is revealed by what it does. Faith believes that God is real, his promises are true, that Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to give us access to God, that God loves and cares about us, and that he will answer our prayers, even though it may take a while.

We need to ask ourselves what our prayer life says about our faith and our relationship with Abba Father. If you are like most of us, there is a lot of room for improvement. Why not ask the Holy Spirit to begin to develop a stronger prayer life in you?

Prayer

Holy Spirit, I want to be more confident and committed to prayer. Help me come boldly and continually into God’s presence. Help me to pray according to your will. Let me make a difference on this earth through my prayer life. Amen.

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Faith Rests

 

 

 

 

 

One of the great mysteries of faith is that it works out of a place of rest. This goes back to creation when God rested after he completed his work. (Genesis 2:2-3) We who believe are privileged and required to rest in God’s rest. That is the meaning of the Sabbath, which was an enforced rest from our labor in order to recognize that God is the Creator – Redeemer – Sustainer. God’s rest becomes our experience. We rest and are refreshed in God’s rest.

Rest also comes when our enemies have been defeated. In WWII the American people had no rest until both Germany and Japan capitulated. Until the final mopping up operation over evil, there will be no lasting experience of peace. Peace comes with victory at the expense of the vanquished whose ability to harass and harm has been quashed. Joshua, who was a forerunner of Jesus, led Israel to a partial victory over the Canaanites, giving them a measure of peace which allowed them to occupy the land.

The author of Hebrews informs us that a complete experience of God’s peace and rest is available to us in Christ, who defeated our spiritual enemies when he died on the cross and rose again from the dead.

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2  For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3  For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4  For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"; 5  and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST." 6  Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7  He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS." 8  For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9  So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10  For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Hebrews 4:1-10 (NASB)

Faith understands and accepts Christ’s complete victory on our behalf. His resurrection sealed his defeat of sin, death, sickness, demons, and Satan. We are not trying to achieve victory. It has already been given to us.

However, in God’s wisdom, the final experience of that victory has been delayed until Christ returns again. The victory has been won already, but it will not be enforced and “finalized” until then.

Our sins are forgiven because Christ already paid for them once and for all time. (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 7:27, and Hebrews 9:26) Our sicknesses and diseases are healed because Jesus already paid the price. (Matthew 8:17 and 1 Peter 2:24) Death is defeated because Jesus died for us and rose again. (Hebrews 2:14-15) Demons and Satan are under our feet because Jesus triumphed over them through his resurrection. (Colossians 2:15 and Luke 10:18-19)

Whereas the Jews celebrate the Sabbath at the end of the work week, Christians celebrate the Lord’s Day in memory of our Lord’s resurrection at the beginning of the week. The Jews rest after working, but Christians begin to work from a place of rest. This is how faith works from a place of rest.

We get “out of rest” when we begin to think that results depend on us instead of God. This is the genesis of legalism.

Legalists try to do what they believe God has not done or is not doing. They believe that they are required to “make it happen.” True faith realizes that God has already completed his work. Now it is up to the Holy Spirit to make it part of our experience. We cooperate in the matter, but always from a place of rest. The work of faith always initiates from a place of rest.

The mystery of faith is that we work while we rest. The Holy Spirit works through us the works of God, while we rest in the finished work of Christ.

Paul described this better than I can.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NASB)

We do not work to attain God’s favor or to help God. We work because we have God’s favor and to prove the sufficiency of Christ’s death and resurrection.

The gospel is a proclamation of Christ’s finished work and his current reign. Jesus went about proclaiming God’s rule that would be released fully at his resurrection.

"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, Luke 4:18 (NASB)

The gospel includes the promise that he will come again to complete what he began. Christ’s Second Coming will be the final installment of God’s great salvation at which time the dead will be raised, all people judged and consigned to their eternal destinies, and Christ installed as God’s permanent King over all creation.

In God’s eyes it is already done. When Jesus announced, “It is finished,” on the cross, it was. (John 19:30) God sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10 and Revelation 1:8) and calls into being what is not yet (Romans 4:17). God is not limited by time as we are. He sees us already glorified with Christ (Romans 8:30), even though for us time-bound beings it remains in the future. From God’s perspective, the most real way to see things, our salvation is finished already.

Faith agrees with God and rests in his complete victory. Faith knows and receives now what is coming in our future. For faith, the future is now.

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Faith Perseveres

 

 

 

 

 

Real faith proves itself by its staying power. The more it is tested, the stronger it gets. This is because its source is God. Faith takes us beyond our natural abilities and resources and taps into God’s strength and character. Faith never collapses under stress because it is rooted in God’s faithfulnesss. If our faith fails, it is because it was not the real thing.

There is a famous doctrine of the Reformation called the Perseverance of the Saints. This doctrine has been corrupted into a much maligned phrase – “once saved always saved.” But this is not what the original doctrine meant. The perseverance of the saints teaches that those who have real faith will be enabled by God to persevere or remain faithful to God to the end. Another way of stating this is real faith never fails. This doctrine gives the follower of Christ great confidence during severe testing.

We know God has not left us to our own resources. His Spirit, the Spirit of faith, dwells within each child of God, giving him or her God’s strength.

Jesus prayed for his beloved disciple Peter on the eve of his crucifixion, asking his Father to enable Peter persevere through the coming severe test of his allegiance to Christ.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32  but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32 (ESV)

Peter denied his Lord three times that night, but his faith never failed. We know this because he immediately repented and kept following the Lord, being eventually restored after Christ’s resurrection. Peter came to an end of his own ability to endure, but the faith of God that resided in him persevered. Peter never stopped following his Master all the way to the end when he was crucified upside down for his allegiance to his Lord.

We may fail to follow God completely at different times in our lives, but, if real faith resides in us, we will hang in there and keep following Jesus.

In contrast, Judas not only denied and betrayed Jesus, he also committed suicide because he had no faith that he could be restored. Whatever motivated him to follow Jesus eventually withered away, leaving him to his own resources, which were insufficient for the test. Only real faith that is rooted in God has the power to persevere.

I have been crucified with Christ,[59] and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So[60] the life I now live in the body,[61] I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God,[62] who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (NET1)

Our ability to be faithful comes directly from Christ’s own faithfulness. His faith has become our faith through the agency of the Spirit of God who indwells us.

God allows life to bring us into many difficult situations and tests. We might think of our earthly life as a proving ground of our devotion to God. Adam and Eve denied the Lord in the Garden. We have the opportunity to be faithful to our Creator, whatever he may require us face. The more difficult the test, the greater the glory God receives from our perseverance.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5  who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7  so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8  Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9  obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV)

Faith responds with praise and worship when it is tested.

Our natural self does not. The earthly part of us always wants to enjoy comfort and ease and complains about any discomfort. When we face tests and temptations, it is important for us to tap into our spirit person, where faith resides. When we do this, we are able to count every test as an opportunity to be faithful to our Creator – Redeemer – Sustainer, our Lord Jesus the Messiah King of Israel.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 (ESV)
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Faith Receives from God

 

 

 

 

 

Faith actively receives God’s blessings. Mental affirmation that does not receive is not saving faith. For example, the Bible teaches that even the demons know and acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah. (James 2:19, Mark 3:11-12, Luke 4:41)

Knowing, agreeing, and even confessing Jesus’ identity as Messiah is not sufficient to save a person, unless it includes receiving by faith what Jesus accomplished on our behalf and provides to those who trust and follow him.

If I offer a $100 bill by extending it toward a person, if they want it to become theirs, they will need to extend their hand to receive it. God is extending his promises to us and we are expected to receive them by faith. Jesus said that those who ask will receive. Asking is an act of faith.

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22 (ESV)

The Holy Spirit reveals to us what God has freely given to us in Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:12) Those with faith will ask for and receive what God has provided. Those who ask not seldom receive; although, sometimes in his mercy God gives to those who do not even ask. (Romans 10:20)

Failing to believe God’s promises results in our failure to ask, which leads to failing to receive.

It is really quite simple. Faith takes God’s promises seriously, asks God for what he freely offers, and receives.

The most basic and fundamental “believe, ask, and receive” connects us to what Jesus did for us on the cross and through his resurrection. The gospel offers us the opportunity to be forgiven, reconciled to God, and made God’s forever children. Those who believe the gospel will receive what it offers, namely Christ himself.

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, John 1:11-12 (ESV)

Those who believe the gospel ask for and receive the promises, which are all found in Christ. They are born again and experience the reality of a new life in Christ. Those who merely intellectually acknowledge the reality of God and his Christ without asking for and receiving the promises of the gospel remain outside God’s family.  It’s not how smart we are. It’s how open we are to God. Even little children are able to believe and receive from God.

Prayer

Jesus, I now realize that I need to actively receive what you offer to me. I receive you and your promises. Thank you for coming into my life. Thank you for dying for my sins. I acknowledge that you rose from the dead and are Lord of Lords. I surrender my life to you by faith. Come, Holy Spirit, fill me to overflowing. Live through me. Make me into a bold witness, a fervent worshiper, and a loving servant. Amen

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Faith Produces Obedience to Christ

 

 

 

 

 

Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. Romans 1:5 (NLT)

Paul wrote the above verse at the very beginning of his thorough exposition of the gospel of grace in Romans. Lest there be any confusion, he informed us that the gospel is not man-centered or consumerist. Although it benefits the child of God immensely by bringing him or her into God’s eternal family, its primary goal is always God’s glory.

Put succinctly, the goal of salvation is our obedience, which brings glory to God.

God’s glory as the final goal is entirely fitting, since he deserves worship, honor, and glory from all his creatures. Disobedience dishonors God, calls into question the effectiveness of Christ’s death and resurrection, and hurts us.

The obedience of faith brings us the highest and purest form of joy.

Jesus knew this joy better than anyone. The verses below show this.

You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.Psalm 45:7 (NLT) 

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)

The allegiance or faithfulness which faith produces, the topic of my previous article in this series, produces this obedience. Obedience is the natural outcome of surrender to Christ’s lordship and will. One way we confess Christ is by serving him. When we disobey him, it is a form of denial, bringing dishonor to him. The essence of sin is living a self-directed life. The essence of obedience is living a God-directed life.

It takes faith to obey God. He often asks us to do things that are beyond our ability. Faith taps into God’s ability, which is called grace. Faith believes that Christ, through his indwelling and outpoured Spirit, is sufficient to enable to do all things he commands.

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)

The context of the above passage informs us that faith enables us to do the hard things associated with following Jesus. Consumerist theology views faith mainly from the point of view of the things it gains for us – healing, wealth, joy, and peace, to name a few.

The faith that produces obedience is willing to forego what might bring comfort and ease in order to faithfully serve the Lord.

The faith that produces obedience wells us from the humility that understands human frailty and weakness. Out of our weakness, through faith, God’s power is perfected in our lives.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV)

Only the faith that produces obedience can rejoice in weakness and all the other things Paul listed because such faith is God-centered. Man-centered faith only seeks what benefits us.

God-centered faith seeks the glory of God, no matter what the cost to us.

Such faith depends on God’s grace. No one in herself or himself is sufficient for such things. Only the faith of Christ can accomplish this, and it will.

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 (NASB)
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