Faith in God
We have seen that God has provided a marvellous salvation from all the consequences of man's rebellion. This salvation is to be received through repentance and faith. God expects us to change our allegiance. We must now love Him and serve Him - not our old selfish and corrupt desires. He wants to set us free from every oppression. But as well as this change of allegiance or repentance we need to believe God and His promises with a living faith. In this lesson we will consider what it means to have faith in God.
What is Faith?
Faith is not religion. Many times people say "We have our faith". What they mean is this: "We have our religious ideas and doctrines, our traditions, our ways of doing things passed down through the generations. Don't you try to change them." This is not the Biblical idea of faith.
Faith is not mental assent. It is not agreeing with your mind, "Yes, that is true." Many professing Christians believe mentally that the Bible is the Word of God, but this faith does not change the way they live. It is not a faith that can save. (James 2:14)
Even demons have that kind of faith. They know and believe that God exists (James 2:19) - and tremble. They have no loving confidence in God.
Faith is not a way to manipulate God. It is not a power by which we make God do what WE want when otherwise He would be unwilling to do that thing. It is not a kind of magic through which we make God into our servant!
Faith is not hope, nor positive desire. Hope is good, and relates to the future. Faith, however, takes the promise as done NOW. Many people have hope and are anxiously looking for results, but they lack the settled confidence and present assurance which faith has.
In the general sense of the word, to have faith is to believe in something or someone, to fully trust, to be so confident that you base your actions on what you believe. To have faith is to be fully convinced of the truthfulness and reliability of that in which you believe.
Faith in God then, is having the kind of trust and confidence in God and in Christ that leads you to commit your whole soul to Him as Saviour (Justifier, Cleanser, Healer, Deliverer) and Lord (Master, King).
The NIV translation says, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).
The NKJV of the Bible says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1).
Faith is a spiritual substance. When you have this spiritual substance in you, it communicates to you a certain inner knowing that the thing you are hoping for is certainly established, even before you see any material evidence that it has happened.
Faith is a spiritual force. Faith in God is a response to God's Word which moves God to act. Jesus said in Mark 11:23, "For assuredly I say to you, whoever SAYS to this mountain, 'Be removed and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but BELIEVES that those things he SAYS will be done, he will HAVE whatever he SAYS." Words mixed with the real, pure faith can and will move mountains or any other problem that we face.
Faith in God must be from the heart. It is not merely intellectual. It is spiritual. "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
Faith causes you to know in your heart before you see with your eyes. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2Cor 5.7)
Some say, "Seeing is believing." Once you see the thing hoped for already existing in the natural order, you don't need faith.
Hope is a condition for faith. Hope is "a positive unwavering expectation of good". Hope is for the mind (1 Thessalonians 5:8; Hebrews 6:19), an anchor for the soul. It keeps us in the place where we can believe, but it is not in itself "faith". Yet, without hope there are no "things hoped for", and therefore there cannot be faith.
Through faith we can know we have the answer to our prayer before we see anything change in the natural order (1 John 5:14,15). Jesus said, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mk 11:24). God expects us, even commands us, to believe that our petitions are answered by God AT THE MOMENT WE MAKE THEM. We must believe that the response is immediately sent WHEN we pray. Faith is like the confirmation slip in our hearts that the goods are on the way. We have that confirmation slip instantly from God. We sense it in our hearts. The manifestation of those goods, the answer received, comes later as long as we are patient and do not throw away our confidence. (Hebrews 10:35-39; Hebrews 6:12)
Faith is like a cheque. All you have to do is hold on to the cheque, go to the bank to present it and you can confidently expect the money to appear in your account after a certain time. If you throw the cheque away the money will not be put in your account. God is trustworthy and always has resources to back his promises.
Living faith always has corresponding actions. We talk what we really believe, and we act according to what we really believe. The heroes of faith like Abraham were considered men of faith because they acted on what God showed them. They acted on their faith. (Hebrews 11:17-38, James 2:21-23).
To live in faith means to do and say what you believe is right, without doubting.
Faith is a rest. It is compatible with inner peace. It is not "trying to believe". To say that you are "trying to believe" God is to say that you don't believe Him. The man who is "trying to believe" may be sincere, but he does not have faith in that area yet.
Why must we believe God? Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
"Whatever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23) and God hates sin. When we don't believe God, we treat Him like He is a liar. Remember that He is everywhere and sees all things. He is hurt when we act like He doesn't exist, or that He will not do what He promised to do. Only when we have confidence in God and His Word can we please Him.
Lack of faith leads to lack of obedience. God's commands can only really be fulfilled through faith. Without confidence in God's promises a man will never really do what God says. Lack of obedience in God's eyes is rebellion. Such lack of obedience dishonors God and surely deserves to be punished.
"The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17). We must live by faith in order to be considered by God "right" and "correct". Otherwise we stand condemned.
Those who don't believe God inevitably believe in something else. Either religious tradition, or their understanding of science, or what the women's magazine says, or what their next door neighbour tells them, the education system, the mass-media or a combination of all these things. God is not impressed. "Professing to be wise, they became fools." (Romans 1:22) In fact, those who don't fully believing God end up believing the devil somewhere along the track. It is very possible to believe what the devil says without even believing that he exists! Satan is speaking through so many philosophies and religions without openly declaring himself. Not too many actually know they are trusting the words of satan and his demons.
God is therefore righteous in expecting us to believe in Him and what He says. Who is better qualified to tell us the truth and help us to find answers for life and eternity?
The Bible teaches us that genuine faith is "more precious than gold that perishes" (1 Peter 1:7). Indeed such faith is going to be "tested by fire". You can expect difficulties and persecutions in your life of faith, as well as blessings. Therefore to encourage you to hold onto and develop your faith, we will consider some of the benefits of faith.
1. Faith brings salvation. (Ephesians 2:8,9). Whosever believes in Him has eternal life. (John 3:16), and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24). The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17)
2. Faith brings answers to prayer. "And whatever things you ask in prayer, really believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22). Since God tells us to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11), faith is therefore a key to our material provision.
3. Faith brings all the benefits of salvation into our lives (Ephesians 2:8,9). This includes healing, prosperity, peace, love, joy (1 Peter 1:8), deliverance from demons and the curse, sanctification of the mind and emotions (the salvation of the soul) and any other benefit which the word of God promises to us.
4. Faith is a spiritual force through which our ministry for Christ becomes effective. (Mark 11:23; Matthew 17:19,20). Faith is a major key to ministry success. It brings to you what you need for your ministry, and by imparting it to others through your life and your ministry of God's Word, you enable them to receive the blessings of God's grace mentioned above.
5. In particular, faith is the major key for an effective healing and deliverance ministry. Jesus Christ "the same yesterday, today and forever" lives in the Christian (Hebrews 13:8, Galatians 2:20), and through the Christian wants to reveal the power of salvation to men in a way they can see and feel. In this way, our evangelism concerning the Kingdom of God will not be in talk, but in power (1 Corinthians 4:20).
We see how important faith is. Yet some people despair here, thinking that they don't have faith. Yet faith comes (Romans 10:17), it can grow and develop. If you are not full of faith today, that doesn't mean you will be that way all your life. You can choose to be a person of faith!
Here are some keys to developing faith.
1. Listen to the Word of God as much as possible. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). Constant attention to the Word of God produces faith, especially if we attend to it with an open heart and mind. The book of Proverbs encourages us to constantly keep the Word in our hearts and to keep our attention on it (Proverbs 4:20-22). Health is one of the benefits promised.
What we listen to affects what we believe. If we listen to the TV more than to the Word, we will believe the lies of the world more than we will believe what God says. Constant attention to lies produces deception. Eventually the mind will accept something if that thing is heard often enough and persuasively enough. That is why we should keep hearing the Word of God, through preaching, Christian tapes, confession of the Word, daily fellowship with godly Christians. This will cause us eventually to believe the truth from our hearts.
2. Realise that every believer has been given a measure of faith by God. (Romans 12:3). We just have to use and develop what God has given. We must put it into action.
3. Pray in tongues and be full of the Spirit (Jude 20). We will look at this later. If you have been baptised in the Spirit as the disciples were in the book of Acts, you should pray and praise in tongues often because through this you "edify yourself" (1 Corinthians 14:4) and "build yourself up in your most holy faith". Praying in tongues is a key to being full of the Spirit. Since faith is a fruit of the Spirit, all things things are related together.
4. Obey God and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. It is as you walk that you gain strength. God will not reveal greater things to you until you are faithful in the things He is showing you NOW. Therefore obedience to the Spirit and what He is showing you through the Word or through your conscience is important in the development of your faith. You cannot have living faith without taking some practical steps of obedience. Act on what God is saying!
5. Give thanks. Give thanks for the results before you see. Don't complain - that shows you doubt God's love and God's answer to your situation. Give thanks in all situations (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
6. Develop a life of praise and worship. Praise drives the powers of darkness away and brings the throne of God into your circumstances. Praising God is an act of faith and helps your faith to grow. It is commanded (Hebrews 13:15). Worship is admiring God through the Spirit. If you can perceive who is God, His power, faithfulness and love your trust and faith in Him will grow.
7. Spend as much time as you can with people of faith. The spirit of faith on them will touch your life also (Proverbs 13:20).
8. Speak the WORD. By saying with your mouth you exercise your faith, you hear the Word and you build it into your life. God's Word is anointed and has power when it is spoken to change the spiritual atmosphere (Joshua 1:8; Romans 10:10). Confession of God's Word (saying the same thing as God's word) brings you into the place where the Lord will move to fulfil it (Hebrews 3:1). The angels hearken to the voice of God's Word (Psalms 103:20)
9. Seek holiness, purity of heart. "Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14). It is with the heart that man believes (Romans 10:10). To the extent that the heart has uncleanness, unforgiveness and other bad conditions within, the man will lose the spiritual perception of the Lord which enables his heart to believe. Purity and faith feed each other.
10. Remember that faith works by love (Galatians 5:6). The centurion (Matthew 8:5-13) and the woman of Canaan (Matthew 15:21-28) were both motivated by their love for another in coming to Jesus. And both were described as having great faith. Let us believe God for others to be blessed, in a spirit of love, and as we give of our selves God will give blessings to us also (Luke 6:37). This is related to the idea of "seed-faith". Express your faith by planting a seed in terms of some form of giving. God will release a multiplied harvest in return if we endure and do not faint (Hebrews 10:36).
Confession and the Power of Words
"With the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10). Confessing Christ as your Living Lord and Saviour with your mouth releases God's salvation into your life. Since salvation includes many benefits and blessings our right mouth confession is a major key to receiving what God has provided for us by his grace.
We should realise that "Death and life is in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21). The power of the tongue is in the power of the words we speak. All our words have an effect on the spiritual atmosphere around us, either for good or bad. It is through words that covenants and promises are established. It is through words that our faith or our fears are expressed. Bad words open the door for bad spirits to work. Good words open the door for God and His angels to work.
Angels heed the VOICE of God's Word (Psalms 103:20). Words are spiritual seeds. Words of life produce life. Words of faith produce faith. Words of love produce love. Words of hope produce hope, and so on. Words of death attract spirits of death, words of doubt attract doubt, words of fear attract spirits of fear, and so on. Therefore we must guard carefully what we SAY. The Bible has much to say on this subject, especially in the Book of Proverbs (e.g. Proverbs 10:19, 20, 31, 32; 12:18, 22; 14:23, 33; 15:1, 4, 28). Jesus said, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it on the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. " (Matthew 12:36,37). Paul said, "And WHATEVER you do, IN WORD or deed, do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)
Confession (Gk: homologeo) means literally "to say the same thing". To confess the Word of God then means to say the same thing as God's Word says. When you say it, it tends to produce faith because in saying it you must also hear it from your own mouth, and hearing the Word causes faith to come (Romans 10:17). In saying the Word yourself, you identify YOURSELF with the truth of God's Word. It is one thing to hear someone else say something, another to say that thing yourself. The more you say God's Word, the more you will believe it, and the more you believe it, the more you will say it.
"A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled." (Proverbs 18:20, see Proverbs 12:14). This means that we feed on the words we speak. What we say comes back to affect our own heart and our own spiritual condition. That is another reason why confessing the Word and not negative things will greatly help our faith.
At times it is difficult to speak consistently with what the Bible says because our minds are not sufficiently renewed. We still have doubt in our souls. We must reprogram our subconscious minds to accept God's principles and God's promises without doubt (Romans 12:2). Meditation, repeated pondering, listening to good preaching, confession of the Scripture, as well as informed study will help here. The Word must enter deeply into us. This will change the way we are, the way we speak, the way we respond to difficulties and challenges. If it does not we have been too superficial in our treatment of the Word. We have substituted the mental knowledge and recognition of the words for real meditation and confession.
God talks in faith. God "gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did" (Romans 4:17). Through faith-filled words, God created the universe (Hebrews 11:3). As sons of God we are called to be imitators of God, filled with God's Spirit (Eph 5:1,18). When we are in Christ and we have the promise of God, we have the right to speak about something God has promised as if it existed even before our natural senses are conscious of it. It is our faith that gives substance to this confession of things not seen. For example, if we have believed God for a car, we can talk about our car before we see it. We should realise that God has already "given us all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3) and all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). But the effective receiving depends on our faith. Faith is confident of the faithfulness of God in His declared promises and talks and acts so, even before the natural eye sees.
Real faith has corresponding actions. Looking at Hebrews 11:4-37 we see that all those who are commended for their faith did something as well. It is possible to have actions, even religious actions, without real faith - but these actions are dead works. Without faith you can't please God. (Hebrews 11:6).
Sometimes confusion arises in this matter of faith and works. There is a radical difference between works or actions that spring from real faith, and works which spring from SELF in an effort to earn God's approval. The former cannot be separated from real faith. The latter are as filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6), and are wrong because the man occupied with them cannot understand or accept God's free grace - that it is by GRACE, by CHRIST that we are saved, and not by our own works.
Faith hears the word of God, the voice of God and acts in obedience with a trusting heart. God often speaks to us through our consciences by His Spirit, pressing us towards a particular kind of action which is based on God's Word. Real faith yields to God's suggestion and does it.
Jesus told the blind man to go to the pool to wash. The blind man, by acting in obedience to Jesus' words BEFORE he received healing, demonstrated the kind of faith which God required of him in that situation, and he was healed. (John 9:7). If he had not obeyed, he would not have been healed.
God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac up as a sacrifice. Abraham's obedience in this matter demonstrated the reality of his faith. (James 2:20-24). Even justifying faith is not passive. It does not rest in sin. Justifying faith works with repentance to open the door for the receiving of God's great salvation.
Overcoming the Enemies of faith
In closing this lesson we will consider some of the main enemies of faith and how they can be overcome.
1. Ignorance. You cannot believe a promise until you hear it or find it. Much unbelief rises out of the fact that people just don't know what the Bible says. The cure for this is study, meditation and consideration of the Word.
2. Unbelief. This is the sinful choice to not believe God. It is usually motivated by pride, rebellion and ignorance. The cure for this is therefore to humble oneself, change one's mind, choose to believe. Fasting puts done the flesh and is often very effective in destroying the power of unbelief, because it aids in humbling ourselves and in removing fleshly distractions to the voice of God. If done correctly it can help us to focus on God and will make the spiritual things more intense to us, thereby destroying unbelief.
3. Fear. Negative fear is a negative emotion based on the real expectation of bad things to come. It is rooted in anxiety and a lack of trust in God's fatherly protection and love. Perfect love casts out fear. (1Jn 4:18). God is perfect love. Therefore by seeking God, His presence and the fullness of His Spirit we will be set free from fear. When we are conscious of God's power it is very easy to be courageous and bold. We expect success when we are consciously full of God and know that we are doing what He is telling us to do. To overcome fear we must look to God and not to natural considerations which could cause our failure if God were not with us. Peter, looking to the wind and the waves, was overcome by a fear which paralysed his faith and caused him to sink. He needed to keep looking to Jesus. God says, "Fear not, FOR I AM WITH YOU." (Is. 43:5). God gives us a reason not to fear, and a commandment. To fear anyone or anything except the Lord is a sin. We can overcome this sin by being full of God and looking to Him. Also we must forgive all men if we want to be delivered from this form of torment. (Mt 18:34, I Jn 4:18)
4. Doubt. Doubt is an enemy to faith because it speaks with a voice that challenges the truth or the reliability of what we should be believing. To overcome doubt we must fill ourselves with the Word of God, meditating deeply and repetitively on it. Doubt is the evidence of an unconsecrated heart and mind. It is the evidence of lack of devotion to God's Word. Doubt, like fear, torments. We must forgive others and give our whole hearts to God. We must stop listening to the voice of demons or the voice of our own carnal mind trained from early days to resist God. This is a decision. It helps to hear the testimonies of others to overcome doubt. However, doubt will never be fully overcome until we treat the Bible as God's voice TO US.
5. Discouragement. Sometimes we feel discouraged because of physical or emotional weakness or tiredness. We may be disappointed by the behaviour of other Christians. We may be discouraged by the persecution of others, even of our families. Perhaps we have waited for what may or may not be God's promise to us, and we grow impatient. Many Christians at some time in their life become disappointed with God. Satan uses discouragement to weaken and if possible destroy our faith. To overcome discouragement we must make a decision to be strong (Hebrews 12:12; Ephesians 6:10) in the Lord. We must want to be strong and stop making excuses for our weakness and failure. We must consider God's faithfulness to us in the past, even through difficulties (Hebrews 10:32-34). We must rededicate ourselves to God's Word, to thankfulness, to prayer and to the voice of the Spirit. We need to learn to obey the Spirit in small things. Sometimes even great men of God like Elijah were discouraged. At one time, even after a great victory, he ran away from Jezebel, the witch. God restored Elijah through the ministry of angels, through his voice, and by getting him occupied in new missions for God full of the promise of hope.
5. The Love of Praise. When you are more interested in what people - even Christian people - think of you, more than what God thinks of you, according to Jesus, you won’t be able to truly believe in Him. Why? Because God’s priorities and man’s are different. Jesus said, "How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?" (John 5:44)
To overcome this, you must cultivate a personal relationship with God through prayer and obedience. You must allow your old nature to be weakened as you say yes to God and no to these desires for seeking praise and recognition.
God is calling all of us to put our faith in action in many ways. Many of the following lessons relate to practical areas which as a Christian we must put into practice. True faith will lead us to church commitment, to pray, to be baptised in water and in the Holy Spirit and to tell others about Christ.
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Comments
intense
I guess you can say this is pretty deep stuff. I'm not real religous and im jewish but its nice to read about faith every once in a while. i'm only 14 and a bit crazy in the head. If any of you knew me in real life you would call me the "devils child." I spend all my time listening to Marilyn Manson and he is my true hero. everyone calls him a freak but hes someone i can lookup to and i wish people could accept that. His music doesnt pressure me into drugs, make me want to kill myself, or commit any violence acts like that. Hes someone that accepts you for who you are and won't yell at you for being different, he makes you feel better about it. Now, back to what i was talking about. Every since about one year ago i've felt like Gods been in my head. I tried to kill myself last year this time because i was depressed but i really wasn't expecting to die. Luckily enough i didn't and i went through all the thearpy and stuff but i didn't feel different. To be honest its marilyn mansons music thats helped me make me through everything. But after my suicidal attempt i've felt lie God has been in my head. It started out by just day dreaming in a false reality where everything is better and i'm better then who i am. I have a power that allows me to do a certain thing. This power is unimportant so ill leave it out. With each growing day my false reality turns into more and more until it turns into an obbsesion where it gets to the point where i pray to God every night for this to happen. I feel like i'm always seeing clues pointing to this "false reality" and that one day i'm going to wake up in this new world and i don't how. I actually started to feel like with this power i could help change the world. Not spreading the world of god or faith, but phyiscally helping the world through masses of money, charity, etc. call me crazy i don't know, i just want someones input because i feel insane. I'm not a bad kid. call me your average 14 year old whos depressed and listens to Marilyn Manson. Who gets average A's and B's in school. Who believes God is going to give me the gift i believe few will ever recieve, I'd like anyones input on this, Thanks
-AR
To AR
Hi AR,
Thanks for your post.
Sounds from what you are saying that you don't have much peace at the moment, but your chosen music gives you a sense of relief and a feeling that you are ok.
I'm thinking that you must be having a lot of tension in your relationship with your parents, and if I'm right, that would be something it would be good to work on. God says to honor our parents, we don't always feel like it, but it does make for a much better life. Plus we should give credit where credit is due.
The Spirit of God works differently to the spirits that are working in your life. There is power with the devil's spirits, but it is limited, temporary and destructive for everyone involved. Its God's love that you need to receive. That will take a big step of humility on your part if you are willing to receive God's love but the opportunity is there at the moment for you.
Have a read of some of the stories on this site - you might find them interesting and inspiring.
the power of fasting
i fasted for 3 days ,praying for a change on my career and i was voted the best employer of the the year.there is power in fasting and praying,god is alive and is great.You will gain everthing that you lost in years in a day.glory be to god
I'm not sure how i even
I'm not sure how i even stumbled across this page...BUT WHAT A BLESSING!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM STILL IN AWE...because it was/is right on time..i was just asking God for some answers to questions i had about faith and i found the answers and more right here! God is good....THANK YOU!!
This article is right on time
This article is right on time for me!!! It is a blessing and very encouraging and I thank you deeply for this!!!
amazing
i have been a christian for as long as i can remember but it has not been until now that i have really delved into the word of the Lord. this article has helped me significantly. i had thought that my soul was lost; that i would never find my faith again. i seriously thought that God would never forgive me of the terrible sins that i have commited; to think that my faith would be denied by God and never accepted because of doubt. this article has helped to restore hope that my faith will be accepted through continued prayer, study, and acting on the commands of the Lord. i look forward to what God can accomplish through me that i may become his humble servant. once again, thank you and God bless.
Praise God
Thanks for taking the time to say that. It encourages me. And God will help you to know Him again.
without charity and love there is no salvation!
thank you! may god blessed you always!!!!!!!!
Thank You
Thank you for this article. I have been a Christian my whole life but lately have found myself losing my faith, and it is the most heartbreaking thing I have ever experienced. I am fighting it with all I am but it still seems too much sometimes. Unfortunately I am one of those people you describe who is merely "trying to believe" at this point. I will definitely bookmark this article and implement the suggestions in it. I'd do anything to have my faith again.
Thank you very much for
Thank you very much for writing this article. I have bookmarked it to pass along to others. I was taught about God at a young age but my childhood was rough and although I didn't turn my back on him I didn't obey either. These past months I have given my life over to God and I know it is the right thing. I was going through many battles(still am) but he has taken away some of the burden. He is helping me through it. I am a 24 year old woman who is just striving to walk the right path with the Lord. Every day I l search the internet for bible passages to study and this is where I was led to tonight. It is just what I needed! I am struggling with doubt not about God being real-no way! I am struggling with believing that my prayers will be answered and I will be led the right way. I immerse myself in the word as much as I can and I try to meditate about him too. Pray that my faith in Jesus will be built up so that I can cast these silly doubts aside. Thank you my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Faith thank you very much for-
Dear sister in Christ, I read your coment and wanted you to know that I went through the same thing you are going through now. I ask my paster about the doubt in my salvation. He told me it was satan playing tricks on me. It was hard to get back on track with knowing I was still saved and to stop doubting. I had several preachers to pray with me and it took several mo. for me to be able to say, feel and to be sure in my heart and mind that I am a child of God. I know once again without doubt I will see Jesus in Heaven and no doubts about my salvation. I believe you are on the right track reading the word of God and meditating with Him. You can beleive this sister, if you turned your heart over to God and you are saved...God will hear you every word when you pray to Him. Not because of my saying it 's true but by Gods word! You are a child of God too just as I am and the Bible tells us He will hear our prayers. I am going to pray for you also. I am a deacon at my Church and will put you on our prayer chain. Many Christians will be praying for you. Your prayers my not be answered when we want them to be answered but God will answer your prayers on His time, not ours because he knows what is best for us and when it's time. Remember God is always on time. I was lead by God to tell you He will be with you through all your battles. So if God is for you who can be against you. God is the best friend we will ever have, our mother and earthly father my forsake us but God will be with us always. Battles are hard to face but knowing God is holding your hand through it all you will make it my sister. So have faith and know He will see you through the battles you are facing now and the ones you will face any time. It will get better so just remember who you are and who you belong toGod).
Your brother in Christ,
Charles
Hi Charles I was wondering if
Hi Charles
I was wondering if this response was applicable on my note but it does not matter. I read through your comment and it inspired me so much as to know that the Lord and his Angels are protecting and watching over us. I try my best to be the person that God wants me to be.
Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for this site! My
Thanks for this site! My husband and I went through a difficult time and although our problems are not resolved yet, we have received so much blessings from God. This site helps me to strenghten my faith and to trust God in all actions.
grateful for the enlightenment on faith
Before reading this article, I wasn't sure if i have faith. However this opens my understanding of faith and i now realize that my mind must be fixed, as confusion is not of the Lord,so I must believe God's word with all my heart and not waiver in mind. I must believe without seeing. I am blessed to have visited this sight. Pray for me as i need deliverance in mind, heart, body and soul. I am learning to trust God in everything I do. The devil is always after me but I know that he will not have me, as God won't allow it and I too am not giving in. God bless you all.
Faith
Your explanation of faith is outstanding!
True and False Prophets - (Dummies guide)
All you wanted to know about true and false prophets , and clear all those lingering doubts , once and for all.
Cheers
Vikkki
"RECLAIMING Genuine APOSTOLIC ANOINTING"
-by J. Lee Grady.
The Bible tells us there are both true and false apostles. Let's
learn to discern the difference.
For many years traditional denominations taught that the ministry
of the apostle passed away after the New Testament era. It was
assumed that the only people who served in apostolic roles were
early followers of Jesus who witnessed His resurrection.
Cessationists (those who believe that miracles stopped after the
canon of Scripture was completed) believe that healing,
deliverance, prophecy and all other supernatural phenomena
ceased and that apostles are no longer necessary.
But as Christians in recent years began to experience the
supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, church leaders and even some
theologians began to teach that the gift of apostle is vital if we
hope to advance the gospel in our generation. The logic makes
sense: If we still need pastors, teachers and evangelists (all part
of Jesus' five-fold ministry mentioned in Ephesians 4:11), we also
need the apostles and prophets who are listed in the same
passage. The Bible never says these functions were discontinued.
During the 1990s there was a renewed interest in the ministry of
the apostle. Many books were written on the topic, explaining that
the Greek word apostolos refers to God's special ambassadors, or
"sent ones," who are commissioned to contend for pure doctrine,
preserve unity among the saints, equip leaders, model Christian
character and help the church advance into new territory.
But a strange thing happened on the way to recovering genuine
apostolic anointing. In true American fashion we began to merchandise it.
No sooner had the first book on apostles been written that some
men began to claim the title and print it on their business cards.
Apostleship became a fad. Before too long, some men were
creating networks of independent churches answerable to a
governing apostle who took ownership of their buildings and
controlled their congregations.
Some charismatic apostles became mini-popes who carved out
their fiefdoms. Suddenly the independent charismatic movement
had more invasive authoritarianism than the denominations these
pastors abandoned 10 years earlier.
In some circles apostles demanded total allegiance from the
leaders who were "under" them. Some required a policy of "tithing
up," creating a monstrous organizational structure similar to a
spiritual Amway. So-called apostles with huge "downlines" made
exorbitant amounts of money. One leader even offered pastors the
opportunity to become "spiritual sons" by contributing $1,000 a
month to his ministry.
Apostolic covering could now be bought. And apostolic grace was
reduced to the level of a motivational coach. May God forgive us
for reducing the value of such a precious gift.
I still believe we need the apostolic anointing—and I know many
wonderful apostles who have planted churches in many parts of
the world. As I have watched them, and studied the life of the
apostle Paul, I've seen three key truths we must reclaim today:
1. True apostles are servants. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:28:
"And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings,
helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues" (NASB,
emphasis added). When carnally minded people read this verse
they assume God has set up some kind of ecclesiastical
hierarchy, with apostles sitting on thrones at the top.
But if we view leadership in the way Jesus taught it, we know that
being first is not about being on top. Apostles are at the bottom of
the pecking order. They are the servants of all. And because they
serve a foundational role, their work will often remain hidden in
obscurity. They are not looking for fame or celebrity, nor are they
grasping for a title; their role is to empower everyone else.
2. True apostles are unselfish. I know one apostle in India who
goes by the name of Pastor Howell. He has planted 600 churches
in the Punjab region, trained countless young church leaders in a
makeshift Bible school and led thousands of people to Christ. He
has also seen whole villages impacted by the gospel through one
miracle of healing. He has never ridden in a limousine and he lives
in a modest home with a straw roof that he shares with about 12
Bible college students.
The apostle Paul would have gagged if he could see how some
modern American apostles profit from their downlines or how they
require pampered treatment. Apostleship has nothing to do with
privilege. In fact Paul sometimes made tents for a living in order to
avoid the appearance of entitlement.
3. True apostles share Christ's suffering. True apostles live on the
edge. They push the boundaries of Christianity forward, into hostile
territory—and as a result they encounter more than their fair share
of persecution and spiritual warfare. They are never content to live
in a comfort zone. Yet even in foreign prisons they find joy and fulfillment.
One of my new heroes is a Nigerian pastor named Tunde Bolanta,
who bases his ministry in the dangerous northern area of his
country. I spent time with him last month when I was visiting
England. He lives in a city where Muslims have killed pastors,
maimed Christians with machetes and drowned their children in wells.
For Tunde, apostleship is not about getting the best seat on a
plane or having the largest TV audience. It is about teaching his
congregation to remain faithful to Christ even when receiving death
threats. And it is about sending his church members into difficult
regions where they could face martyrdom.
As our nation faces a turbulent economic crisis, I pray that we will
allow the Holy Spirit to shake the greed, pride and self-centeredness
out of our movement. False apostles prefer the primrose path over
the Calvary road. May God grant us true apostolic anointing that is
marked by New Testament courage, unquestionable integrity and
Christ-like humility.
-J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma.
SOURCE: http://charismamag.com/index.php/fire-in-my-bones/19934-reclaiming-
genuine-apostolic-anointing
faith !!!!
Faith has made me into a better person only God knows. my love for him has grown like never before i need prayers im going to the doctor on 3/12 and im worry my dad died of cancer...but their one difference i know god and have a workin relationship wit him he has made me whole i love him so much and i know that i know that everything will be good y because i know theirs a god up there and my faith will protect me from the evil one plzz pray for me love you guys
brian
its very tough to stay in
its very tough to stay in faith...i've been praying for the ongest time yet my problematic situation gets deeper and deeper...how to remain faithful when even a single minor thing that could suggest God is listening, let alone answering, is not happening???
my faith shaken, pray for me to strengthen my faith and that my situation can improve...
we need to get real sometimes...
HOLD TIGHT
There is nothing like get real, just beleived him, he will surely answer your prayers
Sarai wanted to be real she ended up puting abrahm and the rest of the world in to problem
Very soon you shall receive what you are praying for in Jesus name
Stir up the gift/Faith & Boldness
Timothy says to "stir up the gift" you've been given. Do it!
The Bible says when you pray in the spirit (tongues) you "edify yourself" and that you are "building up you're most precious Holy Faith". There are 2 results from praying in loud bold tongues. Strong faith and boldness.
Wanna spiritually muscle flex and get big faith then pray in the Holy Ghost. Loud! Go somewhere where no one can hear you and get that prayer language to break for with boldness. I've got loud, bold tongues. All kinds of languages rifle thru me like you would not believe. Once you get this bold breakthrough then you'll learn how to flow in it and you won't need to be so loud cuz you'll cruise right along. In fact I pray in tongues under my breath now. However, I owe a debt of gratitude to a loud bold tongue talker way back when I was new in all this. Once ya got it, you'll never lose it. Never.
Tongues really does build up faith
You are right. There is Jude 20 but if anyone questions the exegesis they should try boldly speaking in tongues for some time and just see how faith gets stronger through it, especially for things that pertain to the supernatural of God like healing and deliverance.
Faith comes where sight
Faith comes where sight fails. To say you desire to see that you may believe will hinder the very faith you seek. What is the nature of your 'problematic situation'? God sees us THROUGH many of them, and DELIVERS us from others.
Get in the Word of God and stay in it. That is where faith will come from. It will not come from looking at our surroundings and placing them above the Word of God.
I was in a fiery furnace for years, with no visible hope in sight. Yet, my wife and I believed, then came our miracle. www.perfectinglove.com/ourstory
"Father, I pray for Jon that you would strengthen their heart at this time. Deliver him from the doubts that plague him and help him to simply 'know' that you are God. Help them to find their place in you and be saved. You alone are real God, all else we see are mere shadows. In Jesus' name, amen."
If you remain faithful to God, He will deliver you in due season. Do not let the devil steal your trust in God with his endless doubts.
Blessings and Peace,
Timothy
Thank God for this!!
Thank you so much for writing this article on faith. This has inspired me so much to walk by faith and not by sight. Many times in the past, I would feel discouraged but what a great reminder through this message that ALL things are possible through Christ who strengths us!! My way has already been paved for me through FAITH. Through FAITH I will receive my acceptance letter into nursing school! Praise be to our Heavenly Father who loves us more than any Earthly parent could ever imagine! God is good, All glory be to his name!
My faith to God : )
i want to start by saying that in the past i never really had much faith in God, but God didn't give up on me, and he led me to his Faith. He didn't stop believing in me, even when i stopped believing in myself. Now, i'm so proud to say that i have tremendous faith in God, I Love you God, i truly believe that everything has happened to me for a reason, i accept that and appreciate everything. I prayed with so much faith, and you answered me. You always have you understand how much i love you, and you understand me. You healed my mommy from her Diabetes. I know you did it Lord. I Love you. God has blessed us. : )
Thank God For You!!!!
I really don't know where to begin except to say that God has truly blessed you.....I happened upon this truly by the hand of God!!!!!
As God dealt with me this morning concerning faith, I began searching the net reading what ever I could on the subject, I searched the Hebrew and the Greek looking for a complex answer, looking for a good excuse for lack of......But the God we serve is all knowing, he led me here and what I got from here broke me down.......I thank God for using you, for giving you the words that I needed to hear this morning. From THIS day, I will walk out on and in Faith.
Again, I have been deeply blessed and I want to thank God for using you, and thank you for being obedient to him.....May God continue to use and bless you, as you continue to move on his word faithfully.
One thing I know......we have to stand on his word......God Bless You!
Faith
Whoever wrote this article is being used by God Himself to reveal to the Body of christ What actually faith is all about.I am very blessed by the very true words in this article.My faith will grow more in Jesus' Mighty Name.May God help and cause His church to have FAITH.Faith is that which pleases God!.Let us have faith in God always for through it we shall please Him alone.
This touched and moved me
I wish to thank GOD for using you to present about the subject of faith in a clear and understandable manner like you did. This explained many mysteries I had pertaining to faith in my christian walk. I liked the rich scriptures you gave to support your explanantions and may the one and only GOD truly bless you!!!
loving this!!!
THANK YOU WHOEVER WROTE THIS!
THIS IS EXACLY WHAT I NEEDED TO HEAR...THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING ARTICLE I HAVE READ ( IF NOT THE BEST).
I WILL WORK ON MY FAITH, I WILL BELIEVE EVEN THROUGH TOUGH TIMES AND PERSECUTIONS.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
god is showing me that i need to trust him more
I first want to say thanks for this article. I recently came back to Christ and he has been working in me, thru me, and for me, altogether. On different occasions he told me to do things and i allowed self and pride to get in the way of me doing it, also doubt, i kept wondering could God have really told me to do that. I struggled a whole lot with this, and the worst part of it is when i fail to do what he told me to do, i jus feel stupid at the end of it all. But he is merciful and kind and definately a God of second and even sometimes third chances or as much chances as i need at times. I was in a relationship before coming back to christ, it was a very complicated one too and the odds where definately against me, but God has started to work it out for my good jus like his word says he will do. Now God is trying to build my faith in him, because i have been praying to God that my partner would come to church and the devil had me like a fool, kept telling me that he was not ready to come to church and maybe god wasn't ready to bring him and stupid me believed it, thinking it was the right thing to do, to jus hope that god would bring him one day. But God showed me that not only was i being disobedient, my faith was weak. Because God is always ready but the question is was I ready?, Did I trust him enough to see the things that I pray for manifested in my life. I started reading the word of God and reading it in the first person as if it was written directly to me. And I am believeing God that my partner will not only come to church but he will come this Sunday. I have played with God long enough and it is time for me to trust him with this, because not only is "he willing he is also able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that i could ever as or think of him". I thank God for what he has already done and for what he is getting ready to do as well. Thank u Jesus, and thanks for this site. Be Blessed everyone.
Thank you!
I have taken notes on this site and have made it a favorite. This is such a clear explanation on the subject of Faith.... I never expected to find it. Thank you all may God bless you all for this.
I am ready to let God take over my life
My life has been going up and down. My childhood was not one to bragg about and God got me through it. God has blessed me numerous times and I am greatful for all HIS blessings...Lately, I am going through relationship problems and all I can ask is, why God, why? Asking why was a sign that I was loosing faith. I cried myself to sleep almost everynight, I lost a lot of weight over the stress. By now, I have stop trusting GOD ways of bring us through our stroms. Finding this web site not only is helping me come closer to GOD but to put all my trust in God that this situation that I am facing will come to pass and that my prayers is already answer for I have trust in GOD and that HE already answered my prayers. Thanks to the person who created this site and thanks to everyone you left their comments thus far. Reading comments from others is also helping me to build my faith.
Reply to: 'I am ready to let god take over my life'
When I read what you wrote it was like I could have been writing it. I am going through the same things right now, terrible problems with my relationship and the realisation that my faith in God had faded and needed restoring. I have prayed to God for his help and am trying my upmost to keep the faith that he has answered me and everything will be ok and have prayed that he helps me in my faith to truely believe this, even when it appears that worst could happen, I am fighting to keep believing he will help me through it like he has in the past. I don't want to doubt him in any way and know I have to keep believing that he will resolve everything, even when all I want to do is break down and cry and admit defeat. I just hope he realises that I am trying to truely believe he has answered me and the only times I may have any slight doubt is when I get scared of the alternative and have faith that he does perform miracles, which is exactly what I need to get through this.
This site certainly helped in answering a lot of questions I had, I just pray that I can beleieve 100%, without any doubt, or am scared that my prayers won't be answered. And I want my relationship with God back also, like how it used to be. I as so busy charging through life that I sometimes forgot he was there and I forgot how much he has helped me throughout my life, through some unbearable times and am realising that I need him there and am praying he can help fully restore my faith.
Trusted and Obey
It´s great to have the opportunity to read this Artikel. I´ve been born again for the second time in my life and enjoy being in the hands of the Lord again. Lately I have been very weak in faith and lost the joy that was giving to me. But God knows that I believe with my whole heart that Jesus is the son of God and my Savior and that he rises from the dead.I need the Lord in my Life and After reading this I feel strong again.Thanks, now my ears are open and I will do all that he ask of me and will forever be his servant. I will trust in him and Obey his commands. I Know God loves us. Shouldn´t this cause us to praise him? In Jesus name. Amen
God bless you.
Thank you so much. This article confirmed what God has told me recently about unbelief and pride in my life. Thanks to your odedience in writing this, I am more equipped to tackle this problem with God's help. May God richly bless you.
Faith in God is key to life
May God bless you with issuing this glorious page to us doubters everywhere, I too was experiencing weariness from God, and this page has given me comprehension, joy and thankfulness in God and for our spiritual family in heaven.
NEW AWAKENING
I thank u so much for allow urself for GOD TO use u to speak to me today on faith from this website, because I was growing cold in the lord but this message has awakened or quickened my spirit in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior. Thanks and May God reward for ur work.
faith
Thank you so much. I cant tell you how your page on faith ministered to me today in a particular situation God has me going into.
Thank you again.
With love in our Lord Jesus.
I glorify the name of The Lord.
God saved my life, I am now experiencing his glory in ways that I never did before. I submitt completely under his will because I know he will not deceive. Lord I love you, please accept me as one of your children again and keep blessing me.
Thank you!
Interesting, sometimes people don't explain faith in away that others may understand, but you have expained in an effective and pratical way.
praise Jesus our savior and god our creater
i have strayed from Gods word regardless he is the reason i am alive and recently have opened myself to Jesus and God who have never entirly left me through prayer and i am eternally thankful Jesus has forgiven me of my sins as well as healed me of my desises and the artical you wrote will help me to beter distingush the temptations of the devil and to follow more closly the word of God through Jesus my savior and the holy spirt. Repent for God and Jesus always will love you i was just to ignorant and stupid to realize it before i was not worthy and still am not worthy