FAITH: WHAT IS IT? – Christ Love Ministries International

“BUT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM: FOR THAT COMETH TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.” HEBREWS 11:6
WHAT IS FAITH? THE DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF FAITH IS COMPLETE TRUST, CONFIDENCE, OR RELIANCE (WEBSTER’S NEW TWENTIETH CENTURY DICTIONARY, SIMON & SCHUSTER, NEW YORK, 1979).
WE COULD SAY I HAVE FAITH IN HER AS A LEADER.”
“I TRUST THAT PERSON”, “YOU CAN RELY ON HIM”.
IN MUCH SIMPLER WORDS FAITH SIMPLY MEANS BELIEVING, SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FAITH IN GOD,
FAITH MEANS THAT WE CAN BELIEVE GOD, WE CAN TRUST HIM, WE CAN RELY ON HIS WORD.
FAITH IS BELIEVING GOD, TRUSTING HIM, AND RELYING ON HIM NO MATTER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES: SITUATIONS WE MAY BE EXPERIENCING.
FOR THIS REASON, GOD PLACES FAITH VERY HIGH ON THE LIST OF PRIORITY FOR LIFE.
TO BELIEVE GOD IS TO PAY HIM A HIGH COMPLIMENT.
WE AFFIRM THAT HE IS TRUSTWORTHY IN OUR HEART
THIS PLEASES GOD.
TO DISBELIEVE GOD IS TO PAY HIM THE WORST INSULT.
IT IS TO REGARD HIM AS UNRELISTIC.
AND UNTRUSTWORTHY. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE BIBLE DECLARES THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD WITHOUT FAITH.
ANYONE OF US SHOULD UNDERSTAND THIS VIEWPOINT WHEN WE SEE IN THE LIGHT OF FAITH’S DEFINITION.
ALL LIKE TO BE TRUSTED, AND ARE OFFENDED WHEN OTHERS FAIL TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN US.
GOD FEELS THE SAME WAY
THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT MEN ARE OFTEN NOT TRUSTWORTHY, WHILE GOD IS ALWAYS TRUSTWORTHY
MEN CANNOT BE TRUSTED, WHILE GOD CAN ALWAYS BE TRUSTED. MANY TIMES IT IS DANGEROUS TO PUT OUR CONFIDENCE IN MEN,
FOR THEY FREQUENTLY FAIL; BUT IT IS NEVER DANGEROUS TO PUT OUR TRUST IN GOD, FOR HE NEVER FAILS GOD DECLARED THROUGH HIS PROPHET MALACHI:
“FOR I AM THE LORD, I CHANGE NOT.” MALACHI 3:6A
HE NEVER CHANGES. HE IS ALWAYS THE SAME. HE IS TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE AND COMPLETELY TRUSTWORTHY
WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM AND RELY TOTALLY ON HIS WORD.
WHEN THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS BEING TAKEN TO ROME BY SHIP, THE VESSEL WAS ENDANGERED BY A GREAT STORM.
EVERYTHING ON THE SHIP WAS TOSSED OVERBOARD TO LIGHTEN THE VESSEL, BUT THIS DIDN’T HELP; THE STORM WAS TOO FIERCE.
FINALLY, AFTER MANY DAYS, ALL THOSE ABOARD HAD LOST HOPE OF BEING SAVED AND WERE PREPARING TO DIE.
BUT GOD SPOKE TO PAUL AND TOLD HIM THAT THERE WOULD BE NO LOSS OF LIFE, ALTHOUGH SHIP ITSELF WOULD INDEED BE DESTROYED.
THEN PAUL WENT UP ON DECK AND ADDRESSED EVERYONE, TELLING THEM NOT TO BE AFRAID BECAUSE GOD HAD SPOKEN TO HIM.
PAUL SAID: “WHEREFORE, SIRS, BE OF GOOD CHEER: FOR I BELIEVE GOD THAT IT SHALL BE EVEN AS IT WAS TOLD ME.” ACTS 27:25
PAUL TRUSTED GOD COMPLETELY.
HE WAS NOT AFRAID TO DECLARE WHAT HE HAD BEEN TOLD BECAUSE HE KNEW GOD TO BE TRUSTWORTHY AND COMPLETELY RELIABLE.
GOD DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL DO. WE CAN RELY ON IT.
HE NEVER DISAPPOINTS OUR FAITH. THEREFORE, THE WRITER OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS DECLARES: LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A TRUE HEART IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH, LET US HOLDFAST THE PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH WITHOUT WAVERING (FOR HE IS FAITHFUL THAT PROMISED). HEBREWS 10:22-23
IT TOOK MUCH COURAGE FOR PAUL TO STAND BEFORE ALL THOSE PASSENGERS AND CREW AND MAKE SUCH DARING PREDICTION:
THE SHIP WILL BE DESTROYED, BUT WITH NO LOSS OF LIFE.
THIS IS THE NATURE OF FAITH IN GOD WHEN YOU KNOW GOD AND HIS FAITHFULNESS;
YOU DARE TO RISK ALL FOR HIS WILL, BELIEVING THAT YOU CAN LOSE.
PEOPLE OF FAITH ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO CHOOSE TO MEET THE DANGERS AND DIFFICULTIES OF LIFE WITH GREAT COURAGE,
THOSE WHO REFUSED TO BELIEVE SATAN’S LIES, WHO DARE TO STAND FOR GOD, AND IN PROCESS, WHO CHANGE THEIR WORLD FOR THE BETTER.
ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD WHEN HE CALLED HIM TO JOURNEY TO A BETTER PLACE THAT GOD HAD PREPARED FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY.
THUS, ABRAHAM LEFT HIS OWN LAND AND TRAVELED TOWARD THE PROMISED LAND TO FORM A NEW AND GODLY NATION,
THEREBY BECOMING THE FATHER OF ALL WHO BELIEVE.
JOSEPH BELIEVED WHAT GOD TOLD HIM IN DREAMS AND PERSEVERED THROUGH FAITH TO BECOME THE… PRIME MINISTER OF EGYPT AND SAVE THE FLEDGLING NATION OF ISRAEL.
MOSES BELIEVED AND OBEYED GOD’S WORD SPOKEN TO HIM FROM BURNING BUSH THAT HE SHOULD BE GOD’S MIGHTY SERVANT TO DELIVER GOD’S PEOPLE FROM THE BONDAGE, THE PHARAOHS.
DAVID BELIEVED GOD’S WORD GIVEN THROUGH THE PROPHET SAMUEL THAT GOD WOULD TAKE DAVID FROM THE SHEEPFOLD TO PASTOR THE NATION BY BEING ITS KING.
ALL HAPPENED JUST AS GOD HAD SAID.
LIKEWISE, PAUL BECAME THE APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES BECAUSE HE HEARD THE VOICE OF GOD AND ACCEPTED GOD’S PURPOSE
FOR SOME, THIS SUBMITTING TO GOD IS BONDAGE, BUT THEY ARE BLINDED TO THE TRUTH.
THE TRUTH IS FAILING TO SUBMIT OUR WILLS TO GOD IS BONDAGE BECAUSE OUR WILLFULNESS ALLOWS SATAN TO CONTINUALLY ENSLAVE US.
SUBMITTING TO GOD FREES US FROM BONDAGE BY OVERCOMING SATAN’S GRASP ON OUR LIVES HELP PREPARE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO RECEIVE ALL THE GOOD THINGS GOD HAS PREPARED FOR US.
GOD CREATED US: AND THE LORD GOD FORMED MAN OF THE DUST OF THE GROUND, AND BREATHED INTO NOSTRILS THE BREATH OF LIFE, AND MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL (GENESIS 2:7).
BECAUSE GOD IS OUR CREATOR HE KNOWS BOTH WHAT IS BEST FOR US AND HOW WE CAN FULFILL THAT BEST.
THE MARVELOUS GARDEN, IN WHICH HE PLACED ADAM AND EVE AFTER HE CREATED THEM, WHERE EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED WAS PROVIDED, REVEALS GOD’S COMPETENCE TO CARE FOR US.
“AND OUT OF THE GROUND MADE THE LORD GOD TO GROW EVERY TREE THAT IS PLEASANT TO THE SIGHT AND GOOD FOR FOOD; THE TREE OF LIFE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THE QARDEN, AND THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL… AND THE LORD GOD TOOK THE MAN, AND PUT HIM INTO THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO DRESS IT AND TO KEEP IT”. GENESIS 2:9, 15
A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR OF THE GARDEN ENVIRONMENT WAS THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GOD AND CREATIONS THE LORD CAME REGULARLY TO FELLOWSHIP WITH ADAM AND EVE THE THREE OF THEM WALKED TALKED TOGETHER.
WHAT A PARADISE! EVERY NEED WAS SUPPLIED.
THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
LIVING UNDER PROTECTION OF GOD HIMSELF ADAM AND EVE WERE PRIVELEGED TO KNOW AND ENJOY THEIR CREATOR
THIS IS THE LIFE GOD ENVISIONED FOR MANKIND
ONLY ONE THING THREATENED THIS WONDERFUL LIFE: THE POSSIBILITY THAT MAN WOULD LOSE CONFIDENCE IN GOD AND CHOOSE TO TRUST ANOTHER.
SO, GOD PLACED A TEST IN THE GARDEN, A TREE THEY WERE NOT TO TOUCH TO EAT OF ITS FRUIT.
IF THE MAN AND THE WOMAN DISOBEYED THIS COMMAND, GOD GUARANTEED THAT THEY WOULD SURETY DIE.
“AND THE LORD GOD COMMANDED THE MAN, SAYING, OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN THOU MAYEST FREELY EAT: BUT OF THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, THOU SHALT NOT EAT OF IT: FOR THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST THEREOF THOU SHALT SURELY DIE”. GENESIS 2:16-17
WHAT WAS THIS MYSTERIOUS TREE OF WHICH THEY COULDN’T EAT? WE DON’T KNOW.
IT WAS ONLY A TEST OF MAN’S CONFIDENCE IN GOD AND HIS WORD.
THEN GOD PERMITTED AN OPPOSING FORCE, A DIFFERENT OPINION – SATAN, THE FALLEN LUCIFER, REBELLIOUS ONE – TO ENTER THE GARDEN AND TELL ADAM AND EVE
SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING OPPOSED AND CONTRADICTED WHAT GOD HAD SAID, TO SEE WHO THEY WOULD BELIEVE.
NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE SUBTLE THAN ANY BEAST OF THE FIELD WHICH THE LORD GOD HAD MADE…
HE SAID UNTO THE WOMAN, YEA, HATH GOD SAID.
YE SHALL NOT EAT OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN? AND WOMAN SAID UNTO THE SERPENT, WE MAY EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREES IN THE GARDEN:
BUT OF THE FRUIT OF TREE WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN, GOD HATH SAID, YE SHALL NOT EAT OF IT, NEITHER SHALL YE TOUCH LEST YE DIE.
“AND THE SERPENT SAID UNTO THE WOMAN, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE: FOR GOD DOTH KNOW THAT IN THE DAY YE EAT THEREOF THEN YOUR EYES SHALL BE OPENED AND YE SHALL BE AS GODS, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL”.GEN. 3:1-5
THIS OPPOSING FORCE FIRST ACCOSTED EVE, FORCING HER TO MAKE A LIFE AND DEATH DECISION:
TO BELIEVE GOD OR TO BELIEVE SATAN; TO TRUST WHAT GOD HAD SAID OR TO TRUST THIS BEGUILER.
TRAGICALLY, EVE CHOSE TO DISBELIEVE GOD AND TO TRUST THE DECEIVER.
WHEN EVE CONFRONTED ADAM WITH THE CHOICE OF TRUSTING GOD’S WORD ALT OR SATAN’S, ADAM TOO CHOSE TO BELIEVE THE OPINION OF THE FATHER OF LIES. THUS, MAN FROM BEING THE LORD OVER THE EARTH TO BEING THE SERVANT OF SIN, AND HIS SPIRITUAL DEATH WAS SEALED THAT DAY.
IT WAS ALL A MATTER OF TRUST.
SINCE THAT TRAGIC DAY, GOD HAS BEEN SEARCHING THROUGHOUT THE EARTH, LOOKING AMONG INHABITANTS OF EVERY NATION FOR THOSE WHOSE HEARTS ARE PERFECT TOWARD HIM, WHO WILL TRUST HIM RECEIVE HIS BLESSINGS.
“FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD RUN TO AND FRO THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH, TO SHEW HIMSELF STRONG IN THE BEHALF OF THEM WHOSE HEART IS PERFECT TOWARD HIM. HEREIN THOU HAST DONE FOOLISHLY: THEREFORE FROM HENCEFORTH THOU SHALT HAVE WARS”. 2 CHRONICLES 16:9
GOD IS STILL STRONG.
HE DESIRES TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS, TO RELEASE THE COUNTLESS BLESSINGS HE STORED UP TO BE NOT BESTOWED AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.
HE IS JUST LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO WILL TRUST HIM, THOSE WHO WILL TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD, AND THOSE WHO WILL RELY ON HIM FULLY.
WHEN HE FINDS THESE FAITHFUL ONES,
GOD MOVES MIGHTILY FOR THEM;
BLESSING THEM PERSONALLY AND EMPOWERING THEM TO BE WORLD-CHANGERS.
WILL YOU BELIEVE GOD?
WILL YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM?
WILL YOU RELY ON HIS PROMISES?
WILL YOU HAVE FAITH TO CHANGE THE WORLD?

CHAPTER 2

FAITH: WHAT CAN IT DO?

“FOR VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY UNTO THIS MOUNTAIN, BE THOU REMOVED, AND BE THOU CAST INTO THE SEA; AND SHALL NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART, BUT SHALL BELIEVE THAT THOSE THINGS WHICH BE SAITH SHALL COME TO PASS; HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH. THEREFORE I SAY UNTO YOU, WHAT THINGS SO EVER YE DESIRE, WHEN YE PRAY, BELIEVE THAT YE RECEIVE THEM, AND YE SHALL HAVE THEM”. MARK 11:23-24
GOD HAS GIVEN FAITH A VERY HIGH PRIORITY. ALL HIS BLESSINGS ARE NOT RECEIVED BY PAYING A FEE, DOING SOME GREAT EXPLOIT FOR HIM, OR EARNING HIS FAVOR IN ANY WAY, BUT BY SIMPLY TRUSTING HIM.
WE ARE SAVED FROM SIN BY FAITH.
“THEREFORE BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST”. ROMANS 5:1
SALVATION BY FAITH IS CLEARLY STATED IN THE BIBLE.
WHEN THE PHILIPPIANS’ JAILER ASKED PAUL AND SAUL HOW TO BE SAVED,
THEIR ANSWER WAS VERY CLEAR: “AND THEY SAID, BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THOU SHALT BE SAVED, AND THY HOUSE.” ACTS 16:31
WHEN THE ETHIOPIAN REPRESENTATIVE OF QUEEN CANDICE ASKED PHILIP WHAT WAS REQUIRED TO BAPTIZED IN WATER, PHILIP’S REPLY AS UNEQUIVOCAL.
“AND PHILIP SAID, IF THOU BELIEVEST WITH ALL THINE HEART, THOU MAYEST.” ACTS 8:37A
GOD ASKS ONLY ONE THING OF THOSE WHO WOULD RETURN TO HIS FOLD AND BE RESTORED AS A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY:
TRUST ME, BELIEVING WHAT I SAY AND RELYING ON MY FAITHFULNESS.
PAUL MOST CERTAINLY UNDERSTOOD THIS REQUIREMENT WHEN HE WROTE TO THE EPHESIANS: “FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THRO FAITH, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.” EPHESIANS 2:8-9
JESUS HIMSELF ALSO INDICATED THAT SALVATION IS BY FAITH.
“HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED, BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT SHALL BE DAMNED.”MARK 16:16
PHYSICAL HEALING: THE WONDERFUL BLESSING THAT HAS TRANSFORMED THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE IS RECEIVED BY FAITH.
BUT JESUS TURNED HIM ABOUT, AND WHEN HE SAW HER, HE SAID, “DAUGHTER, BE OF GOOD COMFORT; FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE.” AND THE WOMAN WAS MADE WHOLE FROM THAT HOUR MATTHEW 9:22.
THEN JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HER “WOMAN, GREAT IS THY FAITH: BE IT UNTO THEE EVEN AS THOU WILT. AND HER DAUGHTER WAS MADE WHOLE FROM THAT VERY HOUR.” MATTHEW 15:28
AND JESUS SAID UNTO HIM “GO THY WAY; THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE. AND IMMEDIATELY HE RECEIVED HIS SIGHT, AND FOLLOWED JESUS IN THE WAY.” MARK 10:52
THE MANIFESTATION OF THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT AND THE VARIOUS MINISTRIES, THE EVIDENCE OF THE POWER OF GOD’S SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES, IS BOTH RECEIVED BY FAITH AND EXERCISED BY FAITH.
OUR PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED BASED ON THE FAITH WE EXHIBIT WHEN WE PRAY.
WHAT THINGS SO EVER YOU DESIRE, WHEN YE PRAY, BELIEVE THAT YE RECEIVE THEM, AND YE SHALL HAVE THEM.” MARK 11:24B
NOTHING COULD BE CLEARER. YE SHALL HAVE THEM. WHATEVER YOU HAVE BEEN BELIEVING GOD FOR IS ON WAY.
WHILE YOU ARE PRAYING, GOD IS ALREADY RESPONDING! SOME- TIMES WE DON’T EVEN HAVE TO PRAY AL ABOUT A SITUATION.
JESUS SAID WE CAN JUST SPEAK TO SITUATION AND IT WILL BE REMOVED.
JUST BELIEVING AND ACTING ON OUR BELIEF BRINGS US THE VICTORY.
“HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH.” MK. 11:23B
USE YOUR MOUTH TO COMMAND FAITH TO COME IN, HEALING TO COME IN, MIRACLES TO COME IN, SIGNS WONDERS TO COME IN.
DECREE A THING TODAY.
IT SHALL BE DONE.
LET THE WORD COME FROM YOUR MOUTH, LORD SHALL HONOR IT.
SAY SOMETHING NOW.
GOD WILL DO IT IN JESUS’ NAME.
FAITH TAKES THE LIMITATIONS FROM OUR AND CREATES NEW POTENTIAL AND A WONDERFUL TOMORROW FOR US.
WE CAN DO EVERYTHING THROUGH FAITH.

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