A Simple Study in Faith
With 9-11 now being remembered the best I can do is offer that which carried my family through those days, many lost much, faith returns more. Please read on, this is part 1.
All scripture from the King James Version (KJV)
1 John 5:1-5 1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
There is today, a lot of confusion as to what faith really is and how it helps in our walk with God, yet in so many scriptures faith in God is defined as simple trust. Trust God will do what He say’s He will do. He has given over to us an ability just receive Him as our Father, we are told He is Father to fatherless. So when we cry Daddy it is He who responds to us. We have faith that He hear and so we must have faith that He answers as well.
His answers also are vey timely so this study is a refresher on what faith in God our Father truly does for us.
I suppose it is required to define first the word “us”. When I refer to us I am referring to a select group of people known as “born again Christians” As we see above “Whosoever” and “is born of God” well we are all whosoever’s but we are not all born of God. It is the one who believes that Jesus is the Christ who becomes born of God, an instantaneous transformation from death into life but the uttering of a simple prayer “I believe”.
John 3:13-18 13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God gave Jesus, Jesus gave Himself, they gave the Holy Spirit, we need but receive and then in turn, by action of the simple prayer, we give ourselves. Then we become that “whosoever”. Then we become one who is in a position of overcoming all that may be thrown against us in an attempt to steal our position. There is no higher promotion than that of being a son or daughter of God. It is that promotion that sets our faith on fire and creates within us the ability to see faiths actions fulfilled within us and upon those for whom the blessing was placed within us.
Look for a moment at a simple definition: 1.confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another’s ability. 2. belief that is not based on proof, 3.belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion:
Faith is: Confidence or trust in a person; God places that confidence within us by His strongest action in fact by His very being. That action, His being is what we know as, Love. The very essence of God is Love and He cannot exist except within Love. It is He. Therefore all action of faith will be seeded in and fulfilled through love, without Love then any request of God will go unanswered until it is surrounded in Love. Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; This is the reason we can operate in Love, the reason we can go to the Father knowing that the request we have is already answered. His covenant is that of Love, Grace and Mercy, in fact that is what His name means, “Jehovah” the God who keeps covenant and fulfills promises. Therefore to have faith in Him and His Word should be, and is, the simplest action we do. It becomes so automatic in our very being as breathing.
Faith is: Faith in another’s ability; It is not us, it is God, only through Him do we receive that which we require. Remember He is God, what does He not know or cannot do? What is it that He is unfamiliar with? What can you bring to Him that He has no knowledge of or has never heard before? Of course the answers are nothing, nothing is too big, too hard, or unknown to Him, So we need but place our faith in His ability. A miracle is God’s Love poured into our request.
In faith we require much of God and He enjoys that trust in Him. In exchange, however God requires something of us; Deuteronomy 10:12 the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, What we require of God is that which we ask in faith, our answer therefore lies in God’s faith in you. We say to Him “I believe in you” He in turn says to us “I believe in you”. So therefore what we require of Him is exactly the same thing He requires of us. To love and enjoy each other and walk within the blessing thereof.
Faith is: Belief that is not based on proof. When we challenge another to prove themselves or that which they say we are showing that we have zero faith in them. So too with God, what He has said He will do, period, no further discussion required, no proof needed. If we stick to God like glue in fact closer than glue our faith will be rewarded with a life of needs granted, and love gifts poured out upon us. Deuteronomy 30:20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers His proof is in His action but so is ours, By clinging to Him all we require for a good life and a long life will be found. To cleave to Him means to stick like glue, in doing so we never leave His side and therein we find all we require, and in us He finds all He requires.
The simple facts are belief in God or faith in God can only bring the blessings of God. In life we require many things All are found in trusting God. Trusting or faith in God brings healing:
Matthew 8:1-10
1When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 5And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel
The will of God is always that those who believe live a life that is whole. The leper asked Jesus a simple question “If you will”? Jesus gave a simple answer “I will” so there should be no debate God’s will is your healing. He not only demonstrated this for the leper but for the army commander as well. Jesus was not only willing to heal but He was willing to go out of His way to bring healing. Notice that the verse says the commander showed such strong faith that Jesus “marvelled” at it. The word marvelled is the Greek word “thaumazō“ which means: to be held in admiration. Jesus admired the faith of the commander the result…………..healing for the servant. Faith brings healing, no question, Just show God how much you admire him and receive your answer.
Staying Matthew 8 look at verse 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! 28And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. 33And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
Once again Jesus is confronted with needs, asleep during a violent storm He arises to speak a rebuke and brings complete protection of a disaster to all with Him. Then arriving on the shore demon possessed persons sought to bring harm to Him. But by faith and with faith filled words He set them free, protecting the formerly possessed and all others there. So faith grants a life of protection from those who want to bring harm to you.
Continued next writing.
