How Is Your Faith?
Heb. 11: 6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Again we must ask ourselves, faith in what. Heb. 11: 1 says that faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.
Some believe that the faith we must have is only a faith in the fact that Jesus is Lord. Yet James 2: 19 says that devils even believe in that fact. So what are we to have faith in?
I believe we should read about how we should believe, speak and live according to the Word of God. When we read something about the character of God or His promises to us or who we are in His sight, we should have faith in all those things.
If the Word of God tells me that God hears the prayers of the righteous, do I agree with that Word or do I wonder if God even is listening to me?
If the Word of God says that the Lord will never leave me nor forsake me, do I believe that or do I often complain that I feel abandoned by God when things get tough in life.
The Word of God does not promise us no problems in life, but it does say that God is there to deliver us and protect us. Do I believe in this fact? That is what faith is all about.
II Corinth. 13: 5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in faith; prove your own selves.”
(Amplified translation): “Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves.”
Some Christians misunderstand the meaning of James 2: 17 which says, “Even so faith without works, is dead, being alone.”
A better translation of that verse reads as, “Faith without corresponding action is dead faith.”
If we take for instance the scripture in Matt. 18: 18 that says, “Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
The literal Greek translation says it this way: “Whatsoever you shall bind on earth, having already be bound in heaven, shall be bound; and whatsoever you loose on earth, having already been loosed heaven, shall be loosed.”
Is sickness in heaven? Is depression, anxiety or worry in heaven? These things are not permitted in heaven. According to this scripture, Jesus gave us the authority to bind the operation of these things in our lives.
Do you believe what Jesus said? It takes faith to believe what the Word of God says. You may not see it working in your life yet. You have bound sickness or depression in your life but nothing yet.
You believing that it must work in your life is what you are hoping for; your faith is the evidence of something not yet seen.
You believe it by your words and your actions. So my question to you is what promise of God are you hoping for. Remember that Biblical hope is a joyful anticipation that what you are believing for will happen. What is your faith declaring even though you do not see it yet?
This is faith with corresponding action. Your faith must be kept alive.
II Corinthians 13: 5 is telling us to examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith or have you given up believing for that promise you found in the Word of God to work in your life.
On a regular basis we should be examining and testing and proving to ourselves that we are living a life of faith. A life where faith is working.
What scripture, what promise of God, who God says He is and what rights and privileges have you read about that you need to come to believe? Your faith is expressed by your words and your actions.
On a regular basis, check to see if you are showing the proper fruits of your faith. Remember that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
- Pastor Jim
Some believe that the faith we must have is only a faith in the fact that Jesus is Lord. Yet James 2: 19 says that devils even believe in that fact. So what are we to have faith in?
I believe we should read about how we should believe, speak and live according to the Word of God. When we read something about the character of God or His promises to us or who we are in His sight, we should have faith in all those things.
If the Word of God tells me that God hears the prayers of the righteous, do I agree with that Word or do I wonder if God even is listening to me?
If the Word of God says that the Lord will never leave me nor forsake me, do I believe that or do I often complain that I feel abandoned by God when things get tough in life.
The Word of God does not promise us no problems in life, but it does say that God is there to deliver us and protect us. Do I believe in this fact? That is what faith is all about.
II Corinth. 13: 5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in faith; prove your own selves.”
(Amplified translation): “Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves.”
Some Christians misunderstand the meaning of James 2: 17 which says, “Even so faith without works, is dead, being alone.”
A better translation of that verse reads as, “Faith without corresponding action is dead faith.”
If we take for instance the scripture in Matt. 18: 18 that says, “Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
The literal Greek translation says it this way: “Whatsoever you shall bind on earth, having already be bound in heaven, shall be bound; and whatsoever you loose on earth, having already been loosed heaven, shall be loosed.”
Is sickness in heaven? Is depression, anxiety or worry in heaven? These things are not permitted in heaven. According to this scripture, Jesus gave us the authority to bind the operation of these things in our lives.
Do you believe what Jesus said? It takes faith to believe what the Word of God says. You may not see it working in your life yet. You have bound sickness or depression in your life but nothing yet.
You believing that it must work in your life is what you are hoping for; your faith is the evidence of something not yet seen.
You believe it by your words and your actions. So my question to you is what promise of God are you hoping for. Remember that Biblical hope is a joyful anticipation that what you are believing for will happen. What is your faith declaring even though you do not see it yet?
This is faith with corresponding action. Your faith must be kept alive.
II Corinthians 13: 5 is telling us to examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith or have you given up believing for that promise you found in the Word of God to work in your life.
On a regular basis we should be examining and testing and proving to ourselves that we are living a life of faith. A life where faith is working.
What scripture, what promise of God, who God says He is and what rights and privileges have you read about that you need to come to believe? Your faith is expressed by your words and your actions.
On a regular basis, check to see if you are showing the proper fruits of your faith. Remember that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
- Pastor Jim
Posted in Blog, Life According to God
Tagged with Healing, Atonement, Sickness, Disease, Faith, Binding and Loosing
Tagged with Healing, Atonement, Sickness, Disease, Faith, Binding and Loosing
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