WORKBOOK COMING SOON!
FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON FAITH
“…Now FAITH IS the
substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen…”
(Hebrews 11:1 KJV).
*
Faith is
often challenging concept to grasp. Yet, God “…dealt (GAVE)
to every man the measure of faith...”
(Romans 12:3 KJV). “….IT IS THE “GIFT” OF GOD…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
Faith, from GOD, is described as the
assurance or confidence of things hoped for and evidence or proof of things not
YET seen. “…Now FAITH IS
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…”
(Hebrews 11:1 KJV).
For this book, the "measure of faith" is God’s GIFT. “….IT IS THE “GIFT” OF GOD…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). Activating
that gift depends on HEARING God’s word. “…["The measure of"] faith cometh by HEARING… the word of God…”
(Roman 10:17 KJV). HEARING
God’s word also EMPOWERS the measure of faith within the believer through the
indwelling Holy Spirit. “…According to the
POWER that works WITHIN us…” (Ephesians 3:20 NASB).
When the measure of faith empowers the believer it is lived and witnessed as complete confident
or trusting reliance on God. “…Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV)
When common human faith
motivates people it is dependent on non-spiritual principles or values, strength, or
scientific theories. Without God’s
WORD, the measure of faith is not activated. . “…[The measure of] Faith cometh by HEARING… the word of God…”
(Roman 10:17 KJV).
Faith is often experienced as a weak, disloyal,
allegiance, or wishy-washy trust in one’s OWN or someone else’s logical, reason, or
rational understanding. “… LEAN NOT unto thine own understanding…”
(Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).
When the measure of faith empowers the believer it depends on the trustworthiness of Jesus
Christ; the WORD of God. It is witnessed as a strong loyalty, allegiance, or unbreakable
trust in the Lord. “…Trust in the Lord
with ALL thine heart…” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).
Faith, of any kind, is a system of belief
that usually involves absolute trust in a person, in a thing, or in an idea. “…He… [completely] … entrusted himself to him who judges justly…”
(1 Peter 2:19-23 NIV).
Faith, of any kind, is usually a personal
conviction about certain religious truths or human reason. “…Abraham
believed God…” (James
2:18-24 NIV).
Faith is the opposite of disbelief and is
therefore motivated by confident trust in the person, the thing, or the idea.
Faith, of any kind, is a FIRM, sincere, and honest belief in one’s logical principles,
religious principles, or scientific facts. “…Abraham
believed God, and it was
credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend…” (James
2:18-24 NIV).
People struggle with faith more than any
other concept. Most people think faith means you believe in someone, something,
or some idea without ever experiencing the gray area or extreme area of doubt
at times. “…I DO believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
(Mark 9:24 NIV).
This book will
basically discusses the measure of faith that comes from
God and originates from the indwelling Spirit. This preface will mention human
faith that comes from human-effort and originates from the natural world.
When you have faith, human or DIVINE (the measure of faith), in a
person it means you trust them personally and you trust in their word. “…THY
WORD IS TRUTH…” (JOHN 17:17 KJV). “….The decrees of the Lord are TRUSTWORTHY,
making wise the simple…” (PSALM 19:7 NLT).
“…All your commands are TRUSTWORTHY…”
(PSALM 119:86 NLT). “…your laws are
perfect and completely TRUSTWORTHY…. “ (PSALMS 119:138 NLT). “…This hope is a strong and TRUSTWORTHY
anchor for our souls…” (HEBREWS 6:19 NLT). “Everything you have heard and seen is TRUSTWORTHY and true…”
(REVELATION 22:6 NLT).
When a person with a trustworthy character
gives you their word; you will usually have faith they will do what they say
they will do. God says, I “…AM WATCHING OVER MY
WORD TO PERFORM IT …” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). “…So shall my word be that goeth forth out of
my mouth: IT
SHALL NOT RETURN UNTO ME VOID, but it shall
accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing
whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV).
“…Not one of the good promises which the Lord
had made to the house of Israel failed; ALL CAME TO PASS…” (Joshua 21:45
NASB).
Trustworthy people have proven character
and faith is given to them without question or fear of disappointment. “…and HOPE
DOES NOT DISAPPOINT… (ROMANS 5:5 NASB). “…For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER
BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE
DISAPPOINTED…" (ROMANS 10:11 NASB). “… HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL
NOT BE DISAPPOINTED… (ROMANS 9:33 NASB). “…In You they trusted and WERE NOT
DISAPPOINTED…. (PSALMS 22:5 NASB).
A person feels safe putting their full faith
or confidence in a person they deem is trustworthy and keeps their word. “…He… [completely] … entrusted himself to him who judges justly…”
(1 Peter 2:19-23 NIV).
Faith, human or divine, in a trustworthy person
becomes stronger and stronger every time they show themselves dependable,
reliable, and faithful. “…Not one of the good promises which the Lord
had made to the house of Israel failed; ALL CAME TO PASS…” (Joshua 21:45
NASB).
When faith in a trustworthy person grows
it becomes more than knowledge. It grows into experience. Experience develops a
deeper, more committed faith in “that” trustworthy individual. Job said,
“…Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…” (Job 13:15 KJV).
Faith becomes a safe, accepting dependence
on something, someone, or some idea. “…Trust in the Lord with all thine heart…”
(Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).
Once a reliable trust is established, one
can confidently make a personal commitment to depend on the object of faith
with ever growing certainty. “…The LORD “WILL”
accomplish (take care of)…that which concerns [you]…” (John
14:31 NASB). “...Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV).
When you establish faith in someone, you
completely trust their word and often without question. God is trustworthy. “….IS THERE ANY ROCK (TRUSTWORTHY) LIKE OUR GOD…..”
(1 SAMUEL 2:2 KJV). “…All he does is just
and good, and all his
commandments are TRUSTWORTHY….” (PSALMS 111:7 NLT).
For
example, God told Abraham he would have a son at 90+ years old and from that
son he would make him a GREAT nation. “…Abraham
believed God…” (James
2:18-24 NIV).
“And when Abram was ninety years
old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said
unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and
thee…” (Genesis
17 KJV). “…And
I will make of
thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great;
and thou shalt be a blessing. …And in thee SHALL ALL FAMILIES of the earth be
blessed…”
(Genesis 12:2-3 KJV).
However, God told him to sacrifice his only
son on the altar. You may wonder, like I did, if Abraham sacrifices his son on
the altar, how will he become a GREAT nation. After all, he is already past 99
years old. Well, “…Abraham believed
God…” (James 2:18-24
NIV)..
“…It was BY FAITH that ABRAHAM OFFERED UP ISAAC as a
sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises,
was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told
him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”
Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back
to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead…”
(Hebrews 11 NLT)
“…Abraham believed
God…”
(James 2:18-24 NIV). “…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!" (Romans 4:18 NLT).
To this day, everyone who has faith in
God, like Abraham did, is considered Abraham’s seed. “…Understand, then, that those who HAVE FAITH ARE children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and
announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who RELY
ON FAITH are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith…”
(Galatians 3: 7-9 NIV).
Abraham had unwavering faith in God. “…Abraham believed God…” (James 2:18-24 NIV). “…Even when
there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing..." (Romans
4:18 NLT).
Abraham knew that even if he had to
sacrifice his only son that God would STILL be able to make him a GREAT nation.
“…Abraham reasoned that
if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense,
Abraham did receive his son back from the dead…” (Hebrews 11 NLT). “….I am the Lord,
the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jeremiah
32:27 KJV).
The object or focus of Abraham’s faith was
the trustworthy, holy, reliable living God. “…It
was BY FAITH that ABRAHAM OFFERED UP
ISAAC … Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was ABLE
to bring him back to life again.…” (Hebrews 11 NLT). “… Is there any thing too hard for [God]?”
(Jeremiah 32:27 KJV).
Doubt cannot be a party to faith. “…YOU MUST BELIEVE AND NOT DOUBT….”
(James 1:6-8 NIV). The
extreme of doubt is inundated with uncertainty, skepticism, double-mindedness, instability,
hesitancy, or distrust. “…A double
minded man is unstable in all his ways….” (James 1:8 KJV).
The extreme of doubt comes when no one,
nothing, and no idea is considered reliable or trustworthy. "…Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this
mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and DOES NOT DOUBT in their heart but believes
(accepts, receives, etc;) that what they say will happen, it will be
done for them….” (MARKS 11:23 NIV).
Faith is meant to produce assurances of
safety while doubt WILL produce the certainty of fear. God “…dealt
(gave) to every man the measure of faith...”
(Romans 12:3 KJV). “….IT IS THE “GIFT” OF GOD…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “…WALK
BY FAITH...” (2 Corinthians
5:7 KJV). “…IT SHALL BE DONE TO YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR
[meaure of] FAITH…” (MATTHEW 9:29 NASB).
Human faith enables a person to put
complete confidence in self-effort, a person, place, thing, plan, or idea based
on human knowledge, reason, scientific facts, or logic.
Divine faith empowers the believer to put
complete confidence in God, based on his Word, the trustworthiness of his divine
character, and the empowerment of his Holy Spirit.
Faith, whether human or divine, accepts as
true that something good is going to eventually happen, regardless of what else
is happening, because of their belief in “that” person, place, thing, plan, truth,
God, or idea. “…Now FAITH IS the substance (certainty; assurance, etc.) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…”
(Hebrews 11:1 KJV).
Faith, whether human or divine, commands
that complete trust be given to “that” person, place, thing, plan, truth, God, or
idea, without wavering, so that the expected good will eventually come to pass.
“…And in PROCESS of time IT CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis
4:3 KJV).
Putting one’s faith, whether human or
divine, in a person, place, thing, plan, truth, God, or an idea makes one
expect that the fulfillment of their beliefs will happen. “….I am the Lord,
the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jeremiah
32:27 KJV).
Faith, whether human or divine, is an
important part of everyday life. “…WALK (live)
BY FAITH...” (2 Corinthians
5:7 KJV).
Somewhere along the line, you have to put faith
in a person, yourself, a place, a thing, a plan, a truth, or an idea. Common,
every day faith is a natural part of life.
You have faith to sit down in a chair,
drive a car, that your job will be waiting for you the next day, that the water
you’re drinking is really crystal water, or that the food you eat from the store
is safe.
Common faith says long as you’re healthy
you can breathe, walk, run, talk, and be independent, or that you can voluntarily
and willfully make decisions for your life.
Having faith, whether human or divine,
makes life a lot more pleasant. It is a pleasure to get in a car and have faith
that you will drive safely from one place to another instead of walking. It is
a pleasure to bring food home from the grocery stores to feed yourself and your
families and have faith it won’t kill you.
Faith, whether human or divine, is
necessary to have a healthy life with reduced stress. So many things people
have faith in, are taken for granted such as; breathing or the gift of time. Without
faith life can be unfulfilling, unhealthy or restrictive, or full of fear.
Without faith, all that is left is doubt.
Doubt ushers in uncertainty along with negative perspectives and expectations
of life. If you don’t have common, every day faith life can be wishy-washy most
of the time.
Faith, whether human or divine, is used
every single day of your life. Human faith, however, altars and wavers, but
divine faith never loses its potency or consistency.
Human faith makes you trust in uncertainty
without even knowing it. Divine faith empowers you to trust in the eternal,
because the object of faith never changes, is absolutely certain, and will
never let you down.
Living with common, every day faith in
something, someone, or some idea whether you are aware of it or not, is part of
life. Faith, human or divine, is as necessary as breathing. “…IT SHALL
[always]… BE DONE TO YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH…” (MATTHEW 9:29 NASB).
Human or Divine.
Dr. Pensacola H.
Jefferson
YADA Counseling
Ministry
THE MEASURE OF FAITH
Colton’s Point,
Maryland
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