FOOD FOR THOUGHT
WHAT CAN YOU DO “BY FAITH”?
“…I will
show you MY
FAITH by my deeds (conduct, actions, mannerisms, etc;)...”
(JAMES 2:18 NIV).
*
“… BY FAITH we understand that THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE WAS FORMED at God’s command,
that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
It
was BY FAITH that Abel brought A MORE ACCEPTABLE
OFFERING than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a
righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long
dead, he still speaks to us by HIS
EXAMPLE OF FAITH.
It
was BY FAITH that Enoch was TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN
WITHOUT DYING—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For
before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.
And it is impossible
to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must
believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
It was BY FAITH that Noah BUILT A LARGE BOAT to save his family from the flood.
He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. BY HIS FAITH Noah CONDEMNED THE REST OF THE WORLD, and
he received the righteousness that comes by faith.
It was BY FAITH that Abraham obeyed when God
called him to LEAVE
HOME AND GO TO ANOTHER LAND that God would give him as his
inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached
the land God promised him, he lived
there BY FAITH—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did
Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham
was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city
designed and built by God.
It was BY FAITH that even SARAH WAS ABLE TO
HAVE A CHILD, though she was barren and was too old. She believed
that God would keep his promise.
And so a whole nation came from this one man
who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in
the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.
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.
It was BY FAITH that Isaac PROMISED BLESSINGS
FOR THE FUTURE TO HIS SONS, Jacob and Esau.
It was BY FAITH that Jacob, when he was old
and dying, BLESSED
EACH OF JOSEPH’S SONS AND BOWED IN WORSHIP AS HE LEANED ON HIS STAFF.
It was BY FAITH that Joseph, when he was
about to die, said confidently that THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WOULD LEAVE EGYPT. He even
commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.
It was BY FAITH that Moses’ parents HID HIM FOR THREE
MONTHS when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual
child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.
It was BY FAITH that Moses, when he grew up, REFUSED TO BE
CALLED THE SON OF PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER. He chose to share the
oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.
He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than
to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.
It was BY FAITH that Moses LEFT THE LAND OF
EGYPT, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because
he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
It was BY FAITH that Moses COMMANDED THE
PEOPLE OF ISRAEL TO KEEP THE PASSOVER and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts
so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.
It was BY FAITH that the people of Israel WENT RIGHT THROUGH
THE RED SEA as though they were on dry ground. But when the
Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.
It was BY FAITH that the people of Israel MARCHED AROUND
JERICHO FOR SEVEN DAYS, and the walls came crashing down.
It was BY FAITH that Rahab the prostitute WAS NOT DESTROYED
with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a
friendly welcome to the spies.
HOW MUCH MORE DO I NEED TO SAY? It would take too long to recount
THE STORIES OF FAITH of Gideon,
Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.
BY FAITH these
people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had
promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by
the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became
strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women
received their loved ones back again from death….”
(Hebrews 11:1-35 NLT).
Do you have this kind of faith? YES. Where
did you get that faith? “…God hath dealt to every man THE MEASURE OF
FAITH…” (Romans 12:3 NIV). “….IT IS THE “GIFT”
OF GOD…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
God gave you ONE particular
instruction on how to exercise that “measure
of faith.” What was it? “…FAITH
COMETH BY HEARING, and HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD…”
(Roman 10:17 KJV). “…The sower SOWETH THE WORD …The seed is the
WORD OF GOD
….. THE WORD …was
sown in THEIR HEARTS…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “…THE WORDS THAT I
SPEAK unto you, they ARE SPIRIT, and they ARE LIFE…” (John 6:63 KJV). “…It is the SPIRIT who “GIVES” LIFE; the
flesh profits nothing…” (John 6:63 NASB). “…God
has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (the WORD) “INTO” OUR HEARTS…” (Galatians
4:6 NASB). “…the Holy Spirit
gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…” (John 3:6 NLT). “…FAITH
COMETH BY HEARING …THE WORD OF GOD…” (Roman
10:17 KJV).
God demonstrates FAITH in the POWER of his
OWN word. “…Then God SAID, “Let there be light”; AND
THERE WAS LIGHT…” (Genesis 1:3 NASB). “…Then God
SAID (God commanded with faith in his OWN word), “Let there be light” (Jesus, the Word spoke his command); AND THERE WAS LIGHT (The Holy Spirit did what was
spoken and commanded)…” (Genesis 1:3 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). God
says, I “…am WATCHING over my word to PERFORM it…”
(Jeremiah 1:12 NASB).
“…FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, and HEARING BY THE WORD OF
GOD…” (Roman 10:17 KJV). “…Now FAITH IS the
substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence (proof) of things not seen…”
(Hebrews 11:1 KJV). “…the invisible [Spirit]…from the creation of
the world …is CLEARLY
SEEN, being understood by
the things that are MADE …”
(Romans 1:20 KJV).
“…AND GOD
SAID, Let there be a
firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the
waters…” (Genesis 1:6 KJV).
“…AND GOD
SAID, Let the waters under
the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so…”
(Genesis 1:9 KJV).
“…AND GOD
SAID, Let the earth bring
forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after
his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so…” (Genesis 1:11
KJV).
“…AND GOD
SAID, Let there be lights
in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them
be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years…” (Genesis 1:14 KJV).
“… BY FAITH we understand that THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE WAS FORMED at God’s command,
that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” (Hebrews
11 NLT). “…In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ….And God saw every thing that he had made,
and, behold, it was very good…”
(Genesis 1:1, 31 KJV).
Divine faith works in
you (empowering), through you (witnessing), and for you (results). Divine faith,
therefore works IN, THROUGH, and FOR you.
“…It
was BY FAITH that Abel BROUGHT(empowering
actions) A MORE
ACCEPTABLE OFFERING than Cain did (empowering witness). Abel’s
offering gave EVIDENCE that he was a righteous man (empowering witness), and
God SHOWED his approval of his gifts (empowering results). Although Abel is
long dead, he still speaks to us by HIS
EXAMPLE OF FAITH…” (Hebrews 11 NLT).
Divine faith empowers
you to do something that you CANNOT do on your own. And what you do is EVIDENCE
that empowering, divine faith is working through you. Manifested PROOF is “always”
the RESULT of empowering, divine faith.
“…The
measure of faith…” is a gift (Romans 12:3). “For by grace are ye
SAVED THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT of yourselves: IT IS THE GIFT OF
GOD...” (EPHESIANS 2:8-9
KJV).
Let’s look at how divine faith
works “IN”, “THROUGH, and “FOR” salvation.
Divine faith empowers salvation. “….the gospel of Christ (the WORD) …. is THE [invisible[… POWER of God unto SALVATION TO EVERY
ONE THAT BELIEVETH…” (Romans 1:16 KJV).
Divine faith is witnessed through salvation. Spiritual fruit is
the witness of that salvation. “…Ye shall know them by their fruits…” (Matthew
7:16 KJV). “…But the
fruit of the [invisible]… Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, FAITH, Meekness, temperance…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). "…My
Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so PROVE to be My disciples”
(John 15:8 NIV). “…the Holy Spirit
gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…” (John 3:6 NLT).
Divine faith works for salvation. It ALWAYS produces results.
Untold BLESSINGS are the manifestation (result)
of salvation. “…To the saints …who are faithful “in” Christ Jesus: …Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, WHO HAS BLESSED US with “EVERY” SPIRITUAL
BLESSING in the heavenly …In Him also we have OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, …” (Ephesians 1 NLT).
Eternal life will be
the culmination of the divine faith that worked IN, THROUGH, and FOR the saved.
“…The GIFT of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ ….” (Romans 6:23 KJV). "… the righteous to eternal life…"
(Matthew 25:46 NIV). “….And many of them that sleep in the dust of the
earth shall awake, some to everlasting life…” (Daniel 12:2 KJV).
Is the “measure of faith” predicated on how you FEEL or God’s truth? “…God hath dealt to every man THE MEASURE OF
FAITH…” (Romans 12:3 NIV). “…FAITH
COMETH BY HEARING, and HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD…”
(Roman 10:17 KJV). “…thy WORD is truth...” (JOHN
17:17 KJV).
Whether
you feel it or not; use it or not; you ALWAYS have your God-given, divine “measure of faith?” “…God hath dealt to every man THE MEASURE OF
FAITH…” (Romans 12:3 NIV). “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…”
(Malachi 3:6 KJV). “Jesus Christ is the
same
yesterday and today and forever”
(Hebrews 13:8 NIV).
Faith is amanah in Hebrew and can mean a secure,
dependable, GIFTED provision “…I will supply ALL your NEED…” (John 12:32
& Philippians 4:19 KJV). “…God hath
dealt to every man the measure of FAITH…” (Romans 12:3 NIV). “…FAITH
is the substance (reality, assurance) of things hoped for, the
evidence (Proof) of things not seen…” (Hebrew 11:1 KJV). “…FAITH COMETH by hearing …the word of God” (Romans 10:17 KJV). “…The sower SOWETH THE WORD …The seed is the WORD OF GOD ….. THE WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS…”
(Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “…THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK unto you, they ARE SPIRIT,
and they ARE LIFE…” (John 6:63 KJV). “…It is the SPIRIT who “GIVES” LIFE; the
flesh profits nothing…” (John 6:63 NASB). “…the
Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…” (John 3:6 NLT). “…FAITH
COMETH BY HEARING, and HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD…” (Romans 10:17 KJV).
The
Christian journey is a walk of faith. “…walk BY FAITH...” (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV).
What
can you do “by divine faith”? “…Jesus
said unto him, If THOU CANST BELIEVE,
ALL THINGS are possible to him that believeth…”
(Mark 9:23 KJV). “…God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (the WORD) “INTO”
OUR HEARTS…” (Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…I can do
ALL THINGS through Christ
which strengtheneth me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
“…The measure of faith” is gifted by God
to empower believers to do the impossible, to be living witnesses, and to
ensure they partake in ALL the spiritual blessings that ONLY divine faith can
bring. “…God
hath dealt to every man the measure of FAITH…”
(Romans 12:3 NIV). Therefore, “…
BELIEVE (with divine faith) ON HIM whom he (God) hath sent.” (John 6:29
KJV).
God
gives you the “measure of faith” and
works IN, THROUGH, and FOR you in order to fulfill his good purposes (Romans
12:3). “…For it is God who
works in you to will and
to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13
NIV). “… [God]… equip[s] … you with everything good (measure of faith)
for doing his will, and …he work[s] … in
[you]… what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews
13:20-21 NIV).
God gives and equips you with the “measure of faith” to fulfill his
purposes (Romans 12:3). One purpose is to express his love for you. “…Faith which worketh
by love…” (Galatians 5:6 KJV). “…What is important is faith
expressing itself IN LOVE…” (Galatians 5:6 NLT).
God gives and equips you with the “measure of faith” in order to “…direct your hearts TO the love of God…”
(2 Thessalonians 3:5 NASB & Romans 12:3). “…May the Lord (by divine faith) lead your hearts INTO a full
understanding and EXPRESSION of the love of God …” (2
Thessalonians 3:5 NLT).
God sustains the “measure of faith” through Jesus (Romans 12:3). “…The Son is the radiance of God's glory and
the exact representation of his being, sustaining ALL THINGS by his powerful word…”
(Hebrews 1:3 NIV). “…in him (Jesus) ALL THINGS hold
together…” (Colossians 1:7 NIV). “…Being confident of this very thing, that HE WHICH HATH “BEGUN” A GOOD “WORK” IN YOU WILL
“PERFORM” IT until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6
KJV).
Jesus is the author of your “measure of faith” and lovingly works in,
through, and for you from the beginning of your divine faith walk to end
(Romans 12:3). “…Looking
unto Jesus the AUTHOR
(originator) and FINISHER (sustainer) OF [Y[OUR…[divine]… FAITH…”
(Hebrews 12:2a KJV). “…The
LORD WILL
PERFECT that which
concerneth me…” (Psalms 138:8 KJV). “…HE “WILL”
KEEP YOU STRONG to the end…” (1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT).
Jesus is the originator
of your faith. Jesus is the one who works in, through, and for you to empower
faith. “… Jesus the AUTHOR and FINISHER OF OUR FAITH…” (Hebrews
12:2a KJV). “…God has sent forth the Spirit
of His Son (the
WORD) “INTO” OUR HEARTS…” (Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…the Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…”
(John 3:6 NLT).
You can depend on
Christ to be both the originator and sustainer of your “measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3). “…I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me…” (Philippians
4:13 KJV). “…God hath
dealt to every man the measure of FAITH…” (Romans 12:3 NIV). “… Jesus the AUTHOR and FINISHER OF OUR FAITH…” (Hebrews
12:2a KJV). “…HE WHICH HATH
“BEGUN” A GOOD “WORK” IN YOU WILL “PERFORM” IT until the day of Jesus Christ…”
(Philippians 1:6 KJV).
Jesus “originates” your “measure of faith” and becomes the “finisher” of it (Romans 12:3 & Hebrews 12:2a). In other words,
as author and finisher of your “measure
of faith” Jesus creates it, empowers it, and sustains it. “…It is God who works in you to will and to act
in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…Faith which worketh
by love…” (Galatians 5:6 KJV).
The “measure of faith” can NEVER be lost,
taken away, reduced, become powerless, weaken, or given away (Romans 12:3). “…No one can undo what I have done..."
(Isaiah 43:13 NLT). “…When I act, who can
reverse it?" (Isaiah 43:13 NIV). “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”
(Hebrews 13:8 NIV).
Christ originates your
faith, empowers faith, showcases faith, and brings about the results of faith. “…the Holy Spirit
gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…”
(John 3:6 NLT). “…For it is God
who works in you…” (Philippians 2:13
NIV).
Dependence on Jesus
involves USE of divine faith. “…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). “…The LORD will accomplish (take care of)…that which concerns [you]…”
(John 14:31 NASB). “…The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: …” (Psalms 37:23 KJV). “….Apart from [Jesus]… you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV). “… [You] can
do all things through Christ (the originator of your faith) which strengtheneth [you]…” (Philippians
4:13 KJV).
“…God hath dealt to every man THE MEASURE OF FAITH…” (Romans 12:3 NIV). AND “…Jesus [is]… the AUTHOR and FINISHER OF [THAT]… FAITH…”
(Hebrews 12:2a KJV). “…HE WHICH HATH
“BEGUN” A GOOD “WORK” IN YOU WILL “PERFORM” IT until the day of Jesus Christ…”
(Philippians 1:6 KJV). “…God
…works in you TO WILL and TO
ACT in order to fulfill his good purpose…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…Faith which worketh
by love…” (Galatians 5:6 KJV). “….apart from Me (JESUS), you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
Every day you can “…walk BY FAITH...” (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV). “…It is God who
works IN YOU TO WILL and TO ACT in order to fulfill his good purpose…”
(Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…Faith which worketh by love…” (Galatians 5:6 KJV).
Divine faith is a
spiritual gift and spiritual fruit. God
“…dealt to every man the measure of faith...” (Romans 12:3 KJV).
“…But [one of]..the fruit of the Spirit is… FAITH…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).
Faith is a FRUIT of the empowering HOLY SPIRIT.
“…But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, FAITH, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…the Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). JESUS
SAID, "I and my Father are…ONE…"
(John 10:30 KJV). THEREFORE, “…the Lord is that Spirit [too]…” (2 Corinthians
3:17 KJV “…Jesus Christ is
IN YOU…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…Christ be “IN” YOU…
(Romans 8:10 KJV).
Therefore, “…I CAN DO (walk in divine faith) all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). I CAN “…walk BY FAITH...” (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV). “…It shall
be done to you ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH…" (Matthew
9:29 NASB).
“…ALL THINGS for which you pray and ask, BELIEVE (walk in divine
faith) THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THEM, and they will be granted you…” (Mark 11:24 NASB).
Your
capacity for living by divine faith is unlimited and the more you exercise “the measure of faith” the more you will
experience supernatural happenings (Romans 12:3). “…Jesus said unto him, If THOU
CANST BELIEVE (walk in divine faith), all things are
possible to him that believeth…” (Mark 9:23 KJV).
Do you have divine faith? YES. “…God hath dealt to every man the measure of
FAITH…” (Romans 12:3 NIV). One of “…the fruit of the Spirit is… FAITH…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV). “…the Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…the Lord is that
Spirit [too]…” (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV “…Jesus Christ is IN YOU…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).
“…[You]…
CAN DO (walk in divine faith) all things through Christ which strengtheneth me…”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV).
Godspeed,
Dr. Pensacola
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