FAITH
Thursday – May 18, 2017
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior from Patti and me at The Three Minute Word publications. Take a moment and enjoy the beautiful stream located in Fayette, Maine. God is so good to give us beauty in the midst of a fallen and perverse world. Just think of the beauty and purity that awaits us. Now let’s move back into our study from the Book of Ephesians.
Ephesians 6:21-24 (KJV)
21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Today let’s move into a discussion of faith. The Apostle Paul is not only saying that they need the faith which is from God and the Lord Jesus Christ but that faith and love do not stand alone. Faith without love is powerless as is love without faith (in God). The faith we are talking about is the faith that we received the capacity for from God and the reality (Truth) that we can develop our faith to the same level as our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We know from the ‘love chapter’ that faith without love is useless to the Kingdom of God and now we see that love without faith is equally useless.
Recall that faith is also one of the fruit of the spirit and is a pivotal part of our righteousness. We had to exercise our God given faith (and love) in order to be born again. With that exercise of the measure of faith given to everyone (Romans 12:3) we became the righteousness of God. We all start off with the same amount of faith however the development of that faith beyond the capacity to be born again is an individual responsibility as we are led of the Spirit.
Romans 10:10 (KJV)
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The word ‘heart’ in the preceding verse is our old friend ‘kardia’ which refers to the decision making area of our soul. The word ‘believeth’ is the word faith. So we see that when we exercise our will to have faith in God we are made righteous and salvation is ours, the same salvation that Jesus received. Paul has sent Tychicus to them to exhort them, to remind them, of the need to operate in the realities of the peace of God, the love of God, and the faith of God. Our faith in God comes from our faith received from or of God.
Mark 11:22 (YLT)
22 And Jesus answering saith to them, `Have faith of God;
Everyone has and exercises natural faith but Jesus is talking about supernatural faith, which we got from (of) God and it moves mountains. We are not mountain climbers we are mountain removers. Let’s remind ourselves of the following verses.
Galatians 5:6 (KJV)
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
To believe God or have faith in God is powerless without obedience to God, the Word of God. Love is the fuel that brings the fire, the power of God, to bear with our exercise of faith.
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The word translated ‘substance’ might more accurately be translated ‘foundation’. The word ‘things’ can also be interpreted as ‘words’. The things (words create images) hoped for are the things promised by the Word of God as led of the Spirit of God. Our faith in the Word of God is to be unwavering. The actions (evidence) of our faith is the exercise of love, which is thinking, saying, and doing as the Holy Spirit and the Word command.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
We see a little further on in the faith chapter (Hebrews 11) that it is impossible to please God without faith. Are we pleased when people don’t believe us, have faith in us? No, and neither is He. We must not just believe that He is, that He exists but that He will perform the Word for our good when we diligently seek or are committed to Him. Perhaps a more literal translation of “cometh to God” would be to draw near to God. The Scripture tells us that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. God in the person of the Holy Spirit is always near, inside of us, this is talking in function, interaction, and transactional. Two people can be side by side but might as well be a million miles apart if they are not in agreement. Bottom line, the essence of drawing near to God is to think like and talk like Him.
Amos 3:3 (KJV)
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
As I conclude for today, remember that whatever we do that is not of the faith of God is sin.
Romans 14:23 (KJV)
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Brother Paul is telling them and us to get out of the natural and get back into the Spirit and function from that far above reality.
Until our next publication I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
Contact e-mail: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
Mailing Address: 3 Rosswood Green Lane, Unit Two
Oakland, Maine 04963
