Faith
and Faithfulness
It
has been a while since I have written any thoughts. I have been quiet and
listening of late. God seems to have taken me back to the foundation if you
will, just being still and listening. He has really been speaking to me about different
things I think that may be used in different ways for what is ahead. One thing
was He took me to 1 Corinthian 3:11 about the foundation I have in Christ, the
perfect foundation, who He made me to be where He has led me and what He has
given me to build on this foundation. There is many but I will mention one.
In
my study, listening and wrestling this came to me from the Lord at different
times in different ways.
1.Faith in Him which is like a foundation
laid in the soul on which is built up the fuller and richer knowledge of saving
truth. From blue letter bible.
2.The fruits of the Spirit Galatians
5:22-23. The King James lists faith,
the other translations list faithfulness.
3.I believe faith is one of God’s mighty
weapons given to all believers. 2 Corinthians 3:1-6.
I
am not in anyway saying not to be faithful or obedient. It clearly talks of
these all through the bible. I need to grow and be more faithful and obedient.
Jesus was completely faithful to His Fathers will. Faith in God and the Holy
Spirit working in us gives us the ability to be faithful in what God wants to
do in our life, His will. But no one has or will be completely faithful except
Jesus. God gets the glory. Our faithfulness and view of it can be a great
thing and it can also get us into deep waters and enslaved in some interesting
ways. Deeply needing God, humility and faith in what He can do goes way beyond
faithfulness. Faithfulness comes from the word faith; it is what God does even
when we are not faithful. He gets the glory. When I read the gospels I
think Jesus kept teaching the disciples over and over again about faith in God.
Let me put it this way if I was playing 5 card draw with anything on the cards
I wanted from His Kingdom. It would be as listed, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Word
of God, and Faith. Faith in what the other 4 cards can and will do.
Us,
our marriages and the body of Christ victories in battles over, Satan, the
world, sin, strongholds etc, come from our faith in God. 1 John 5:4-5, “For whatever is born of God
overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the
world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world,
but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
I
will shortly mention a few people in the bible. Gideon in Judges 6-8. This is
one of my favorite men in the bible. God comes to Gideon and met him where he
was in a low place of weakness in Judges 6:12 and calls him, Mighty Warrior.
Gideon starts to realize that it is really God and he is accepted by God. As
his faith and belief in God grew, he becomes a mighty warrior for God’s
Kingdom. One bad man on a mission. This is not a normal everyday happening. I
don’t think this was because of Gideon’s great abilities. I am going to write
more on Gideon in my next post. This is a great story for us in many ways but I
think here is how being accepted and loved by God and others for who we are can
be a big help in our faith growing.
The
story of Abram or later called Abraham in Genesis 12-25, he is called in
scripture the father of our faith. His journey with God is amazing, Hebrews
11:8-9,“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place
which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he
was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a
foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of
the same promise.” In
Genesis 15 God made a covenant with Abraham that in everything God promised
Abraham would be fulfilled in His timing. This covenant was made by God and
upheld by God because He is God and completely faithful in everything He says
and promises. Abraham was not fully faithful, God was. Abraham’s faith in God
grew as the promises where fulfilled by God in His time. We are part of the
seed of Abraham, all who believe by faith in Jesus Christ. Romans, 4 is a
great chapter that explains more about Abraham and faith in God. Romans
4:16-21, “So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And
we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law
of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who
believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told
him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed
in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of
nothing.
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!” And Abraham’s faith did not
weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good
as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s
promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He
was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.” What speaks
to me is Abraham left his home and by faith followed God not knowing where he
was going. Also in Romans 4:17 it says in the NLT that Abraham believed in the God who brings the
dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. It says that as
his faith grew stronger this brought glory to God. FAITH!
The last is the 12
disciples; this speaks all about faith in God to me. Jesus was constantly
teaching them about faith In God all through the gospels. To me, Jesus was
planting in them a foundation of faith in their heart soul and inner being. Two
scriptures come to me, one is Matthew 14:22-32. In this scripture the disciples
see Jesus walking on the water and Peter by faith not only attempts to walk on
water he does. I don’t recall many people in the bible walking on water. I’m
glad here Peter sank right at the boat and Jesus grabbed him. The disciples’
faith became stronger, God was glorified and they worshiped Jesus as the Son of
God.
The second is Luke
22:31-32, “And
the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may
sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you,that
your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Clearly here, Peter and the
disciples seem to have failed. But again, how this was used to strengthen
their faith and bring glory to God. Jesus was praying for their faith just like
He has prayed for all our faith and intercedes for us. How important their
faith was and Jesus said when you repent and return to me, strengthen your
brothers.
I really desire
for God to strengthen my faith to glorify Him and strengthen others. 1 Peter
1:6-7 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be,
you have been grieved by various trials, that the
genuineness of your faith, being much
more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be
found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
I am always thankful for all the people in the bible and their
experiences. I was and still am in awe of what God done through people at times
that went way beyond mans way or understanding, God does supernatural things. Moses seen God’s glory
and presence and more supernatural works of God then any other man in the bible.
As
I grow and try to become more faithful I hope I don’t lose any of the hunger
for a child like genuine faith in God. Galatians is a good book they seem to have
tried to work for everything from God. Paul called them foolish Galatians 3:1-9
and he reminded them by faith. Hebrews 11:6
“But
without faith it is impossible to please Him,for he who comes to God
must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him.”
