Wow.... I'm updating my blog less than a few months since the last one. That's because I really love talking about Faith and when I get comments it actually really motivates me to write more.
From my last post we find out the importance of the Word of God in reference to our Faith building. We can see by the scriptures that Faith is directly connected to the WORD of God. The word of God can come in many different ways. We can Read the word or we can Hear the word. What is the WORD? Is the word simply the red and black letters typed upon the pages of your Bible? Is the Word something that you speak by inspiration? What defines the Word of God?
Let's check the scriptures:
John 1:1 In the Beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was GOD.
v.14 And the WORD was made flesh and dwelt among us...
We understand those scriptures as being the interpretation of what the WORD actually is. The Word is not a thing but rather the Word is someone. Jesus is the very incarnation of the word. He embodies the very creative Word. In fact in one instance Jesus said:
John 6:51 I am the living Bread which came down from Heaven,...
Bread has always been a type of the Word of God. Thus Jesus is letting us know that he himself is the very manifestation of the WORD or the Logos. Jesus is the very bread, word, substance of existence.
How does this tie into Faith? Easy! Jesus is the Word. We receive Faith through the Word. If we want more Faith we have to have more Jesus. Jesus is the source from which we gather Faith. Faith is the nectar that we can extrapolate from a true relationship with JESUS. This is also the reason that Paul wrote in my absolute favorite scripture:
Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
To be continued...
p.s. It's getting good.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Turning Hope into Faith
Well... it has definitely been a long time since Ive graced this blog with my presence. I suppose to say that Ive been busy would be true but much to great of a common excuse. So instead, I will say that I have been preoccupied with other "things."
Ive been thinking a lot on the subject of Faith lately and the importance of having active Faith in our lives as Christians. It is very important to understand that our entire walk with God and confidence in the work on Calvary is rooted in this thing we call Faith. But what is Faith? Is Faith simply the mental state of thinking in abstract terms? Is it the ability to travel into the unknown through concentration? Or is Faith much simpler than that?
We all realize the importance of Faith through the scriptures.
Heb 11:6 But without Faith it is impossible to please him...
Faith is what empowers us to believe in things that we are not able to see, smell, touch, hear or taste. However, the only way to receive the Faith to believe in the impossible is through the hearing of Gods word.
Rom 10:17 So then, Faith cometh by hearing and hearing, by the word of God.
It is the word of God that gives us the confidence that "all things are possible." There are a lot of things we Hope for. We hope to have a healthy life. We hope to have a safe drive to work. We hope to graduate. These are the carnal desires of man. They aren't wrong but they are things that we truly desire but because of uncertainty we hope for these things. The problem is that we bring that same mentality into the church.
Because we do not feel as though we have the power to accomplish certain tasks we make statements such as. I hope they get healed. I hope they get saved. I hope they make it. I hope.... etc.
Heb 12:1 Now Faith is the substance of things Hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is what turns our hope into the finished product. Hope is the blueprint, but Faith is the lumber. Hope is the porch, but Faith is the door that lets us in. We need to claim the promises of God through Faith. How do you get Faith? By hearing the WORD of God. God said:
Mark 16:18 ...Lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power.
John 5:20 ...greater than these works shall he do.
If you want God to start doing some amazing things in your life. You must move from 'I hope' to 'I believe'. The word of God IS our Faith and substance.
To be continued...
Ive been thinking a lot on the subject of Faith lately and the importance of having active Faith in our lives as Christians. It is very important to understand that our entire walk with God and confidence in the work on Calvary is rooted in this thing we call Faith. But what is Faith? Is Faith simply the mental state of thinking in abstract terms? Is it the ability to travel into the unknown through concentration? Or is Faith much simpler than that?
We all realize the importance of Faith through the scriptures.
Heb 11:6 But without Faith it is impossible to please him...
Faith is what empowers us to believe in things that we are not able to see, smell, touch, hear or taste. However, the only way to receive the Faith to believe in the impossible is through the hearing of Gods word.
Rom 10:17 So then, Faith cometh by hearing and hearing, by the word of God.
It is the word of God that gives us the confidence that "all things are possible." There are a lot of things we Hope for. We hope to have a healthy life. We hope to have a safe drive to work. We hope to graduate. These are the carnal desires of man. They aren't wrong but they are things that we truly desire but because of uncertainty we hope for these things. The problem is that we bring that same mentality into the church.
Because we do not feel as though we have the power to accomplish certain tasks we make statements such as. I hope they get healed. I hope they get saved. I hope they make it. I hope.... etc.
Heb 12:1 Now Faith is the substance of things Hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is what turns our hope into the finished product. Hope is the blueprint, but Faith is the lumber. Hope is the porch, but Faith is the door that lets us in. We need to claim the promises of God through Faith. How do you get Faith? By hearing the WORD of God. God said:
Mark 16:18 ...Lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power.
John 5:20 ...greater than these works shall he do.
If you want God to start doing some amazing things in your life. You must move from 'I hope' to 'I believe'. The word of God IS our Faith and substance.
To be continued...
Friday, April 16, 2010
Miracle Recipe
Everyone wants to see miracles. I would venture to say that all of us have experienced the working of Gods power in our lives. We have seen him fill people with the Holy Ghost and deliver others from a horrible lifestyle in just one moment. Those are miracles! However, God wants us to continue to see healing's take place. Healing from Cancer, hepatitis, diabetes, heart problems, chronic headaches, allergies and many more ailments. God wants to demonstrate his power through physical healings. God does move in our services more than we notice. With the word of knowledge and the demonstration of power.
Most of us believe that God can do it. We know he can. We believe that when this preacher prays for that person they can receive a miracle. But where we have a problem is believing that God wants to do it for us. I know God can do it for you, but I'm not sure he will do it for me. So, what is the recipe for a miracle?
The answer is this: A) A problem. B) Faith
That's it! Simple huh?
Most of us believe that God can do it. We know he can. We believe that when this preacher prays for that person they can receive a miracle. But where we have a problem is believing that God wants to do it for us. I know God can do it for you, but I'm not sure he will do it for me. So, what is the recipe for a miracle?
The answer is this: A) A problem. B) Faith
That's it! Simple huh?
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
What is my life all about?
Greeting! It has most certainly been a good while since I last updated my blog. Is blogging even cool anymore? While you think on how you should answer, let me just give you what I have been thinking on in the last little while.
Someone once asked me the question, "Why is finding the will of God for my life so hard?" At the time I had no immediate answer. I simply said, you must know God to know his will. After that quick dialogue I began to ask myself the question as well. How often have I seen young men and women and even the older generation get frustrated about knowing the will of God. We often pray with an honest heart, 'Lord I want to know your will, God what is your will, Show me your will' and more times than not people walk away from an hour long "prayer" meeting without an answer and all the while the entire hour was spent trying to find out, "what is my life all about?"
Many young people spend their prayer time just wanting to know what God wants them to do or where he wants them to go. And although seeking after the mind of God inherently is most certainly not a bad thing at all. But I submit to you that many people want to know the will of God without knowing God. Many want to know his plan but they do not seek the planner. How many times do we treat prayer like a fast-food drive through, where we give our order and expect to have it in a bag with napkins by the time we pull around to the pickup window? The answer is, more often than we would like to admit.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
In this scripture we find the answer. In order for us to know the will and the plan of God, we must first know God. If you build a relationship with God, you will always be in his will. You wont have to spend all of your time, effort and prayers asking God to show you all the time. When you know God and you have a relationship with him he will keep you in his will and plan and He will reveal his plans to you. For the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord. When you walk with Jesus you always walk in his will. You don't have to sweat or fret or worry. It's all in who you know.
People who don't have a relationship with God and always pray for the will and plan of God will never be able to fulfill his will, even if God were to reveal it to them. Because you can not know the plan and will of God unless you know him. And the reason this is true is because God's ways are not our ways and neither are his thoughts our thoughts. He is not like man and often his plans make absolutely No Sense at all when you look through the eyes of human flesh. But when you KNOW God, you will understand His plan for your life. In fact, when you really have a good relationship with God your already in His plan for your life. So, next time you kneel to pray, don't spend all your time worried and frustrated. Just know that if you seek after God, all the rest will fall right into place. And that my friend is 'What your life is all about?'
Someone once asked me the question, "Why is finding the will of God for my life so hard?" At the time I had no immediate answer. I simply said, you must know God to know his will. After that quick dialogue I began to ask myself the question as well. How often have I seen young men and women and even the older generation get frustrated about knowing the will of God. We often pray with an honest heart, 'Lord I want to know your will, God what is your will, Show me your will' and more times than not people walk away from an hour long "prayer" meeting without an answer and all the while the entire hour was spent trying to find out, "what is my life all about?"
Many young people spend their prayer time just wanting to know what God wants them to do or where he wants them to go. And although seeking after the mind of God inherently is most certainly not a bad thing at all. But I submit to you that many people want to know the will of God without knowing God. Many want to know his plan but they do not seek the planner. How many times do we treat prayer like a fast-food drive through, where we give our order and expect to have it in a bag with napkins by the time we pull around to the pickup window? The answer is, more often than we would like to admit.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
In this scripture we find the answer. In order for us to know the will and the plan of God, we must first know God. If you build a relationship with God, you will always be in his will. You wont have to spend all of your time, effort and prayers asking God to show you all the time. When you know God and you have a relationship with him he will keep you in his will and plan and He will reveal his plans to you. For the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord. When you walk with Jesus you always walk in his will. You don't have to sweat or fret or worry. It's all in who you know.
People who don't have a relationship with God and always pray for the will and plan of God will never be able to fulfill his will, even if God were to reveal it to them. Because you can not know the plan and will of God unless you know him. And the reason this is true is because God's ways are not our ways and neither are his thoughts our thoughts. He is not like man and often his plans make absolutely No Sense at all when you look through the eyes of human flesh. But when you KNOW God, you will understand His plan for your life. In fact, when you really have a good relationship with God your already in His plan for your life. So, next time you kneel to pray, don't spend all your time worried and frustrated. Just know that if you seek after God, all the rest will fall right into place. And that my friend is 'What your life is all about?'
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Truth!
What is the truth? Who defines what truth is? Why are we so intent on knowing the truth?
.
These are all very important questions and yet most all who read this will answer differently from each other. Not because one is right and the other is wrong, but it is because we define truth by our own understanding. If one defines temptation as being the internal reaction and not the external offer, then when someone offers them a smoke they can say “I am not tempted.” However, if you define temptation as being the external offer, regardless of the internal reaction, then you would say that they were tempted. Who is right in this situation? The answer is both have their own reasoning and explanation and thus both will claim to know the truth.
.
But is truth merely the difference of thought and ideology or is there more to the story? The question must be answered in this day and time. What is TRUTH?? How can we go about claiming to have truth and yet not be able to define truth?
.
The reason why we are so intent on knowing and having the truth is because there is tremendous power in knowing the truth. With the truth you can change the world and answer the unknown. We seek to know the truth because it changes our outlook on many things and brings into perspective very important situations. The example of a homicide case involving only one suspect and one victim is a perfect scenario. The truth from the suspect is absolutely vital to the overall outcome of the trail. And though the defense team and the prosecution team might think they have great power they know without a doubt that the Suspect has the ultimate power because he knows ‘The Truth.’
.
And this is the key in living for God. We often get caught in the middle of fussing and fighting about who has the greater power or who has the greater influence. When in reality to gain power we must have the full truth. Because once you have the truth, the truth will speak for itself and the power and influence will automatically follow the truth.
.
So then….What is “The Truth”?
.
The answer is simple and yet profound. While many would claim that the truth is this or that, the astounding reality is that the truth is neither this or that nor is it something, but the truth is actually Someone!
.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
.
Wow!! Jesus does is again! He takes our definition of what the truth is and slams the hammer down and proclaims unashamed and as matter of fact that while we are sitting around discussing what the truth is and why and how, we miss it all together. The fact of the matter is that Jesus Christ is “THE TRUTH” and although there are many truths and rights. The only truth that is able to make the difference in any situation is the one and only “truth.” This is also the reason why Jesus personifies the truth and says:
.
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
.
This is the reason I can be comforted in all things because I know I have “the truth” dwelling in me and according to the word of God. I shall not fail as long as I am filled with the spirit of God. And since I have “The Truth” I have the power to be an over comer and walk in complete victory. When you realize the power of having the Truth, there is no reason why you can not have complete confidence in all things.
.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
.
I have a whole lot more that I would love to impart. But the fact is this, when we talk about “the truth” we are talking about Jesus. Thus our greatest power comes from preaching Jesus, teaching about Jesus, living for Jesus, talking about Jesus and most of all having Jesus! I love The Truth!!
.
These are all very important questions and yet most all who read this will answer differently from each other. Not because one is right and the other is wrong, but it is because we define truth by our own understanding. If one defines temptation as being the internal reaction and not the external offer, then when someone offers them a smoke they can say “I am not tempted.” However, if you define temptation as being the external offer, regardless of the internal reaction, then you would say that they were tempted. Who is right in this situation? The answer is both have their own reasoning and explanation and thus both will claim to know the truth.
.
But is truth merely the difference of thought and ideology or is there more to the story? The question must be answered in this day and time. What is TRUTH?? How can we go about claiming to have truth and yet not be able to define truth?
.
The reason why we are so intent on knowing and having the truth is because there is tremendous power in knowing the truth. With the truth you can change the world and answer the unknown. We seek to know the truth because it changes our outlook on many things and brings into perspective very important situations. The example of a homicide case involving only one suspect and one victim is a perfect scenario. The truth from the suspect is absolutely vital to the overall outcome of the trail. And though the defense team and the prosecution team might think they have great power they know without a doubt that the Suspect has the ultimate power because he knows ‘The Truth.’
.
And this is the key in living for God. We often get caught in the middle of fussing and fighting about who has the greater power or who has the greater influence. When in reality to gain power we must have the full truth. Because once you have the truth, the truth will speak for itself and the power and influence will automatically follow the truth.
.
So then….What is “The Truth”?
.
The answer is simple and yet profound. While many would claim that the truth is this or that, the astounding reality is that the truth is neither this or that nor is it something, but the truth is actually Someone!
.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
.
Wow!! Jesus does is again! He takes our definition of what the truth is and slams the hammer down and proclaims unashamed and as matter of fact that while we are sitting around discussing what the truth is and why and how, we miss it all together. The fact of the matter is that Jesus Christ is “THE TRUTH” and although there are many truths and rights. The only truth that is able to make the difference in any situation is the one and only “truth.” This is also the reason why Jesus personifies the truth and says:
.
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
.
This is the reason I can be comforted in all things because I know I have “the truth” dwelling in me and according to the word of God. I shall not fail as long as I am filled with the spirit of God. And since I have “The Truth” I have the power to be an over comer and walk in complete victory. When you realize the power of having the Truth, there is no reason why you can not have complete confidence in all things.
.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
.
I have a whole lot more that I would love to impart. But the fact is this, when we talk about “the truth” we are talking about Jesus. Thus our greatest power comes from preaching Jesus, teaching about Jesus, living for Jesus, talking about Jesus and most of all having Jesus! I love The Truth!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
