Jesus said in Mark 11:22 (Amplified), "Have faith in God (constantly)."
Romans 10:17 (Amplified) says, "So faith comes by hearing (what is told); and what is heard comes by the preaching (of the message that comes from the lips) of Christ (the Messiah Himself)."
Much of what we're "hearing" today, is not the "Message that came from the lips of Christ, the Messiah Himself." Since what Jesus preached isn't being preached today, faith in what He preached isn't being constantly received.
It's time we begin to "Look unto Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of our faith," like we're instructed in Hebrews 12:2 (Amplified) which says, "Looking away (from all that will distract) to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith (giving the first incentive for our belief) and is also its Finisher (bringing it to maturity and perfection). He, for the joy (of obtaining the prize) that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is NOW seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Jesus gave us the "first incentive for our belief or faith." Without Him, we had no faith to continue in this world. Our problem has been that we haven't heard the Word preached, so we could not put faith into it. We've stopped preaching the Kingdom and began preaching the "someday syndrome." Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) says, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things (we) hope for, being proof of things (we) do not see (the spirit realm) and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as real fact what is not yet revealed to the senses)."
We haven't taught much from God's Word about educating and trusting the spirit realm. We've determined that whatever occurs in our lives is God's will for us. Because "faith comes by hearing," some have a difficult time believing we've been made and declared righteous by God. We've been taught by the carnal minded for so long, we have neglected the truth of the Spirit.
Having faith in God, is having faith in His Word. Romans 10:17 KJV says, "Faith in God comes by hearing God's Word." We haven't always heard God's Word and that's resulted in our having no faith in what God has done. Many sermons we've heard were centered on what someone else has said, instead of what God has said. Man's ideas of what God says, is not the same as what He said. It makes little difference to me whether you believe I am righteous, but when God says I am righteous, then I am.
Without righteousness, I can never have faith in my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I could never approach Him with confidence and assurance and have confidence that He will hear me if I am not in right standing with Him. Isaiah 54:14 (Amplified) speaks about the "Time of the Church" saying, "You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God's will and order); you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror; for it shall not come near you."
These are spiritual things that must come into your spirit to be believed. Your carnal mind cannot conceive what the Spirit has already done through Jesus. Your carnal mind has been programmed by the world and the god of this world and will never allow you to walk out from under the condemnation of your old man. When God said you were a "new creation," He meant exactly that. You're not some kind of "urban renewal" project, you are a new creation. God doesn't remember who you were and He wishes that you would forget that too.
Through faith in the Risen Christ, we've been "born from above" and are new creations. We are a people who didn't even exist on this planet, before Jesus' resurrection. Colossians 2:14-15 (Amplified) tells us, "Jesus, Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the hand-writing of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This (note with its regulations, decrees, and demands) He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to (His) cross. (God) disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him (Jesus) and in (the cross)."
This Word hasn't been preached enough for us to put faith in what God said about our old lives. We continue wanting to put condemnation on the people about their shortcomings. Remember though, it's not what you think about you, but what God thinks about you, that brings you faith. If you asked many in the Church whether or not they were saved, then all would probably say they are saved. If they were asked whether they were forgiven, then probably not very many would say they were forgiven. If asked if they were going to heaven, then all would probably agree they were. How do you know this, I would ask? Because "Faith comes by hearing."
We've heard this portion of the salvation message long enough to put faith in it. However, some haven't been delivered from the condemnation of the old life of sin, because that part of the Word hasn't been preached much either. Without hearing the Word preached, we can't have faith for much of what God has done or said concerning us. Many still are unsure about their old sin problem was totally dealt with b Jesus' Sacrifice.
Jesus spoke to the people about the "Sower and the soil (or heart)" in Mark 23:23-25 (Amplified) saying, "If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend. And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing, The measure (of thought and study) you give (to the truth you hear) will be the measure (of virtue and knowledge) that comes back to you-and more (besides) will be given to you who hear For to him who has (ears to hear) will more be given; and from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away (by force)."
When you "hear" the Word of the Kingdom and believe it, then more revelation will come. When you hear the Word of the Kingdom and reject it, then "satan will come immediately to take (by force) that which was sown." We've witnessed so much happening in the last few decades, that it seems like the whole world is in chaos. We've removed God from our schools, our government, the battlefields, out workplace and from many of our churches. The power of God's Word has been watered down and made insignificant in our lives. Many in the Church are told to "Just hang on until Jesus comes."
The spiritual aspect of God's Word seems to be of no effect in our lives today. We've allowed men to remove the truth from the eyes and heart of our nation. Many of us look at those running for the Highest Office of our Land and feel like it's a national embarrassment. The Church was supposed to be the Light of the world but instead, we have become the devil's whipping post.
John 6:28-29,38 (Amplified) tells us that Jesus' followers asked, "What are we to do, that we may (habitually) be working the works of God (what are we to do to carry out what God requires)? Jesus replied; This is the work (service) that God asks of you; that you believe in the One Whom He has sent (that you cleave to, trust in, rely on) and have faith in His Messenger." Jesus goes on in Verse 38 saying, "For I have come down from heaven not to do My Own will and purpose but to do the will and purpose of Him Who sent Me."
If we're truly a new creation who are born again by God's Own Spirit, then we must be "super-natural" beings. If this is true, and it is, then why is it seen as "strange" to teach the super-natural things of God to His children? Why is it that we speak of the super-natural people as being "spooky?" Do you think that Jesus was spooky? What about Paul or Peter or James or John? Why then, would it be spooky to the rest of God's family? We are created in His Likeness and Image and He is not spooky.
Perhaps the super-natural things of God spook some of us because we're afraid to fail in it. You cannot teach someone how to heal the sick, we must only trust in the One Who is in us to do the work. This is where faith comes into play, for the believer. Jesus said many times that, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me, Who is doing the work." He said in John 10:37-38 (Amplified), "If I am not doing the works (performing the deeds) of My Father, then do no believe Me (do not adhere to Me and trust Me and rely on Me). But if I do them, even though you do not believe Me or have faith in Me, (at least) believe the works and have faith in what I do, in order that you may know and understand (clearly) that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father (One with Him)."
We don't do the works, but only believe that the Father in us will do them for His Own sake. We've been preaching about our Heavenly Father and His power, but the world needs to "see Him." The world is not walking in faith, but walks by sight. Jesus said, "If you can't believe what I say, at least believe in what I am doing."
The world needs to see the presence of God, in these last days. We need to "believe" as much in miracles, as we believe in the cancellation of our sin. We need to put faith in God's ability to heal, as much as in His ability to forgive. He is, after all, the Same God. Because it hasn't been preached, we haven't heard. And, because we haven't heard, we haven't believed. Because we haven't believed, we haven't allowed God to do the mighty works that set Him apart from all other gods. Are we really so doubtful of the One we serve, that we think He can't do these things any longer? Has the One Who spoke this planet and universe into existence, become so weak or old that He can't move in our lives any longer?
2Peter 1:2-4 (Amplified) says, "May grace (God's favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary goods, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflict) be multiplied to you in (full, personal, precise, and correct) knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that (are requisite and suited) to life and godliness, through the (full, personal) knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His Own glory and excellence (virtue) By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises."
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