Faithing 10/01/06
A few years ago in Detroit a woman was chased beaten and eventually thrown from a bridge while hundreds of people stood and watched. �How could that happen you ask?� Psychologists call it �mass human inertia� everyone was literally locked in place. because no one moved but if one person had moved called the cops done anything�then like dominos falling the group would have acted but everyone was waiting for someone else to do something but no one moved they all just stood and watched while this horrible event took place. Christians do the same thing we stand en mass and wait thinking someone else will do something�any second someone else will move on the call before us. The Encarta Dictionary�s number 1 definition: Faith (noun) the belief in, devotion to, or trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof. We accept faith as an Idea but often we fail to consider faith a verb FAITHING Noah was faithing when he built the ark. In this mornings reading we read that Noah walked with God Noah walked in faith not as a noun but a verb that is why it is said that He walked with God. Noah was given very specific instructions as to the size and construction of the ark engineering principals that would not appear in history for another thousand years. Just a little aside to give you an idea of the undertaking of the arks construction. The ark was 450 ft L x 75 ft W x 45 ft H, the window was 18 inches below the roof. --- Noah has 120 years to build the ark before the Flood comes. It is interesting to note that Noah didn't have to go fetch each pair of animals and birds... they came to him [Gen 6:20; 7:19-21]. Yes, I am sure Noah sometimes felt foolish since no one could even understand the concept of rain much less a flood of such magnitude. But acting in faith Faithing he worked building the ark according to God�s instruction. Abraham was faithing when he raised his blade to sacrifice Isaac he did not have a need to understand he was acting in faith and by that act of obedience a man of God stayed his hand. Moses was faithing when he went to pharaoh demanding he let God�s people go acting on God�s will moving in his plan. Rahab a harlot was faithing when she placed the red string in her window. She was acting with the understanding that God was with these men and that their promise was God�s promise. Joshua a general and solider in service to God followed the instructions of God Almighty even though they sounded impractical as a result his army was victorious at Jericho. We find in God�s Word people acting in and on God�s will without reservation, men and women moving in and on faith. Jesus tells us repeatedly to believe to have faith. He even tells us that the human mind can only understand so much. That a human who possesses a great faith is still infinitesimal when compared that which is actually possible but even then with such a small bit of faith Matt 17:20 20: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. We are to move from a noun faith to the verb. We are to live our life faithing in pursuit of God�s promises to us. Matt 7: 7-8 7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened John 16:23-24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24: Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. While faithing know that, these promises are not just for a select few. The promises of our Lord are for all his children not for some special group or people. You posses the Faith you are the ones faithing�working day by day in and of the promises these are just a few of them but I hope you will take them to heart and hold them close as you prepare to begin faithing. BELIEF " that his word is true and unfailing 46: I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47: And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. John 12:46 12: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12 CHARITY His compassion will be with us forever He is just and true. He will take care of those who care for others. 38: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. " Luke 6:38 " 9: He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. " Proverbs 22:9 COMFORT and peace so that we can face a world of chaos and distress. 1: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2: Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; " Psalm 46:1-2 33: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.! " John 16:33 28: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.." Matt. 11:28-30 COURAGE so that we can cast off fear. Courage to withstand the evil one, who stands ready to halt our relationship with God. 28: Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29: He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength" Isaiah 40:28-29 " 1: But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3: For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:" Isaiah 43:1-3 The Promise of eternal life an eternity in the presence of God the Father. Eternity without tears or pain. "44: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45: It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46: Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life�. John 6:44-47 " 24: Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25: And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 1 John 2: 24-25 "25: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." John 11:25-26 " 25: Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26: But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29: My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30: I and my Father are one.." John 10:25-30 Faith He has given us truth in our faith and understanding of how precious it really is " 1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. " Heb.11:1 " 26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise..Galatians 3:26 " 6: Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) " 2 Cor. 5:7 FAITHFULNESS Our God is always faithful His Word to us is truth we can depend on Him throughout our lives. " 8: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9: Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;." Deut.7:9 " 10: For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. 11: O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 12: And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 13: And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children." Isaiah 54:10 GUIDANCE We can turn to Christ for Guidiance and depend on Him to show us the best way the way that most glorifies (Our God) " 8: I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9: Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. 10: Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.." Psalm 32:8 " 16: And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. " Isaiah 42:16 JOY. Joy and delight in one another All encompassing Joy in him who created us. " 8: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9: As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11: These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12: This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. " John 15:11 LOVE " I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Jeremiah 31:3 17: I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. " Proverbs 8:17 9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor. 2:9 MERCY 18: And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.! " Isaiah 30:18 " : He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11: For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12: As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13: Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.." Psalm 103:13 PEACE " 27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.." John 14:27 " 7: And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. " Phil. 4:7 PRAYER 12: Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13: And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.." Jeremiah 29:12 " 24: And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.." Isaiah 65:24 PROTECTION " 7: The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8: The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.." Psalm 121:7, 8 I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.." Isaiah 43:1,2 SALVATION 4: But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6: Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;. " Titus 3:4-6 " 17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;!" 2 Cor 5:17 TRUST " 5: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6: In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.." Proverbs 3: 5,6 WISDOM " 5: Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.." Proverbs 2:5 "..... 3: And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways,. " Isaiah 2:3 WORD OF GOD 8: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9: Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest Joshua 1: 8&9 His Grace " : And even to your old age I am he; and even to gray hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.. " Isaiah 46:4 These are only a few of the promises God offers us if we just consider Faith a verb (Faith..ing) We can make a real difference not only in our selves but By living constantly in faith we can change the world. We will stand on the Promises of God.
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