Faith Works

Faith, “What is it? How does it work? Do I have it and if not how do I get it?” are a few of the most asked questions in Christianity.

First of all, everyone has faith of one type or another. Some of it actually works and some does not.

Bill Gates had faith in his operating system for computers in the 70’s and today is worth about 50 billion due to that faith. This is the type of faith that most have - a faith in something they do, can see, be involved in, or work with. For some, this works fine, but still it has ups and downs to it and usually more downs than ups. Plus, that kind of faith is only in one area such as finances, health, or relationship.

The type of faith we have in God can and should work in all areas; unfortunately most that have this type of faith limit it to one or two areas.

John 3

16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

God sent Jesus to save mankind because He so loved the world. This is the type of creator that supplies all your needs, not just some. Where most people have a problem is that they think of God as their creator, but not their Father. If they thought of God more as their Father and that their faith comes from and is in Him then they would have more faith than they need.

Romans 10

17.          So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith comes by hearing; so if we do not hear we have no faith.

1 John 2

27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

John 14

26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Understand that the word “Christ” comes from the Greek word “Christos” which is “Anoint(ing)”.In Luke 4:18 Jesus states He is anointed with the Spirit of God. Christ being Anointing, and Jesus saying He is the anointed one and anointed with the Spirit of God, tells us that Christ means to be of the Spirit of God, anointed with His Spirit. Anoint means not just on, or just in, but all the way through. Imagine a sponge that is dry. Now imagine it dunked in a bucket of water overnight. The next day, when you lift it, the water has saturated or anointed the sponge to where water drips out of it.

Ephesians 2

8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Without faith we cannot be saved; without the Spirit we cannot hear, and without hearing we cannot have faith.

Galatians 3

2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Now here is where the real loss over the past 1900 years comes into account - what the word “Christ” means and actual “hearing”.

"Christ" comes from a Greek word "Christos" which means anointing. In Luke 4:18 Jesus said He was anointed with the Spirit of God. If He is the anointed (Christ) and we are of Him (Christians) then we are of the anointing or the spirit.

What is the Spirit?

John 4

24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The Spirit is God and God is the Spirit, so if we are of Christ (the anointing) we are of God. But if the Spirit ended in the first century how can we be of the Spirit?

Walk by not sight but by faith:

2 Corinthians 5

7. (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Imagine being blind and still able to walk all over your house even though you can’t see. Of course you can do it because you know where everything is, but it is also because you have faith that nothing has moved and the path, even though you cannot see it, is free of obstacles.

 

Mark 11

22. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

23. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

24. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Faith is believing in not what you see and the world states as fact, but what God states as fact.

John 4

24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

God is a Spirit and if you cannot believe in the Spirit how can you believe in God?

Philippians 4

 13.  I can do all things through Christ whichstrengtheneth me.

 19.  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

I can do all things through the Spirit of God that is on me, in me, and through me.

 

Hebrews 10

 35.  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

 36.  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

 37.  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

 38.  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

 39.  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Faith is your confidence in God and His word that He is not a man who can lie but who tells only the truth. If He says it, then that is all that counts; it is a done deal.

 

Hebrews 11

 1.  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2.  For by it the elders obtained a good report.

 3.  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

 4.  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

 5.  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

 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.

 

The more time you spend reading His word, listening for His voice, and believing in what He says over what the world says the more your faith will increase in those areas for/in which you believe God.

Health - You believe for a healing; some have only faith enough for doctors and medicine to heal them while others can believe for more of a spiritual healing without ever seeing a doctor or taking medicine.

Wealth - Your wealth is based on your faith in this area. If you are not tied up with being poor (as some teach) then you can overcome poverty and prosper financially.

Relationships - A relationship with a person (Spouse, children, parents, etc )can be improved a lot if you start with a relationship with God.

There are no aspects of your life for which you cannot count on faith to work for you. Faith is there for you in all areas as you need it or in most cases as you use it (which is little).

Revelation 3

 19.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

“As many as I love” based on John 3:16 refers to all of us. “I rebuke” this means “I convict of the error of your ways.” Say you did not know it but you were driving down a road that drops off 4,000 feet; if no one warned you, you would die. But if you cannot hear because of the noise of your car how would you avoid the cliff? Jesus is trying to warn us daily and if we listen and hear Him we are shown the error and hopefully change. “Chasten” means to “educate”, show a new way to go in life, “be zealous” means “to have a new heart towards the Lord.” “Repent”means “turn around” or “change directions”(avoid the 4,000 foot drop off).

Revelation 3

20.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Jesus is at the door and He is Knocking. He will join and have communion with (that is to sup with) anyone who HEARS HIS VOICE and opens the door.

Revelation 3

 21.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 22.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

A lot of wolves come in sheep clothing to keep you from hearing from God, to keep you in the dark, and to keep you subject to their laws, dogma, etc.

Matthew 7

 13.  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

 14.  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 15.  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

God is Love, He loves you and me and that is what life is really about.

Matthew 22

 36.  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37.  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

 38.  This is the first and great commandment.

39.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 40.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

 

Love thy Neighbour

Luke 10

 29.  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

 30.  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

 31.  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

 32.  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

 33.  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

 34.  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

 35.  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

 36.  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

 37.  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

This study was called “Faith Works”, and it does as much as you let it, but faith requires exercise and to be worked out on a regular basis, justlike any muscle. I extend my faith as much as I can daily and by the end of each week it is better than the week before. Lately it has been more for health reasons. Earlier this year I was walking less than 100 feet at a time and faced the possibility of losing both legs. Yesterday I walked more than I had in the past month put together. Some will say it is the doctors and hospitals and to a degree they would be right. But to do what I did just two days after being on the operating table took faith and it worked. I am also applying it to relationships and it is working and growing there daily as well as my finances.

You can continue to depend on your worldly type of faith and perhaps be blessed in one or two areas or grow your faith in God and be blessed in all areas.

 

Mary had Faith

Luke 1

 31.  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

32.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33.  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34.  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35.  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

 36.  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

 37.  For with God nothing shall be impossible.

 38.  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

It is easier to have faith when you are not being told daily that you cannot do something by television, movies, Internet, etc.

Don’t believe what you see and hear in this world, but have faith to believe what you cannot see and only hear of the next.