Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen or personally experienced (Hebrews 11:1). Faith works by love (Galatians 5:6). There are so many different ways that God
works in our lives and it always fascinates me to see Him show up. The first two scriptures (or abstracts of
them) tell us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and works by
love. This tells me there is no great
faith without love. Jesus’ disciples
asked why the possessed man could not be delivered by them and Jesus’ answer
was that this kind will only come out by prayer and fasting (Matthew
17:21). This also means that fasting
overcomes flesh by overcoming fear. It continues
to say that fear has torment and God tells us to fear not (Joshua 1:1-9). The first passage goes on to say that with it
several men in the Old Testament obtained good success (Hebrews 11. Another says that without faith it is
impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith works by love.
Love empowers faith. If love empowers
your faith and faith without works is dead and we know that faith without works
is dead then we must also assume that faith without love is dead...or
powerless. First Corinthians 13 says
this very thing. Faith without love is
just a glorified noisemaker. Attacking
others because you do not agree with them rather than loving them into
compliance (spiritual not carnal) is wrong.
If they refuse to repent and humble themselves under God’s hand you may
turn them over for the destruction of flesh until they submit to God. Vengeance is his and beating them over the
head in rage is not warning them but cursing them. God forbids our cursing with this tongue of
ours.
Here’s a quandary.
Faith is empowered by love but supposing you did manage to have faith
without love so you could move a mountain it would profit you not one
whit. In fact, it would make you a
castaway. It wouldn’t matter if you gave
of yourself until you died or did everything for everyone. If you do not love those you minister to then
your work is in vain and your SALVATION is too.
One thing you seriously do not want to be of no effect is your
salvation.
If faith is the substance of things hoped for then love is
that hope and love will bring it to pass; either ours which is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit or His which was so strong that He gave His only
begotten son. His love empowered His
faith to perform His action of sacrificing His only begotten son. God’s son/ God’s love will bring it to pass.
On the one hand Jesus is the firstborn of many brethren but
on the other, He is the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.
No matter His experiences Jesus is unique from us. We are redeemed and adopted by God due to our
love for our big brother Jesus but He was always a son.
One other point if I may.
Faith without reason is quite weak because one must know why one loves;
furthermore, one must know in whom he believes and that He is able to keep what
has been committed to Him for safekeeping (2 Timothy 1:12). If I don’t know in whom I believe then I
might be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16, 2 Corinthians
7:14, 2 Timothy 1:12).
Paul was likely a genius.
He was certainly highly intelligent and certain of the God and Messiah
he had chosen to follow. True, not all
of it was by faith. Jesus met him on the
road, blinded him, had Ananias pray for him and then gave him back (most?) his
sight. Those experiences helped to turn
his track toward the gospel but once the scripture had been wholly revealed to
him he needed no further explanation. He
was sold, lock, stock and barrel (means the whole thing, and is identified by
the parts of a flintlock rifle (the lock (firing mechanism) stock (part that
fit against your shoulder) and barrel (the part that the bullets or lead ball
came out of)). I probably should have
just let the phrase die.
God’s plan cannot be thwarted. It will come to pass. You need not worry that scientists will prove
God does not exist. They can’t even prove
why man exists. They just keep making up
theories. God will honor and fulfill His
word. Fear not.
I’ve said all this to say, “Study to show yourself approved
to God a workman that needs not be ashamed.”
Do not allow the doubt of the world to creep into your mind and
heart. Continue to fast and pray and IT
WILL COME TO PASS.
Bishop J
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