Success Scripture April 14, 2009

Growing in Faith (Part 2)

Before we begin this week, we have an important word for you from the Holy Spirit regarding these messages. Every time you see scripture quoted to in the text, don't just read it, SPEAK it out. It is time to use the power of your tongue to do good and not evil. God did not think the universe into existence, he SPOKE it into existence. All of Jesus' miracles were performed by him SPEAKING what he desired and then expecting it to be so. Remember, ANYTIME you read a scripture, don't just read it, SPEAK IT OUT and watch the power of God manifest it in your life.

This, then brings us to our first proof of this word from God. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" - Romans 10:17
"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." - Hebrews 7:25

EXPLORATION

Definition: Biblical Faith is the spiritual quality by which men are held in a relationship of confidence in God. It is the practical submission of the entire man to the guidance and control of divinely revealed truth and this truth is contained in the Holy Bible. - (James 2:17, 19)

The Bible also tells us that: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

INSPIRATION

As we have understood from our previous weekly success word; The word of God covers every aspect of man's life. So, in his day to day living, he needs to obey or apply the word of God. From the foregoing, we can see that the inner ability or FAITH by which the believer lives according to the word of God and depends on His promises is a SPIRITUAL QUALITY that only God gives through the indwelling of the Spirit as he believes in Jesus Faith as fruit of the Spirit needs to grow from one stage to higher levels, and there are different kinds of faith - Saving Faith, Overcoming Faith, Great Faith and Strong Faith. No wonder the disciples of Jesus Christ said to Him: "Lord increase our Faith" Luke 17:5.

SAVING FAITH - This is the kind of faith that has been described above. The Bible says: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" -Ephesians 2:8 (KJV)

OVERCOMING FAITH - After being born again, we still find some forces still contending for our salvation: "All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life ..." (1 John 2:17; 1Peter 2:11; Romans 7:14-23). Jesus also said: "In the world ye shall have tribulation ..." (John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12). It is such that we shall be persecuted, disappointed, despised, caused to be angry, jealous or hate someone. It could even be a temptation to tell a lie or steal. We need to grow from believing God for only our salvation to trusting Him for help in overcoming all the trials and temptations that daily come our way. "And this is the victory that overcomes the world even our FAITH" I John 5:4, Romans. 8:38, Romans. 6:9-14.

GREAT FAITH - During the life and ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, there were a few people he described as having "Great Faith". Two instances are mentioned in the following passages:

 "...And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour." - Matthew 15:21-28(KJV)

"...For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." - Matthew 8:5-13(KJV)

In the first instance, there was a woman whose daughter was vexed by an evil spirit and was almost giving up. The second was the soldier whose servant was seriously ill and at the point of death. These two cases were such that someone had to trust God for the solution to other peoples' problems especially in cases of emergency where human effort has failed. (James1: 6, Psalms 46: l-5, Hebrews 7:25) This is great faith.

STRONG FAITH - Read Romans 4:17-22. In this passage, one could see Abraham being said to have "Strong Faith". Remember, God made a promise to bless him with a son through his wife Sarah. This promise took over 20 years before it was fulfilled.

There are cases in our lives in which we find ourselves having to wait almost endlessly for a particular promise of God to be fulfilled in our lives just like Abraham. Strong Faith is such that we have to believe God in a long term for something that may have to defy the natural laws before it will happen. It can be edifying to know that God is never too late. At the appropriate time, He will bring his promise to pass.

Let us now consider it he factors that helped Abraham to develop Strong Faith: He knew that God calls those things which are not and causes them to come into existence. He did not consider the deadness of Sarah's womb, but against hope believed in hope. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was fully persuaded that what God has promised HE is also able to perform. (Romans 4:17, 19, 20 & 21)

These different descriptions of faith are teaching us one vital lesson - that as we continue in this life, at different stages, there are bound to be different and new experiences and problems that will require us to trust God beyond the ordinary, more than the way we have done before.

This Week: Our faith must not be based on whatever we are as Businessman, Director, Doctor, Professor.., Christians - either as Pastors, Evangelists, Church elders or any other officer in the church or, better still, what God has done through us in the past but in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself because each day brings a new experience that will need a different touch from God. Jesus said to his disciples "Without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). That it's the Bible says: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." - John 15:5-7 (KJV)

We want you to know that has you trust in God and give Him time in your life this week He will increase in you and your faith will increase. HIS desire for you is to see your faith grow in HIM so that you might achieve all you have asked of HIM.

We are always available to help you and to love you. if you want us to pray with you, contact us at info@blissandfire.com today.

Remember: YOU can do it, YES YOU CAN! The Bible says: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." - James 2:26 (KJV)

We love you!

God bless.

Bliss & Fire Network Team

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