Practical Faith    

Religion

Religion Column written by Dr. Bob Allen: 

Today, I want to talk to you about your faith, but I don’t want to do just another faith teaching that won’t  work for you any better than the last one you heard. I want to help you to power up the faith you have. Faith works by love, so then, love will be your power source to walk by faith. You can measure your faith in the Lord by your love for Him. Faith is reaching out with love, and appropriating what has already been spoken and offered to you.

Rom.12:3, Paul said,” For I say, through the grace given unto me to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, as God hath given to every man the measure of faith.” The Father jump starts all of us in our faith walk. We increase it by learning to listen to His Word, knowing His will, and learning His way.

Gal.3:22 The Apostle Paul said, “The scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith [of] Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”

Paul also said,” I walk by the faith of Christ Jesus.” Faith is not something you get, but something you have when you receive and believe Christ Jesus.  We must learn to receive and live by His faithfulness.

I want you to take a look at Gal.1:3-4.  Paul said,” Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world; according to the will of God and our Father.” We must change worlds. You have to walk out of this evil world and put no faith in it at all but keep your heart set on the Faithful One, Christ Jesus, and His Kingdom.

Gal. 2:20, Paul said,” I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live; yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith [of] the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” When you believe and trust everything Jesus said and did, and can believe Him for His future promises; you will be full of faith. (although you’re standing in the midst of an evil world)

Rom.10:17, Paul said,” So  then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” You can add to your faith by taking in more of the Word of God. Our big challenge is understanding how faith works and when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us.

Heb.11:1,” Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We must work the substance and believe the evidence of something we cannot see. Faith believes what cannot be tasted, touched, seen, heard or smelled.

Faith is a place between A-men, and there it is. I prayed. I believed. I have it.

Faith is what you hold on to until the thing you are praying for comes into your hand.

1 John5:4, “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” Faith is Big, Big, Big.

How do you use faith?  Faith does not come from or operate out of the natural realm.

Your spirit touches things of the Spirit. By faith, your spirit touches the supernatural realm.

Your soul, which is your mind, will, and emotion touches the sense realm: reason, thought, feelings, and desires.

Your body touches the five senses: touch, smell, hear, feel, and taste.

The natural man says,” if I see, it I will believe it”. The spiritual man says,” If I believe it, I will see it.” Jesus said, My Word is Spirit, and it is Life. Do you have the Life of the Spirit working In you?

Remember Peter. He was taught perfectly by the Master. He knew everything about Jesus, but when his faith was tested, he failed the test. He said, “I don’t know the man.”  After he walked on water with Jesus, and after twice working with Jesus in feeding multitudes with a few fish and bread, the #1 Jesus school graduate had little faith in the man. Christ Jesus.

When Jesus appeared to His disciples in Galilee, after his resurrection, Matt28:17 says the eleven worshiped, but some doubted. That alone shows you that faith doesn’t come easily. Even the men that were with the Master all the time showed little faith. Jesus said, my Word is Spirit, and it is Life. Faith then comes by hearing His Word.  After Peter was filled and baptized with the Holy Spirit, he was able to tell the lame man,” in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth what I have, give I you, rise and walk.”

Rom.1:11, Paul said, “For I long to see you that I may impart unto you some spiritual gifts to the end you may be established.” This is big because spiritual gifts do not operate out of the natural man.They operate by faith out of the spirit. The natural man’s faith is only in what he can see or control. You have to step out of the natural man into the spirit realm and establish yourself in the spirit to move by faith.

When it comes to the things of God, you can‘t have it unless you can get it by faith.  Without faith, it is impossible to please God. I believe this tells us the more faith we have, the more we can please Him. Tell me, is anything greater than pleasing our wonderful Father?

My friend, if you are trying to walk by faith based on what you have learned without first getting the word down deep in your spirit, you will lose every time!  After you are saved and become a child of God, you must learn to live by faith. The Lord seldom, if ever, responds to pain, suffering, or sorrow. God responds to faith.

 

Prov.20:27, “The spirit of the man is the candle of the Lord.” God sees what is in your spirit, and he measures your faith from there. How do you think you look? What condition is your spirit? Are you praying every day in the spirit? If so, you should have your spirit built up until you can believe His word. True faith moves the Lord’s, heart. Little faith grieves him.

Gal.5:6,” Faith works by love.” God lavished his love upon you when He took you into His family. He washes your hurting, ugly, sinful life away, and promises you a future and a hope, and a love that lasts forever. My friend, this should make your faith rise and work for you.

Luke 22:31, “Simon, Satan has desired to have you that he may, sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith fails not.” Prayer is the bridge that faith travels over. It is not unusual to doubt your faith, but those who move the kingdom forward, never doubt The Master. You must have faith in all that He says.

Study and learn God’s word. If the Word is not understood, the enemy gobbles it up. We need faith to trust God in everything we do.  Not just faith in Him, but confident in our position in Him. In other words, we need to be filled with His love and walk in His ways.  We can operate the things of God in our lives by our faith in Him. Again, you will never walk in more faith than you can believe.

You cannot withhold anything from God and still have faith in His promises. You will not speak for Him with authority. You must live a pure life through Him, My friend; we have an anchor and someone to hold on to forever: The Man, Christ Jesus.  

Matt. 9:29 Jesus said, “According to your faith let it be done unto you.“

Eph. 6:16 Paul said,” Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” I assure you the darts will come. So Faith up.

Please remember faith works by love: little love, little faith. We must learn to love in order to walk in great faith that pleases the Lord.

Gal.3:11, “The just shall live by faith.”

Rom.8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” You are made right, put right, justified. That makes You a just person!  Now you can live by faith.  Jesus said,” I am the light of the world.”  Before He left, He said you are the light of the world. Throw your light out there, let it shine. Jesus said,” Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”. Matthew 5:16r. Bob Allen
 God  Loves You. Keep your eye on the Straight Gate.

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