Real faith

Faith is more than an abstract concept. It is a faculty of the spirit, greater than intellect or emotion. We may not understand what we are going through and our feelings may not be enjoying an experience. Faith rides out the storms of life and brings us safely to God's rest.

Hebrews 11:1 is the common definition of faith. The KJV and NKJV use the word "substance". Other versions translate the same word "assurance". According to Watchman Nee, the word "substance" is better translated "substantiate". He describes faith as spiritual eyesight. I believe this to be correct.

We need physical eyes to "substantiate" colours, for example. If I tell you that something is red, most of you will know what I mean. A person born blind would have no idea what I'm talking about. Unbelievers have no faith, so the things of God mean nothing to them.

This is why preaching the gospel is so important. God has ordained that faith comes by hearing His word. Unless the gospel is preached, there is no faith and no salvation.

It is not our job to save people. Signs and wonders will get people's attention, but they will not save. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the hearer of sin. It is the the word preached that has the power to save. the parable of the sower has little to say about the sower. It is all about the seed and the response of those who to whom the message is directed.

We should be encouraged by these truths. You may not be the most eloquent, best educated or most learned biblical scholar. You may not be the most confident speaker. God can use you anyway. Don't be afraid. And don't hold yourself responsible if someone rejects you. Most people rejected Jesus.

Recently, we had a garage sale. One of my neighbours came over. We get on fine. After a bit of a chat, he told me that he wanted to behave better because he feared going to hell. He knows I'm a Christian, but I've not given him the gospel before. The door was open now. I told him that his good behaviour was not going to save him and we went from there. At least some of what I said got through. His eyes were a little misty as he saw that Jesus loved him enough to die for him. Time will tell if it was more than an emotional response. My job is to sow the seed. I have followed up. The evidence will be seen one way or another before too long.

God can create opportunities for you too.

True. Faith is simply trusting and believing God and Christ, and what they have said, and what they have done, and who they are.

We may or may not get answers to prayers, but we are told to pray regardless. Saving faith produced by the preaching of the Gospel is TOTAL faith in Christ and who He is and what He has accomplished for our salvation in His death, burial, and resurrection. And also believing that we are justified by grace through faith + NOTHING.

God loves it when we pray, aka, talk to HIM, and is even more pleased as we read HIS love letter to us and attempt to understand HIM and dive into Scripture without reckless abandon.

Why I enjoy reading the threads, gives me reasons to read the Bible verses associated with the posts and get some additional Bible time in on a Sunday or any day for that matter. God Bless.

Amen. That is exactly why I use Bible study Rules!

Amen.

"But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him. "

There is no if, ands, buts.. these signs shall follow them that believe. He has not changed we have. We find we can say and quote the verses but many times we do not believe. Take His promises they are yes and amen "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." There is just way to much to go into here.

First God is not a man that He should lie so if I was as true as God is and told you I am coming over Sat to your garage sale you never have to keep asking me "so you are coming over?" So everything God has promised is done that word He spoke will not can not come back to Him void. If we asked/prayed/petitions and we do not receive back/answers back then we asked wrongly. You have not because you ask not or you asked wrong. Now how we love each other also will effect this.

I don't have a different holy Spirit, Christ, great I am in me so anything I say you can freely ask Him if what I say is true. Unless you believe God does not speak and to say GOD said something to you is hearse. I said that to say.. I don't remember in my 55y walking with the lord (age 63) where He ever said no other then one time but that was about a girl. I'm talking about my personal walk. I should stop here. Well as wonderful as all the believers are here.. yet faith is not touched on much.

Just about 2 weeks ago He said "stop/don't entertaining doubt". The kicker here that some don't seem to understand is faith works both ways. If I kept saying 'I can't, it won't, it never will, never happens, can't happen" on and on.. that is exactly what I will get. See some walk by how they feel what they see and what happens around them. I don't.. I don't care what others say. I find what my Father said and stand on His word. Sorry after 55y in lord (63 age) seen, been apart of so many Churches on what doubt can do vs what faith does. Faith with out works is dead. I can give you so many stories of this faith in action and then show you the fruits. I have the faith the works and the fruit. I do not run with doubt. Sorry no offense and as God as my witness I don't know this "some prayers don't get answered". See in that case...well what I just said in ( " ") what was your first thought? Mine? If I doubt I'm like a ship tossed around and I won't get anything from God so I must be asking wrong not in line with His word.

Are you not just like this? When the enemy hits your first thought is Gods word? I was watching these preachers talking to this other man. Ooh best to leave them unnamed. It was like hearing that grandmother from that bible study I went to when I was around 15. She prayed 4 hours a day. Nothing in this life and it (life) hit her like it does you and me.. but GOD and that prayer was more important. Well to hear how they also pray hours ever day. The one man..ooh you know him. The first person to work for him her only job was to just pray and always be in prayer. I then found out somewhere else over the years they gave over 60 million to this other preacher that....oh millions and millions came to the lord by him. He was always in some 3rd world nation sharing the word. That preacher and the one they gave all that money to over the years you would never put those two together. That giving was never is still not made known. Well its for Christ.. not for personal glory so they never share it nor would I or do I.

See in talking about faith I also learned that how I love my brothers and sisters even the ones I don't agree with will effect what happens. Not out to find faults.. I am not over anyone nor did He put me in charge to judge. Oh I have ever right to at times but... I don't because again I first look at me and my life my walk and.. yeah I an no better so I see the good and then pray for them and leave them with Him. Love one another as I have loved you. Love your enemy. Again are you not the same? Well if you missed it got it wrong or some doctrine would not you want your family to point it out to help you to love you to never ever give up on you to pray for you. Again sure you asking what has this to do with faith.. everything. I can't love Him if I don't love that I see and my strongly really disagree with.. but I love first. I don't let anything come between me and Him.

talk to HIM, …read HIS love letter….understand HIM

amen

“for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:16-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬