This blog is a continuation of the subject matter concerning thedivide that has manifested within the church regarding “wisdom” and “faith”. In the first article I addressed the topic of wisdom and its operations within our culture; particularly concerning the Church. Now, I will address the topic of faith in the same manner.
What is faith? Faith by definition is,“complete trust or confidence in someone or something. It also means having confidence in the testimony of another.” It is impossible to have faith in someone you do not fully trust.
If one claims to be a born-again believer, having accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, then you must trust and believe that:
1. Jesus is the Christ, “the anointed one”
2. Christ is from the beginning “was God” and “with God”
3. Christ became a man, Jesus the Son of God, born of a virgin, for the express purpose of dying on the cross
4. Through His death, He destroyed the works of the devil, crucified our old man, took away our sin and reconciled us to God the Father
5. Jesus shed His Holy blood to wash us from our sins and sanctify us holy unto God
This is the “faith of Christ” which saves us from sin and justifies; declaring us not guilty before a perfectly just God. We must believe that the Bible, which is the Word of God, is inerrant; that every word, principle, promise, instruction, admonition and warning contained within it is true because it is the “testimony” of Jesus Christ (1 John 5:10).
Heb. 11:6 - “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”
Heb. 11:1 - “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not (yet) see.”
2 Cor. 5:7 - “For we live by faith, not by sight.”
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). At conversion, a portion of faith is metered out to us (Rom. 12:3), but the Word must be mixed with faith in order that we profit from it (Heb. 4:2).
Faith is not something we just possess, but it is something that we do. Faith comes, faith works, faith abides, and faith continues. There must be a correlating response in our actions that demonstrates our trust and faith in what we say we believe. James 2:22 tells us, “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”
As we walk with the Lord, obeying His will and abiding in His Word, our particular level of faith has growth potential. Romans 1:17 tells us that we go from faith to faith, which means our measure of faith can increase and grow. The Word of God reveals that some are weak in faith (Rom. 14:1), some are growing in faith (2 Cor. 10:15), some possess steadfast faith (1 Cor. 15:58), and others strong faith (Rom. 4:20-21). For all of us who are on this Christian journey, our personal faith will always demand constant examination and adjustment. 2 Cor. 13:5 says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”
When we fear, it reveals that within our hearts we are relying on our own efforts and not trusting in our Lord and Saviour. Fear is faith in reverse; faith in the disastrous and calamitous. Fear is expecting the wickedness of the devil to prevail over the goodness of God. Fear paralyzes and torments the soul (your mind, will, and emotions).
There are over 365 verses in the Bible where God told His people to, ”fear not!’ Jesus Himself tells us in the Word not to worry. Phil. 4:6 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.” James 1:5-8 says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” We must become like our father Abraham who did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised (Rom. 4:20-21).
I say this particularly to those who are of the household of faith. It has been disheartening, to say the least, to have witnessed the ugly, demeaning, disrespectful, and venomous language being spewed against one another, especially online for the whole world to see! The backlash towards the believers who believed the church doors should have remained open has been insane!! The Word of God clearly declares in Heb.10:23-25, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and to good works, not neglecting to meet together, as the habit of some, but encouraging one another, AND ALL THE MORE AS YOU SEE THE DAY DRAWING NEAR!” God forbid that our confession of faith, trust, and belief in our Lord and Saviour is genuine!!
I submit to you that this divide was never a question of whether or not godly wisdom was being appliedbecause, like any other establishment that has remained open, the churches could have instituted the same sanitary measures! This pandemic exposed the truth of what we really believe when it comes to the Word of God and the reality of the level of faith that we actually possess.It has been made evident that many are weak in their faith, but instead of acknowledging their unbelief to themselves and before God, who already knows our spiritual condition, they chose in their pride and deception to lash out in anger. James 4:6 says that “... God opposes the proud but gives grace (shows favor) to the humble.” Know that whatever level of faith you are positioned in even now, there is always another level or even dimension of faith that one can attain, but you must sincerely and earnestly desire it. 1 Peter 1:7 lets us that, “Our faith will be like gold that has been tested in fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor when Jesus Christ returns.”
Whether you are a believer or not, we are all living in the last and evil days. We have some time, but we do not have time to waste! Everything that can be shaken is being shaken so that those things which cannot be shaken will remain (Heb. 12:27). The root of what is being played out in our nation and the world has been ongoing since the beginning of time; man wanting to be like God. Man’s quest for power always leads him into rebellion, corruption, and every evil thing. They want to be the ones who will determine what is good and evil which always leads to lawlessness and a society deprived of moral absolutes, that over time self destructs, as has been the pattern of nations over the course of history. The choices that we make determine blessing or cursing, rewards, or consequences. What we are witnessing in our nation and across the world are the consequences of rebellion against God’s authority, His rule, His laws. Once and again creation thinks it knows more and can do better than the Creator Himself! The arrogance of mankind is unfathomable!
Satan is the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2). We must understand that the greater majority of media/ communication is being controlled by people who don’t know or want our God, who have their own agendas, who know the power of words and images. There is a saying that, “Whoever is able to infuse fear into a culture controls the culture.” Since the onset of this pandemic, the “experts” have been pumping out conflicting data! Contradictory and inconsistent information spewed out on a daily basis has caused a spirit of fear to envelop this nation and the world. I can honestly say that neither I nor my household has been shaken concerning what has taken place in our nation. It’s not because we’re so mighty and strong, never having moments of doubt, anxiety, or even fear, but we put our entire faith in the only one who can protect and keep us. He is the anchor of our souls (Ps.33:18-22). We have seen the faithfulness of God too many times over the course of these years to ever doubt His goodness! In all reality, how can mortal, sinful, man save us anyhow when he can't even save himself!
In closing (for real), I say to the “believers”, stop the foolishness! Let us not continue to be ignorant of Satans’ devices” (2 Cor. 2:11). Two of the devil's greatest tools in his arsenal is deception and division. Ecc.4:12 declares, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
What is it going to take; what has to happen before we get this understanding? Do we not comprehend that when we treat one another poorly, it grieves the Holy Spirit and puts the one that we say we love to an open shame. To behave in such a manner is to align yourself with Satan who is the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10). This was and still is the time to repent, seek the face of God, read and meditate on the Word of God, so that you can be healed, restored, revived, delivered and strengthened in your faith. “Beloved, I pray that all may be well with you and that you may be in good health, even as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2).
God is looking for those with radical faith in these last days (years) that will go where He calls them and heed His voice, knowing with absolute assurance that in the place He is leading, He will manifest His Glory! No matter what it looks like, know that God is fully in control! “Finally, my brothers (and sisters), be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. Therefore take up the WHOLE ARMOR of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done ALL, to stand. Stand therefore, having your waist girded with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, having your feet fitted with the readiness of the good news of peace, and above all taking the SHIELD of FAITH, with which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the evil one” (Eph. 6:10-16).
In Luke 18:18 Jesus asks this question, “Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?’ Like the Apostle Paul, I want to be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Until the next time: “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”
