Great Faith, how?

The question about "how do we get great faith" is a common one that begs a simple answer. Though I have posted on faith in all three forms in the past I think a simple answer will suffice today to help us build "great faith."  

Romans 10:17
 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

Simply stated: If you want great faith to come read the Word of God!

Notice that it doesn't say: Read books about God, read stories about God, read sermons about God, read about missionaries lives and their faith, or the lives of Godly men and the faith they had.

It does say that if "YOU" want great faith you need to hear the Word of God. We do this two ways: By reading the Scriptures, (out loud isn't a bad practice), and in your intimate time listening to God, ("Today is the day if you hear my voice harden not your heart"). These are the only two personal ways to "hear the Word". After that comes every other kind of exposure to the Word that you want to participate in. Just know that intimacy and fellowship with God is the best way to "Hear the Word and "faith cometh by". Hearing the Word of God "is" the mustard seed that fell on fertile soil. Not just for salvation but for Great Faith. 

Lets cross reference what the word says of God with this "planting". Every time we hear the Word of God seeds are planted in our hearts and start to grow. Our Love of God is the fertilizer that we provide and the Holy Spirit waters it so it can grow. What happens when it grows? We become doers of the Word not just hearers. "If a fruit tree doesn't bear fruit it is cast down  and thrown into the fire", so also the seed planted needs to grow, be pruned and bear fruit or it is cast down. "If you have been faithful in little you will be trusted with much". 

Planting the Word of God in our hearts not only needs to grow but be used (exercised) in order for it to become "a tree wherein the fowls of the air rest in". Great faith starts as a mustard seed, very small then grows into a wonderful, pruned, fruitful tree that gives hope by doing the Fathers will and manifesting His glory. 

God will not give faith for His Glory to a person that will only "plant it in the earth so when the Master returns he has it laid up in a napkin". He gives faith to the person that goes out and invests it in the "bank of men's hearts" and produces it "when the Master returns" with multiplication. 

Once we understand that "gifts" are given to us for the "harvest", then we can "multiply" His investment in us, and glorify His name while "proving" His word true (the Gospel) with signs and wonders. 

Faith is not given where faith is not needed, and to many Christians faith outside of saving faith, (grace through faith), faith is just not part of their worship of the Living God. (The word worship here is used as a complete surrender to God, His Love, and His will.) As said in other posts: your expression of enthusiasm shows what you really worship, and to some God just doesn't occupy "top priority". They want to be saved, as it is said: "by the skin of their teeth", but will have no crowns to throw before Him in that day.

My suggestions and practices:

I fill up every chance to be alone with God.
Reading the Word is on this wise: the more ways you can get the Word of God into your heart the better, ie. Start by praying that God would only give you wisdom convenient with this day, (tomorrow never comes and yesterday will never be repeated, today is the day). Read, read aloud so your heart gets the Word through your eyes and your ears get it through your voice, meditate on the Word as it will feed your spirit, pray the Word for God honors His Word.
  
Erase all secular music from your i-pod and replace it with hymns and spiritual songs that have the word of God in them.

My mini (4g) i-pod has the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs on it. I use it every time I work outside, mowing lawn, fixing broken down equipment, cutting wood, working the gardens, ect. I can usually get in several hours a day just with the i-pod.

Bring every thought captive to the Mind of Christ. 

Pray that He controls our thoughts and instructs us by His Holy Spirit.

Prove that the Word of God exists in us by Loving one another.

Do you really want Great Faith? Ask, Seek, Knock until you get it then Glorify your Father in Heaven by being a "doer of the Word and not just a hearer."

Love 
J&E

Why Love?

We take life too much for granted. 
We act as if it will continue on without interruption or termination and then surprise or despair is our first response to tragedy. 
Uncontrollable situations don't have to be "as disturbing" if we have done everything we can, every chance we have, to express appreciation and love to those relationships we abide in. We do not see everyone everyday but when we do exchange conversations or meet with them an air of appreciation and value should be first place including an expression of fondness by "I love you", a hug, or a kiss. 
Those who end up going into some unexpected situation, no matter the loss or suffering will know that they were valuable and loved. This thought in itself gives people the will to fight on in recovery knowing that their continuing will be of value to others who love them.
Unexpressed love is valuable to no one and useless. Nothing is more devastating then the thought that you have no one to live for. The battle of life and death, many times hinges on "their need to be there" for someone.
A lifetime is given to each of us for just one purpose:
To receive love and give love.......real love.........unconditional love......forgiving love....accepting love......everyday, all the time.
Love that has to be earned is a lie and not love at all. Love is given, always, whether expected, received, returned or rebuked. 
Love has power by the giver not the receiver. Real love will win over the one it is lavished upon because love cannot fail. Again "God is love" and He cannot fail, if He did we would have no hope. 
So the questions remain..........Does your love fail at times? Do people know that you love them "always and all ways"? Does love have to be earned or proven before you return it?
If yes to any of these than love hasn't became a revelation of how God loves you so you can pass it on to others.
Know the love of God and pass it on.........."today".
Love 
J&E in Tn

Understanding Scripture/Love of God or taught by man?

God's unmerited favor is what we call "grace" and it is shown to us in His Unconditional Love. We are saved by "grace", (God's unmerited favor towards us), through Faith (of whom He is the founder and finisher thereof), and that not of yourselves, it is a (Love) gift from God: not of works lest any man should boast."
Eph 2: 8-9

Look at that verse again and notice that there is NOTHING in that verse that makes it a mental, logical, or physical application of man's own ability. In fact there is a strong warning in it to let us know that "the truth that sets us free" is in the statement by the words: "not of works lest any man should boast"!

This brings us to the frailty of God vs Man in the true application of scripture. As shown in other posts that:
2 Tim 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

If we let Scripture support itself we can say that: "God is Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end", that means that He is complete and can only be "known" through the Holy Spirit which was give'n to those who believe and seek. Can we study God? He is Spirit and so is His Word.

John 2:27

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Does this mean that man cannot teach others about God? Not exactly but in part there should be a "witness" in the students spirit whether or not the teachings are of God or man. This calls for every believer to be "filled with the Holy Spirit" in order to discern the truth about what is being taught. 

Many "teachers" use 2 Tim 2:15 to support the premis, and surely there is a calling and election of "teacher", (pastors, teachers, prophets ect), but the above scripture doesn't have to do with a mental "study" of the scriptures. Lets read it: "study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. The word here in the Greek means "to use diligence, make speed". In other words "be sure" that what is being said is of God and used in the proper context. This is a spiritual matter of discernment which of course is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Destroy the need for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, destroy the "discernment" of the Holy Spirit and open the floodgates to "wrested Scripture". CARNAL man cannot "rightfully discern the Word of Truth", but they can "lead astray" many by stripping them of the power to "Glorify their Father in Heaven". 

James warns men who are teachers that they will receive a harder judgement. I believe that because God is all in all that all we can know about Him is "ln Him" and "through Him" a revelation given by Him to us in Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit. Truth in Scripture as given to man must be a "revelation" from God "proved" by the Scriptures. We should be Berean's  as in Acts 17:11

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Teaching proved by searching the Scriptures. Revelation first, Scriptural proof second, not man made teaching first then proof by dispensation. Scripture will never violate scripture. If God hasn't "revealed" it to you then you don't need to know it "yet". We should never run ahead of God's revelation to become "on board" with teachings that may not be "timely" for us as individuals. Teaching by the Holy Spirit back up revelation received from the Holy Spirit in perfect timing, not the other way around. 

A good church will entrust a new believer, or a (believer) that's ignorant, with the scriptures and the Holy Spirit to be fed milk then "strong meat" in His time not ours. Ever wonder why the occult force feed there proselytes? They have to make them believe a manufactured lie before any shred of truth can get in and have effect. If we as Christians do the same what are we. We preach the need for the Holy Spirit then try to fill His job with man's instructions. Are man's instructions bad? Yes many are if outside the timing of the individual's need and God's revelation.

I have not even began to breach this topic nor will I continue to do so here beyond what I have already stated so here is where I am going with this:

God, His Word, His Creation, His manifestations (especially of His Love), are complete in Him and only in Him! How can we have the Love of God in us if we think we can "manufacture" that Love with the effort of man. Love, like God, is a revelation given us by God through the Holy Spirit so we can be "conformed to His image and likeness", not our own "idea" of what that is. This is why so many Christians fail in the "Love of God that was shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" because it's not a revelation but a mental practice. Real Love, God's Love, never fails! Does our love fail? Is our love a study effort or a revelation? If our "brand of love", at that moment fails, it is not the Love of God, unconditional, never failing. We are being "conformed to His image and likeness" which is a continuing revelation of Jesus Christ our Master (it is enough for the student to be as his Master), so the finishing work can free us to Love Unconditionally at "all" times. 

If you do not believe in the continuing revelation of Jesus Christ then you are unteachable by the Holy Spirit and will only have the mind (teachings) of man and for the most part be fruitless in faith and Unconditional Love. The revelation of Jesus Christ is real power/virtue by the Holy Spirit to change lives and present the Gospel of Life with authority. 

Lets take a moment to look at "presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ".

In order to "present the Gospel" with power to change lives, we have to have Unconditional Love as the underlying motivation. Jesus proved His Love to those He preached to by meeting their impossible needs with miracles and mighty works. He even said "if you don't believe the words (of Love/salvation) believe the miracles". His Words were full of Love which was full of compassion which then manifested His Fathers Will/Glory. 

Did you ever talk to someone or someone talk to you about some sporting event or concert with arm waving passion, and an exuberant voice? Of course you have. They show that they have done their homework and know all the members of the team or band having no problem getting their message across. Right? Then why do we need any more than Love and the Holy Spirit with passion to get the Gospel out? This isn't representing a game to win but an eternity to either suffer in hell or rejoice in heaven. This is a battle for souls and sometime's the best we can do is stutter out a few wrote Scriptures. As I have said before if it weren't for "God's Word won't come back void" we would have no hope for anyone to be saved.

So can the Love of God be taught or must it be "revealed" to us and in us?

What empowers the Gospel of Christ is Love, Love, Love. Passionate Love for the message we bring because we have experienced it for ourselves and daily receive the revelation of Jesus Christ (Who is Love) to present to others with arm waving enthusiasm. Because we Love Christ the speaking His Gospel should be effortless for it is only a rendering of what we have experienced for ourselves and we speak most fluently about what we "REALLY" Love. Now lets get this behind us now...........the anointing for effective witness comes from the Holy Spirit, not all witnessing is anointed or in His time. It's like the sowing of seeds. The witness is there as the Word is scattered by the sower but only the anointed Word that falls upon good ground bears fruit. The rest wither or fall away. But that doesn't mean that God doesn't have another time for those hearts to be prepared and sowed again. Witnessing will continue by God without fail throughout the lifetime of the heathen until the last breath is breathed and his soul is given over to the tormentors forever. Only God knows who will resist His Love to the grave but His Love never fails to represent itself in the life of man until he meets his end. His Love and Presence fills His creation so there is no way to "go outside" of God or the witness of the Holy Spirit while being part of this creation. And if in this creation then all are in the Presence of God and His Love.

The key factor for receiving the Revelation of Jesus Christ if Faith. Remember that "by grace through Faith" that we started out with? Faith in the "finished" work of Jesus Christ? He gives us faith for salvation by the hearing of the Word, (not the studying of it), it's a divine revelation that the spoken Word received by faith will bring salvation. Again "this is not of ourselves, it is a Gift from God, that none may boast". Grace, Faith and Jesus Christ is a revelation not a mental or a logical study. Do some "receive salvation" by reading or studying the Word? Absolutely. But again it becomes a Divine intervention when the seed of the Word (which is spirit) falls on "fertile soil" prepared by the Holy Spirit. 
My life is a testimony to this fact and proof that unless we have a revelation of Jesus Christ and His finished work given us by the Holy Spirit we are blind and lost. I was in the Catholic Church from the beginning of my life. Starting with baby baptism and (aside from other church doctrine), heard the life of Christ more times than I could count. I walked the stations of the cross a hundred times if once and they depicted the suffering and death of Christ through the placing in the tomb.  This was a visual/verbal presentation of His finished suffering but it had no effect on me ever. The Holy Spirit never "anointed" the moment no matter how many times I walked them or studied the "Finished Work" with my mind/logic. Revelation came when a man saved by grace presented the gospel to me on the job Sept 18, 1981 at 10:00-10:15 pm having my "heart" prepared by the Holy Spirit to be "fertile ground." No longer was it "head knowledge" but a heart revelation. Grace through Faith the free and everlasting Gift of God, Jesus Christ the Savior. I again state that there is no possibility of study being effective on the carnal application without the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit. His Word is Spirit and it takes a "man with/led by the Spirit" to grasp the revelation of Jesus Christ and be nurtured to His being conformed to Christ's image and likeness.

Again nothing of the scriptures can be taught or studied without the Holy Spirit present to "anoint the words of the teacher and the hearts of the hearer." 

Ever wonder why, with such great teachings we have today, we have so little "Biblical" application of Christianity? Ever wonder why much of our missionary work led to the oppression and death of civilizations in the past? Did you ever wonder how a church could put to death millions during an Inquisition that the founders believed that they were doing God's work? Christianity without the presence of the Holy Spirit to instruct and give revelation has been, both wrested and destructive. Just to make myself clear about balance here I must interject that there has always been a "remnant" of "pure true believers" that the faith is entrusted to for it's continuation. Those who "under the guidance of the Holy Spirit" continued in the True Faith even to death (Heb 11). This is why I feel so impressed to bring this subject to light for the crossroads of time that we are in. Like I have said before there are only a remnant of believers scattered through this creation today that still "follow the Spirit" being conformed to the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. Most Christians today are somewhere between birth and milk in the growing process (some for over 40, 50 years) and like Paul said "by now you should be getting strong meat." 

When Christ returns will He find faith on the earth?

What we teach is the yardstick to measure our growth. 
What we do is the proof of what we have been taught. 
What we fail to do is what we have no faith in because of a lack of "hearing" (now faith comes by hearing and that by the Word of God). If we don't hear the Word of God our faith cannot grow and we will stagnate and be ineffective in our "life's presentation of the Gospel".

 Lets face it that for most Christians today the only Bible time they get is at a Bible study or during the preaching at church. So this makes what is said, "because it is so limited by time", even more "crucial". If time for the masses of Christians is limited to these two events (not all but on the average more than not), shouldn't this time be at least "Anointed?" Isn't it more crucial to come to these events "expecting" with our heart prepared by the Holy Spirit, fertile ground, ready to receive the "Word of Truth?"

Be sure of one thing: "As a man thinks in his heart so is he." When we gather together for worship and instruction in the Word all you will get out of services is what comes into the service. If our minds are full of the sporting events of the week or some other situation that exists and we are distracted by other matters, your services will be distracted also. The corporate meeting of the "fellowship" is just that, a meeting of like minded believers. If the "like mindedness" of the saints is full of the distractions of the week then services will be "unproductive", but if the meetings of the saints is a continuation of the time spent in the Holy Spirit at home then a spirit of worship and revelation will exist with praise and Glory unto God. These later saints will leave being emboldened with the Holy Spirit to present the Gospel by Word and Life and do great wonders and signs, God proving His Word and turning the world "upside down." 

A side comparison: my Dad (saved hours before his death) used to be happy with dry toast, while I on the other hand seen the potential of the toast being greater than that. I wanted every thing, every way on mine, never satisfied that enough has been done with it. Dry was "the least" and some are happy with dry, but full rich continual feasting on all it's potential was for me. 
"My body is real bread and My blood real drink", Christ is a unending, continual feast of revelation and exciting experiences for us to "receive" by our Teacher and Comforter. 

Are you going to the School of Revelation by the Holy Spirit? Receive instruction at home in the privacy of your heart and have it confirmed at the "fellowship of the saints" in service. Scripture states that "by the witness of two or three all things will be confirmed." First in your heart by the Holy Spirit the again in the "gathering of believers".  

In conclusion:

God is Love and God is Spirit.

At salvation we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work.

Through this faith we receive a continuing revelation of Jesus Christ and His Love.

Because of this we are being conformed to His image and likeness daily.

His image and likeness is shown by His Love for us and our Love for all mankind.

Love never fails and takes no holidays because of emotion, stress, or excuse.

God is in us the "hope of Glory", His love living and touching others through us.

If we are "weary in well doing" and fail to Love Unconditionally we fail grace and His glory.

Love is one of those unteachable gifts that cannot be studied but must be revealed by the Holy Spirit. It is of God not man.

If you are a born again believer and have none of what is written happening in your life or church, I believe that the blood of Jesus will get you home to your mansion, but you will do so "by the skin of your teeth", not being effective for the faith which you claim to be real for salvation. I can also say without a doubt that you will be very humbled when you stand in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and see Him as He really is in His Glory and you "WILL" say:
If I only could of seen you this way while I was living I would of asked You to do all that Your Word said. How do I know this with such profoundness? Because I was taken into heaven before Christ two times now and that is exactly what I thought. To see Him in all His Glory made me realize that what He asks in His Word is just the start of what He will do as we "live by faith."

It is my prayer that we all fail not to receive nor give the Love of God and "so Glorify our Father in Heaven" reaching out with immutable power by the living of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that "none may perish".

Love
J&E in Tn

Love's definition vs Life's applications

What is Love?
Is Love an emotion?
Is Love some sort of attachment?
Is Love just some kind of attraction?
Can Love last?
Does Love forgive?
Does Love have it's origins with "mankind"?
Whatever definition of Love you practice will be revealed in the history of your life.
If past events having to do with relationships (all) have been disappointing then maybe your definition/application of Love has been inaccurate.
Disappointment is a "consequence of life" brought about by the improper decisions we make and almost all of these (even financial, "for the love of money is the root of all evil"), have to do with our definition of Love.
The real origin of True Love comes from God: "For the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit." "God is Love."
Any Love that falls short of the "Love of God" will fail, will be frail, and will cause poor moral decisions with disappointing consequences.
If your history has a sad reflection to it change your definition of Love to the True One.
Because Love can only be found by "asking, seeking and knocking," and it must be received from God before you can give it to others.
How we "define" things "matter"!
"As a man thinks in his heart so is he."
Thinking in "our" hearts right (Biblical-Godly) things will change our history that hasn't been made yet.
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine."
God bless and keep your hearts in Christ Jesus.
Love
Always and All Ways
J&E

More on Love and it's application.

Love is a difficult subject matter to describe, and more difficult to present how it works. I experience/show love every day and it always amazes me how effortless it is to express. It is like breathing when mature, natural, without thought, seamless with life, no thought to do it needed. True Love manifests itself every moment because it “lives” in the one that it comes forth from, and can’t help but overcome all other applications of actions. True Love, when mature, takes authority over thoughts and responses before they are expressed and thereby rendered impossible to take back.

The expression of True Love searches for a way to serve and benefit all. It’s thoughts (yes Love “thinks” for God is Love) is ever toward others as oneself, it is the seamless expression of a relationship with God and the serving of life. True Love cannot fail because God is Love and God cannot fail. He is our mentor about Love and our example of its expression through Christ. He also “anoints” us with His Love “because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit”. A Christian that is growing in the “grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” will also be growing in Love because “we are being conformed to His image and likeness”.

Remember that mankind was “created in His image and likeness” but that was not enough we still have to be “conformed to His image and likeness” by the maturation process that takes place with Love “God in us the hope of glory”. God is glorified in Love, with Love, and by the expression of His Love. Love glorifies God because it is the very essence of His revelation to man. Love is a Holy practice because again God is Love. You cannot separate Love from any of its qualities lest it not be True Love but only a Pharisaical representation, one that does not bless in the giving of it, but instead wants to oppress with the wresting of its true meaning. Love is Pure, Holy, and Just, even as is He from whom it comes from. Changing the definition of Love is to demean/defile God as it defines who He is and how He expresses Himself to His creation. Love never fails.

I write these things as words to remind ourselves of the Purity of Love that we have been asked and commanded to replicate so as to make the communication of the Gospel full of power. Love is power. We are human and this reminding and expression on Love is so that we can “see as face to face” in our practice and decision to Love as we have been Loved “others as ourselves”. We must confess in our hearts that Love has not been the only “deity” that has tried to control our outward responses there in “we must die to ourselves daily” and be renewed by the Holy Spirit. We must realize that before we have a chance to speak our facial expression and actions are already “presenting your gospel” (that which is manifest in your heart) to be observed by those around us. Actions speak louder than words. If our actions, (through lack of mature Love), contradict what we are speaking then how effective is our message. Thank God He says “My Word will not come back void” or we might me ineffective altogether. Again “die daily”!

Jesus was considered in His time “one who spoke the truth with power and authority”. It was easy for Him to do that because He was the very embodiment of Love. He spoke what was in His heart. God’s Words were in His heart, God’s Love was in His heart, “What goeth into a man does not defile the man for it goeth into his gut and goeth out into the draft. But what defileth a man is what cometh out of his mouth, that which cometh out of the mouth cometh from the heart, that is what defileth the man” (my rendition). That’s why we say “Jesus comes into our heart”, He fills our hearts with Love to give our words and actions “power” by the Holy Spirit to be effective.

Love is Power! It is the only part of our lives that (when expressed) can manifest and prove the Truth about God. Nothing we do or say will have the same effect as when done or said with True Love. Christ preached then manifested the Love of the Father by having Compassion “on them” and healed them, or worked other miracles to “prove” His Words. True Love brings Holy Spirit power to heal, deliver, raise up, multiply, and manifest “our Father in Heaven.” True Love is life to all that it is “breathed on”. When “power/virtue has gone out” True Love is at work doing what it was designed to do, “redeem”. The very foundation of Love is redemption as shown in Christ to us. God “created” then, by Love, “redeemed” His (bent towards sin) creation, knowing of its fall to sin before He even started. This is why “all thing that were created were created through Christ, and there was nothing created outside of Him.” This is so that in Christ all things are redeemed and that by the “Love of the Father.” True redemption is at the heart of “all” deliverance from any oppression that can exist. Christ proved His redeeming power by healing, raising the dead, multiplication of the loaves, calming the seas, casting out demons, ect. I imagine that if “books were written about all His mighty works they could fill the world”. Redeeming Love did all that and more, it freed us from the grip of death and hell, and promises us who believe a heavenly eternal life.

We sojourn here “possessing the land” until that day that the promised inheritance becomes manifest by moving into our “home in Glory.”

So until that time has arrived, “posses the land”, redeem the time, die to ourselves, and live in Love.

We are soldiers and our Commander has issued an unchangeable decree (that He laid His life down for to prove its irrefutable importance), to “Love one another.”

Go Ye and do like wise.

You will know your Love is Christ like because it will be manifest in Power.

God bless and keep in His Love.

Love in Christ

J&E