My only hope in posting here is to encourage other believers to "have faith in God through the Lord Jesus Christ", and to see Him as He really is. Loving, Compassionate, Holy, Pure, Mighty, with whom nothing is impossible, dispelling Hopelessness, meeting Needs, Healing all manor of malfunction, always Listening, forever there for us.
I also hope that through these postings believers will take up the commands given us in Gods Word so that He can use us freely to do His will and manifest His Glory.
Do we exist for any other reason? Once saved are we just to rest on our laurels? Has the sweetness of his promise of heaven caused us to be complacent or are we saved to "walk as Jesus walked and do those things He did and greater things because He has gone to the Father in heaven?"
If somehow the ever refreshing Revelation of Jesus Christ could be our goal in this life God's Love would prevail in humanity and a difference could be made. Shouldn't being "in Christ" make us be "like Christ?" Is there any excuse that can be used to stop us that would be valid in God's eyes? Do we really understand in our spirits what God has done for us through the living, dying and Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Or has it fallen into the "fabled tales" category of application and mundane acceptance? Have we so become passive to the Glory and captured by the carnal that we don't want anymore Truth than "feel good" sermons and stories about the "Great Men of God?" Do you not realize that the other Great Men of God performed during "their" times and now we carry the torch (our God is a consuming fire) for the day we now live in! DO NOT solace yourselves with the excuse that "things have changed" or "things are different now", to believe such a lie is to say that God's plan has changed. This is impossible; for it is "impossible for God to change", "He is the same forever." If He has changed than His salvation has changed, and we are as foolish as our "self indulgent" teachings that allow for this making the "Blood of Christ" of none effect and all the promises we so weakly pray for void.
I would challenge with this: If we are "in Christ than we are commanded to be as Christ!" We are "commanded" to be cooperating with Scripture in performing all of His will. When we confess Christ we automatically agree to all His Word says for He is the Living Word, He (the Word) became flesh and dwelt among us. If you claim Him you claim all of Him, commands and promises, warnings and disciplines.
Religion has taken the place of obedience and faith. Yes "true religion and undefiled is this" James 1:27 but it is not described as faith but as an action of faith. Religion is "practicing" what you say you believe. "Being a doer of the Word not just a hearer." Replicating your Father, the one Who "Created you in His image and likeness."
Is this the "reality" of your faith? Faith in Christ not just some "higher power." Faith in an immovable and unchangeable God "beside whom is no other!" For whom nothing is impossible, and if we are walking and preaching that faith by mouth or actions He says we can ask anything of Him in the name of Jesus Christ and He will do it according to His will. Oh now I see there is the catch..........if we are walking and preaching that faith by mouth or actions. Maybe that is why the faith we as Christians claim to have seems to be a little short armed to preform. But as God has said "let God be True and every man a liar", for His Word says "is my arm shortened that it cannot heal, deliver, provide?"
So who are the ones with short arms? Those who claim, whisper, and hide their testimony of Christ, then make it the "practiced and preached" average. What ever happened to the proclamation of "ask great things of God, expect great things of God?" We ask according to our faith which for many is "not asking at all." Do we not realize that our faith inspires our prayers and to pray not believing that God will answer according to His will is sin because anything outside of faith is sin?
So now those with no faith or little faith (Jesus said "how long will I put up with you") bring sin before God as prayer. Better you just looked to heaven, wept, and confessed "help thou mine unbelief" than to say a single word outside of faith and sin against your Father in Heaven.
Sorry to report that this stands as the general offering of prayer in the lives of too many Christians. We are to grow from grace to grace and we understand that faith is the conduit of grace, more faith more flow of "grace convenient for the day." Ever wonder why the day seems to overcome us instead of us overcoming it? Little faith = little grace.
Writing this a revelation has opened up to me: "we ask not" because of "lack of faith" and it has happened for so many centuries that we have adapted to "expecting nothing" instead of "expecting great things" so our prayers have reflected our defeated hearts.
Jesus wept.
Why? Because we have exchanged the Glory of the only King and Lord for the carnal bread and knowledge of man. We cry "give us the wisdom of man" instead of the simple explainable power of God. We would rather pray that God direct the doctor than heal the sick as is in His promise. It is so much more comfortable to pray God use someone else than to "fast and pray with weeping" for God to intervene divinely. We suffer the flesh instead of disciplining the spirit to do "spiritual battle" and stop the devil from devouring our loved ones. Radical we say. Extreme. Lunatic. God did say he would use the simple to confound the wise! Would you rather be "simple with God" or wise in the eyes of this world? Would you rather be a son of God and a brother to Christ or wrest Scripture to fit weak faith and inspire the same? Again I say "whether or not I see one promise or miracle of Scripture, that doesn't dismiss the actual ability of God to preform them." "Let God be True" remember the rest of that verse? I am not the judge of God's Word but a worker of His will. His word is always True, it has to be because they "became flesh" and Christ is perfect which proves God's promises and commands. The blame remains with us. Us alone. We have become weak, but Christ is the same and still strong to deliver us even from our own "unbelief."
Why do such a small few (a remnant) still have His manifestation? Because they have great faith. They don't doubt the Truth that sets them free. They don't "question" what the Word says they both say and do the Word, God bearing witness with power and wonders impossible for man to replicate. Did you ever notice that when God/Jesus healed there were no "side effects" that were life threatening? When God provided there were no costs passed on to the public to pay? When he delivered from oppression were there any follow up check ups? Drugs for continuance? He commanded a "finished" work. Nothing needed more, nothing falling short. The cost: humble thanksgiving. Not a life savings.
So what about us?
What is the reality of your Christianity?
Think for a moment before you read on. How do you compare to Scripture? What is your true love?
Are you practicing Faith or Religion?
The answer should be: both!
Great Faith and compassionate Religion!
Don't be fooled by what others set up as an outline to accomplish. We have one outline/Book that we must answer to, God's book: Jesus Christ the Word incarnate. Gods Word that became flesh. That's our "Standard!" That's our model. The one "whom we were made in His image and likeness" is the one to replicate. No other. No saints, pictures, angels, artifacts, nothing but Him who died to set us free, because He who the Son sets free is free in deed (but only in Him).
"Choose you this day who you will serve".
I hope this will be a help meet to your faith.
God bless and keep in Christ.
Love
J&E in Tn
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