The reaping of faith

The reaping of faith: my story.

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

All our well doing should be done by faith in obedience to God’s Word. The clear definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith in what? Faith in God’s Word. Many people put their faith in “the things of man” hoping that somehow the things that can be built by man “will endure” to our profit or provision. But True faith can only be put in “the Word of God” as it never fails and cannot change, not being effected by time.

For me, my faith “in my beginning” was placed in my Catholic training and my parents guidelines. Helpful, but do to my young age and low maturity level it was not engaged or exercised. I stumbled through life with reckless abandon having only the “hand of God” to protect me from my own sin and actions, unbeknown to me.

But then when the revelation of Jesus Christ came to me through the presenting of His Gospel by a co-worker I immediately put my “faith” in Jesus Christ who is the Word of God. So I effectively put my faith in the Word of God without reservation, not wondering about interpretation, or my ability or study, but just “believing” that every Word of God is True. Because of this grace that I received through salvation, and my grasping on to it as one who was perishing, I indulged in the hope that was handed me and devoured the “engrafted Word” which had set me free. It was (and still is) like being at a wonderful banquet table full of “sustaining” victuals and profitable delights. I engaged this new spiritual hunger with both passion and energy, as it well deserved. Not just feeding on the “milk of the Word” but also very quickly getting into the “meat of the Word”. I believed that this passion and success came quickly because of the help of the Holy Spirit, who taught me and reminded me of all things that Jesus said, guiding me to “walk by faith and in the light.”

I had no mind (or leading by the Holy Spirit) to do anything more than read/hear the Word, the Holy Scriptures. I didn’t allow myself to “try to understand” them only to “wait on the Lord” to teach me “in His time” all things. And over the last 35 yrs He has been faithful to “guide me in truth” and thereby “strengthen my faith in Him.” Many times I would ask for wisdom on some matter but the timing “not being His” the understanding would not be given. This taught me one most important lesson: “all things are in His time, not ours.” If we “wait upon the Lord” we will receive all things, all things. Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are God’s gift to us for our patience, by faith, through the waiting, seeking and knocking process.

As the Scriptures say, the Word of God is “real meat and real drink” for us to indulge in as if it were the carnal food that we eat. As much as we need carnal food we more so need spiritual food. Carnal food feeds the body but “the Word of God” feeds the soul, the spirit man, which then causes “spiritual growth.” Anyone who only relies on a sermon once a week for their “feeding” will lack the ability to grow strong and mighty in spirit. The sermon of the week is to be added to the diligence of the believer during the week to make the feeding complete, but it is not enough to grow the body by itself. Knowing God, seeking God, communing with God is rewarded by effort: Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Faith is the “spice” that makes the meal of His Word desirable, as the reward of faith in the Word develops our spirit by testing.

For many Christians have left faith in the Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the “words of man”, man’s teaching, filling itching ears, not of the Spirit. Sound teaching comes from men anointed of God for that position, who speak the Truth and lie not, led by the Spirit of God. I do not say this for a general condemnation but to reveal a common application that’s going on in many church’s today. Positions are filled because they exist, not because there is an anointing or leading of God to teach. Know this that everything God does is “for today.” His provisions are “daily”, His Word is needed “daily”, His revelation is given “daily”, teaching is given as needed daily, that is why “He will  teach us and remind us of all things Jesus said” when we need it and in its time.

It takes faith to believe and receive this. It takes “abiding” in Him to receive this. It takes passion and desire to obtain this. Though we are the Body of Christ corporately we are also the “individual members” that have the responsibility to add “our participation” to the rest of the Body. Though we may feel otherwise this participation is “non optional.” For the Body to be healthy all members of it must be healthy or the whole body suffers to some degree, as does its performance. Each member is given a revelation (if he has sought for it), and gifts to share with the other members to edify one another, to build up the body as a whole. Any member that cannot contribute to the needs of the body by living their ministry, and using their gifts in it, is weakening the body and its effectiveness as a whole.

To make the Body of Christ as effective as possible, all believers must concur that the “engrafting of the written Word”, and faith that it is exactly as God wants it, is True, unchanging, and eternal in its application, real meat and drink, for life and that more abundantly in the Body. If we allow the Word to be reduced to mere stories, comparisons, and philosophies, then we deny it the power that God has given it for “reproduction” of its kind. Remember “in the beginning” all things were given the ability to “reproduce” its own kind for continuance in this creation, we are no difference as “followers of Jesus Christ.” We must reproduce faith in Him or be overrun by the world. To do this God has given us “power” and “anointing” for “possessing” the land, which is the hearts and souls of mankind. Only faith in His Word, unwavering and True, releases the power of God to do this keeping His seed spotless by the Blood of Christ building the Body up in its most holy expression of His provision and Love.

Anyone who argues that there are discrepancies in His Word has no revelation from God or faith in His Word. God cannot lie, lead astray, or deceive so His Word is pure, undefiled, and Holy…….whether you see it that way, experience it that way, or see it that way in anyone else, period. God’s Word is there to manifest His glory in mere men, those chosen vessels of His, to a wicked and adulterous generation that “none might perish but all should have eternal life.” If we who say we believe undermine the Word of God then we undermine the Gospel of Christ and (aside from the promise “my Word shall not come back void”) weaken the presentation of their salvation who here. If we are confused about what God’s Word says then how can we convince the unbelievers to believe? The power of the Gospel is just that, the power! The Holy Spirit draws all to Christ, Christ saves and brings to God, a washed and cleansed offering of Love for His worship and praise. Where the Gospel of Christ is spoken the power of salvation is released for the harvest. Again how can they believe our words if we don’t fully believe? I hope this is clear now so that the Body of Christ can reproduce members of like type, strong in faith, believing!

The word “salvation” does not only mean to “deliver from hell” but to “completely restore back to its original designed condition as God intended.” So we are saved from hell’s fire, but we are also “returned to the original design of “made in the image and likeness of God.” Complete, made whole, lacking nothing of His original design, His original plan for us, “Being conformed unto His (Jesus Christ’s) image and likeness, to do those things He did and greater things” to Glorify our (His) Father in Heaven. Saved to the fullest representation of Christ, doing the will of God as He did, seeing Him do His work and doing it also,, speaking “as though speaking the very Words of God.” So we are saved to be complete in Him. This is the True goal of salvation……restoration to God’s perfect design. To do that we must agree that engrafting His Word is necessary along with a daily communing with Him through prayer and being faithful or full of faith. “Without faith no man can please God.”

This is what I had as a “beginning” when I was saved. All the above was completed on my salvation and its revelation taught and brought to the front as I grew in grace and faith. I daily seek those revelations from His Word that He would show me, knowing that “today is the day if you hear my voice harden not your heart.”

Our walk is daily.                                                 

Our growth in faith is daily; and that by the Holy Spirit.

Our need to “edify” other members in the Body of Christ is daily.

Our being “conformed to His image and likeness” is daily.

“Live your life before men so that they might see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.”

Grace and peace be with you.

Love

J&E in Tn