Faith

Ephesians 3:17-19 King James Version (KJV)

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Romans 11:33-34 King James Version (KJV)

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Many times the posts I make are about True Love, the kind that is "shed abroad in out hearts by the Holy Spirit" not by study, but by Divine "shedding". Holy Spirit "Revelation!" Right to the heart.....our hearts. It can not be "passed" on through teaching or preaching, but only by the "reward of seeking." 

Ephesians 1:17-18 King James Version (KJV)

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,"

His Word cannot lie nor can His commands fail! Period. Any lack of performance on our part come from our unbelief not His lack of promise to give it to us. "All the promises of Christ are yea." To put it in another way "He gives freely, we resist argumentatively." That is the pure Truth of the matter! We resist the "spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him" because it takes the effort of "asking, seeking, and knocking" at the throne of God in prayer to obtain. Just like the Baptism in the Holy Spirit takes "tarrying" for "you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart, you "will" find Him." It is easier to teach and say "the gift of Divine Wisdom and the receiving of "Divine Revelation" does not function in these present times. Again all lies as the Scriptures above disprove the lack of present time validity, but also say else where "Let God be True and all men liars!" 
As we have read in Ephesians 3:17-19 Christ dwells in us by faith for the purpose of knowing the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Notice that the "salvation story" gives way or extends to more than a ticket to the golden roads. It opens the door to "divine wisdom and revelation" so that we might be filled with all the fullness of God. What is this fullness? If we look at the "model" God gave us, which is Christ, then our direction becomes clear. We are being conformed to "His image and likeness" for we can also (as Christ did) "see our Father doing His works and do them also" then "hearing Him speak and repeat what He has spoken to us." The fulness of God in us will be to "walk in the Spirit" being "one with the Father as we (Jesus) are one, and He (Jesus) is one with us and we are one with Him." When this takes place in the believers life the very power, compassion, and mercy of God our Father will without any effort (except obedience) of our own "flow through us" to His glory." 

Ephesians 3:2-4 King James Version (KJV)

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace (Unconditional Love) of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.

So the mystery and True Wisdom of the "indwelling Christ" is Unconditional Love by "Divine Revelation" not just marveled at but put into action "as the Spirit gives utterance." Yes as the "utterance of the Holy Spirit is both the "we small voice" and the "prompting" by Him to "make manifest" His will. 

Notice these facts:

1. God gave "Paul" the "dispensation" of grace to show/manifest to others.

2. This "mystery" was given to Paul by "Revelation", not studied, learned or taught by others, for some things of God are "personal revelation" to the individual as a reward of "seeking with all their hearts."

3. Grace was given Paul to "share" this revelation of the "Love of Christ" that (as proof of ministry") "they" might understand Paul's knowledge of the mystery of Christ. This was done to prove "who sent Paul" to minister God's Word and understand that Paul by revelation received it, not by the normal ways of man's passing it down. Paul could boast of the "Damascus road" experience, seeing and hearing Jesus, (the risen Christ), for all his (Paul's) understanding in New Testament Scriptures. But you say that the NT wasn't written yet? I assure you it was written and complete before "In the beginning" was first penned, and "the Word became flesh" in Jesus Christ who was both OT and NT. Again Paul "by Divine Revelation" wrote the majority of the Epistles, "Holy men led by the Holy Spirit." 

4. In all the writings of Scripture the underlying foundation is Unconditional Love, given by the Father, distributed/shown by True Believers who have received the Revelation in whom Christ (True Love) dwells.  

Where in is a mystery:

That we might "know the Love of Christ" which "passeth understanding", by "faith", that we might be filled with the "fullness" of God so we can encourage other believers to desire the receiving of this "greatest gift" so they would do the same. So there in Paul was shown by revelation "this better way."

So if this "Unconditional Love Revelation" came to Paul by "Revelation" then how can we think it could come to us as a matter of study without the Holy Spirit's help or guidance. Love if studied (that being carnal love) can only be mimicked, but Unconditional Love, Christ's Love, coming by Divine Revelation, can be "lived" by us through the one who "indwells us; Jesus Christ." Christ in us glorifying our Father in heaven to manifest His glory through out the "whole earth."

Now this "Revelation" that I speak of is "Divine" in nature, reception, and participation. It can be received through prayer but is not limited to those Holy private times of communion with God. There are 24 hrs in the day and God's Spirit is continually, through the "we small voice", speaking and guiding our thoughts and lives to "reveal the Fathers will to us." He will use His Word as we read or listen to it, He will use the "wee small voice" if we are sensitive to it, He will use "dreams and visions" if we are open to them, and He will "guide our hearts" in Christ Jesus if we "love Him and obey His commands, and "His commands are not grievous".

Here is an important support note: Listening to His Word builds faith, "now faith comes by hearing and that by the Word of God", "without faith you cannot please God", "anything outside of faith is sin", "Christ dwells in our hearts by faith", so we can see the obvious consequences of "lack of faith." It destroys the very promise of His presence indwelling us as promised in the Scriptures including all the benefits that His indwelling brings the greatest of them being Unconditional Love. Unconditional Love leads us to Divine Compassion so that we can outwardly express it freely thereby ministering to those around us in need, even Divine need, needs that man cannot assuage.

I write these things because, as Paul has said: "that by Revelation He made known to me the mystery" of Jesus Christ and grace/Unconditional Love, so can you and so have I.

As Paul has written about the "exceeding great revelations" that we might understand his wisdom in the Love of Christ so do I write.

God has given me (along with others) significant Revelation in His Word and it's application. All that I have received continues to be expounded upon by the Holy Spirit especially the theme of Unconditional Love.

So now I write to edify the church and to encourage faith in the Scriptures.

I have been taken up into heaven twice, standing before the Living Christ as He taught me about Unconditional Love. The light of His presence being so great that His visage was hard to see. His glory was so powerful that it was like a "living" force that along with His holiness pressed me to my knees laying bare my sinful nature myself and causing me to tremble with fear. But perfect Love cast out fear and He (Jesus) reached out His hand and lifted me up to my feet.  The one session lasted all night and when I awoke Elise was looking at me and asked me where I had been? I told her about the experience and asked why she asked? She said that I through out the night, speaking in tongues and praising God. Odd for me because I seldom speak in a tongue. 

The next 2 times I seen Jesus He was standing at the foot of my bed early in the morning. 

First time was to heal me of an affliction. The second time was to assure me that I was in His will and not to fight it. This second time I had awaken early in the morning to pray and read Scripture as was my norm. After prayer I proceeded to the kitchen table to read the Bible. As I tried to read I became very sleepy. This was quite unusual as I have been doing this for a long time, (maybe well over a year), and I never had been too sleepy to read. I fought with this experience for over half an hour, binding satan, sleep, and everything I could think that could make a difference. But I was still overcome with listlessness. So I prayed Gods forgiveness for failing Him and headed to bed. Even as I was sitting there ready to lay back I couldn't stop fighting this exhaustion. Then all of a sudden, at the end of the bed, Jesus appeared standing there. Again I repented at the weakness of the flesh and He just smiled and extended His hand out to me. As He reached toward me an incredible peace fell upon me and I started to fall backwards to the pillow. The last thing I remember is saying "where Jesus is there is peace!" I knew then that I was fighting myself and the will of the Father trying to do the right thing, (so I thought).  

To continue our family, Elsie, myself, and all our children, have seen manifest the promises of God as stated in the Scriptures. We have all experienced the multiplication of foods both for ourselves and for others. We have seen healing take place both in people and our farm animals. I personally have experienced a lot more including having a "Word of wisdom", Word of knowledge, working of miracles (in church, at home and on the job, even before unbelievers), inexplicable faith, prophesy (in church, on the job, to and for unbelievers), tongues with interpretation, effective prayer in raising the dead (before and since I was "bought with a price". In fact almost every command has been performed and promise received "since I believed". (All except the "changing of water into wine") an obvious one to withhold, but if Jesus did it I would drink it. 

These writings are just the tip of the "iceberg" of faith that God has afforded not only to me and my family but to "all others" who will first believe by faith that God's Word is True, and then seek Him with all their hearts. Ephesians 1:18 "  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,"

That your eyes may be opened by faith to recognize what is the "riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" you!

Here is a thought that cannot be silenced: 

Faith!

What is it? We know that it comes by "hearing and that by the Word of God" and we know it's revelation "for all to believe" not just unto Salvation but for the very performance of God's Word through out all the earth! God's Word is True, we believe by faith in His entire Word, (no matter how impossible it is to relate), then He "performs" His promises and commands through us to affirm that His Word is True. In all the god's of mankind "He" is the only one that can "manifest" (back up His Word) as True and He does that through "His promises such as miracles, signs and wonders. 

So "faith is the substance hoped for the evidence unseen" Hebrews 11:1.

We are told to "walk by faith" this Hebrews 11:1 type of faith. How do you do that? "Substance hoped for?" "Evidence unseen?"

Have you ever thought that it takes faith to have faith????? 

That's why "Divine Revelation" is needed to know how to apply "faith." Many Christians go about their entire lives trying to live out or "walk by faith" in their own power or understanding. The struggle is exhausting. Knowing the word "faith", or saying the word "faith" doesn't bring any power or ability to walking in faith. Faith is progressive. You start out with "saving grace through faith" then you continue in faith daily (through reading and hearing His Word) until "death do us part." Anyone who thinks that the "have arrived" at the full threshold of faith is vain and in error. Full faith is in the example of Jesus Christ. Walking as He walked, doing those things that He did and greater. Just a note of how faith is always increasing....consider we are to walk as He walked.......He walked without "SIN" being tempted as we are. No man of faith could, can or will ever say that. Faith in the Word of God exposes us to all of God's holiness, righteousness, commands, promises, covenants, which if we Love Him we will obey and receive. Aside from Christ I have not come across another who has done that. 

So what is faith, and how do we participate in our continuing reception of it according to the Scriptures? This "substance and evidence of hope and unseen things?"

I believe this application I am about to tell you is true:

After you are saved and according to Scripture "receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit", you continue in the Word to build faith, and receive revelation, you pray that God will glorify His name through Jesus Christ in you as promised in the Scriptures. Stop right here.....if the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a trifle to you or not thought necessary then faith has ended for you at the level of salvation. All men are given saving grace through faith freely but after that the hearing of the Word is how greater faith is received. Period! By the way that is the "hearing of the Word" that increases. Reading is also one of the "hearing" means doubly effective if the Word is read out loud.

Ok so to the point:

When faith is growing in you because of the Word, you begin to see the Word as a living entity (which it is, Jesus) and without question begin to experience all it's promises, commands, gifts ect. without doubt and with an increasing level of humility. The more God "lifts up Jesus" to call all men unto Himself, the more you realize that God has set His anointing on you to be effective in leading all men within your arena of influence to God. 

In all situations, pleasant, unpleasant, safe, unsafe, good or bad you can only see the promises of Jesus to deliver you without doubt from the very beginning knowing (by His Word) that He has His best outcome to come to fruition.

Here's an example in my own life:

I was sent out to work a job in a very bad area of Detroit. The plant was small and due to the extreme crime in the area the plant had metal grids covering its outside doors and windows and a 12' fence with razor wire on top to protect the parking lot. The only way in was the parking gate which had a camera to recognize who was there and let them is if their picture was on a pre-approved file. I went into to plant to work and at break time went to get a bottle of water out of the machine. On the machine was a sign that sometimes the machine didn't work and a refund could be had by going to the foreman's office. of course it didn't work for me so I proceeded to the foreman's office for a refund. The door was locked and there was talking inside so I knocked. When asked what I wanted I said a refund from the machine. The unlocked the door and invited me in. When I went in there was the foreman at the desk and 4 other men sitting around the office. It was there lunch break. The foreman asked what I needed and I told him as the sign suggested. He laughed and pulled a gun on me as did all the other men. He said "is your life worth $.75? The he proceeded to stand up and put it to my head. By faith and the grace of God I wasn't event phased nor did I respond to these actions out of fear. He waited for an answer expecting fear and trepidation but here was my response: "Sir you have not the power of life and death only Jesus Christ has that. So if you pull that trigger and it goes off then I go home to heaven, but if you pull that trigger and God wants me to continue then you will have seen the power of the True God and His Son Jesus Christ. He looked at me for a second then pointed the gun at his own face so as to look down the barrel himself. He shuddered then gave me my $.75 having been rendered speechless by God. 

True faith always see's God's plan "finished" before it happens and encourages the faithful to respond accordingly, "as though the situation has already been completed." 

True faith cannot leave God's Word for it's answer in any situation. It sees all things as Scripture states and that only as it's answer with unfailing certainty. I have many proofs like this one to tell but this will "show" the point of "walking by faith."

It has taken over 2 weeks to assemble this post I believe by the Holy Spirit, as I will post or say nothing that I am not convinced that the Holy Spirit has not provided. 

This has been written to encourage and edify any believer who reads this, and to challenge any non believer to "have faith" and be set free.

Growing in Christ 

Love

Jerry and Elise