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Lesson 2 of Complementary Course Go here to read the instructions WHAT IS FAITH IN GOD Many Christians, without wanting so, do not allow God to bless them more. Because when God wants to bless, they don't understand some things and fail to receive. Sometimes it seems we have a problem with God, but actually He has a problem with us: too often He can't bless us more, just because of our unbelief. We must understand well that GOD WILL NOT CHANGE. The Bible says that we need Faith to please God. When a child is born, it hasn't trained its muscles yet. All organs and parts are there, but everything has to grow and develop. When we give our life to Jesus, we are born again in the spirit, already
with a measure of faith. In Hebrews 11:6 we read: Faith is the condition for God to be pleased. Jesus taught faith to be the most important spiritual characteristic. A centurion came very humble to Jesus, but also in this case it was
his faith that brought him the good response: A blind man prayed with a lot of sincerity, but received his healing
because of his faith. In 2 Peter 1:5-7 we read that faith is the base for seven other
aspects of our because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. - Hebrews 11:6 Of course you will never know God if you do not believe He exists. The Apostle Paul lists three characteristics in 1 Corinthians 13:13. He says that Love is the most important, but calls three spiritual ingredients that form the basis: Faith, Hope and Love. Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Faith is the firm conviction of facts ´that you don't yet see´;
because how can we love Someone you have never seen, if you are not
sure He exists? Our faith is based on Jesus, and that is why fear for circumstances is actually doubting His power; or doubt if He will answer our prayers. FAITH IN GOD is: Faith is like a force that brings to you what actually already belongs to you, because it was conquered for you at the cross by Jesus. Faith is like a power that removes the problems that the devil brings on your way. Faith is also the power that removes mountains before you. In fact there are two kinds of faith: A. THE NORMAL HUMAN, NATURAL FAITH It is the kind of faith that everyone has, also not-Christians. For instance if someone enters an aeroplane, he has faith in the pilot. Or entering a car, people have faith that the wheels are well fitted, and is not afraid they come loose while driving. Or passing a bridge, one has faith in the engineers that built the bridge. One believes the bridge will carry the weight of the cars that pass. But imagine, Jesus says: "I am your Lord, I will supply in all
your needs, according my endless richness, and I will supply abundantly." Often people have more trust in their boss, than in Jesus, because they work a full month, being sure enough that he will pay in the end of the month. Or they consult a doctor, and right away believe all he says that will happen. So one has faith in the doctor.
Jesus was a man of faith! In Joshua 1:8 we see how the Lord told Joshua the secret of
Faith:
1. To believe in the promises of God (not doubting them) Faith is not what we often think or want; it is not based on what one says, on what traditions say, but is believing what God promises to us. Faith is not a step into a vacuum, into insecurity. It is trusting in what God has promised. Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Faith is sureness of things YOU DO NOT SEE. So what does God promise? Many Christians even have no Bible. Faith is based on the Word of God. John 17:17b - your word is truth. John 16:30 - Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God." Mark 12:32 - "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him." John 6:68-69 - ` Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.' Trusting the Word: 1 John 5:14,15 - This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, (His will is what He said in His Word) he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. Believing the Word is believing the One who made it written. Psalm 9:10 - Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. To live in faith is not a jump into the darkness, but to walk a lightened path. Psalm 119:130 - The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Not doubting - not questioning God: "But if not …" James 1:5-7 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given
to him. Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.. Hebrews 11:13 - All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 2. To receive the Word in your heart. To meditate in the Word of God; listen to the Word. Faith is based on knowledge of the Word of God. Who wants to be rich
in faith, has to be full of the Word of God.
Gods counsel for success can be found in the Book of Joshua: 3. To say the same as God says God says in His Word that you have health, that you are healed by the stripes of Jesus. God says you can do everything, because He who is in you is more than satan, who is in this world. Agree with God, and you will be prosperous. "… Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth …" (Joshua 1:8). Speak the Word. 4. Act according the Word of God. Obedience I Samuel 15:22 - But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight
in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of
the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than
the fat of rams. Luke 6:46 - "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? In Joshua 1:8 we read that we should practice the Word - so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Faith is acting according Gods Word, then you are in Jesus, and His Word is in you. (John 15:7) John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." 1 John 5:12 - He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. Hebrews 4:2 - For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Faith is not human skill, it is a gift of God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit work together in the Process of Faith. Everybody who is saved in Jesus receives a measure of Faith from God. Romans 12:3 - For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. By looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our Faith (Hebrews
12:2), Peter walked on the water as long as he kept seeing to Jesus. As soon as he became afraid for the waves and the wind, in other words: as soon as he started to pay attention to the circumstances, he started to drawn. It is the task of all of us to develop this faith in us, as says 1
Corinthians 12. The disciples of Jesus asked Him at a certain moment: "make our faith greater", but faith is like muscles, which have to be trained to grow; our faith only grows by hearing, hearing the Word of God. Romans 10:17 - Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,
and the message is heard through the word of Christ. A. FAITH WITHOUTR WORKS IS DEAD Before God the blood and the full work of Christ, on the base of Faith,
justify us. God sees the heart what is saved, but people only see the outside: the result of what is in the heart, the fruit of faith: the good works. James 2:14-20 - What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims
to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? B. NOT EVERYBODY THAT SAYS HE HAS GREAT FAITH, HAS FAITH INDEED One can see the faith of someone by the fruits, the results: A. WE ARE SAVED BY FAITH Ephesians 2:8,9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. John 1:12 - Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God We are not only saved by faith, but we also live by faith: We are sanctified by faith: We are protected by faith: B. FAITH GIVES US PEACE, TRANQUILLITY, SECURITY AND JOY Faith gives us a realization of protection and safety, of gratitude and joy. Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. Romans 5:1 - Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, John 14:1 - "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me." Our salvation is not based on feelings. That means you do not necessarily
need to feel you are saved, to be sure of the fact that you are saved.
If we encounter a TRUTH in the Word, we must So we come to the conclusion that the feeling is the result of the truth and our faith in the truth, and that we never may base our faith on feelings. Almost everybody wants to feel something first, and believe only then. But that is exactly the opposite of how it works, and only gives confusion, insecurity, doubt and fear. Firm faith in Christ, in His unchangeable Word, is the secret basis of this peace, tranquillity, security and perfect joy. C. FAITH BRINGS US TO DO THE THINGS OF JESUS Hebrews 11:32-34 - And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Jesus gives us faith and power without measure. A disciple of Jesus may do greater works through faith than his Master. Faith is a great source of power. For whom believes in Christ the question is not: "What can I do?",
but: "How much faith do I have?" Always have faith in God. To end:
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