FAITH

Good Evening to All!

The answers to the Bible Challenge "Plagues and Afflictions" are as follows:

1. c) speech impediment (Exodus 4:10-16)
2. d) leprosy (Exodus 4:6-7)
3. b) leprosy (Numbers 12:1-10)
4. a) a bronze snake on a pole (Numbers 21:4-9)
5. d) he was lame (2 Samuel 9:3-6)
6. b) Asa (2 Chronicles 16:12-13)
7. c) falling through an upstairs lattice (2 Kings 1:2-4)
8. b) the pool of Bethesda (John 5:2-4)
9. a) Ananias (Acts 9:17-18)
10. d) James (James 5:14)

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I had my post figured out tonight, but then something caught my eye when I was looking up a scripture. How many people actually know what "Faith" is and "what it means to have it"?

The Following is taken from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible:

The Imperative of Faith


What is Faith?

• Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb. 11:1

Why is Faith important?

• Without Faith, it is impossible to please God. Heb. 11:6

In what does Faith believe?

• Faith believes that God is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Heb.11:6

Now Here is the clincher. Some people say they have faith, but when it comes down to it, do they really? I have had to re-evaluate myself many times, and compared to the following examples the only "faith" I had was the "measure of faith which God gave me to start with. I had not worked on increasing my faith like I was suppose to, so I remained weak in that area. Here are some examples of true faith in God. All are located in the Book of Hebrews Chapter 11.

• Abel offered a costly sacrifice. 11:4
• Enoch lived in a way that pleased God. 11: 5
• Noah obeyed divine warnings and built a giant ark. 11:7
• Abraham left Ur at God's calling and went out, not knowing where he was going. 11:8
• Sarah bore Isaac in her old age. 11:11
• Abraham was willing to offer up Isaac, his only son, trusting that God was able to raise him up. 11:17-19
• Isaac blessed his sons and exhorted them to obey the covenant. 11:20
• Jacob likewise reminded his sons of God's promises. 11:21
• Joseph expressed his confidence that God would bring the Israelites out of Egypt 11:22
• Moses' parents refused to carry out the commands of Pharaoh to kill their child. 11:23
• Moses turned his back on the passing pleasures of sin and sided with the downtrodden children of Israel, leading them out of Egypt and obediently carrying out the difficult commands of God. 22:24-29
• The Israelites, led by Joshua, trusted God to give them victory over the city of Jericho. 11:30
• Rahab believed in the power of God and helped the Israelite spies. 11:21
• Many other Old Testament people of faith trusted God for power and victory and refused to compromise their faith in God, even in the midst of life-threatening circumstances. 22:32-38

• What happens to the faithful?

• Some died without having received the promises 11:13
• Some have to find consolation in the truth that they will not realize the full blessings of God until they enter heaven. 11:14-16
• Some experience miraculous deliverance. 11:33-35
• Others, despite their implicit trust in God, experience torture, mockings, scourgings, imprisonment, stonings, destitution, affliction, and torment. 11:35-38

• What is God's verdict on those who faithfully endure?

• There are those of whom the world is not worthy. 11:38

• How should the lives of the faithful believers affect us?

• We should be motivated to lay aside every weight, (hindrance) and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and ...run with endurance the race that is set before us. 12:1
  

Showing our faith in God is so important. As said in the beginning, without faith, it is impossible to please God. It is a chain reaction. We can't please God without faith, and we can't get into heaven if we don't please God. Therefore, we must continually work at increasing our faith by surrendering our problems and worries to God, and showing Him that our faith in Him is ever increasing. If we must, start with small things and work our way up to the bigger things. You must remember, God knows what's in our hearts already, but He still likes for us to ask Him for help because that is giving Him charge of our lives, or at least the part which we ask Him to take charge of.

Personally, I would rather He has charge of every aspect of my life. It seems as though when I take charge, I royally mess things up. He makes things come out so much better!

Anyway, I ask you to think about some ways in which you can show God that you have faith in Him. Let Him take charge in certain aspects of your life that you need help with and relinquish your problems to God. Ask Him to help you with certain things and see what happens. Be sure to notice when He opens doors and opportunities for you. Don't be like the man stranded on a desert island and keep turning down help. (a ship came to pick him up and he refused the ride saying God was going to provide. A helicopter came and he refused the ride saying God would provide. Needless to say, he died on that island. When he stood in front of God, he asked Him why He didn't provide a way off the island and God told him that He sent him the ship and the helicopter, so not to blame Him. All he had to do was accept the rides. In other words God provides but we must see the opportunities in front of us and take them.

Good Night to All and May God Bless!