Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

Definition of Faith

In part one of the definition of faith, we determined what faith is not. Now let us let the Bible define what faith is. I encourage you to take your religious glasses off and not assume that you know what faith is. This will not be an exhaustive definition of faith, for the entire Bible is designed to produce faith and contains further insight on principles of faith.

Notice that in Hebrews 11:1 that faith is the substance of things hoped for. Both faith and hope are eternal and will never pass away.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

Hope is important but has no substance. Hope can be compared to a dream.

It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, And look—he eats; But he awakes, and his soul is still empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreams, And look—he drinks; But he awakes, and indeed he is faint, And his soul still craves…

Isaiah 29:8 NKJV

Faith is the spiritual force that brings substance to our hopes, dreams, and desires. Now, these hopes, dreams and desires must be produced from the Word of God.

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4 NKJV

Another words, you cannot desire another man’s wife, for example. That is contrary to the written Word and does not come from God. Faith will not bring substance to that desire.

Just as faith brings into manifestation what we do hope for, fear brings into manifestation what we do not want. Fear is misguided faith. Anytime you try to tell someone about victory in Jesus they always say, “well what about Job?” The Book of Job is a whole study in itself. But , the reason Job experienced the things he did was because of fear.

For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.

Job 3:25 NKJV

Faith is gateway for the goodness of God to be manifest in our lives. Fear is an open door for oppression from the devil.

In righteousness you shall be established;You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.

Isaiah 54:14 NKJV

Fear is the reciprocal force of faith. Another words, the higher level of fear operating in your life, the less faith operating in your life. The higher your level of faith, the lower your level of fear.

But He (Jesus) said to them, “Why are you fearful (full of fear), O you of little faith?”

Matthew 8:26 NKJV (Parenthesis mine)

But He (Jesus) said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Mark 4:40 NKJV (Parenthesis mine)

NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for…

Hebrews 11:1 Amplified

Notice that the Amplified Bible includes “title deed”  in its description of faith. If I have a title deed to a car or any other piece of property, it is mine legally whether it is presently in my possession or not. The same is true with any promise in the Word of God. If you put faith in the Word the promise is legally yours.

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Mark 11:24 NKJV

The Word translated believe (Gr-Pisteuo) is the verb form of faith (Gr-Pistis).

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

In the second part of Hebrews 11:1 we see the origin point of faith and provision.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.

Mark 11:22 NKJV

And Jesus answered and said to them, Have ye the faith of God;

Mark 11:22 Wycliffe Bible

The second rendering of this verse from the Wycliffe Bible is more accurate to the Greek text. It could be rendered, “Use or employ the God kind of faith”. This means that this is God’s faith we are using. This takes the struggle out of faith when you realize it is God’s faith, not ours that we have at our disposal! Do you think God’s faith will have trouble producing results?

Both faith and its provision come forth from the Spirit realm or unseen realm.

while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 4:18,5:7 NKJV

Everything in the seen realm came forth from the unseen realm and is therefore subject to the spirit realm.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Hebrews 11:3 NKJV

If your problem can be seen it can be subdued from the power that originates in the spiritual dimension.

For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good testimony.

Hebrews 11:2 NKJV

Continuation of the Definition of Faith

According to Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest, the preceding verses are connected to verse one of Hebrews 11. They are a continuation of the definition of faith. “Obtained a good testimony” is a little blind to us. The word “testimony” is the Greek word “martureo”. It literally means they were borne witness to. Now this has a twofold application.

1. The Word of God is witnessed to our spirit.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Romans 8:15-17 NKJV

This is where many people miss it. They mentally agree with black print on the white page of the Bible and call it faith. They do not have the witness of the Spirit on the subject. We have to meditate the Word until we receive a revelation of that word in our spirit and then faith comes.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

The word translated “word” is rhema. And that is a word that has been quickened in your heart by the Holy Spirit. That brings us to another point. We cannot get faith by praying for it, although prayer is important for other reasons. We cannot get faith by having hands laid on us. You only get faith from the revealed Word. A revealed Word from God has binding and loosing power.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:17-19 NKJV

Not only did Peter get a revelation from God, Jesus said that this revelation is the foundation that the entire church will be built upon. And according to the Greek text with that revelation we can bind and declare unlawful in the earth whatever heaven has declared unlawful.

…whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.

Matthew 16:19 Amplified

There is abundance in heaven. Therefore we have the right to loose abundance in the earth. There is no sickness in heaven. Therefore we have the ability to bind and declare unlawful sickness and loose health in our physical bodies.

2. God bears witnessed by manifesting the Word in our lives in manifest reality.

God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Hebrews 2:4 NKJV

True Bible faith will produce results in this natural seen realm. Many people do not believe that their faith will produce anything this side of heaven. This is not Biblical faith. This is not the God kind of faith. The God kind of faith will produce in this natural realm. Some say “Well, brother, didn’t Jesus say, we are more blessed if we believe without seeing?” Yes He did.

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:29 NKJV

We have to harmonize that with everything else that He said.

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

John 11:40 NKJV

In context, in John 11:40 Jesus was referring to raising Lazurus from the dead.  When we harmonize these two passages we conclude that if we believe regardless of what we see, we will see what we believe come to pass.  Another words, if we see sickness manifest in our body and we believe “By his stripes we were healed” (1 Peter 2:24), we will see the manifestation of our healing. If we see a need in our life and we believe that “my God will supply all my need according to His riches in glory” , then we will see that need met.

We see the progression of the twofold witness illustrated in 1 John 5:10-15.

He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:10-15 NKJV

Notice the progression:

1. God bears witness.

2. We continually believe on Jesus and what He accomplished in redemption.

3. We ask confidently.

4. We receive the manifestation.

By faith we understand …

Hebrews 11:3 NKJV

Faith is grounded in understanding and not ignorance. Many Christians, always tie faith with ignorance. They say, “We just never know what God is going to do. But we just have to have faith”. You can only have faith to the degree that you know the will of God. You can only endure through knowledge.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing…

James 1:2-3 NKJV

Another principle tied to this passage is understanding comes through faith obedience. Many say, “I will obey God when I get more understanding”. That is putting the cart before the horse. You have to obey God before you get complete understanding.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Many say, “When I understand the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, I will obey Jesus and be filled.” You will never get understand. You have to obey then He will give you further direction.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit…

1 Peter 1:22 NKJV

Our soul includes our mind, will, and emotions. Mind renewal and understanding come through faith obedience.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:8 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

We cannot please God without faith. The writer of Hebrews goes on to clarify what he means. First of all we have to believe He is. That goes beyond believing He exists. It means we have to believe He is who He says He is.

He is:

The Lord our Provider (Genesis 22:8,14)

THe Lord Our Healer (Exodus 15:26)

The Lord Our Banner (Victory)(Exodus 17:15)

The Lord Our Peace (Judges 16:24)

The Lord Our Shepherd (Guide) (Psalm 23:1)

The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)

The Lord Ever Present (Ezekiel 48:35)

If you do not believe God is all these things, you cannot be pleasing to God. Secondly, You must believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. How does He reward them? By being all those things He says He is to us personally.

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Genesis 15:1 NKJV

If you think He may or may not heal you, you are calling Him a liar and cannot please Him. If you say He may or may not provide for your needs you are calling Him a liar and cannot please Him.

How do we release faith?

Now that we have looked at what faith is we now need to know how to release it. There are two kinds of energy. There potential energy and kinetic energy. Potential energy is like the energy that is in a stretched spring. Kinetic energy is the energy produced when you release that spring. Potential energy is stored energy while kinetic energy is energy in motion. Faith is released primarily two ways. Faith filled words and faith filled actions.

1. Faith filled words.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Mark 11:23 NKJV

The Bible says we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26). God released His power through His words. According to Jesus we have the same ability to release the power of faith through our words.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21 NKJV

2. Faith filled Actions.

For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead.

James 2:26 Amplified

And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.

This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

Acts 14:8-10 NKJV

Notice this man had faith to be healed but was still crippled. He had to act on the faith that was in Him.  If we want deliverance in our finances we have to tithe and give. When we give we are releasing our faith. We have to lay hands on the sick to see them recover (Mark 16:18). An act of unbelief separated man from God initially in Adam. An act of faith will reconnect us to God and His provision in Christ, who is the last Adam.

When you know the Definition of Faith, Faith will work for anyone who will put it to work.

Definition of Faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

“The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms” ~Socrates

One of the most common errors in Christianity is not allowing the Bible to define itself.  Although I am grateful to live in a predominately Christian nation, one of its unfortunate side affect is that everyone has an opinion about what the Bible says. We have to examine, however, where we got our ideas about the Bible.

We should view Bible study as divine communication. When we study our Bible see it as God speaking to us personally. Ed Cole said that, “Communication is the Basis (fundamental ingredient) of life”.  In any communication, however, there is always an understanding gap between the speaker and the hearer. The more you get to know the speaker the narrower the gap gets. When we hear things they go through our filters of experience, religious teaching, and other contexts so that many times the intent of the speaker is skewed. This fact is illustrated in the word “Logos” which is translated “Word” in many of our English Bible translations. According to W.E. Vine “Logos” is “a word, account, etc.,” sometimes denotes “a reason, cause, intent,”. Another words, it goes beyond merely the words spoken, to the words with the thought and intent behind it. We have to be sure God’s Word spoken to us resonates in us the way He intended it. For illustration purposes, consider Genesis 24:64.

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

Genesis 24:64 KJV

The uninformed American reader could easily mistake this passage for smoking a cigarette. In an attempt to look seductive to her suitor, Rebekah fired up a stogie. Conjuring up images of old black and white 40’s bombshell flicks.  Actually (as I am sure you probably know), “lighted off” is just a real Elizabethan way of saying “She got off of her camel, man.” I know this is a silly illustration, but not as strange as some I have actually heard from people!

The New Testament teaches that the whole world system is flowing with the Satanic influence (Ephesians 2:2, 1 John 5:19). One of the attempts of Satan is to replace biblical words with counterfeits. He does not take them out of our conversation but replaces them with watered down versions. For example, consider the word “believe”. In the Bible it is the verb form of pistis (faith), pisteou. Americans, however, use the word “believe” as “I think so” or “maybe so”. Someone asks, “Are you going to town tomorrow?” To which you answer, “I believe so.” By believe you mean “I think so” or “maybe so”. This is not how the Bible uses that word.

It is much like carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide kills an average of 1500 people a year. The reason carbon monoxide is so lethal is because it so closely resembles a oxygen molecule that the red blood cells readily take it in. Yet being more dense than an oxygen molecule it gets lodged in the red blood cell thus suffocating it. This is the way it is with misunderstood biblical terminology. Because it is a biblical word or phrase we innately are drawn to it and take it in. Yet, their religious tradition distorts the original meaning and it is destructive to the hearer not allowing the truth to come into their heart thus suffocating their faith.

making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Mark 7:13 NKJV

“Faith” is one of the most understood of biblical words. The following are some misconceptions of faith.

1. Faith is not merely the belief that there is a God.

We have all experienced it. We share the love of Jesus with someone and encourage them to have faith. To which, they respond, “But I believe in God”. To which I usually respond, “Congratulations, you have attained to devil level faith”.

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

James 2:19 NKJV

Do not get me wrong. Believing there is a God out there beyond Pluto somewhere is a form of faith. It is just not Bible level faith. The implication in the previous passage is believing in God is not enough.

2. The Cessationist misconception of Faith.

Cessationism is the belief that the supernatural gifts such as divine healing, prophecy, and tongues have passed away. There are many strands of this line of thinking of which an exhaustive study is not the purpose of this article. Some teach that God withdrew the supernatural gifts when the last apostle John died .  Others teach that they passed away when the canon of scripture was complete. Regardless of when, they believe it has passed away. Bottom line, according to them, the supernatural is not happening now.  Maybe at some future point I will demonstrate how both scripture and history easily disprove this line of thinking.  The following is an exerpt from the writings of Augustine.

“We still do what the apostles did when they laid hands on the Samaritans and called down the Spirit on them…It is expected that the converts should speak with tongues.”

Augustine (4th Century)

Keep in mind this is fourth century. Long after the gifts had supposedly passed away. The Bible does not speak of a day of miracles but a God of miracles who never changes.

“ For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob…”

Malachi 3:6 NKJV

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 NKJV

Although most followers of the cessationist doctrine trace their origin to John Darby and C.I. Scofield the fingerprints of this deception trace back to even Jesus’s day.

We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”

John 9:29 NKJV

Notice the mentality. We know God spoke back then but not now. This way of thinking has tainted many people’s concept of faith. They are convinced that the fact that they believe that Jesus healed the sick two thousand years ago is the same as biblical faith.  They say, “I believe Jesus healed the sick, Amen”. “I believe Jesus walked on the water, Hallelujah”.  They are convinced that makes them a faith giant. The entire thrust of their faith is rooted in the past. Another symptom of cessationist thinking is future based.

Jesus said to her, “Your brother (Lazarus) will rise again.”

Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

John 11:23-24 NKJV

Martha would fit in well in many modern churches today. Jesus is talking to her about raising Lazarus from the dead right now. Yet, she gets religious and says, “I know he will be raised  up in the last day. In the sweet by and by, when we all die or fly, but ‘til then we are going to cry because all we can do is try.” Jesus had to refocus her faith from being future oriented to present tense oriented.

Those are the two ditches that cessationist find themselves in. I know God did something back then and I know He will do something again when I get to heaven. But, according to them, if you need something now you are sunk because that all passed away. According to the Bible that is not faith. Bible faith is always in the now.

Now faith is (present tense) the substance of things hoped for…

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

But without faith it is (present tense) impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is (present tense), and that He is (present tense) a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray (present tense), believe that you receive them , and you will have them.

Mark 11:24 NKJV

(Parenthesis mine)

When we put everything we receive from God off into the sweet by and by , we will faint and lose heart.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13 KJV

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13 NKJV

Can you see how the cessationist mentality has created weak and discouraged Christians. They have no faith nor hope of anything that pertains to this life. If we want to be victorious and pleasing to God (see Hebrews 11:6), we must appropriate the faith of God in all of our present circumstances.

3. Faith verses Fate/Fatalism.

Fate- 1.something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune; lot: It is always his fate to be left behind.

2.the universal principle or ultimate agency by which the order of things is presumably prescribed; the decreed cause of events; time: Fate decreed that they would never meet again.

3.that which is inevitably predetermined; destiny: Death is our ineluctable fate.

Fatalism–noun 1. the acceptance of all things and events as inevitable; submission to fate: Her fatalism helped her to face death with stoic calm.

2.Philosophy . the doctrine that all events are subject to fate or inevitable predetermination.

(Dictionary.com)

The belief that all events are decided in advance by God or Fate so that human beings are powerless to alter their destiny.

The Definition of Faith is Not Fate or Fatalism

What many people, even Christian, call faith is actually fate or fatalism. We can easily see how the two could be confused by the fact that they even sound the same. Fatalism says, “Ca sara, sara, what ever will be will be.” Many call this a Christian doctrine but it traces to Greek and Roman mythology. According to Greek and Roman mythology, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos control human destiny and are referred to as “the Fates”. I am embarrassed as a Christian that much of the professing Christianity could be hoodwinked by mythology. Let us look at some fatalistic phrases.

a. “God is in Control”

We see this phrase everywhere from songs to bumper stickers yet it is an unscriptural concept. I know this flies in the face of everything  you have ever heard from religion. But we have to see what the Bible says. Dominion over this earth was originally given to man.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26 NKJV

The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.

Psalm 115:16 NKJV

What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

For You have made him a little lower than the angels (literally-Elohim-God), And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

Psalm 8:4-6 NKJV

All dominion over the earth was given to Adam and he bowed his knee to satan and forfeited his dominion to him.

Then the devil, taking Him (Jesus)up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

Luke 4:5-6 NKJV

Had this statement not been partialy true, it would not have been a valid temptation. This authority was delivered when Adam bowed his knee reliquishing his authority . This is how satan became the “god of this world”.

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV

in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (satan), the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Ephesians 2:2 NKJV

We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

1 John 5:19 NKJV

When Jesus raised from the dead he stripped satan of all authority and regained the authority Adam had lost.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Matthew 28:18 NKJV

Because of what Jesus did we as individual believers have our authority restored. We can take dominion over the elements of the curse operating in our lives. However, the earth will not be back under God’s dominion until Jesus sets up His earthly kingdom during the millinial reign. So all of the disaster happening on the earth is not the will of God. It is, rather, the work of satan who is the “god of this world”.

Some say, “Then why don’t God just hurry up and kick the devil out”? The answer is that when God finally judges satan and removes him from the earth all those who  have not accepted Jesus as their personal saviour will be judged as well. It is spiritual law that people receive the same judgement as their lord (which if you have not received Jesus as Lord, satan is your lord by default). God is holding back in His mercy to give everyone ample opportunity to avoid judgement.

If everything that happened was the will of God we would not be commanded to submit to God and resist the devil.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you

James 4:7 NKJV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, …

1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV

Jesus says that everything that steals, kills, and destroys if from the devil (John 10:10). There fore we must resist anything that steals, kills, and destroys.

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Acts 10:38 NKJV

And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.  But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”

Luke 13:11-13,16 NKJV

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Proverbs 10:15 NKJV

Since poverty destroys then we know it is from the devil and must be resisted.

b. “It must not be God’s time.”

As innocent as it may sound, this second phrase (or any dirivative of it) is another form of fatalistic thinking. In the general will of God, covered in the Bible, God’s time is always now.

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2b  NKJV

Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.

Psalm 118:25 NKJV

c. “God works in mysterious ways”/ “You never know what God is going to do.”

Once again, very religious sounding but not biblical.

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

1 Corinthians 2:10-12 NKJV

that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God.

1 Corinthians 2:12 Amplified

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:17 NKJV

God would be unjust to command us to know His will if it were not possible to do so.

d. “…if it be thy will.”

Many sincere believers tack this faith destroying phrase at the end of their prayers. The implication being, if they receive what they pray for it was the will of God. If they do not receive, it was not the will of God. I have heard many Christians say, “God answers three ways. Yes, No, and wait a while.” But this violates the clear teachings of scripture.

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20 Amplified

All of God’s promises have their yes in him. That is why we say amen through him to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20 Common English Bible

Christ says “Yes” to all of God’s promises.

2 Corinthians 1:20 CEV

We have to know the will of God before we pray or we will not have confidence.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15 NKJV

If we put an “if”in our prayer, we are not in faith.

Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”

Mark 9:23 The Message

e. “This must be happening for a reason”/ “I must be suffering for God’s glory”.

It is human nature to try to find some high spooky spiritual reason for their suffering. The reason they are suffering is that satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Others are even as arrogant to say that their suffering is somehow redemptive. This implies that, first, you are qualified to redeem mankind with your suffering. This is the height of spiritual pride. Secondly, it implies that Jesus’s sacrificial work was not enough without you adding to it. The New Testament teaches that we will suffer persecution. But anything Jesus suffered for us we need not suffer. Jesus was made poor with our poverty (2 Corinthians 8:9) so we need not bear it. Jesus was made sick with our sickness.

He is despised, and left of men, A man of pains, and acquainted with sickness, And as one hiding the face from us, He is despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, And our pains — he hath carried them…

Isaiah 53:3-4a YLT

Jesus bore our sickness so need not carry them and to do so would be to belittle Jesus’s sacraficial work. Jesus was made sin with our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) so we need not carry the penalty of them.

These are just a few examples of fatalistic phrases that even Christians use. I will leave you with one final thought.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

If you try to discern the will of God by what is manifest in the seen realm you are walking by sight and not by faith. The only trustworthy guide to finding the will of God is His written word.  Learn how the accurate Definition of Faith will work for you.

This is the whole duty of man. Fear God and keep His commandments. Is that a great verse or what?! After all his exasperated venting in Ecclesiastes, Solomon summed it up with the sane unbiased truth. Our duty as human beings is simply to fear the Lord. If we do this, we will experience God’s best all the days of our lives. We’ll have heaven on earth (Deuteronomy 11:21). This fear fuels our faith. I want to take you on a journey through the Word and show you some of the benefits offered to Christians for doing their duty of fearing the Lord. Some you will be familiar with, and some you may learn for the first time. Take hold of them all and renew your mind; reject the fear that attempts to hold you captive and cling to the fear that makes you free!

The fear of the Lord gives men wisdom and causes them to prosper. No lack is a result of possessing it. Godly fear provides protection for your children and lengthens your days. So why are so many people, Christians in particular, living with the debilitating tormenting fear caused by the evil one? I answered that question in part one of this series, Fear’s Worst Enemy,—they do not trust God. Furthermore, Christians lack the proper form of Godly reverence and awe (fear) required to successfully live the Christian life. Coupled with complete trust in God, the fear of the Lord will bring you to a perfect place.

This is what God has always wanted for His people. Study the Old Testament and note the instances where people actually confessed they were afraid of men because God was with them. The following chapters are references of individuals and/or nations fearing God’s people: Genesis 20, 26 and 50; Exodus 1; Joshua 2; 2 Chronicles 17. Micah wrote, “they shall be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall fear because of thee (v. 17:7).”

It is our duty to fear the Lord. If I fear the Lord I automatically follow His commands. In my mind, the two can’t be separated. Disobedience is an indication that I do not fear God. Dread and anxiety in my life imply that I doubt the truth of God’s Word—I don’t trust Him or fear (stand in awe and revere) Him. It’s a tough pill to swallow. Fearing God means that I obey Him. When I obey Him, He is OBLIGATED (yes, you can obligate God) to perform all the good things He promised (Deuteronomy 28). It’s a chain reaction. Fear God. Obey His commands. Live in the Blessing. Fuel my faith.

Below I’ve listed 21 benefits of fearing the Lord. Each promise is accompanied by its verse. Meditate on these and confess them over your life. This fear will not only fuel your faith, but it will eradicate anxiety and dread from your life.

1. Length of Days (Deuteronomy 6:2)
2. Helps you lead and make godly decisions (2 Chronicles 19:7)
3. Brings honor from the Lord (Psalm 15:4)
4. Causes you to worship (Psalm 33:8)
5. You will lack nothing (Psalm 34:9)
6. Releases you from the fear of man (Psalm 56:4)
7. You will be Blessed by God (Psalm 115:13)
8. Is Clean (Psalm 19:9)
9. You will be blessed in your labor (Psalm 128:2)
10. Your spouse and children will be blessed (Psalm 128:3)
11. Is the Beginning of Wisdom (Psalm 111:10) *wisdom is the proper application of knowledge
12. Is the Beginning of Knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) *knowledge is the information you know
13. Causes hate for evil (Proverbs 8:13)
14. Brings confidence (Proverbs 14:26)
15. Is a fountain of life (Proverbs 14:27)
16. Delivers from evil (Proverbs 16:6)
17. Brings riches, honor and life (Proverbs 22:4)
18. It will be well with you (Ecc 8:12)
19. Is the key to your treasure (Isaiah 33:6)
20. The Lord hears and remembers you (Malachi 3:16)
21. Causes you to witness (2 Corinthians 5:11)

Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.—Psalm 33:8

What a list! Now go on in faith and do your duty! Fear God. Obey His commands. Live in the Blessing. Fuel your faith.

Be blessed friends, and have the perfect day everyday!

Shontta

They’re selling it daily in immeasurable doses. Its seductive tactics have driven an entire society into a panic. It’s the big bad wolf outside about to blow your house down and run off with your wife and children – fear.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour – 1 Peter 5:8

If the enemy of your soul can attack you with fear, he can run roughshod over everything in your life. That verse says like a lion; it does not say that he is a lion. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah and He’s living in you if you’re born again. So why are so many Christians living in fear along with the world? They lack what I believe is fear’s worst enemy. I found it by meditating on the following two verses:

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

 – I John 4:18

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

–       2 Timothy 1:7

I know what you’re thinking. Love, right? Take a closer look. John uses the adjective perfect to describe the love that casts out fear. And Paul said that a sound mind and power accompany the spirit of love that God has given us. In my own quest to conquer fear, I read these verses again and again. I kept asking, “How does love overcome fear?”

Then, I discovered that unbelief is at the root of all fear. What if this? What if that? How are we ever going to get out of this situation? But the doctor said such and such. That is where the tormenting worry comes from. It was that which lead me to fear’s worst enemy—trust. More specifically, trust in God.

From the verses above, it would seem that love is fears worst enemy. There are scores of people who would say they love God, yet they are full of fear. Take a closer look. Perfect love casts out fear because it is founded on trust in God, His Word and His ability to make that Word good. The spirit of power, love and a sound mind can only be activated and properly used if we trust what God said about those three things. Do I believe I have power to tread on all the power of the enemy, that love never fails and that I have the mind of Christ? It’s all about trust.

How could David go against Goliath with no previous combat experience and five rocks? How could he say that because of the victory he was about to obtain, “The whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”? Complete trust in his God. If Americans were more like David and really believed the statement printed on our money, this country would be the head and not the tail financially.

Yes, I am saying that people who live in fear don’t really trust God. Here’s a practical example. My husband and I have been married more than twelve years. I love him perfectly because I trust him. You see my love for him is perfect as a result of him never giving me a reason to mistrust him. If he had in some way broken my trust, I would still love him; however, there would now be fear in my heart and my love would no longer be perfect. I would always have the doubt and worry that he might be unfaithful or gamble away his paycheck.

Has God ever lied to you while campaigning for your vote? Spent your mortgage at a topless bar? Did He tell everyone He knew all of your personal business? Then why don’t you trust him? How do you feel when you come to the realization that someone you love doesn’t trust you? It hurts doesn’t it? Let’s look at what Jesus said in Matthew 22:36-38 when asked about the greatest commandment.

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

This is huge. How can you love someone you’ve never seen with all your heart, soul and mind? Trust. The Law and the prophets hang on these commandments because they trust in God — the One who gave them.

And finally, I got it. It was actually while reading a Norman Vincent Peale book (one of the authors who changed my life). It fit perfectly with the verses I already had. This reference was used to deal with a case of intense fear and worry. Isaiah 26:3-4 is posted on my refrigerator right now.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength…

Now compare these verses with 2 Timothy 1:7 and 1 John 4:18. They create a fear-busting bomb! My mind is sound because I keep it on Him. He gives me everlasting strength and power. I have perfect love and perfect peace because I trust in God. Fear runs screaming out the door when he hears you speak those words with the authority of the Lion of the tribe of Judah!

Trust is fear’s worst enemy. Show God how much you love him by trusting in His Word—not in money, the government or the media. He said that those who trust in Him will never be put to shame (Romans 10:11). So let them sell their fear; but treat it like any tangible thing the enemy has to offer—alcohol, drugs, pornography—don’t buy it! The Word has more than six thousand promises for you. Don’t be stifled by fear another moment. Trust in God, eradicate fear and prosper in every area of your life!

In part two of this series, I’ll tell you about the fear that fuels your faith.

Be blessed friends and have the perfect day everyday!

–Shontta

Psalm 138:8

When I woke up this morning, I had a headache. There was no denying the fact that my head hurt. It was a dull, throbbing pain all along the back of my head. I thought that this would be a great opportunity to exercise my faith. Like exercising your muscles, exercising your faith makes it grow stronger.

In the Old Testament, Isaiah saw with his eyes of faith a day coming when Jesus would take sickness and disease upon Himself, so that we (those who believe in Him and His Words) would be healthy and whole.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. Isaiah 53:5 (Amplified)

This fact of Jesus’ sacrifice was confirmed and reflected by Peter in the New Testament.

He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (Amplified)

So, with this knowledge, I applied the method illustrated by the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:25-34.

25And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

26And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

27When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

28For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

30And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Here is the process that she followed:

1. She Said It, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.”
2. She Took Action on What She Said. When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
3. She Received Her Healing. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
4. She Told of Her Healing. She told him all the truth

I followed this process this morning with the final step my telling you of My Healing. I am here to testify that the pain is gone. Praise God! His love endures forever. I challenge you to exercise your faith today. If there is something in your life that is not God’s best, then, follow the process and watch God honor your faith.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:12,13

When we see an apple seed, we can envision an apple tree with apples. When we see an egg, we can envision a chicken that has the ability to produce it’s own eggs. Why is it so difficult to envision success when we sow the right seeds?

Think about a great achievement that you’ve had in your own life. Now, think back to when you started the endeavor that produced the success. When I was a freshman in high school, I had a strong desire to be on the debate team. As a freshman, I really wasn’t very good. In fact, sometimes when we lost, I didn’t even know why we lost. However, I continued to research, practice, and compete. I would go to debate camp during the summer, and spend many evenings researching new and better arguments. By the time, I graduated from high school, my partner and I were able to win the state competition.

Although I had the faith (belief) that we would win; hope that we would win; and the love for debate; it still took time for the success to manifest. Even though the full manifestation for me was winning the state championship, there were definite signs along the way. For example, my Sophomore year, we placed third in state. This is the process that I’ve seen in every achievement in my life.

“For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” – Mark 4:28

I mention faith, hope, and love because these are great motivators. These are the things that keep us going. All of these relate to vision. If you have faith, you believe you can achieve something. If you have hope, you have a dream for something better. If you have love, you see the potential in something. If you have all three of these, you are able to look beyond what is seen on the surface, the outside, or the beginning.

Notice that the greatest motivation is love. If you love someone or something, you will persevere long after your desire for achievement dissolves. Love for his father is what enabled Nando Parrado survive after the plane carrying his rugby team crashed in the Andes.

His thoughts turned increasingly to his father, who he knew must be consumed with grief, Nando resolved that he must get home or die trying as his mother and sister had been killed in the crash. He led an expedition up the treacherous slopes of a snow-capped mountain and across forty-five miles of frozen wilderness in an attempt to find help.

So, set your vision; tap into the power of faith, hope, and love; and see your seeds produce success.

In the verse above, Jesus clearly says that we will get what we ask for, which should be what we desire. With this verse in mind, why aren’t people more successful? I would like to submit to you that people don’t generally know how to properly desire success.

My observation is that most people focus on what they have, which is generally what they don’t want. If someone wants more or different from what they have, the secret is to desire what you are missing not what you are currently experiencing. Thus, when you pray, pray for what you want, not what you have.

Spend time today picturing yourself being what you want to be. Do you want to be fit? Imagine in your mind’s eye that you have the exact body that you want, that you eat precisely as you should, and you enjoy exercising. Don’t forget to thank God for causing this image to come to pass in your life. Remember, He said that you would have whatever you asked for. Make this image as clear and detailed as possible. Now, look for opportunities to make this image come to pass. You’ll be amazed how information, relationships, and resources start appearing to help you get to what you desire.

God wants to give us what we desire. Thus, it would make sense that one way to please God is to desire something. What do you desire today?

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” – Mark 11:24 (KJV)

Life has a definite process about it. You must first BE something before you will DO something and you must DO something before you can HAVE the results of that doing. If most of the people at the top are positive, doesn’t it makes sense to incorporate positive thinking into your life? One of the best ways to change your thinking to a more positive mindset is through confession. As Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

To change your life, you must change your thinking. The first step in changing your thinking is changing what you hear. You have control over what you hear. One of the most significant control points that you have is what comes out of your mouth. If you will fill your mouth with life-giving words, your life will have the power of those words. As Proverbs 18:21 states, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” To make it clear, confession works. In addition to the power to change your thinking, confession also has power to change your circumstances.

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. – Mark 11:23 NIV

Now, that you are convinced that confession is part of successful living, here are the five things you must confess about your finances.

1. God has given me the ability to produce wealth and the power to get wealth. As Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
2. God is blessing all the work of my hands. Deuteronomy 15:10, “You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.” (If you are not currently a generous giver, you may need to work on the area of giving to have faith in this promise).
3. God is blessing my savings and investments.There are two parts to this confession, first God is blessing your investments according to Deuteronomy 28:8, “The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” Additionally, God gives us instruction on accumulation in Proverbs 13:11, “Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase.”
4. I lack nothing. Psalm 23:1, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” and Psalm 34:10, “The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.” and Philippians 4:19, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
5. I am eating the best of the land, driving the best of the land, and living in the best of the land. God rewards obedience, Isaiah 1:19, “If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land.”

When you know God’s will (as he gives us in His Old and New Testaments), you will start to change your thinking to be much more positive. God has a good plan for you. Trust God and watch His plan manifest in your life today.

Often when I share scripture with you, I’m learning to apply it my own life as well. While it’s easy to say that God will uphold His Word, it’s a different matter entirely to support this truth with our Faith and Conduct. If we really believe that God will perform His Word (and I mean every time), then, we must closely examine our own actions if our lives do not line up with His promises.

God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act?Does he promise and not fulfill? – Numbers 23:19

It is clear from this passage that God will fulfill His promises. As an example, God has promised amazing results if we first, fully obey God and then, carefully follow ALL His commands. So, I must conclude that I’m doing something wrong if I’m not getting the results that He promised. Otherwise, I would be calling God a liar, and that is just not the truth.

So, here’s the challenge. If you are experiencing anything that is contrary to the blessings lined out in Deuteronomy 28, ask God to show you where you’re missing it. Then, when He does, correct it.

• The world has a way of thinking, and the end is death
• What you’re expecting is synonymous with what you’re believing for
• You can’t hold two contradictory beliefs simultaneously
• Who are you trying to please?
• Who or what is influencing your thinking?
• Are you going to think Biblically or worldly?

Satan tries to move your mind to accept things that you ought not accept and lower your expectations. We must turn our expecting to what we desire. We need to make up our minds. Are we going to put on an act, or are we going to take actions that us up with what God says about us.

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4

Faith is not optional. Hebrewers 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Worldly thinking keeps you from the reality of the Word. My mindset is that “this is the Truth” when I read the Bible. Try this for a week–eliminate all entertainment but the Word. The results will astound you. Jesus said in John 15:7, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”