Faith

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Act 17:31

Before we dig Deep know that the word "men" is in italics which means it has been added in the KJV Bible.

So it can read "...whereof he hath given assurance unto all, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Act 17:31

The reason this verse came forth to me is the word "assurance." Assurance means =Conviction of the truth of anything, belief, faith. Yes! God gives faith unto ALL.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it (FAITH) is the gift of God: ... Ephesians 2:8

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3

So we can see "faith is a gift from God" and faith has been given to EVERY MAN (person).

So many are quick when asked about faith in quoting--->Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

But when asked "What faith is" they will freeze up!

However! When looked at we see faith first of is a gift from God to every person. Yes some faith grows more than others but we must see that " ... God hath dealt (to separate into parts, cut into pieces, to distribute) to every man the measure of faith. ...”

So we must see that faith is not something that we do or a presence of mind that we develop, but that faith is a gift from God.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

Jesus said His sheep know His voice and follow not another. For His voice is the very "WORD OF LIFE." He gives unto each a measure of faith and this measure can grow by hearing His voice (Word).

Ahhhhhhhh let me tell you in MYSTERY BABYLON His voice is NOT heard!

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:23,24

One's faith can grow, as that one sets their heart to hearing from Him the very Word of life!

We are not boasting about work done by others that cannot be evaluated. On the contrary, we cherish the hope that your faith may continue to grow and enlarge our sphere of action among you until it overflows. 2 Corinthians 10:15 ISV (International Standard Version)

I've been blessed to see the Dead Sea in Israel and let me tell you it reminds me of many Christians. See all the flowing water of the river Jordan makes it way past many and ends up at the lowest place in the earth. Yes! Many have allowed their faith to be as the Dead Sea .... stagnant.

The definition of stagnant is someone or something that has little or no movement or activity. An example of stagnant is a pond in which the water is not moving. When one understands that, one will have an eye to see and understand "...I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Great faith ... great flow, a rushing river that nothing can hinder it!!!! One that has great faith is one that knows the way, has absolute confidence in God and His word. Ohhhhhh .... Yes God measures out faith to ALL! It is how the ALL take the measurement and allows it to grow to great faith or sits back in the little faith! Let me say, and I say it with "2 Corinthians 10:15" in mind, “great faith” and “little faith” describe the difficulty of the truths that are believed.

Can one's faith move a mountain? or does one's faith causes one to spend much time arguing with the demon of doubt inside?

Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” “Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” …Matthew 17:14-21

Now we have an awesome example of little faith in Romans 9:23 that Israel did not arrive at righteousness because they did not pursue righteous by faith but as though it were by works! If this plan of God's is by faith given unto us and by that faith we see and understand that we are " ... justified by faith" (Romans 5:1) how then we must see that works (acts) has nothing what so ever to do with His plan and purpose!

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; ... Hebrews 12:2

Jesus is not only the author, the originator of faith; He is also the one who perfects it in us.

I am he (Son of man, Jesus the Christ) that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

KEYS …. KEYS …. KEYS!

The Son of man has the keys and we can see the door open in Act 14:27 For Jesus had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles meaning that salvation was now freely available to all through Christ. Also in Acts 17:31 we read " ... whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." The two words given assurance can read " ... having faithed to all men ...” When God gives faith to people, He faiths to them the absoluteness of the truth of Jesus the Christ.

God Word is assured and one's faith does not change it but one's faith rests in it knowing what God will, God will DO!

What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. ...

How we MUST SEE and KNOW that "...righteousness which is of faith" (Romans 10:6-10) and faith is a GIFT FROM GOD!

Only the harlots of MYSTERY BABYLON will speak works by acts (actions) rather than "...righteousness which is of faith and is a gift from God!" Many sheep run about not knowing that faith is a gift and as so they listen to lies and start thinking and acting that righteousness comes by some sort of works!

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. Matthew 21:21

Lets look at the verse carefully. It says that if we have faith and doubt not, then everything that we ask in prayer, believing, we will receive. So hmmmmmm how do we get what we pray for?

Well first it has to be based on faith and we have seen that faith is of God and not us! So then God has to tell us something which will come to pass! Then we act on that faith with a believing heart and we can do so without doubt for God has said so, then the event will come to pass.

I have acted in doubt, in that I have prayed for items and never got them. WHY? Because, God did not tell me I was going to get them! I also have read of a dear Sister who was told she was going to slowly die. She went to prayer and the Lord told her He was not going to heal her. She told her husband what the Lord said and she past away in peace.

A true son of God!!!!!

Many times we pray in doubt, for we pray without hearing what He has to say! Ohhhhhhhh! Yea we think our great prayers, our fasting, our quenched white knuckles will get answers .... BUT DO THEY? Let us step back into the Old Testament and see how God had told the called out, the battle is already won and all they had to do was act it out; AND in their action to the Word they saw the walls of Jericho come down!

We must know we are in a different dispensation (New Testament, New Word of life). The revelation from God is complete with Revelation and by that Revelation, one will know the purpose and will of God and the prayer of that one will move mountains!

I use to do what it takes to get God to hear my prayers on my own prodigal sons, but when the Word of life was seen and spoken to my heart, I thank God now for His purpose and will for ALL!!!!

Let us see that faith is not the same as belief. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Having faith means that God has given us His insight into something and we are not to doubt it, but believe that this faith is of God.

So many tossed in the mixed sea of faith and doubt .... Only double minded people unstable in ALL their ways!

Sometimes we want something so badly for ourselves, that it is very difficult for us to believe that God does not want it for us also. So when the faith comes from God about that situation, we don't want to believe it. But! If we have faith and believe, we will receive. This means that we will be perfectly aligned with the will of God and not with our will.

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

We can believe because we have faith that CAME FROM God. Without faith FROM God, we cannot believe. Faith is the cause and believe is the effect! Faith is the empowering of God, for God empowers us to believe, repent, hope, trust, etc. ....

Hmmmmmmmm can our faith be increased? Now does Jesus tell them yes? Or does He tell them a parable in which the interpretation is that they are to serve Him?

BUT which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Luke 17:5-10

Can we see that they have no faith YET! Ohhhhhhh come on now.

"No man can COME TO ME, except the Father which hath sent me draw (to draw by inward power) him: ...." John 6:44

YES, some are given more faith than others (Him that is weak in the faith ... Romans 14:1) and since such comes from God (...God hath DEALT to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3) don't try to second guess God for He had His reasons for giving more faith to some than to others.

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God; for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required (Romans 14:12; Luke 12:48). Our increase in faith will come at God's timing and not by our works, prayer, fasting or much bible studying.

A body builder does not grow up that way. He has to work out daily to get that way. I am not yet a manifested son of God so until then I will work out the gifts He has given unto me.

We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:6-8

Now just look at these gifts and see how by the gift of faith by Him does the gifts operate. The one that is given more faith in prophecy, let him prophecy according to the proportion of the faith God gives unto that one. And as that one operates according to the gift of faith that one will see prophecy increase!

See the more faith we have the more we know about God and His purpose can we prophecy about!

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with ALL your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

To know MORE about God is to draw closer to Him with ALL of your HEART! Meaning .... make knowing God your MAIN DESIRE!!!!!

The one that makes it his/her desire to know God is the one that operates by the faith that God gives and they will prophecy the wisdom of God, which He has given them.

... the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Revelation 19:10

And how shall they preach, EXPECT THEY BE SENT? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:15

Shipped WRECKED .... I can take us in an awesome parable of Paul in a ship that is about to sink. The ship of faith and how one MUST see that it is of God and God alone!

The other shipwreck of faith is---->For the LOVE of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, .... 1 Timothy 6:10 Remember the Word of life (Jesus the Christ) said “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him". Matthew 6:8

Sons know that ALL comes from the Father!