Growth EXTRA!EXTRA! Read all about it!!!

[4afaithfulone]

Please do not be offended, but I know that You probably thought this was going to be some gossip, but please know that I don't mean to deceive for hurt. It is much better than a juicy story and further concretes my posts foundation so that we can wake up and see the truth : )

My post starts here:
Why is it that we believe, look forward to, and cling to everything said or written by man in the newspaper or books TV as truth, even without proof? But when it comes to God’s Word we can’t take that by faith to believe it as Truth?
If the newspaper says:
"Giant sale happening on Saturday the 21st at So and So place!"
We don’t doubt it or try to check it out to see if it is telling the truth. We believe it and just show up on Saturday the 21st at So and So place to take part in the sale that we KNOW is going to be there, because some man said so.
If we say that we believe God’s Word is Truth, then why is it so hard for us to step out on it to receive what He said is for us who love Him? God also speaks to us in our thoughts to give us revelation of His Word to show us the way we must go, that is where we must trust that it is God. If the thought is opposing God’s Word then it is not from God, cast it down and line up your thinking with Christ.
But why do we doubt what He has written and refuse His benefits? Is He not the Almighty God whom owns all things in this earth? Who Created everything good? Do we say we trust Him as the way the truth and the life, but do we not trust His Word to be true in reality? If so, then what is that called? Unbelief is what it is called! And the Just will be those living by Faith.
We are either in Faith to believe by our actions and receive God’s promises in our life, or we are in unbelief which is not walking by faith at all.
Carnal man(which we used to be led by) uses physical goods deeds mostly for self centered reasons, such as self recognition, manipulation, bribes, etc.. Which are fleshly acts we do to be seen by men to show that we have faith in carnal good works to bring something back to them for future rewards. They are nice to do good things for others, but those have always been done throughout time, yet Jesus still had to come for we were yet sinners no matter how many good deeds we do.
While carnal acts of kindness are good and a godly person will do these things to those God puts in our path, we are not called to go into all the world and do good carnal deeds, we are to go into all the world and preach the gospel that the kingdom of God is at hand and Jesus is the way. Good deeds do not show faith in God, they show we trust in our own hands. For even the godless do these same good things.
The works by faith that please God are when we take Him at His Word as Truth to live by and act out on what He says to us when we seek Him to guide us into all truth.

Notice from the examples below, what God considers as spiritual faith that He is looking for, walking in the Spirit and not in our fleshly works like Martha who thought racking her brain to entertain and bring physical works(hard labor) pleased Jesus, yet Mary got the praise for she choose to humble herself and fix her ears on everything the Word said to feed her soul and learn how to put her trust in God alone.
God says:
James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
KJV

 

[Edward]

Good point. I'd add that it's important to realize that faith can never be a product of the carnal mind, for the carnal mind is at enmity with God. Faith is a product of the spirit, or heart. When one has faith or trust in another, it is from the heart and not the mind. It's important to remember this because the logical reasoning mind will almost always disagree with real faith.

 

[mswright6488]

It is easy when we can see it in the natural. Man is used to being able to see it right in front of him. But with God we must have faith in Him and that He does indeed exist. Some are not willing to have faith. They want the evidence, to be able to see it, touch it, to taste it. If they can't prove it they want no part of it.

 

[4afaithfulone]

Good point. I'd add that it's important to realize that faith can never be a product of the carnal mind, for the carnal mind is at enmity with God. Faith is a product of the spirit, or heart. When one has faith or trust in another, it is from the heart and not the mind. It's important to remember this because the logical reasoning mind will almost always disagree with real faith.

That is so true Edward. Man, whom they can see, yet whom God created in the beginning before man, is more believable to the carnal mind, then God whom is more real then man.
Here is the faith that gets results and more examples of how that faith grew into manifestations of their thing they believed from God by faith.
Heb 11:1 Now [This instance!] faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
EXAMPLES:
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. KJV
To who so ever, read on from verse 11 in your own Bible for more testimonies of the works of faith that please God.

Doing good deeds shows that we are children of the Light, but we can not save the world making ourself as their god. But it is our faith in God and His Word to take care of us, provide ways were there Seems to be no way for us to have victory in our situations that come against us in life be it health, false accusations, provisions, etc, that is what will count the most.
Our work for God is to bring the same hope to others(The poor in spirit) so they can begin to look up to God for their needs as well and bring them out from under the worlds way of ill gotten gain and bondage to sinful ways that holds them back from the blessings of God. We should not be seeking man's hand for them, as if our God's arm is too short to reach out to help us.
Please understand the difference:
God may send a man to you with an open hand, for God uses willing hearts to perform His will towards us. But we are not to seek the man's help as if he is more able than God.
Our First move is to take our requests to God to bring us our what ever it is that we need and is according to His will, meaning nothing that opposes what is for good.
When we bring the Word of God to the ears of men, they are supposed to see the value of it for the saving of their soul and God says a worker is worth his wages.
If you have a job(slavery) working for someone else, That is not your work!, that is your place where God has put you to minister and witness for Him. It is also God who will promote you in that place when you grow up in His integrity using His wisdom which is actually bringing a blessing to your boss and all around you. For as you are raised up in Christ, you also raise up others who see your good works and imitate them, which glorfies God.

 

[4afaithfulone]

It is easy when we can see it in the natural. Man is used to being able to see it right in front of him. But with God we must have faith in Him and that He does indeed exist. Some are not willing to have faith. They want the evidence, to be able to see it, touch it, to taste it. If they can't prove it they want no part of it.

True Sister, and that is why we must fight against what our carnal man wants that gets us in hot water with God. And to exalt our spirit man that helps us to settle into His rest, allowing Him to bring things to pass, in perfect Peace.
That is why it is so important for us to exercise our faith muscle to build it up, first on small issues, then as we see the faithfulness of our God, we can take a bigger step of faith, until it just becomes second nature(spiritual nature) , for that is how a baby grows, baby steps as he learns to trust his Father.

 

[mswright6488]

Amen my sister....