How does faith work for a Christian?

[iLOVE]

Why is a Christian faith tested by God?

 

[for_his_glory]

1. Training as God prepares us for the future
2. Patience as we rely and trust in God's timing
3. Perseverance through trials that we remain in Gods will
4. Trust as God's ways are not our ways and He has a better plan for us
5. To learn from our mistakes
6. To humble ourselves before Him
7. To discipline us
8. Teach us to be dependent on Him alone
9. To spend quiet time with God so He can speak to us
10. To teach us of His protection
11. That we also share in the sufferings of Christ that we be not ashamed
12. Strengthen us to become more like Christ
13. To develop character
14. Build up our faith in the Lord
15. For a testimony and witness to help others
16. To show us sin in our lives that we need to own up to having
17. To remind us that God is in control
18. Helps us gain knowledge and understanding God's word
19. Teaches us to be thankful
20. To take our mind off the things of the world and and put them back on God

 

[th1b.taylor]

Why is a Christian faith tested by God?

(The book of Job) Tnhat we might become strong Christians.

 

[Wrg1405]

1. Training as God prepares us for the future
2. Patience as we rely and trust in God's timing
3. Perseverance through trials that we remain in Gods will
4. Trust as God's ways are not our ways and He has a better plan for us
5. To learn from our mistakes
6. To humble ourselves before Him
7. To discipline us
8. Teach us to be dependent on Him alone
9. To spend quiet time with God so He can speak to us
10. To teach us of His protection
11. That we also share in the sufferings of Christ that we be not ashamed
12. Strengthen us to become more like Christ
13. To develop character
14. Build up our faith in the Lord
15. For a testimony and witness to help others
16. To show us sin in our lives that we need to own up to having
17. To remind us that God is in control
18. Helps us gain knowledge and understanding God's word
19. Teaches us to be thankful
20. To take our mind off the things of the world and and put them back on God

Great post.

I would further like to add that faith - saving faith is a gift from God.
If we have that saving faith then as for_his_glory we will learn the above.

We need to however distinguish between being saved by grace through faith and being saved by works.

Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Paul deals with this in Romans 12. Each has been given a measure of faith to exercise their spiritual gift and it should be used accordingly as it has been given to us.

I would love to have the gift of healing, I hate seeing pain, illness and death. I have prayed 3 times for resurrection of someone who has died. It never happened. So I thought I lacked faith. I can recall only twice when I have prayed for healing (amongst the 1000's of times,I've prayed for it) that healing occurred, not exactly a gift.

I wish I had the gift of tongues but can count on one hand how many times I've done it, even then I didn't realise I was doing it. Not exactly a gift.

I used to seek the big things and when it didn't happen I felt God was testing my faith and because it didn't happen I had no faith. HOW WRONG WAS I? VERY WRONG

Apparently I'm known as Bill the lover of people in our church. The lover of people in the church who are hurting, keeping in contact with those missing in action. I started to sit at the back church looking for newbies waifs and strays. Some in the church thought I was Billy no mates. I was and the reason being I wanted to make new mates and show Jesus.

I have walked through our high street and stopped and prayed for people.

My wife and 4 kids and I go on holiday tomorrow, same place for the last 6 years. She said to me the other day "I wonder how many people this year are you going to pray for in the bar or resteraunt?

I grab a beer, sit with it, smoke a cigar. As I'm sat there God says to me go speak to that person, family. Every time it's happened it generally is with people who have health issues and some I didn't know had health issues until I spoke with them.

PLEASE PLEASE NOTE I AM NOT BOASTING HERE (truth is I'm ashamed as me as a person because I know my sin)

So whilst I paint a pretty picture of myself I could tell you more instances when God has tested my faith and I have failed. I've walked past more people in the high street and not come along side than those I have, the same when I'm on holiday.

So what I'm trying to say is that God tests my faith with regards to the gift he has given me and not to seek a gift he hasn't given me. But I don't think God would test me with his saving faith that I have.

If my saving faith is tested its because I foucsed on the gift he has given or not given me and not followed through at a point in time and not focused on my saving faith.

I am saved by faith alone, for good works. If I pass by a person that God tests my faith and gifting to pray for someone, I'm still saved but he will remind me and increase my faith next time

 

[for_his_glory]

It's not so much seeking out which gifts we are given or whether we miss an opportunity to witness to someone as what is more important than anything is that we come out of our comfort zones and quit hiding our faith under a bushel. Yes, I said faith under a bushel as our faith is that light of Christ that we need to be displaying for others so they can be drawn into the light of Gods glory. Faith is built upon by seeking those things from above where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father knowing His will is that we share of His mercy and grace with those who need a Savior. Christ did not come for the righteous, but the unrighteous and if it takes sitting in a bar or any other place that some deem to be an undesirable place, then that is your gift which is God's calling for your life. My hat is off to you my friend.

 

[Wrg1405]

It's not so much seeking out which gifts we are given or whether we miss an opportunity to witness to someone as what is more important than anything is that we come out of our comfort zones and quit hiding our faith under a bushel. Yes, I said faith under a bushel as our faith is that light of Christ that we need to be displaying for others so they can be drawn into the light of Gods glory. Faith is built upon by seeking those things from above where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father knowing His will is that we share of His mercy and grace with those who need a Savior. Christ did not come for the righteous, but the unrighteous and if it takes sitting in a bar or any other place that some deem to be an undesirable place, then that is your gift which is God's calling for your life. My hat is off to you my friend.

Thank you, amazingly went a got myself a pint and the wife a pimms and the father of the son I prayed for last year was sat opposite us and he remembered us and shook my hand. His son is here with him so hopefully another opportunity to pray. His son is not young, a little younger than me but had a bad car crash and has to use crutches to walk and is in a lot of pain.

 

[for_his_glory]

Thank you, amazingly went a got myself a pint and the wife a pimms and the father of the son I prayed for last year was sat opposite us and he remembered us and shook my hand. His son is here with him so hopefully another opportunity to pray. His son is not young, a little younger than me but had a bad car crash and has to use crutches to walk and is in a lot of pain.

they will have ears to hear

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Why is a Christian faith tested by God?

So it can be exposed and bring glory to God:

"you have been distressed by various trials,7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7 NASB)

Not just bring glory to God at the resurrection, but even now in this age. The downside being, the testing of faith will also expose it's absence, or it's weakness.

Paul says that here:

"14Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16holding fast the word of life..." (Philippians 2:14-6 NASB)

When faith rises up in us in the midst of difficult circumstances and acts it shows that we are indeed a child of God holding fast to the word of life. Faith in action is the witness and confirmation of our relationship with Christ. The works of faith show our faith. It is in that way that works justify us. Not to MAKE us righteous (faith does that all by itself), but to SHOW us as righteous.

"show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18 NASB)