Monday, October 5, 2015

Day 87 - Faith

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 157
         
Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

Notice:  this email is part of a BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”Why a blog?  So that many can receive the weekly thoughts I express on Michael’s writings in an easy manner. 


Unbelieving Believers…a great tragedy of today’s Christianity.  Most are waiting on signs and miracles…and miss Jesus.



DAY 87

Faith


Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith. --Matthew 9:29

Many hope to become rich through an inheritance or the lottery. There is another way to become rich: slowly, quietly, wisely, gradually, and faithfully. This way is much better, for it can be repeated over and over again. Similarly, there are two ways to enter into faith. One is through an explosion such as the Apostle Paul’s. The other way is much more difficult but will reap the same results.

Many are waiting for God to perform some miracle before they believe. It is often taught that unbelief is a weakness, and yet we are not told what to do to be strengthened. Unbelief does not have its roots in weakness but in worldliness, self-righteousness, and pride.

Chapter 11 in the Book of Hebrews puts faith people into two categories. The first category belongs to those who because of their faith experienced great miracles. I have known believers who have had the Lord awaken them in the middle of the night and heal a broken bone, those who have actually seen the Lord, and one family who had a child raised from the dead. Their faith did not create the miracles but allowed them to receive them.


Hebrews 11:2, For by it the men of old gained approval.

11:5, By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death.

11:7, By faith Noah, being warned {by God} about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

11:11, By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

11:29, By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though {they were passing} through dry land . . .

11:30, By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.

11:32, And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

11:33, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed {acts of} righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

11:34, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

11:35, Women received {back} their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection.


Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory




The first question Christians must get an answer to: What is biblical faith…and how do I get it?  Why?  Because Jesus said, “…It shall be done to you according to your faith.”  Pretty simple instructions.

Faith is an enabling power of God.  It is a gift from God, and can never be produced  by people.

Therefore, our part becomes “believing” what God has “enabled” within us to believe.  Our believing yields the confidence to trust God.  It is the trusting of God.  All the heroes of the Faith in Hebrews 11 acted because they trusted God.

So, unbelief “does not have its roots in weakness but in worldliness, self-righteousness, and pride.”  It is not trusting God, but self.  How sad.  

Turning to God, and trusting Him, we can receive anything He gives us, including miracles if He desires.

How do we get “faith”?  His Word tells us He gifts us with it…
Ephesians 2:8
Romans 12:3
Romans 10:17

2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us His strength is made perfect in our weakness…which is not unbelief.

Well, amen.



To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com 

NOTICE: another blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com


Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
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