True Biblical Faith
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Our Faithful God
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God' Rom 10:17.
It is therefore important to read the word of God, meditate on the word of God, study the word of God, and in your 'quiet time' (time spent alone with God) to wait for God to speak to you. Faith comes by hearing. This, of course, applies to the born-again children of God, those who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and who are giving the faculty of 'hearing His voice'. Didn't the Lord Himself say in John 10:3,4 that 'The sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out. And when He puts forth His own sheep, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice'? Listen to John 10:27. The Lord is saying: 'My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.'
The reflections in this hub are based on meditation of the Scriptures, and are meant to increase our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith (according to Heb 12:2). Apart from the word of God, it is important to pray. But by nature, we find it very difficult to pray. That is why the Lord allows trials into our lives, so that we learn to cry out to Him for help and deliverance. Trials increase our prayer life, and they also purify our faith. 1 Pet 1:7.
Here is a meditation on 'Our Faithful God', based on the verse in 1 Thess 5:24 -"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."
This is a favorite verse of mine. It says God is faithful, and what He
has promised He will certainly do. But then comes the waiting. And
waiting is a great trial, painful to the 'flesh' which wants things done
immediately; human nature cannot wait. But God makes us wait. He says,
'In patience possess your souls.'
Our faith is being tested. Can we hold on? Or are we going to give up?
The weeks pass, and months pass by. There is no answer. Where is God? It
is as if He has gone and hidden Himself somewhere. We keep clinging to
promises, but the promises are not fulfilled, and we become frustrated
and we throw up our hands. 'Lord, where are You? What are You doing?
Deliver me from my distresses!'
Nevertheless God is working. He works in mysterious ways. He is doing
something that neither human intellect nor human imagination can grasp.
It is 'beyond sight', beyond human understanding. God's ways are higher
than our ways; His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Isaiah 55.8,
9.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.
Yes, He is working out His will. His will, not ours. His will is best for us. His wisdom is unfathomable.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
We have to wait. Through faith and patience, Abraham inherited the
promises. Heb 6.12, 15. Patience is a virtue that springs out of deep
trial. Like 'saxifrage, the flower that splits the rocks'. Patience is
the virtue that deepens faith. So that we are not shaken, but continue
to trust.
Our God will come; He will not delay. 'Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me.'
Surely, He is a faithful God. Our faith may fail, but yet He 'remains
faithful'. 2 Tim 2.13. His faithful promise 'abides forever'. In due
time, it will bring forth its precious fruit. And we will rejoice in in
our God. 'This is our God for whom we have waited; we will be glad and
rejoice in His salvation.' Isaiah 25.9
RNO/Tan Pratonix
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Great hub! I love all the encouraging verses. Thank you for sharing.
I loved this hub! I think of James 1:2-3 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." I think also of how God tested the faith of Abraham in Gen 22:12 (in order to bless him and his seed), "He said, 'Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." May our faith produce obedience to His voice as Abraham had when we hear Him, both in Spirit and confirmed by His Word. God bless you!!
Thank you, JD. I really appreciate your comments. It's so difficult to find genuine believers here on HubPages.
Yes, that would just be too easy...perhaps they are here to 'test our faith' :-) May what is false sound like clanging symbols, and what is true be a melody that pierces through to the hearts of those who love Him.
HOO, so what do you call God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son? Not a test [dokimion - trial] of his faith? After Abraham obeyed to the point of raising the knife, God told him to not to harm Isaac, for "now I know that you fear God and have not withheld your son, your only son from Me." In regard to Job, God allowed Satan to test Job's faith, but limited how far he could go. God 'tempts' [peirazomai - to tempt with evil] no man, but I believe He does test our faith, and allows Satan to be used to test our faith as well.
HOO, You're using the passage "God tempts no man". You have it mixed up. But, I also understand you don't dig into the Hebrew or Greek wording to rightly divide the Word of truth. For this reason, many err.
1 Thes 2:4 "But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth [dokimion - trial] our hearts."
HOO, James 1:13 is the passage that states "God tempts [peirazomai - to tempt with evil] no man." It is NOT the same word as "tests" [dokimion - trial]. If you don't know that God tests our faith, then you don't know Him very well.
HOO, God is testing your heart even now. You'd rather falsely interpret the English rendition than the Greek? I don't accept your attack of Eve's deception; it is you who are choosing to rebel against the interpretation of the Word, as I've now shared the Greek wording with you THREE times.
KJV James 1:3 "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
KJV James 1:13 "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man."
Even the KJV does not use the same wording for "trying" and "tempted", so it's not talking about the same thing.
Trying of our faith in James 1:3 is the Greek word 'dokimion'. Tempted is the Greek word 'peirazomai', which the text itself defines 'be tempted with evil'.
One can lead a horse to water...I can't make you drink.
Heb 4:12 KJV "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." I'd say God splits hairs...
You posted the same comment twice?
Consider the Garden of Eden. God 'tried' [dokimion - tested] Adam and Eve with the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan 'tempted' [peirazomai] them to disobey God. Our faith cannot grow, if it is not tried. This is absolutely in accordance with the subject of this hub ~~
1 Pet 1:7 KJV "That the trial [dokimion] of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried [dokimion] with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."
Pratonix- You really put your heart into this hub. God is faithful! I pray many times for my faith to be increased!
Thanks, Bayoulady. Glad you liked it.
Judah's Daughter, I agree with you. I don't get into discussions, because discussions and debates on the Internet always reach a 'dead-end'.
God uses all things for the good ~ your hub and HOO's missing of the understanding inspired me to write my latest "Trials and Temptations". May the Lord be glorified. God bless you, HOO and ladybayou (had a nice rhyme to it!)
Excellent hub on increasing your faith. Faith grows through the exercise of stepping out to act, even when we have reservations. I love the promise of 2 Tim 2.13.
The testing of our faith can come for various reasons...one of which is to strengthen us in our faith, our perseverance and tenacity. It is like exercising which develops and strengthens muscles to do more. Because of the society we live in (instant everything) we are so prone to just give up if we don't instantly receive. God's timing is always perfect and we must trust Him for His way and His timing in bringing the answers. We need to know and understand God, His character and nature...the way He does things. It is then we find it easier to trust Him in those difficult times when our personal relationship with Him is strong.
thanku very much.
may god bless u....
Captain Jimmy 22 months ago
Good Hub!
http://hubpages.com/hub/A-Grain-Of-Mustard-Seed