Las Vegas, Nevada Church
Affiliated with the Intercontinental Church of God and the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

 
 
 Letter Answering Department Survey:  Bold Confidence - Faith                        

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MP3        the subject heading for this letter is Faith

 
 
 

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SUBJECT: Bold Confidence---Faith

QUESTION: Is Faith just having an emotional high?

ANSWER:


Most of the world's churches design their services around bringing the congregation to an emotional high. They use video projectors throwing beautiful "religious scenes and text" on a larger than life screen. They use highly emotional music, often sung by professional singers. They use large orchestras with lots of trumpets and violins. They also use the trappings of the church (color, design, form, etc). Though emotion can be a part of a Christian's life and Jesus was clearly emotional, this is not, in and of itself, Faith.

Faith is Conviction. Let us look at the dictionary...

con·vic·tion (k…n-vąk“sh…n) n. 1. Law. a. The judgment of a jury or judge that a person is guilty of a crime as charged. b. The state of being found or proved guilty. 2.a. The act or process of convincing. b. The state of being convinced. 3. A fixed or strong belief. --con·vic“tion·al adj.

Note: "The state of being convinced". What happens when you are driving and as you approach the intersection the light turns green in your favor? You automatically proceed into and through the intersection CONVINCED that the opposing light is red and that no wild or drunk driver will run the light and into you. Nothing emotional there. It is a strong belief based on years of driving experience. If you were full of fear about this you would not be able to drive across town. In fact, your fear would probably result in an accident with another.

Such is the case with real Christian Faith. Read the Faith chapter...Hebrews 11. It begins...

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

"The evidence of things not seen". This is the key. Question is, "What evidence?" The only evidence is the evidence YOU GATHER. The ministry can and will point it out to you but sermons and personal counsel only serve to encourage you to get into your Bible and your life and prove these things for yourself. You did it with the intersections and the stop lights. Isn't it interesting that when you enter the intersection you cannot see the opposing red light? You just have a belief that it is there, don't you?  You have faith that it is red and that everyone will stop. Your clear hope is that the light is red. Thus we could say, "Now faith (that the opposing light is red) is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things (red lights, sane drivers) not seen."

So what do we do when our faith in God and Spiritual things is weak?

1) Go to God in prayer.

Psalm 40:4-5
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Note: We go to God and we meditate on His wonderful works which He has done. There are so many they cannot be numbered. This is a chief reason for prayer and meditation.

Psalm 86:7-8
7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

Note: When in trouble we need faith, so go to God in prayer and again we see that meditating on His works helps.

1 Corinthians 14:15
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Note: Key point. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we pray and gain or strengthen our faith. Remember that faith is not congered up by our mind or flesh. It is generated by and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 29:25-26
25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

Note: Faith comes from the Spirit of God; it is a fruit of that Spirit. Mentioned here is fear and we talked about that in our example of the intersection and lights. Having fear of intersections is like being caught in a snare. Same with all our fears. But if we put it in the hands of God, we are safe.

2) Allow your faith to be tried and tested

James 1:3-8
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Note: Our faith (which is a gift of God and a fruit or product of the Spirit of God) is made strong by "trying" it. Verse 5 says ask God. Verse 6 says ask God IN FAITH. Notice the definition of the word "Test"...

test (tµst) n. 1. A procedure for critical evaluation; a means of determining the presence, quality, or truth of something; a trial. 2. A series of questions, problems, or physical responses designed to determine knowledge, intelligence, or ability. 3. A basis for evaluation or judgment. 4. Chemistry. a. A physical or chemical change by which a substance may be detected or its properties ascertained. b. A reagent used to cause or promote such a change. c. A positive result obtained. 5. A cupel. --test v. test·ed, test·ing, tests. --tr. 1. To subject to a test; try. 2.a. To determine the presence or properties of (a substance). b. To assay (metal) in a cupel. --intr. 1. To undergo a test. 2. To administer a test. 3. To achieve a score or rating on tests. 4. To exhibit a given characteristic when subjected to a test. --test”a·bil“i·ty n. --test“a·ble adj.

Note: "a means of determining the TRUTH of something."

When we TRY or TEST our faith we gain the Experience of Faith fulfilled. That is, we see faith work. Prayer is answered, we are healed, we see a principle of God work, we experience a miracle, or we experience the unction (communication) of the Holy Spirit. The more this happens the easier it is to have CONVICTION.

I sometimes refer to faith as having the "Richard Collier Effect". I take the name from a movie starring Christopher Reeve, "Somewhere In Time". In the fantasy movie, which takes place in 1977, Richard Collier, a playwright falls in love with a stage actress from 1915. His love is so great that he decides that he will go back through time to find his love. He goes to an old college professor he knew from his college days who had written a book about time travel. The professor tells him that IF HE BELIEVES that he can go back through time he can. He sets about doing just that but his Faith is weak.

He tries and tries with no success. He is actually at the Grand Hotel in Michigan where he knew she was back in 1915 doing a play. Even this was not enough. He then gets an idea. If he actually was able to travel through time, he would have had to check into the Grand Hotel in 1915. He then asks management for the guest ledger for April, 1915. Imagine the emotion he felt, the CONVICTION he felt, when he actually saw his name in the guest ledger. He promptly went back to his room and at once went back through time to his love.

The point is that because he saw his name, his belief and conviction were solid, just as solid as when you and I approach an intersection with the light green. You can have this same "Richard Collier Effect" in your life. Study the people mentioned in the Faith chapter (Hebrews 11). This is why it was inspired; to help us strengthen our faith. We have their stories, we have God promises (study faith and prayer with your Nave's Topical Bible) and we have God's Spirit. With them we can create or own "Richard Collier Effect".

Faith like any "fruit" of the Spirit must be planted, watered, tended and HARVESTED. Surround yourself with other faithful people. Talk to them, write to them, and encourage THEM to be faithful. Visit a widow; help someone attend the Feast; pray for those listed on the National Prayer Network.

Also learn everything you can about BOLDNESS AND BOLD CONFIDENCE....Caleb had it, Apollos had it and so did James. This is also a principle of God and therefore a fruit of the Spirit of God. David had it when he RAN out to slay Goliath. We can have that same bold confidence.....CONVICTION....BELIEF. It is ours for the asking and for now we have the time to TRY and TEST it.

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Las Vegas, Nevada Church of God - part of The Intercontinental Church of God and The Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association - Tyler, Texas