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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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