Does Faith Require More?

On The Damascus Road Answers Does Faith Require More?

FAITH FOUNDED IN ACTION     Have you cast a mountain into the sea lately? Did you ever sincerely think that you could? The last time you read Matthew 21:21 or Mark 11:23 did you view them in the light of your Saviour's commitment to you? I've copied them just below for you, so please take a moment to avail yourself to this opportunity.
    Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
    Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
    Of course, I realize those words were spoken to men that have been in the presence of Jesus and had watched Him condemn a fig tree and it sure withered and died. So, quite naturally, these words were just a form of over-emphasis for a more dramatic way to get a point across.
    Maybe so, and maybe not. First, I have never found in Scripture an over-emphasis of anything and that is a good beginning toward grasping a truth from Scripture. However, I will admit this still could be a first and only time experience of over-emphasis. (I'm beginning, at this point, to doubt this). Second, Let's look at that concept in light of the rest of Scripture. In Colossians 2:6-10 we find that All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus bodily and that we are complete in Him because Jesus dwells within each of us that received his precious gift of life. Please read the following verses. Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him: 7: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9: For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10: And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
    Did I read these verses correctly? Are they telling me that Jesus lives in me with all the totality of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All I need do is call upon Him for my complete unity in the Holy Father. As Mark said, "...and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." Whatsoever he saith; It sure sounds like if I tell the mountain to go - it not only will happen, but it will stay there.
    Then why hasn't it happened? Why hasn't anyone ever cast a mountain in to the sea? Well, I guess that there just hasn't been enough of a reason or maybe someone thought of the consequences and decided against it. But, I haven't heard of a fruit tree withering away either. I've seen men cutting them down and heard of others that have removed half an orchard to protect the rest of the trees from some disease. I have not heard of anyone speaking them out of existence and in that I find a shame. A shame that there is not enough faith, even to the size of the mustard seed, in any of us.
    Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians spoke of mountain moving faith -
I Corinthians 13:2 " ...and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,...". And then to the Thessalonians he praised them for their activity toward each other so their visible faith was growing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; What kind of faith is it which allows us to exist past the touching, feeling, sensing world into the realm of the trying, trusting, and succeeding plane of the miraculous. It is not a benign or passive faith where we sit around wringing our hands and wishing everything would turn out all right. It is faith that requires action.
    But more than just mere action is required. It is imperative the action be aggressive. James in his epistle spoke eloquently of faith with respect to this aggressive action. In the second chapter verses 18-26 we find: James 2:18-26 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22: Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23: And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25: Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way? 26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
    Dead, dormant, unmoving, and not visible to all those around the one who has faith but refuses to, or is scared to, or whatever the reason doesn't, take his or her faith seriously. Or at least, doesn't take it seriously enough to not be scared to trust it or actively step out on that faith to aid it's growth. We have all learned of the story of Peter walking on the water. Well, I'm here to tell you that he would never had walked on the water to Jesus if he had never stepped out on faith prior to Jesus saying "Come."
    With all the trust seen in the steps of Peter as he walked on the water to His Lord, we too must step forward trusting on the Jesus who dwells in each of us. We step out on Jesus' word and our aggressive step is quickly met and matched, and bettered by Him.
    Does this mean I'm next in line to wither a fig tree, or cast a mountain into the sea? I rather doubt it. I don't doubt the word of my precious Saviour. But, I do exactly what we have been exhorted not to do by Mark, I doubt in my heart (Not Jesus, Nor what He said) my ability to trust so completely there would be no room for even a suspicion to creep in. It is not so much the withering of the fig tree nor the removal of the mountain into the sea, as it is making our daily walk with Jesus an experience which develops our aggressive trying, trusting, and succeeding.
     Colossians 2:6 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him:" It was simple childlike trust in Jesus to cause you to receive Him. What happened? Was it the in-depth studies into God's word and/or a maturing Christian with more questions than answers that caused some doubt to creep in and wreak havoc with that childlike trust? Maybe not, but whatever the cause, once the newness wore off and the sameness of all the Christians bore home, the doubts appeared.
    We have small mountains to overcome every day. These are the beginning points. As we learn to cast these small trouble spots onto the Lord, we also learn that casting means letting go of them. That hanging on, only manages to bring them back faster than they went away. We also learn to see Jesus more clearly. We gain an insight into what we might become once again. We see Jesus doing what He said He would do. We see Him again through the eyes we once viewed Him with - The eyes of the child. We find it easier and easier to walk in Him with the same aggressive attitude we received Him.
    It naturally follows that The Heavenly Father in all His fullness dwelling in Jesus also dwells in us through Christ Jesus filling our lives with victory after victory. Our only requirement is to listen to the Holy Spirit's direction and victoriously follow His leading. Incidentally, the more we listen and respond the easier it gets for us to hear and go with the leading. Our lives will be richer and fulfilled. Most importantly, our Faith will be Faith Founded in Action.

Onward Christian Soldier

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		FAITH FOUNDED IN ACTION Have you cast a mountain into the sea lately? Did you ever sincerely think that you could? The last time you read Matthew 21:21 or Mark 11:23 did you view them in the light of your Saviour's commitment to you? I've copied them just below for you, so please take a moment to avail yourself to this opportunity. Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Of course, I realize those words were spoken to men that have been in the presence of Jesus and had watched Him condemn a fig tree and it sure withered and died. So, quite naturally, these words were just a form of over-emphasis for a more dramatic way to get a point across. Maybe so, and maybe not. First, I have never found in Scripture an over-emphasis of anything and that is a good beginning toward grasping a truth from Scripture. However, I will admit this still could be a first and only time experience of over-emphasis. (I'm beginning, at this point, to doubt this). Second, Let's look at that concept in light of the rest of Scripture. In Colossians 2:6-10 we find that All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus bodily and that we are complete in Him because Jesus dwells within each of us that received his precious gift of life. Please read the following verses. Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him: 7: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9: For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10: And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Did I read these verses correctly? Are they telling me that Jesus lives in me with all the totality of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All I need do is call upon Him for my complete unity in the Holy Father. As Mark said, "...and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." Whatsoever he saith; It sure sounds like if I tell the mountain to go - it not only will happen, but it will stay there. Then why hasn't it happened? Why hasn't anyone ever cast a mountain in to the sea? Well, I guess that there just hasn't been enough of a reason or maybe someone thought of the consequences and decided against it. But, I haven't heard of a fruit tree withering away either. I've seen men cutting them down and heard of others that have removed half an orchard to protect the rest of the trees from some disease. I have not heard of anyone speaking them out of existence and in that I find a shame. A shame that there is not enough faith, even to the size of the mustard seed, in any of us. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians spoke of mountain moving faith - I Corinthians 13:2 " ...and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,...". And then to the Thessalonians he praised them for their activity toward each other so their visible faith was growing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; What kind of faith is it which allows us to exist past the touching, feeling, sensing world into the realm of the trying, trusting, and succeeding plane of the miraculous. It is not a benign or passive faith where we sit around wringing our hands and wishing everything would turn out all right. It is faith that requires action. But more than just mere action is required. It is imperative the action be aggressive. James in his epistle spoke eloquently of faith with respect to this aggressive action. In the second chapter verses 18-26 we find: James 2:18-26 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22: Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23: And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25: Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way? 26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Dead, dormant, unmoving, and not visible to all those around the one who has faith but refuses to, or is scared to, or whatever the reason doesn't, take his or her faith seriously. Or at least, doesn't take it seriously enough to not be scared to trust it or actively step out on that faith to aid it's growth. We have all learned of the story of Peter walking on the water. Well, I'm here to tell you that he would never had walked on the water to Jesus if he had never stepped out on faith prior to Jesus saying "Come." With all the trust seen in the steps of Peter as he walked on the water to His Lord, we too must step forward trusting on the Jesus who dwells in each of us. We step out on Jesus' word and our aggressive step is quickly met and matched, and bettered by Him. Does this mean I'm next in line to wither a fig tree, or cast a mountain into the sea? I rather doubt it. I don't doubt the word of my precious Saviour. But, I do exactly what we have been exhorted not to do by Mark, I doubt in my heart (Not Jesus, Nor what He said) my ability to trust so completely there would be no room for even a suspicion to creep in. It is not so much the withering of the fig tree nor the removal of the mountain into the sea, as it is making our daily walk with Jesus an experience which develops our aggressive trying, trusting, and succeeding. Colossians 2:6 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him:" It was simple childlike trust in Jesus to cause you to receive Him. What happened? Was it the in-depth studies into God's word and/or a maturing Christian with more questions than answers that caused some doubt to creep in and wreak havoc with that childlike trust? Maybe not, but whatever the cause, once the newness wore off and the sameness of all the Christians bore home, the doubts appeared. We have small mountains to overcome every day. These are the beginning points. As we learn to cast these small trouble spots onto the Lord, we also learn that casting means letting go of them. That hanging on, only manages to bring them back faster than they went away. We also learn to see Jesus more clearly. We gain an insight into what we might become once again. We see Jesus doing what He said He would do. We see Him again through the eyes we once viewed Him with - The eyes of the child. We find it easier and easier to walk in Him with the same aggressive attitude we received Him. It naturally follows that The Heavenly Father in all His fullness dwelling in Jesus also dwells in us through Christ Jesus filling our lives with victory after victory. Our only requirement is to listen to the Holy Spirit's direction and victoriously follow His leading. Incidentally, the more we listen and respond the easier it gets for us to hear and go with the leading. Our lives will be richer and fulfilled. Most importantly, our Faith will be Faith Founded in Action.

Onward Christian Soldier