Romans 12: 3 “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
Hebrews 1: 7 “And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.”
I have a good reason for using the above verses taken from the first chapter of Hebrews. We will be circling back around to those in time. For now, I want to continue with the topic of INITIAL FAITH. Biblically, faith is sometimes compared to a seed, and as we all know seeds must be planted in order to grow. Go back and read the parable of the sower; think in terms of the Word of God being the seed of faith (Rom. 10:8) which enters the heart by hearing. That tiny mustard seed of God’s Faith has within it God Himself. Any seed has the potential to grow into mighty trees. That’s why I believe every man is dealt “a measure of faith”. But just because I’ve been dealt this measure of faith, that doesn’t mean I will allow that seed to take root and grow. A seed of the faith of God is Divine and must be nurtured and treated as such; with the utmost respect.
We often complicate what
God has made so simple!
When combined with the knowledge of Ephesians 2:8-9; and the practice of Romans 10:9-10, we received the gift of Salvation known by many as the new birth (1st Pet. 1:23). Granted, mankind has come up with some incredible inventions, but no design can replace being born again (John 1:!3; 3:3-8). Nothing compares to the presence of the creative power of God’s Word working in your spirit (Col. 1:29). The Holy Spirit works from the inside out; man works and thinks from the outside in.
The world is somehow under the mistaken impression that if we save the planet, we save ourselves (rude awakening). God has a perfect plan for the universe, let alone this planet. Christ is the apple of His eye. However, protecting this earth and preserving it to its most pristine condition (which only Christ can do) won’t work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling. We make a well-meaning attempt at being good as a people, but that won’t cut the mustard either. Mankind’s standard for being good, nice, or friendly is not the standard laid out by The LORD Jesus Christ. We can’t convert the glory of God into something lowly as man’s idea of what is right or wrong.
You’d be surprised at how many of our accomplishments I am so proud of and wholeheartedly support. However, science tends to leave God out of the equation. Interesting fact, many scientists over the past couple of centuries have begun to open up to Creationism. They have come to understand that God and our relationship with Him work hand-in-hand with all types of sciences. As long as we don’t put science first I believe we’re golden. But some scientists have put the cart before the horse for far too long. Subsequently, because of this the world has suffered incredible loss throughout the centuries. We’re presently in the midst of a 100-year pandemic with no absolute solutions in sight.
For the Church, the Holy Spirit must be our teacher, leader, and comforter. He prompts and carries us on through the gift of Salvation offered to us in Christ Jesus our LORD. At this point in the Christian life, our human spirit has been reborn. On the other hand, that cannot happen without a measure of faith. The act of receiving the gift of Salvation is not difficult. At least, no more than we make it of course. First of all, a person must acknowledge his need for deliverance. One must experience remorse because of a life lived in opposition too the will of God (Isa. 53).
Matt. 6: 13 “Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
When Christ was asked by the disciples to “ teach us to pray”, it was a teaching moment. A teaching moment is not giving a person the answer to the question on the test. But teaching moments will lead the individual to find the answers on their own. For example, Christ’s model prayer says, “Give us this day our daily bread.” As you grow in this Grace, you will learn to look to the Father as your source. Bread was a significant staple in Christ’s day. So what is Christ’s saying? As we move through the process of discipleship, from day one, we are to look to God the Father as the source of whatever we need for this journey into His (Christ) faith. Remember, this is not your faith; it is the “measure of faith” that has been dealt (given) to you. To be continued…
lso, please cheerfully give your financial gifts to this orphanage, large or small to Pastor Henry Lubega @ Reach A Hand Children’s Ministry And Orphanage: Or use wave.com , a quick and easy way to send money to Africa. You will need this phone no. +256703678764
You can also purchase anything from Amazon.com or Target.com through this website.
This brings us to Romans 10: 16 “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Verse 16 Of Romans 10 is a prophetic word taken from Isaiah chapter 53. It’s one of the most beautiful chapters in the Bible. It gives us insight into the prophet Isaiah’s faithfulness to his calling. Isaiah’s covenant name means “Jehovah is Salvation.” And yes covenant names are a thing, In chapter six he had a vision of The Throne-Room of God. Isaiah call into the ministry was “In the year that king Uzziah died” (Isa 6:1). So if you had access to the correct extra-biblical resources, you could find the year King Uzziah died. By doing so it would be easier to pinpoint the time in which Isaiah began his ministry in Judah. You’ll find as you study that book that it’s not all in chronological order. But he was exactly where God needed him at the correct time in history. Isaiah chapter six should be the first chapter of the book chronologically speaking. You should know that Orthodox Jews do not acknowledge Isaiah chapter 53. If you read it to them, They will acknowledge in most cases that it speaks of Christianity’s Jesus. Yet, He’s not their Messiah.
Through Isaiah’s writings, we see a beautiful tapestry of the life of God reflected in him. As it should be through the Body of Christ. Remember, at the beginning of the Gospel of John. Christ came to his own people, but they did not receive Him. But for those who did receive Him, He gave them power (exousia) to become Sons (and Daughters) of God” (John 1:1-14). As we come to the close of Roman 10 it says not everyone obeyed the message they heard. Christ came to His the Jewish people approximately 2000 years ago. The majority of His people rejected Him. They did not want to hear His Words, and when they did listen take the time to listen, they were trying to trip him up. Faith always comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. like to think of it as coming on the wings of the spoken Word of God (rhema). If preached with the correct motive or not, the burden of belief lies on the hearer. In other words, no one’s preaching can make you believe in Christ. We are responsible for our believing after having heard. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi these words:
Php. 1: 15 “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”(NKJV)
So by rejecting the Word of Faith, we buy ourselves a one-way ticket to the Lake of Fire. I’m not a Hellfire and brimstone preacher, but I would be remiss in my duty as a minister if I didn’t share with you the facts.
In Romans 10: 16-17, we see how faith and belief are opposite sides of the same coin. On the one hand God has provided us with His faith through our Lord Jesus Christ. And with his faith you can’t go wrong. But this religious thing we call faith we’ve conjured up will not cut the mustard. When presented with the message of the Cross we become the master of our fate. We must choose to believe in the finished work of The Lord Jesus Christ or not. Like I said, faith comes on the wings of God’s Word. Jesus is The word of God (John 1:1), Jesus is the bread of a Life (John 6:35), and he is the messenger of the Covenant (Mal 3:1). To be continued…
Also, please cheerfully give your financial gifts to this orphanage, large or small to Pastor Henry Lubega @ Reach A Hand Children’s Ministry And Orphanage: Or use wave.com , a quick and easy way to send money to Africa. You will need this phone no. +256703678764
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When you do someone a favor, do you expect them to reciprocate? Or do you give freely, without expecting something in return?
Some people expect to benefit every time they do something. It doesn’t matter whether they go out of their way for a friend, perform a chore at home, put in extra hours at the office, bend over backward for a customer, or console a neighbor in a time of need. And even though they might not express their expectation right away, you know it’s coming. That’s because they’re keeping a mental tally — and they have VERY good memories.
Not just that, some folks manipulate others by using The Law of Reciprocity. This powerful psychological principle states that if you give someone something, the recipient will feel compelled to return the favor. It doesn’t matter if you give someone a gift, a kind gesture, or a material possession. The result is the same — they’ll feel that they owe you! If you think this type of giving is disingenuous, it is. When you give something with strings attached, your focus is on how you’ll benefit personally. On the other hand, when you give of yourself without expecting something in return, your entire focus is on pleasing the recipient.
You’re not really giving if you expect something in return. If you think people benefit from a selfish mindset, you’ve got it all wrong. Giving shouldn’t come with demands, conditions, a hidden agenda, or a scorecard. When you give of yourself and expect something in return, it’s a transaction not a kind gesture. You have one eye on your actions and the other on what you’ll get in return. That not only takes you away from the moment, but you can’t do your best or be your best when you have a hidden agenda.
You might not always benefit from giving of yourself. But you can take great pride in knowing that you’re making a positive difference in the world. While takers may accumulate a lot of things in life, they’ll never experience the joy of being a giver.
Also, please cheerfully give your financial gifts to this orphanage, large or small to Pastor Henry Lubega @ Reach A Hand Children’s Ministry And Orphanage: Or use wave.com , a quick and easy way to send money to Africa. You will need this phone no. +256703678764
You can also purchase anything from Amazon.com or Target.com through this website.
I do like people, I do. I have never in my life got up one morning and thought to myself…who can I piss off today? In fact, my thoughts were and still are the exact opposite, I was what you’d call a people pleaser. Being a people-pleaser led me to smoking cigarettes, which also then led to marijuana. And of course came the hard stuff. To name a few, cocaine, heroin, acid, and mescaline. And I topped it all off with booze; any flavor. With that said, this post may ruffle some feathers. I would apologize in advance for it, at least that’s what the people pleaser in me wants me to do. But the Christ in me, who is my hope of Glory says there’s no such need (Col. 1:23-29). I’m His minister, so I don’t need to apologize for what he’s given me to teach about this life. Of course, all Christians should know that this new life (zōē) is part of the lives (psuchē) we’ve shared on this earth BC and AD. That’s the way God planned it,ieve that’s the way he meant it to be. If we had no stench from the ragged clothes of our past sins, then we wouldn’t have much of a testimony would we (Rev. 12:11)? Of course there are those of us who believe we can win people over with a smile and a coke, or a well-placed antidote. Unfortunately, I don’t have that gift, and I’m not opposed to them . Actually, I don’t remember them. They go in one ear and right out the other. So you anecdotal preachers, please don’t take offense? I have nothing against your stories, I’m admitting that I am not that good with them. Me, The Spirit has groomed in such a way that I have to cut to the chase. If I should use them the Holy Spirit will lead me to an online bookstore and learn a few. Now, let me get to the point.
In the past four years I’ve become conscience of how the political machine in this country works. What I mean is this, I’ve learned about the Christian who support certain politicians. And also the ones they think are of the devil. The ones that they think are of God are usually fat and wealthy. I’ve also picked up on the difference between Conservative and voting Progressive Christians. To be conservative means you want things to remain the way they are. Tradition, don’t change anything, and no change means no growth. you know that old acronym, (KISS) keep it simple stupid. Unfortunately, the Christian life is not simple. Agape love is anything but simple, it’s hard (Rom. 12:9-10; 13:8-10; 14:1-23; 1st Cor. 13:1-). You must fight to keep it, faith works by love (Gal. 5:6; 1st Tim. 6:12). The no changes meaning no growth concept I learned many years ago. I hadn’t a clue about how it applied to politics. So naive and unassuming. In a nutshell, being progressive eans you seek change and growth, not bound by traditions. Old time religion is not good enough for them, and I do mean religion.
For over 400 years in this country there hasn’t been very much change, especially for people of color. Some Churches make it worse. Martin Luther King once said “Sunday morning is the most segregated day of the week”. Christians off to their respective churches; Baptist Methodist, Lutheran, ect., ect. If we would all open our hearts like a little child, the first thing we would see is the hypocrisy of it all. But we don’t see what is, we see what we want. Jesus saw things exactly as they were, and called them exactly as they were. The problem is not pro-choice or the LGBTQ community. The problem is hating on things that we don’t understand. You know, Christians…some things aren’t any of your business. But most of us are too proud and stuck-up to get that through our heads. If anyone is going to straighten out someone’s life, let it be the One who straightened out your life. If it is indeed straighten out. The truth is, I’m up to my eyeballs with my own crap, and so are you. How in the world can I see clearly enough the pluck splinters out of someone else’s eyes. I have a housing project in mine, and so do you. God has not called us to deprogram people, focus on what He’s doing in your life. Listen to His voice in The Word about you and your own.. This is His message to me, so I’m commissioned to pass it on to you. If the shoe doesn’t fit don’t wear it. But if you know in your heart of hearts that your foot slipped right into that Reebok or Nike, then it’s for you. I have been in relationships with church folk where it felt forced, or it seemed more like work. Have any of you ever experienced that? I’ve also had relationships that grew organically. We never worked hard to have a healthy relationship. It happened because of mutual respect. These relationships that grew organically have taught me something, kindness leads (Rom. 2:1-4). I hate being misunderstood so let me explain. I don’t have any one person in mind nor am I passing judgment on Reebok and Nike wearers, not my job. These are only my observations. Things I’ve learned from being around Christian for over 40 years.
With that said, words have power. Some have written books that say, “Words are the most powerful thing in the universe.” I have no doubt in my mind about this. Our Lord Jesus once said of the religious leaders of his day, the people should do as they say, but not as they do (Matt. 23: 1-16). I have sat under some of the some of the most influential teachers in this country. This is only a statement of fact, nothing to boast about. I speak this to my shame, because I held them in such high esteem. This is also the problem in the church, placing men on pedestals. But it wasn’t until the year 2020, that I began to understand the politics of it all. Conservative worshipers thought the previous administration was God-sent. Not all of them mind you, only a select few with dollar signs in their eyes. I had come to trust and respect them. Hey, if I’m honest with myself I wanted to be them. I guess ignorance is bliss. Then I found out that they wanted for another 4 years, jaw-drop. My heart shattered into a million pieces. I felt betrayed by those whom I thought were my Christian brothers/leaders. I thought if anyone could spot a wolf in sheep’s clothing they could, but it’s not a matter of could they, it’s would they? It was all about the Benjamins. Feigned disgust over pro-choice, and the LGBTQ communities, even Satan is becomes. No one knows what these politicians are doing behind closed doors. Now that the elections are over certain things seem to be boiling up to the surface royalty. These two policies were their focal point. No one cared what he did or whose life he put on the line, as long as it wasn’t his.
The behavior of Christian leaders doesn’t change what the Word of Faith says. Said Word will change the lifes of Christins who would dare apply it. I would not be writing and you would not be reading this post had it not been for the Word of Faith. As I said before, the Word of faith and the Gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ are one in the same. And it needs to be in our hearts, and spoken from our lips.
In Rom 10:9 it says “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” (NASB)
Words are powerful indeed. They can change the course of history;, and they can change the coures of your life. The very ground you stand on came into being by the Word of God (John 1:1-3). The breath you breathe is there only because He breathed life into the face of Adam. Every man, woman, boy and girl that has ever walked on the face of this planet are products of the union of Adam and Eve. That is what the Bible teaches. This truth has nothing to do with politics one way or another. Somehow, someway, the political machine wormed its way into the heart of Christianity. Or is it the other way around, has the church wormed its way into politics? It doesn’t matter. What were “you know whose” famous words? it is what it is!
Let’s get back to the importance of the power of words. Our LORD Jesus also said if you confess me before men I will confess you before My Father (Matt.10:32). Our confession of words determines the fate of all mankind. Biblical Covenants are not only cut with blood, but with words. If there are no words spoken then there are no promises to keep or oaths to swear by (Heb. 6:11-17) To be continued…
Also, please cheerfully give your financial gifts to this orphanage, large or small to Pastor Henry Lubega @ Reach A Hand Children’s Ministry And Orphanage: Or use wave.com , a quick and easy way to send money to Africa. You will need this phone no. +256703678764
You can also purchase anything from Amazon.com or Target.com through this website.
I needed to get that off of my chest. Millions of church-goers don’t know the difference between Christianity and religion. Any post that I write will not be coming from a religious perspective. So please try understanding. If you don;t understand what a religious person looks like, study the four gospels. Observe how the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes (the mocked Jesus. Since Christ said these words. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me “(Matt. 25;40). Give a considerable amount of time with those words. Must every Christian you meet think like you, and talk like you? Whatever the case might be. If you turn up your nose at Believers when they don’t mimic your style of worship, you might just be RELIGIOUS.
Before I get started, let me preface this post by saying this, some of you will take offence. Please, don’t misunderstand me. It is not my intention to offend anyone. But I’ve been around religious people long enough to know that they have raw nerve endings. Particularly if I don’t take part in their denominations creeds and practices. You might not believe this, but it actually breaks my heart to observe this. What can you say to people who think like Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes, and they can’t or won’t see it More’s the pity…
About faith, here’s an example from at least two verses of scriptures. Faith and belief are inseparable; better still, one hand washes the other. We actively believe into our faith by using our hearts and mouths (Rom.10:8-10). First, look at the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Rome. Then we’ll compare it with another passage from the letter to the Ephesians. We will use a lot of scripture during this course of study, so hope you brought your appetites. There is a very good reason for using a KJV Bible for this study. It’s one of the few translation that use the term “the faith of God.” Also, this post won’t be as long as it would be had I pasted verses all myself. I will extract the words we should focus on using less scripture. While you follow along using your Bible, making sure that I remain contextual. The only one I’m concerned about offending is the Holy Spirit. Remember, we can either grieve Him (Eph. 4:30), or quench Him (1st. Thess.5:19). I’d rather not do either.
In The Book of Romans chapter 10: 5-17, the Apostle Paul shared a letter addressing a specific problem. The righteousness provided in the Law of Moses was inadequate. It couldn’t bring about the New Birth (change the inner-man), or fellowship with the human spirit. It never had and never will. not until Christ death, burial, resurrection and ascension (John 7: 37-39). The Law provided righteousness based on works. Which is the exact opposite of the doctrine of Christ grace (unmerited favor). Nor did the Old Covenant infrastructure bring deliverance from sin. It only exposed the problem, which was the deadness of man’s heart. Christ tried explaining this to the religious leaders of His day (John 3: 1-7), but it got him nailed to a cross.
Read Heb. 10:1-23, and you will see how Christ laid down his life once and for all, never having to make that sacrifice ever again. Now when we say something is once and for all, our take away is usually more shallow. We never do a particular thing again. And that can is in this verse. But in this context the writer of the book of Hebrews is also saying, this sacrifice was ONCE for of all mankind. This means not only for you and me, but for every person that has ever, and will ever walk upon the face of this planet. Now whether a person accepts that sacrifice is solely on then. It’s in the context of “Whomsoever shall believe”. Christ’s sacrifice was much more far-reaching than the Old Covenant Day of Atonement. Remember, those worshippers could only atone once a year. At the end of that year, they would make that same trek from all four corners of the earth. And with each of them, a brand-new sacrifice. This was for the least to the greatest of them.
In Romans 10:6 you will note the use of the phrase “the righteousness which is of faith speaketh”. What stands out most to me in that verse is not only that we lay hold of righteousnes through faith. but both righteousness and faith have voices. Hang on to that thought.
In verse eight of that same chapter, the Apostle Paul writes theses words. “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.” The gospel should be in our mouths and in our hearts. This “word of faith” is synonymous to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now for all you religious folk out there who have a problem with the so-called Word of Faith movement. The “word of faith” movement started 2000 years ago. You unwittingly are having a problem with the preaching of the Gospel. Or is it that people don’t study the Bible in the same manner as the Bereans in Acts 17. Satan is out to decieve us all, let’s not make it any easier for him by decieving ourselves? An Apostle by the name of Paul wrote this letter, not me or any other preacher we’ve known in our lifetime.
At this point, you should study the entire chapter of Romans 10 on your own. Rom. 10: 9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Let’s make some comparisons between the words belief and faith. I’m looking at Eph. 2: 8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Remember in a previous post I mentioned going “through faith” is like going through a channel. Think of it like a stream leading into a river of grace. As we pass through that channel we gain access to God’s to Throne of Grace (Heb. 4:16). How did I come to that conclusion?
In Ephesians 2: 8, the word dia is translated into our English word ‘through’. Phonetically is sounds like
dee-ah’ In Ephesians 2: 8, the Greek word ‘through’, from the Strong’s Dictionary is it is a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal or occasional). In composition it retains the same general import: – after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) . . . fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through (-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general import.
This channel of an act takes us back to Romans 10: 8-10. The confession of our Mouths and the believing with our heart creates that channel. by doing so we receive this grace. For by Grace we’re saved through faith. The coming up are links to W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the New Testament words. Take the time to look up each verse on your own. Make sure that the context is correct and the words belief and faith are properly used. Be fully persuaded in your own mind. Not because I said so or Vine printed it. But because you’re listening to the Holy Spirit as He reveals truth. Arm youselves with the weapons of our Warfare, which is The Word of God. For the sake of time and word count do follow the link below. Get more clarity on the words belief, believe, and believers. and guess what? As you navigate those links, you’find it to be a useful resours. God bless you all.
Also, please cheerfully give your financial gifts to this orphanage, large or small to Pastor Henry Lubega @ Reach A Hand Children’s Ministry And Orphanage: Or use wave.com , a quick and easy way to send money to Africa. You will need this phone no. +256703678764
You can also purchase anything from Amazon.com or Target.com through this website.
Kindness is the greatest principle of life, yes some people abuse our kindness but it’s still our duty to extend our kindness when we can. We don’t have to know who we help, we don’t need to extend our help to only those that are close to us or family members and relative, but to whoever needs to recieve our kindness. What people pay back to us is not a purpose, in fact we must help without expecting anything in return from the people we help.
So my brothers and sisters, if entrance to the kingdom of God was based on how many acts of kindness you did, how many of you would enter the kingdom of God, let us not lose the kingdom of God while we let earthly life eat us. Earthly life is sweet but it’s just for a very short time. Kindness is a principle that surpasses all other principles of life. Let us work for the kingdom of God where we shall spend most of our life.
Also, please cheerfully give your financial gifts to this orphanage, large or small to Pastor Henry Lubega @ Reach A Hand Children’s Ministry And Orphanage: Or use wave.com , a quick and easy way to send money to Africa. You will need this phone no. +256703678764
You can also purchase anything from Amazon.com or Target.com through this website.
To plow fallow ground: To plow, harrow, to break up (land) without seeding to destroy weeds and conserve soil moisture.
Before I begin this study on faith, I will need to plow the fallow ground of some hearts. In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus taught the parable of the sower. You spoke of seeds that fell by the wayside; some seeds fell on stony ground, some fell among thorns, some fell on good soil. The good ground has to be plowed or broken up, ready to receive seed. In the following paragraphs, I will be doing just that, preparing your heart to receive the seed of the Word of God. Should I neglect to do that, this teaching will fall on deaf ears. So let me start with this; Faith indeed does come by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom.10:17).
In this study, whenever I point out any single verse of scripture, do not stop there; read what came before and after that verse. Get a feel of the context in which that verse was used. This will keep both you and myself in check. In this way, we all can be sure that I am not taking the Word out of context.
Most Christians do understand that the faith of God is multi-faceted, much like His grace. The divine nature of our Heavenly Father is unfathomable; who can really know it? We certainly have no wisdom or knowledge we can offer up to God. We can only be instructed by Him because He has given us Of his Spirit and imparted onto His children the mind of Christ (1st Cor. 2: 16; Php. 2:5-11).
In my last post, I said that we would be looking at specific passages using the Traditional King James Bible. I know that many people have a problem with the King James Bible because of its 1611 Elizabethan English. I would encourage you not to allow that to become a stumbling block in your growth as a Christian. The leading concordances and Bible dictionaries are usually translated from the King James Version. So we need to take that into consideration. You don’t have to take my Word for it. However, suppose you are earnestly seeking His Face. In that case, you must work the Word of God in a translation that you actually need to work or struggle with (my opinion). I don’t know where Believers got the notion that studying the Bible should be easy. We’re talking about the mind and the will of God. Trust me, the hard work will pay off in the long run.
Of course, the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic languages are foreign to us unless you happen to be of the Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic persuasion. Or maybe you are a linguist, and these languages come easy to you because of your chosen field of study. My hat is off to anyone who gets their doctorate in that particular field of study. On the other hand, if you were born here in the Good old US of A, most likely English is your first language. I don’t want to offend any Native Americans; after all, you’re the only ones who actually belong here. The rest of us should put that in our pipes and smoke it.
On my website, I encourage the use of extra-biblical materials, including and not limited to the Apocrypha; it contains excellent historical references. Some of these tools are in the margin of my blog on amazon.com. They are guaranteed to help give you a better understanding of scripture—much more than going to every Bible study and church service you can find. As you well know, not all denominations agree on how to interpret the Bible. That’s why it’s so crucial for you to learn how to do this for yourself. Don’t trip; God will not hold it against you for making your own mistakes. That’s why 1st John 1: 9 was placed in our Covenant with Him. But He will hold you accountable for following after blind guides (Matt. 15:14). Remember, no one other than Christ Jesus, the man who stands between God and man (1st.Tim.2: 5), has cut a blood Covenant with you and sealed it with an oath built on better promises (Heb.6:16-18;8: 6-8). Do you know any Pastor that can give you that kind of guarantee when it comes to their Word? Do you want to be a spiritual man or woman who can rightly divide the Word of Truth (2nd Tim. 2:15). Never become too overly dependent upon others because others can lead you right into one of those nice proverbial muddy wet ditches. That’s not to say don’t go to church but go with the attitude that their words are not the last words on any given topic in God’s Word. You must take the initiative to be like a Bereans (Acts17).
It takes passion and a genuine heartfelt effort on our part to check and recheck the things we’ve been told by our leaders. It doesn’t really matter who they are; it could be your best friend, it could be your brother or sister, it could even be your parents. It doesn’t matter who it might be. The single worst mistake you will ever make as a Christian is to rely too heavily upon someone other than yourself and The Spirit of Truth for guidance. 1st Jn. 2: 27 “But the anointing (of the Holy Spirit) which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (NKJV)
I think we all saw how that turned out these past four years. So we as Christian, when it comes to our understanding of God’s Word, we must make it our personal main priority (Numero Uno). Should we fail to do that, then the rest of our lives will be in chaos. Good relationships will not remain intact. Suppose our relationship with God is standing on shaky ground. How do you think the relationships that most matter will be affected? Once we know Jesus, Who just so happens to be the Living Word, and the Holy Spirit whom he sent, then we’ll have right standing or be in a right relationship with the Father. Knowing and keeping His Commandment of love will make straight every crooked relationship in your life, at least the ones that actually matter (Rom. 12:17-18). As long as there are seedtime and harvest, there will always be haters.
Now let’s talk about faith. Yes, Jesus is our LORD and our King, but He was first our Savior. And as we grow in the grace of God, We begin to understand that it was His faith that got us started, and This place will sustain us to the same joy that was set before Him (Heb. 12:2).
First, we must peel back the definition of those words “believe”, and “faith” are often used interchangeably, especially in the New Testament. Those two words are practically inseparable. They are like the wet of the water; you can’t have one without the other. You could even say they are much like our spirit and soul. They can only be distinguished by the Word of God, but they can never be separated from one another (1st Thess.5:23; Heb. 4:12).
We must accept the truth about our hearts (soil), others (Jer. 17:9), and our need for a Savior. To plow fallow ground: To plow, harrow, to break up (land) without seeding to destroy weeds and conserve soil moisture.
The Word of faith (God’ Word) must find good fertile soil for germination or it just won’t grow. No real need to go over Jesus’ parable about good soil represents the heart. The faith of God can only be found within the words He’s spoken to us. So there should be no confusion; we’re talkin about the Bible, Old and New Testament; they are God’s instructions for His people. I’m going to say this and you can like it or love it. I think a serious Christian will strive to have a serious Library. Now I know that not everyone can afford to invest in a library, but that’s no excuse because we have the internet. The internet is full of free material that you can use resources that will help you to grow in your faith. I want to talk about your faith, I’m talking about the seed of God’s word that was implanted in your heart on the day you were Born Again.
So please receive this song with open hearts; receive the engrafted Word of God, which can save our souls. Listen to this song by Steven Curtis Chapman. It’s the perfect description of a person’s heart before receiving the Word of faith, which we preach.
To be continued…
Also, please cheerfully give your financial gifts to this orphanage, large or small to Pastor Henry Lubega @ Reach A Hand Children’s Ministry And Orphanage: Or use wave.com , a quick and easy way to send money to Africa. You will need this phone no. +256703678764
You can also purchase anything from Amazon.com or Target.com through this website.
Hebrews 11: 5 “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
There’s a lot to unpack here. The Greek word for faith used in Enoch’s case was (G4102) ‘pistis’: pronunciation: pis-tis. That word is multi-faceted. However, Hebrews 11:5 Begins with “By faith”, Which implies to me “by the use of his faith.” The book of Ephesians also says it is by grace we are saved through faith (Eph. 2:8). We’re looking at the same Greek word. But here, the Apostle Paul used the primary preposition ‘through’ faith. That Greek word is ‘dia’, pronunciation dee-ah’, denoting the channel of an act.
So here is my question, what is that act? I’ll answer that question by what Enoch did, not only Enoch but the entire hall of faith in Hebrews 11. As we know, even in English, most words have various meanings. For example, Judge could be a position held by a member of The Supreme Court. It could also be something we should not do to one another, i.e., pass judgment in a negative sense. It could also mean discernment, which can be an act of wisdom. Christ told the Pharisees to discern or judge the signs of the times.
The word faith in Hebrews 11: 5 in context carries with it the meaning’ fidelity’. In English, fidelity means “faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.”
In the text, The faithfulness demonstrated by Enoch moved God so much that He just took him. His continued loyalty and support of God’s plan and purpose must have been in line with his will too. Yahweh didn’t take his life; He took him to heaven wholly; spirit, soul, and body.
1st Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Enoch found his peace with God, so God sanctified him completely. Subsequently, God took him to His heavenly house. Sanctification means to set apart from the rest into rest.
I have a question for the church today; why are we still here? Have we not found peace with God by being at peace with all men (Romans 12:18)? Have we not been sanctified spirit, soul, and body completely (1st Thess. 5;23)? Enoch attained this in his mortal body, so the fact that we are still in our mortal bodies can’t be an excuse. I have been to churches and heard people proclaim loudly, “I’m saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost.” I have listened to it a lot, but the evidence isn’t there. Hey, I’m included in this farce of the church. I used the word ‘farce’ intentionally. If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it. However, if you are making all of that noise, pretending to be something that you are not, that means you are living the life of a hypocrite.
My desire in life is to bring my Heavenly Father so much pleasure that He would have no choice but to take me. I’m not talking about physical death; I’m talking about the rapture. I’m talking about this mortal putting mortality. I want to see the corruptible put on incorruption (1st Cor. 15:53).
But here lies the rub, until we, as this dismembered Body of Christ, find peace with each other, we won’t be like Enoch. His faith redeemed him wholly, with a sound mind completely.
Ephesians 2: 8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Remember that primary preposition Paul used “through faith.” Just as a reminder, the Greek word ‘through’ is ‘dia’, pronunciation dee-ah’, denoting an act’s channel. As a babe in Christ learning at Crenshaw Christian Center, I remember that faith is acting upon the word of God and doing what the word of God says. But what gives us the mentality to act? In other words, where does that seed of faith come from by which we act? The answer should be so If you are season Christian. In verse 9, we learn that saving grace and the faith which we use as a channel is also God’s gift to us in the person of Jesus Christ. You see, no one can boast about saving themselves or making their personhood right with God. No one can boast about having personal faith because God gave us that faith. I want to reiterate; it is God’s faith by which not only are we saved, but we also live by it. I will point out a few verses from the old and the New Testament for the reader to look at in the KJV; then, I’ll close. We are thoroughly convinced that Christ is the source of the faith of the believer. Please read the following using the KJV at your leisure. The true meaning of some essential words and phrases gets lost in translation in many easy-to-read versions.
Next, we will take a closer look at these verses together using the King James version. So I hope those of you that have been spoiled by “easy to read versions” won’t draw back. To be continued…
Also, please cheerfully give your financial gifts to this orphanage, large or small to Pastor Henry Lubega @ Reach A Hand Children’s Ministry And Orphanage: Or use wave.com , a quick and easy way to send money to Africa. You will need this phone no. +256703678764
You can also purchase anything from Amazon.com or Target.com through this website.
This is a re-post. I made a few grammatical changes.
Before I get into this message, I would like to mention this one significant thing. I said I would be providing our fallen brothers and sisters’ names from the BLM page in a previous post. But that list is extensive. Perhaps it would be best to give you a link to that page. This way, in your own time, you can investigate each situation and draw your own conclusions. You can determine for yourselves whether they were justifiable homicides or not. My wife are a by-racial, and we have been profoundly affected by this type of violence. Those who are to serve and protect can do if not put in check. We must pray that the senseless violence will come to an end someday. Here is that link:
Well, my friends, it’s been a minute since writing anything substantial. The LORD had me stop doing my blogs for a long while, not because He’s given me nothing to say or teach, but because the Spirit of God wanted me to take a closer look at the world, as it seems to be crumbling into ruin due to so much dysfunctional and failed leadership. Jesus taught us (His disciples) to discern the signs of the times and allow His marvelous light to shine victoriously through us. The Body of Christ can’t be The Luminaries He called us to be while we are in such a fractured and weakened state; in other words, we’ve got to squash this division in the body of Christ and get over our personal agendas. And believe you me, denominations and their various church traditions separate us from each another; they are man-made blueprints, not that of the LORDS. The church communion table was a provision whose purpose was to bring us into harmony, i.e., into one body. However, because of our personal Theological differences over communion, we find a dismembered body.
Okay, On Faith, Foolishness, or Presumption:
This title did not originate with me. The title came from sermons and a book written by the late Apostle Frederick K. C. Price. I just recently found out he passed away on February 12th, 2021, due to complications from COVID-19. I mourn his passing with the rest of the Ever-increasing Faith family. His family laid him to rest on March 6th, 2016. He had more critics than most of the preachers and teachers I’ve known over the past 41 years. We know that the Bible does say, “all who will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2nd Tim. 3:12). But that was to his credit because he was a man of profound courage, obedience, and conviction. He also strove to tear down these denominational walls that separate us from one another. Walls that keep us ignorant of the truth. Regarding The Godhead, the Doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, ourselves, and truth about one another. Christ Jesus is that true who shines his light into our souls. It is His light that exposes who we truly are (John 3:19-20). Apart from him, we walk in darkness all the days of our lives (Eph. 4:1; 1st. John 1: 6-7; 1st John 2: 6). It doesn’t matter how nice we are, and it doesn’t matter how good of a person we think we are; it doesn’t matter titles we hold or how charitable might be; apart from him, we walk in darkness. The Apostle Paul said I would not have us ignorant (Rom. 11:24-25; 1st Thess. 4:13-18). So I honor The Price family during their time of grief. He always opened every message with these words, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). And he ended each with “for we walk by faith, not by sight” 2nd Cor. 5: 7). The body of Christ has suffered a great loss. We will never forget him in the flesh, but he will always be with us in the spirit. We also look forward to seeing him again at the resurrection and to that glorious appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Always remember this before judging another man’s servant. God made him the ministry gift that He had created him to be to the body of Christ. You are not the gift that he was, nor the gift that I am. We are as different as each star in the heavens, each shining with its own Glory (1sr Cor. 15: 39-41). God has called me to encourage and teach His kids on “How to study The Bible.” I do this so that none of us are so dependent upon what someone else has said, but only what God has said in His Word. Particularly since we have so many denominations with their own take on the Word of God (2nd Peter 2:1). Which means, its own interpretation; i.e. not isolated from all that the Word has given elsewhere. Or we can say it like this, it should not be isolated to any one special denomination’s interpretation. This truth applies across the entire spectrum of Christianity. This mindset creates so much division in the Body of Christ
Throughout my ministry years, I’ve heard so many definitions of what faith is or what it is not; it’ll make your head spin. It all gets quite confusing for me as well as others, I’m sure. Apostle Price taught one of the most valuable teachings in the New Testament regarding faith I have ever heard. He was one of the most disciplined men of God I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting. Preachers would get so angry because of how he taught; that’s more because there was no compromise in life or the Word; what many called arrogance was true humility. Also, because of his so-called megachurch known as the Faith Doom. Most of these people have never even met the man or set foot on the old Pepperdine University Campus where he built the Faith Dome. They only see him on television briefly and listen for about 10 minutes, then pass judgment shutting the message out—my heart sorrows for men and women who find time to judge anyone but themselves (Read Matt. 13:15). My fellow Christians, life-and-death battles are going on right now, and we need everyone’s head in the game. We can start by not pointing fingers at one another over differences in theology. We are all human and subject to error (1st Cor. 10:13). So if you think that someone is mistaken about some doctrine that I or some other might teach, let us not forget you can also be in error. Christians can be so selfish, never willing to admit that they could be wrong. There’s no time to taking a pair of tweezers to remove a splinter from your brother’s eye when you have an entire forest in your own (Luke 6:41). We’ve got to face the reality that we need each other for Christianity to be practical.
Romans 10: 6 “But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, THE WORD OF FAITH which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
It seems as though each denomination has its own brand of “THE WORD OF FAITH” or the faith of God. Note that I did not say ‘faith in God’; I said THE FAITH OF GOD.’ (Gal. 2:20; Heb. 12:2). In other words, any Jazzed-up faith that humankind musters up apart from God will make that man or woman instantly disqualified to run the race with patience (Heb. 12:1). The faith which Christ taught in the New Testament is not of this world. It was given to us as a precious gift by the Blood of our LORD Jesus Christ. How can you tell the difference? You will see the difference when you stop studying The Bible through rose-colored (denominational) glasses. Christ did not die to give us the Baptist faith, the Methodist faith, or even the Lutheran faith, and Martin Luther is supposed to be the top dog when it comes to faith. Christ died to impart THE FAITH OF GOD to us, him being the face of Almighty God. How dare we take it upon ourselves to think otherwise.
Eph. 4: 4 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, ONE FAITH, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” That word ‘faith’ in the original Greek, not in any 21st Century language;
Thayer Definition: Pistis- 1) conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it 1a) relating to God 1a1) the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ 1b) relating to Christ 1b1) a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God 1c) the religious beliefs of Christians 1d) belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same 2) fidelity, faithfulness 2a) the character of one who can be relied on Part of Speech: noun feminine A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G3982 According to Hebrews 11: 6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
According to Hebrews 11: 6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
If we genuinely want to please God, that is, do the pleasing things in his sight, we must first accept that God is a faith God, not a denominational God. However, he loves every Christian in every denomination. Our Father loves every person that has ever been on this planet. But He is not partial to us because of our affiliation with any particular denomination, culture, race, or Creed. He doesn’t even have a problem with your outdated sexual orientation; He loves you despite all these things. We are the ones who are so particular with others. There’s a name for that; it’s called discrimination.
I read this quote from Google. “The word ‘faith’ is used 458 times in The New International Version, 389 times in the New King James Version 378 and in The New American Standard Bible and 521 times in the Good News Bible.”
Following “How to Study the Bible,” one of the primary keys is repetition. Always keep in mind how often a theme, a word, or repetition of the subject matter. That is, we practice how proper biblical exegesis. You can’t take a subject that has only been mentioned maybe two or three times and call that doctrine. In my next post, I will go over some things that God is trying to hammer into our thinking through His Word by way of repetition. Just based on how many times the word comes up, faith does seem to be a pretty hot topic with Our Father. To be continued…
Also, please cheerfully give your financial gifts to this orphanage, large or small to Pastor Henry Lubega @ Reach A Hand Children’s Ministry And Orphanage: Or use wave.com , a quick and easy way to send money to Africa. You will need this phone no. +256703678764
You can also purchase anything from Amazon.com or Target.com through this website.
Before I go any further on this post, I want to acknowledge some Black men, women, and children whose lives have been snuffed out needlessly. These men and women were unarmed. My heart and my prayers go out to all families who are still grieving over their loss. God bless you all. I will get to the over 215,000 lost because of COVID-19 in another post. The following was composed By:
1. David McAtee, August 3, 1966 – June 1, 2020 Louisville, Kentucky. Shot June 1, 2020 by a Louisville Metropolitan Police Officer.
2. George Perry Floyd, October 14, 1973 – May 25, 2020 Powderhorn, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Knee on the neck/Asphyxiated: May 25, 2020, Minneapolis Police Officer
3. Dreasjon “Sean” Reed, 1999 – May 6, 2020: Indianapolis, Indiana, Shot: May 6, 2020, Unidentified Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer.
4. Michael Brent Charles Ramos, January 1, 1978 – April 24, 2020 Austin, Texas Shot: April 24, 2020, Austin Police Detectives
5. Breonna Ta ylor, June 5, 1993 – March 13, 2020: Louisville, Kentucky Shot: March 13, 2020, Louisville Metro Police Officers
6. Manuel “Mannie” Elijah Ellis, August 28, 1986 – March 3, 2020: Tacoma, Washington Physical restraint/Hypoxia: March 3, 2020, Tacoma Police Officers
7. Atatiana Koquice Jefferson, November 28, 1990 – October 12, 2019: Fort Worth, Texas Shot: October 12, 2019, Fort Worth Police Officer
8. Emantic “EJ” Fitzgerald Bradford Jr., June 18, 1997 – November 22, 2018: Hoover, Alabama Shot: November 22, 2018, Unidentified Hoover Police Officers
9. Charles “Chop” Roundtree Jr., September 5, 2000 – October 17, 2018: San Antonio, Texas Shot: October 17, 2018, San Antonio Police Officer
10. Chinedu Okobi, February 13, 1982 – October 3, 2018: Millbrae, California
Tasered/Electrocuted: October 3, 2018, San Mateo County Sheriff Sergeant and Sheriff Deputies
11. Botham Shem Jean, September 29, 1991 – September 6, 2018 Dallas, Texas Shot: September 6, 2018, Dallas Police Officer
12. Antwon Rose Jr., July 12, 2000 – June 19, 2018 East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Shot: June 19, 2018, East Pittsburgh Police Officer
13. Saheed Vassell, December 22, 1983 – April 4, 201 Brooklyn, New York City, New York Shot: April 4, 2018, Four Unnamed New York City Police Officers
14. Stephon Alonzo Clark, August 10, 1995 – March 18, 2018 Sacramento, California Shot: March 18, 2018, Sacramento Police Officers
15. Aaron Bailey, 1972 – June 29, 2017 Indianapolis, Indiana Shot: June 29, 2017, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officers
16. Charleena Chavon Lyles, April 24, 1987 – June 18, 2017 Seattle, Washington Shot: June 18, 2017, Seattle Police Officers
17. Fetus of Charleena Chavon Lyles (14-15 weeks), June 18, 2017 Seattle, Washington Shot: June 18, 2017, Seattle Police Officers
18. Jordan Edwards, October 25, 2001 – April 29, 2017 Balch Springs, Texas Shot: April 29, 2017, Balch Springs Officer
19. Chad Robertson, 1992 – February 15, 2017 Chicago, Illinois Shot: February 8, 2017, Chicago Police Officer
20. Deborah Danner, September 25, 1950 – October 18, 2016The Bronx, New York City, New York Shot: October 18, 2016, New York City Police
This list is by no means exhautives. There are many many more. I will be adding more with each post. I’m finding that there are more new cases each day. Therefore, until something changes with this present administration, I mau be at this for some time to come.
Take a look at this last video please? only meant to make an inforem decisision when y0u cast your ballot. I love you aoo, pleases DO THE RIGHT THING!!!
Also, please cheerfully give your financial gifts to this orphanage, large or small to Pastor Henry Lubega @ Reach A Hand Children’s Ministry And Orphanage: Or use wave.com , a quick and easy way to send money to Africa. You will need this phone no. +256703678764
You can also purchase anything from Amazon.com or Target.com through this website.
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