What is Faith?

What is faith? The Bible definition. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Heb 11:1). “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb 11:6)

Bible faith and hope are tied together inseparably. We are convinced that God is and will keep His promise of giving us eternal life. Eternal life is that hope based upon faith in God. When we get to heaven, there will no longer be faith and hope. Why would faith and hope cease to be? “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Rom 8:24-25)

But there is more than definitions to faith. How faith acts – what it does – how it feels? The last phrase of Hebrews 11:6, “He rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Earnestly seek – there is action in Bible faith. Indeed, Bible faith always acts. (James 2:26) Bible faith, then, is not merely, "I believe there is a God” Faith is seen in the fruit it bears and in the feelings and emotions that come from that faith. Read on and see.

Faith is a happiness and security that does not rest in circumstances and outside forces. It lies within.

Circumstances can change – lose your job, health issues, savings gone, oops, there goes happiness. Many think happiness is tied to the external, the person scrambles about trying to hold it all together. With faith, it just doesn't matter what goes on in this world, the Christian is happy and secure in Jesus Christ.

Paul and Silas are excellent examples. “The magistrates ordered Paul and Silas to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.” (Acts 16:22-25) Paul and Silas were beaten and put in prison, yet singing. The punishment hurt, but the outer circumstances did not control their lives. Their happiness and security lay within.

Faith is putting God first in your life.

When we really believe, God is placed first and there is no one and nothing else! (Matt. 6:33) Joseph is an example. (Gen. 39:9)

Faith is joyful expectation.

Looking for the best in all things. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7) Not, I'll resign myself to bear what life brings so that I can get to heaven. You've seen it, people walking about with slack faces, no expression; expecting the worse, and guess what? Faith is a positive view of the future. (Rom 8:24-25) Faith is wrapped in hope and confident God is working in your life and that good things will happen.

Faith is growth. (2 Cor. 4:16)

People are super-conscious of the aging process. Millions spent trying to cover and retard that process. Faith not that concerned with the outer, for in spiritual growth the inner person becomes more beautiful every day. (1 Pet 3:3-4)

Faith believes God is working in your life.

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19) Romans 8:28, 31; Eph. 3:20)

The road of life has many bumps. You can get knocked down and wonder where God is. Whatever life hands out, if we hold on – we believe God is in control, and works all for our good and His glory. I always trusted Helen. I knew she would never do me harm, but only good. I knew she would always be there for me. How did I know that? I just believed – that’s faith.

This is the way it is with God, but it takes time for strong faith to grow. But faith can never develop unless you live with God. Live from within to without. Forget self and look to God.

Faith is to have a goal.

There are many goals in life. That is good and desirable provided they are honest and honorable. Bible faith has a goal that stretches into eternity. (Phil 3:7-14, 20)

Faith understands that our citizenship is in heaven, not on earth.

“Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil 3:20)

It’s easy to be attached to this world as though we will live on earth forever. Faith understands that the earthly journey is temporary. This is not to say that we should sit and wait to die. No, indeed, we should live and enjoy life to the fullest and be productive. Only remember, you rent and don’t own.

Faith is staking your very existence on what you believe.

Moses thought long term. “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (Heb 11:24-26)

Though it meant trouble and hardship, Moses chose to be with God and His people and ultimately eternal life, rather than immediate and temporary gratification. Faith is to recognize and joyfully accept life-giving reproofs in view of the eternal reward. “For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.” (Prov 6:23) See also Romans 5:1-5

Faith honors God.

How? Being and becoming our very best – people of honesty, truth, and integrity.

Conclusion: Bible faith gives strong mental and emotional security and a sense of well-being. This faith can be seen in your life.

God's Partners

A special treat this week as I share with you a message from Barney Cargile III, minister for the Sonoma Ave Church of Christ in Santa Rosa CA. God bless!

A few weeks ago I was picking cucumbers in our garden with my two-year-old granddaughter Olive.  She wanted to "help", so as I pulled each cuke off the vine, I handed them to her and she ran to the tub at the end of the row and dropped them in.  Each journey elicited a giggle from her, which, as you can imagine, brought me great delight.  Which do you suppose would have been easier: me tossing them in the tub or handing each individual cucumber to Olive?  If you've ever worked with small children, you know the answer.  But which brought me greater delight?  You know the answer as well.  The joy of my my "partnership" with Olive was worth every extra moment of time.  Did I need her "help"?  Of course not; but I wanted it.  Just think of all the joy I would have missed. 

Witnessing Olive's partnership with me, brought to mind our partnership with God.  God invites us to join him in his work of redeeming humankind (II Cor.5:18-20).  What an amazing thought that is: we are God's partners!  Ever wonder why God would choose to work through us?  Does he need our "help"?  Of course not!  But just as I wanted Olive's "help", he wants us as his partners.  Why?  I suppose for the same reason that I desired Olive's help: we bring him great delight.  Psalm 149:4 informs us that "the LORD takes delight in his people".  Speaking of the Messianic kingdom, Isaiah 62:4 promises that "the Lord will take delight in you."  Even Zephaniah (which has been labeled the "hottest book in the Bible"), declares "He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing (3:17)."  I'm confident that our Father who possesses perfect love takes far more delight in me than I ever could in Olive. So let that thought fill your heart as you close your eyes tonight and sleep: I'm a partner with the Creator of the universe, and He takes great delight in me!

Blessings,

Barney

I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me.

Some of you, by looking at the title, may be hoping that this post is about Rockwell's 1984 top 10 hit song Somebody's Watching Me. 

I'm sorry to disappoint.

Recently, there has been a lot of news concerning the NSA. Even as I write this, I wonder if the mere mention of the NSA has triggered a red flag and, like Rockwell, I will go throughout the rest of my day being watched.

It's a funny thing that we enjoy our privacy and get upset at the notion that someone can see everything that we do. Imagining that someone is looking at us through a surveillance camera or recording every click and keystroke on our computer is just not acceptable and an invasion into our privacy! (Of course this doesn't factor in when we tell the world what we are eating, where we are or what we are doing every second of the day on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter or Instagram.)

Due to the recent news surrounding the NSA and that governments and corporations are watching us more than we imagined, counter technology is springing up everywhere. Encryption software that makes sure only the intended recipient can view it. Secure web browsing platforms so no one knows what sites you visit. Covers that block cameras from reading your license plate numbers. All kinds of technology to keep big brother from watching.

While a lot of people are furious about being watched all the time, we sometimes forget that we have always been watched. Even before the camera, the internet and the microchip, we were being watched. 

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

The Psalmist in Psalms 139 tells of God's all know and all seeing presence. From the very beginning of our personal existence:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

And until the end of our days:

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Maybe we don't like the government or other humans seeing what we do, but if we strive to live a pure life we shouldn't worry about what others see. Instead we can begin to live life as we were intended to, a life that everyone should see. Like it says in Matthew 5:14-17:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 

Honor Thy Parents

One of my least favorite activities is clothes shopping. So the other day I got tricked into going back to school shopping with my wife and the kids. The reason I was tricked is that we went to see a movie and then the ever so sly "Hey, since we are by the mall..." routine.

To make matters worse, 2 of the shirts for the boys were the wrong size and I was asked to make the exchange if I was in the area. Surprisingly enough the exchange was pleasant and my anxiety level stayed in the greenish yellow area.

While in the store making the exchange I saw a family walk by with 2 young boys. As they passed I heard a little commotion and then a loud smack. Assuming it was a parent delivering an attitude adjustment I looked and noticed it was in fact one of the boys hitting his father. This will not end well for the youngster I thought to myself.

Needless to say, in today's society, the little boy got a good glaring at with a mad face. Yup, that was it; Hit dad and I will look at you with a mad face. Of course you know that didn't have the effect the parent was hoping for and as expected, the child began to laugh.

While I'm sure most of us who were raised with the paddle, belt, switch, etc. would have expected something more than a scowl, that's not what I am interested in today.

Call me a softy, but if you raise your children right, their is little need for corporal punishment. At the same time I also believe it is a necessary punishment. That brings to mind a verse we like to preach but seldom practice. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3 (NIV)

It's drilled into almost every child starting in Sunday school and for good reason. You seldom hear of people having a lack of respect for authority that were raised under this rule. 

As we grow older, many look at this as only applicable when we are younger, like turning 18 you are no longer bound by curfew laws. 

Even as we are children to earthly parents and grow up we still remain their children. To think that at a certain age we are no longer children is to be misinformed. At what point would you say that you are no longer one of God's children? 

To show the importance of honoring your parents take a look at Romans 1:29-13. Paul is writing about the sinfulness of humanity and talks about every kind of wickedness that has filled their hearts; They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents.

When talking about killers and gossips, I don't think Paul decides to pull in the 8-10 year old's who are also engaged in parental disobedience. We are instructed to have the highest honor for our parents, regardless of our age or our parents age. 

Remember these verses when you are upset with your parents over their decisions at any age in life.

As parents, we can also help our children grow to honor us as Proverbs 22:6 says Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from them.

Approval of Men or of God?

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Gal 1:10(NIV)

I don't really have a message to go along with this verse. It's one of many verses that is highlighted in my Bible and I also have a picture of it in my phone. I make it a habit to have scripture ready to lift me up, keep me safe, keep me focused and help me stay inspired.

One of the biggest issues Christians have to deal with day to day is living in a sinful world and remaining focused on God. Jesus says in John 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Because it is in our nature to be loved, liked and accepted, it can be easy to agree with the world and win their approval if it means we have a chance to feel good. This is when we run the risk of loosing our souls. In Mark 8:36 we are told For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

I would encourage you to continually ready the Bible and find verses that speak to you. Make it a point to highlight them, take a picture of them, put notes around your house or desk; write them on your heart. This is how you can stay strong in the world and not worry about the approval of man, but to keep focus on the goal.

Toxic Relationships and Forgiveness

While being chased by a rabid dog, at what point do you stop running and face the dog?

I'm not sure who said that. I do know that is was at one of the Pepperdine lectureships (it's also a paraphrase of what was said) and it was in reference to running away from sin. It's always stuck with me and has created a great visual. Here you are running away from something that causes you to sin and you decided that you can face that sin. What you are really doing is allowing temptation to creep in. I think we all know what happens when we give in to temptation. So rather than facing the sin, keep running away from it.

There are also other topics and situations this little saying can relate to.

While having a discussion about forgiveness the other day, the conversation I was involved in turned to toxic relationships and getting out of them.

Forgiveness is a great thing. You can research for years on the subject. You have the forgiver, the forgiven, the need for forgiveness, the weight lifted from forgiving, the clear conscious of admitting you need to be forgiven; the list goes on and on.

While some people won't ask for forgiveness we know that it is important that we still forgive those who have sinned against us. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21,22

One issue that is hard to deal with and grasp is forgiving and moving on. I'm not talking about moving on as in forgetting what they did, that is impossible and we all deal with the memories. Only God is able and has authority to wipe the slate clean. What I am referring to is eliminating the toxic people from your life after you have forgiven them.

In the relationship of marriage, you will find abusive spouses, be it physical or emotional. The typical stories you hear in these situations is that of forgiving and jumping back into the ring. While we hope that after forgiveness there is smooth sailing, more often than not the abusive cycle begins again.

That is probably the most common example of a toxic relationship and I could show others examples if needed dealing with friends, employers, children and parents. But the point is that people fail to realize that forgiveness does not mean you need to stick around for more abuse. If the situation is taking away your power, the person is manipulating you or controlling you, it's time to get out of that situation. Nobody deserves that kind of power as it is reserved only for God. No person is worth your soul if they cause you to lose your peace, your walk with God, lead you to sin, take away your joy or your mind ultimately causing you to stumble and fall.

Before you cut ties with anyone make your feelings known to them. Explain that you are not going to allow them to become a stumbling block in your life and that you have forgiven them for any wrongs they have done to you. You may have a pleasant time moving forward with them. 

If however, they do not welcome your attempt to make peace, or if the situation is not going to be healthy for you, do as Jesus says in Luke 9 when he was instructing the apostles to go out and proclaim the kingdom of God. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. Jesus explains that we need to cut all ties with people who won't listen and go so far as to not even have any dust on your feet from your encounter. Limited contact does not work with toxic people

Looking at another verse from the old testament, Abram and Lot Separate. Genesis 13:8,9 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”

Don't worry if that seems harsh. Many people will counter with out of context scripture or even try to say (like a previous weekly message) "That's not very Christian of you". Remember that Jesus said Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth? I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Matthew 10:34-39

Remember: If you are being chased by a rabid dog, if you are being hunted down by sin, if there is a toxic person in your life, don't stop and face it. Keep running.

Fake Fronts

On June 17-18, the world's eight most powerful leaders met for the G8 summit in the village of Enniskillen, Ireland. As might be expected, the town went to great lengths to "spruce up" appearances. But in this case, they took extraordinary measures, which included fake storefronts, giving the appearance of a thriving business climate.

In reality, the entire area has suffered a terrible economic recession, causing many businesses to close their doors for over a year.  Rather than showcasing this reality, the image-conscious village leaders opted for pretension, even going as far as placing large pictures in the windows, giving the appearance of booming business.

Before we shake our heads, let's face it-- we're all guilty of this. How often do we put on appearances for others, pretending to be something we're not? How often do we paste on a smile, stating that "everything's fine", when we're dying inside? How often do we act more "spiritual" around certain people, or more positive, or more...? God's word says a lot about being the same on the inside as the outside.

1 Samuel 16:7 informs us, "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." That's the "real" us that God sees. Jesus warns,"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them." He went as far as calling the Pharisees "whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean." (Matt 23:27)

What God really wants from us is to be real; to live in reality; not the reality of who we think we are, but the reality of who HE says we are. Not everyone will like it, but God's opinion is the only one that counts. He looks right past the fake "storefronts" we put up and sees straight into our hearts.