"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
Hello To All:
Thinking that I had a right understanding of what this posting was going to be, I started writing it back in September of last year (2019). I was certain that it was going to be part 3 of "Faith Is A Noun." The title and the text from the King's Book was written down; and then, nothing more. Months have passed, as I continued to wait on our Lord Jesus Christ, for the revelation that would open my mind to the truth that would be set forth in this next posting. I waited and prayed and studied and prayed some more; and the words did not come! When the revelation did come, the title changed from part 3 too: "O ye of little faith."
Whatever part 3 is destined to be; it will have to wait for another day. Our Lord Jesus Christ is always full of surprises! For those of you who might be first time visitors to these postings; it might be helpful to your understanding to once again say: If I am not writing, then I am being prepared to write. Sometimes the preparation takes much longer than I expected. This is one of those longer than expected occasions. Thank you Jesus!
Our opening text reminds us that our "faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." My beloved brethren: please be reminded that whatever wisdom that my natural mind might have - it is not of any value to you or to myself! True faith - saving faith - stands "in the power of God" - not "in the wisdom of men." Thank you Jesus!
But, is it not true, that often in our journey of faith, that we come to a point of doubting the sufficiency of our faith. (Please see series of essays titled: "This Elder Has Been A Deceiver," with first posting being 3/25/2014.) Faith, in many ways is a mystery to us; and sometimes the mystery can be better understood by recognizing what confusion can enter into our lives because of our failure to understand the fullness of the reality of saving faith.
Our Lord Jesus Christ wants to shed some light on our confusion by taking us back to some previous postings. We begin with the following:
"O ye of little faith" September 8, 2011
Hello to All:
As we continue on our journey to "Victorious Discipleship In Jesus Christ," we also continue in our examination, of the text from the King's Book, recorded in Matthew, chapter 16 and verses 6 to 12; where we find written (at verse 8): "...when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves...?"
Perhaps, all followers of Jesus Christ, upon reading this text, will immediately think of the times, when they believed that their own "faith," was a "little faith,"similar to that of the disciples; and not sufficient for the challenges at hand. The word "faith," that is translated from the Greek word that refers to the supernatural faith, that comes to us as a gift from The Lord our God, occurs 244 times in the New Testament. It is never spoken of as a faith that is "little." The Greek word, translated as "little faith," occurs only 5 times; and rightly understood, refers to the natural faith, common to all of humanity. Nonetheless, even though this natural faith is common to all men, we, who are followers of Jesus Christ, often turn to (and depend upon), this natural faith; having become convinced that this natural faith, is what Christ Jesus has given to us; and we are confused, because it never seems to be sufficient. It always seems to be a "little faith."
This was the plight of the disciples. Their reaction, to their circumstances, was based on their natural abilities: "they reasoned among themselves." When Jesus rebuked them for their "little faith," He also rebuked them for having "reasoned among themselves." Our natural ability to reason and our natural faith, are both part of our fallen nature; and these abilities will always cause us to fall short of the fullness that our Lord Jesus Christ has for us!
Our natural reason and our natural faith, are almost in continuous use. As we go about our daily activities: we prepare food, we take a journey, we ride a bus, we drive a car, we fly in an airplane, we climb a stairway, we use an elevator, we enter into a marriage, we start a new job, we form a business alliance; and in all of these things, we exercise our natural abilities to reason and to believe. In all of these things, we have an expectation, based upon our natural reason and our natural faith, that our efforts will be successful and that our goals will be achieved. Sometimes our goals are achieved. Sometimes our goals are not achieved. This is the way it is in the natural realms.
Even as Christians, we often fall short of the mark, that true faith should be able to achieve. This happens because we are, seemingly, so very willing to function only as the natural man. We rely on our natural reason and our natural faith. We do not believe. We never recognize, that we have denied ourselves access to the supernatural faith, that Jesus Christ has given to all, who call on Him for salvation. We are rightly rebuked, as being those, to whom our Lord says: "O ye of little faith." We are rightly rebuked, as being amongst those under: "The Oppression of Unbelief." And, because we rarely get beyond our "little faith;" we do not fully use the great gift of faith: The gift that brings us victory; The gift that moves mountains; The gift that raises the dead; The gift that enables us to lay hands on the sick and see them recover; The gift that heals the lame; The gift that brings site to the blind; The gift that preaches to multitudes and sees them converted; The gift that enables us to be: "Victorious Disciples in Jesus Christ."
If we will continue, in our pursuit of Jesus Christ; if we will come to understand that our discipleship is defined by the reality of Jesus Christ in each of us; and each of us in Jesus Christ: then, and only then, can we have the expectation, that the rebuke of a "little faith," and the "oppression of unbelief," will be lifted from us. Can we say Amen and Amen and Amen!
Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
P.S. For additional postings that may be helpful in your journey of faith, please consider the following:
1. "The Oppression of Unbelief" - July 25, 2011.
2. "Beware of the Leaven" - August 27, 2011.
3. "They reasoned among themselves" - August 31, 2011.
4. "Unbelief and Discipleship" - June 17, 2010.
Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
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