Gift of Faith

Jesus speaks to His disciples about the relationship between BELIEF in HIM and the WORKS that His followers will perform.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Jesus, John 14:12

After the very brother of Jesus overcame his doubt that Jesus is Lord, God expressed wisdom through James. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James also encouraged all saints to consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. We are wise to let that intended test finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. When we ask God for healing, or that He give us clarity, we must believe and not doubt that God exists, and that He knows our needs. We are not to
be double-minded and doubt, but trust God. Yes, believers in poverty, or humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position as an adopted kid of God’s kingdom. “Blessed is the soul who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that soul will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1

John 14:12 Encapsulates a terrifying, yet solid promise! How can anyone get bored reading the Bible? The gift of faith leads a listening heart to participate in God’s mission. Why not acquiesce to He who changes hearts of stone? He gently changes our desires to His. Over time we learn to perceive things as if they already were as He intended. The Ancient of Days helps us with our current choices, during our personal conversations with the Almighty, we ask, and He answers us in His Word. There is obvious continuity of His transformative work as we witness His followers on the pages of history. Our Father empowers the unlikely to fulfill His will in stunning, extraordinary ways.

Belief in every word of Jesus is foundational for our great benefit. Our gifted FAITH makes belief possible as He guides us into even greater faith. We are wise not to just collect verses to impress. As we lean on the Holy Spirit, suddenly, when needed, He drops a Word in the midst of our inquiring mind. Our trust and reliance on our relationship with the Holy Spirit is ever spot on. Jesus teaches those with ears to hear what the Spirit of God is personally saying. Do you trust God’s Word as truth? Do you believe that His saints will do greater works? We question how? Do we also best teach by our example of extending grace? Do our relationships with loved ones improve miraculously as we love one another well? As warm compassion flares up from within, do we not nurture with a mercy that is not of our own? Therefore, we continue His mission on Earth and we do even greater things, just by loving more souls. His love in John 3:16 reaches millions of souls in person, in books, and by every encouraging word we speak. Since Jesus ascended, countless saints were set apart to love others as God loves. As His greatest commandment is obeyed, all sorts of fish get caught in His wide flung net. All nations, colors, and creeds have felt God’s love, compassion, mercy, and grace through us. Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” God made a way for us to participate in His plan.

The greater works is made possible by the Holy Spirit. He quickens us to speak truth, and spread the Gospel globally—at a scale that Jesus did not directly achieve during His earthly ministry. Following His ascension, Jesus delivered on His promise to send the Holy Spirit. On Earth as it is in heaven is made possible by His empowerd believers. Jesus returned to His Father, but He transferred His earthly mission to us. The Holy Spirit enables believers to carry on His work. John 14:12 compels us from within to submit to the Holy Spirit. Our acts of service, love, and giftings allow us to follow the example of Jesus, our Savior, the Lover of our souls.

Our Lord equipped us with faith, His love, power, and His Spirit which has enabled all saints to accomplish His greatest command. With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we carry out God’s will across a needy globe. Individually pursued, we are His Church, His Spiritual dwelling place. Our joy in the Lord is a needed witness in this dark world. Extending God’s love and mercy using the specific gifts He gives according to our known abilities, brings God honor and glory. It is appropriate to sing praises to our King. “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of God; born of his Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, perfect delight; visions of rapture now burst on my sight. Angels descending bring from above, Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.” ❤️ “He gives strength to the weary and He increases the power of the weak… but those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength.” Isaiah 40:28 A word to digest and assimilate.

God’s character is just and merciful. Our salvation is a gift offered, a work of God, that reflects His authority and love. God is sovereign over all aspects of creation, including salvation. This means that God has the ultimate authority to ajudicate His salvation. The belief in predestination means that God pre determined to save all who trust in His Son. Before the foundation of the world was set, He thought of you. He knit you together in your mothers womb with a plan to redeem you.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love HIM, who have been called according to HIS purpose. Those God predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. What shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8 — As the Creator of all that exists, God exercises His just just jurisdiction regarding salvation. Our Father extends grace as a gift to the just and unjust. However, the gift of salvation is not something that can be earned through human effort. Salvation is available to all through God’s grace. His grace is unconditional and freely given. He invites all, and He waits patiently for all to respond. Our human part, our responsibility is that we choose to believe, repent, and accept God’s gift of eternal life in Him.

God is patient with all of humanity and we choose to believe and respond to God’s offer of salvation through faith and repentance. We exercise our free will, to accept God’s sovereign redemption plan through the completed work of Jesus Christ. We believe, receive His Word, submit, and obey. The death and resurrection of Jesus is how a sinner gets reconciled with a Holy God. God’s jurisdiction includes His role as a just Judge. While God is loving and merciful, He is holy and just. Jesus is fully God, and He walked among us so that mankind could see and believe. The gift of faith was given, so that we can believe in His invisible influence in every good thing. Jesus will Judge all humanity. On judgment day, His angels will separate the righteous from the unrighteous for eternity.

Psalm 139:13-18 “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are Your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.” Thank You God!

Go to your secret place so that you can talk to God out loud. In your closet, or in your car, thank Him for Who He is. He is the God that parted the Red Sea. He is Who chose a youth named Jeremiah, He tore down the walls of Jericho. He taught Jonah a lesson of obedience in a whales belly. He walked on water, gave sight to the blind, and gave the mute speech. The same God waits to hear from you. Pray these verses as the Spirit of God confirms in your spirit all that is lovely in life, and purely from God. “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. The meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. The Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming. The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever. The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though you may stumble, you will not fall, for the Lord upholds you with His hand. The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip. Hope in the Lord and keep His way.” Psalm 37