What are you believing?  By James Lantz

Everybody believes something! The person who believes there is no God believes this earth came about somehow. The person who does not believe there is a judgement day believes that it is a good bet to trade tomorrow for some sinful pleasure today. The depressed person believes that tomorrow will be just as bad as today or even worse. The hopeless person believes that there is no way for his circumstances to turn for the good. The unforgiving person believes that the one who offended them must suffer (pay) for their sin. The lonely person believes that no one loves them. The rejoicing Christian believes that God is working everything out for his good! I have good news for you, if you are believing the wrong thing, you can change and believe the truth, and be made free. Every Christian has the ability to believe God.  Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you (Christians), not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  God gets all of his children started off with a measure, or the measure, of the God kind of faith, and then it is up to us to develop in faith. The unbeliever does not have the faith of God, but they could receive the God kind of faith if they would open their heart to God’s word, because faith comes by hearing God’s word.  2 Thess. 3:2  And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men (unsaved) have not faith.  We have been commanded to believe God.  Mk. 11:22 . . . Have faith in God.   John 6:29 . . . This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.  There is nothing that we can do for God unless it is done in faith.  Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  God has offered His goodness and mercy to us on a gift basis! God’s grace is made available to all who will receive by faith. Everyone can receive of God’s goodness if they will humble themselves and follow his instructions. God leaves no one out and gives man no room to boast. Every christian can believe from their heart and confess with their mouth. We do need to hear God’s voice and follow his leading. Many times there are steps of faith. We must  choose to believe what God said over what we feel and see, because we walk by faith and not by sight.  Rom. 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Think about it, God has

For With The Heart Man Believes Unto Righteousness!

given salvation, forgiveness of sins, baptism in the Holy Ghost, healing, deliverance, prosperity and all the promises of God to us freely to be received by faith.  2 Cor. 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea (yes), and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.  I get happy thinking about the goodness of God and all he has done for us! No one will be able to stand before the Lord Jesus on judgement day and say you didn’t offer your grace to me. No one will be able to say, God, you were good to others but not to me. When we actually look at God’s word, and hear what he say’s, the traditions of men will be exposed for what they are. Jesus mentioned that the traditions of men stop people from getting God’s blessing. Jesus mentioned the tradition of taking what they should have been giving to help their parents and giving that to God. Today many believe that their family is first and take what should be given to God and give it to their children. The scriptures teach that we can not be a disciple of Jesus unless we love Jesus more than anyone else (this includes spouse, children, family, and even our own self). The truth is, as we put God first and his righteousness, God’s blessing comes on us, and our loved ones are much better cared for than without God’s blessing. Another tradition I hear from time to time is, if God wants me to stop (or start) doing this he will convict me of it. The word of God already tells us not to sin, but to do the work of an evangelist. Many times God is merciful and will warn us but if he knows we will not do it, he will be silent not wanting our judgement to be greater. Some believe that God is in control of everything, in other words, everything that happens is the will of God. This is ridiculous, God said, if we would hearken diligently unto his voice and observe to do all his commandments that his blessing would come on us. God said if we do not serve him and keep all of his commandments the curse would come on us and overtake us.  Deut. 30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.  He gives us a choice and then tells us the right one to choose. The only way to get it wrong is to pay absolutely no attention to the Masters words or to just believe that your way is better than his.  Proverbs 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.  Many people are deceived thinking that God’s grace over looks their sin. Some rationalize that the good they do out weighs the bad and therefore God will accept them. This is merely human reasoning and not God’s holy standard of righteousness. God said we are always to keep all of his commandments.  Deut. 5:29  O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!  Everything we think, say and do upholds someone’s standard. Jesus said that those who love him will uphold his Father’s standard and his standard is perfection.  James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  God would not have sacrificed his Son for us if we could have been made righteous by our own merits.  John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.  The grace of God empowers us to live free from sin!  1 John 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.   The way we purify ourselves

We Abide In Jesus By Walking As He Walked!

is by believing that we have been made righteous through Jesus Christ and acting like a righteous man. There is no such thing as purifying ourselves outside of what Christ has done for us in his death, suffering, and resurrection. In him we live and move and have our being!  Another tradition that has been believed for at least two thousand years is when someone is sick or in an accident that it is because of their sin or their parents sin. Jesus disciples wanted to know if a man blind from birth was blind because of his sin or his parents sin.  John 9:3 . . . Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents . . .  Now we know that both the man that was born blind and his parents had all sinned because the bible says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Jesus was saying that this blindness was not caused by their sin. While we are exposing how the traditions of men cause people to believe the wrong thing and therefore go without the promises of God, lets expose another one. Many people read this passage in John 9 and believe that the Bible teaches that this man was born blind for the sole purpose that Jesus would have someone to heal. This would be accusing God of doing evil and God never did any evil and never will.  The scripture says that Satan smote Job with sore boils. Disease is called evil, Satan hath bound, sickness is demonic oppression (Job 2:7, Ps. 41:8  Luke 13:16, Acts 10:38).  John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  If you found out Doctors were giving people cancer so they could help them get well would you think highly of them?  This would have been much easier to see if the translators would have started verse four with, But that the works of God should be made manifest in him, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.  In light of who the word says causes sickness (Satan), it is obvious that the works of God (healing) being made manifest are connected to Jesus presence and his mission to save and to heal. Jesus explained Gods position concerning  the belief that accidents happen because someone is a bad sinner. Jesus said that the Galilaeans that Pilate had killed by mixing their blood with their sacrifices were not any worse sinners than any other Galilaeans. Also those eighteen whom the tower of Siloam fell on and killed were no worse sinners than any body else in Jerusalem.  Luke 13:5  I tell you, nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Jesus is telling us that sin has opened the door for destruction and that we need divine protection in order to stay free from the curse in the earth.  Rom. 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Many of us have been spared from accidents and even death because of God’s angels protecting us. I believe, if we only knew, that God has kept evil away from us many times. The person who believes God,  declares his promises, and obey’s his voice will receive divine protection.  Ps. 91:1&2  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  Ps. 91:15 . . . I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.