Present Tense Faith: by James Lantz

     Our faith must be right now in order to work for us. We must have faith in the present tense, not past or future tense. God is a right now God and if you want to receive answers to your prayers you must believe you take it now. Heb. 11:1 Now faith is the substance (foundation) of things hoped for, the evidence (proof or conviction) of things not seen. God is not a man that he should lie. John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. We are made in the very image of God and we are children of God through Jesus Christ. We are spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a body. We have become so body and mind conscience since the fall of man, but those who are taught of the Lord are aware that we are spirit beings made in the likeness of God. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Spirit beings are eternal, however man in his earth suit (body) can not see into the realm of the spirit with his natural eyes unless the Lord would enable him. The death that Adam and Eve experienced when they betrayed their Father God was not a death of ceasing to exist but rather a separation from God. Their body didn’t die for several hundred years but their spirit was changed from life to death immediately when they sinned. The wages of sin is death and immediately upon their sin their spirit died. People today mistakenly think that because God did not strike them dead when they committed their act of disobedience that they have gotten away with it. No, God in his mercy is giving them time to repent so they can receive mercy instead of judgement.  Rev. 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Just as sin brought death immediately to Adam and Eve so now faith connects with the power of God immediately. The power of sin and death was so powerful and far reaching that it caused every person to be separated from the life of God, but God in his mercy and with his mighty power intervened making redemption available to every man. Rom. 5:17 For if by one man’s offence (Adam’s) death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Man ceased to reign when the glory departed but we can reign in Jesus Christ. God said that which was done through Christ was much more than what was lost through Adam. If you have not experienced all that God has purchased for you through Christ, ask God for more grace. Rom. 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. The law of sin and death works every time but the law of life in Christ Jesus is much more powerful, trumping sin and death. Earlier we looked at the fact that God 

is a Spirit and we are a spirit and therefore we must contact God through our spirit. God is not a mind nor is God a man therefore we do not contact him through our mind nor our physical senses. We contact God with our spirit that was reborn the moment we confessed Jesus as our Lord. Remember, Jesus said, you must be born again and likened the birth of the spirit to being invisible to the natural eye just like the wind. We can not see the wind but we sure can see the effects of the wind and likewise people can see the changes in us after we are born again. 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 (Jesus) from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom. 10:10  For with the heart (spirit) man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. This is a great miracle for our spirit to be transformed from death to life, from sin to righteousness. When we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was raised from the dead and confess him as our Lord, we become a new creature that never existed before. 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. As you continue to read down through the fifth chapter in 2 Cor. you will find that God has given us a job representing him, telling others that God is not holding their sins against them. God is saying that the time for salvation is now.  2 Cor. 6:2  For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ( this word salvation includes the meaning of save, to rescue, preserve, health & safety)  What Jesus purchased for us through his death, burial, and resurrection is waiting to be received. Salvation, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, healing, provision, protection, and deliverance are all available to be received right now. If you are waiting on God you are wasting your time because these are already ours in Christ. When asking God for miracles for others it is as the Lord wills. (see Heb.2:4) Some things have a growing time but salvation and healing are already provided through Jesus finished work. 1 Pet. 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed. You can readily see that there is nothing more that has to be done except the receiving of God’s gifts. Same thing in receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, Jesus sent him on the day of Pentecost and he has been here ever since looking for people who want his help. It seems that most people want to experience salvation, healing, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, etc. and then they will believe they have it. God says you will have to believe that you receive it and then you will get it. You have to confess that you are saved then you become saved. In Bro. Hagin’s healing & miracle crusade’s, he would sometimes say, turn the switch of faith on. Many people have the idea it is all up to God in whether they receive the answer to their prayer or not. This tradition is preached as the gospel in some circles. Jesus said the tradition’s of men stop God’s word from working for you. God’s gift’s that are invisible to the natural eye are more real than what you can see. You must take them with the hand of faith similar to taking a natural gift being handed to you. You can readily see that people who think God just heals whoever he wants whenever he wants are not going to be reaching out to receive by faith.

Some people have no faith to receive healing because they have not heard (or discarded) God’s word on healing. (Isaiah 53:4&5, Mt. 8:17, 1 Pet. 2:24, Acts 10:38)  Others are not walking in love and faith only works by love. The big sin that will stop you from receiving from God is unforgiveness. Every good thing God has for us is a gift and is made available by his grace. Mk. 11:25 And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. If we do not extend grace to others we disqualify ourselves from being able to receive grace. You can tell if your faith is active by checking your joy level. Faith rejoices, gives thanks and is glad! Faith anticipates receiving from God the moment you pray. The knowing comes after you believe that you receive the answer to your prayer. You may be thinking, I just don’t know if I have any faith. The good news is that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. The lack of faith problem is easily solved by hearing God’s word. If you get enough of God’s word in you, you will receive from God! John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Notice three out of the four things mentioned in this verse are more up to us than they are God. There are some things that will drain your faith as quick as it comes. Unforgiveness, fear, worry, to many irons in the fire, and strife. When Jesus appeared to his disciples out on the lake, he said don’t be afraid. When angel’s appeared  to God’s people, they said, fear not. Jesus said don’t let your heart be troubled! We are not to worry because God is our provider. One of the danger’s we must watch out for is being to busy to feed our spirit and find our faith tank on empty. Abraham knew he could not allow strife in his family and servants, so he offered Lot first choice of the neighboring pastures. James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. When you see the Spirit of God moving you will find the absence of strife and you will find unity among believers. 2 Ch. 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; … saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud; even the house of the Lord, vrs14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God. Faith works in present tense!