Living by Faith – Reality or a foreign concept : by James Lantz

     It is only natural for believers to believe. Jesus commissioned us to preach this glorious gospel to all the world knowing that some would believe and some would not believe. Mk. 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Those of us who have believed God for the remission of our sins and have received eternal life have already believed God for something huge. Why do many of God’s people struggle to receive benefits and blessings that have already been purchased for us through Jesus sacrificial offering of Himself? Salvation was provided for all, yet not all receive. How sad for the person who thinks that his sin is too bad for the blood of Jesus to cleanse. How sad for the person who Jesus took their sicknesses, but they think that Jesus won’t heal them. How sad for those who suffer lack needlessly, since Jesus became poor that we might become rich. I am reminded of the story of the poor man who heard of, and desired to go to the great land of America. He worked for months and months saving his money so that he could purchase a ticket to America. Finally, the day came when he was able to purchase his ticket, and buy some cheese and crackers with his remaining money and board ship. Every day he would go to the deck and watch the other passengers enter into the dining room to enjoy their meal while he sat alone with his thoughts, eating his cheese and crackers. After four weeks, a gentleman came up to him and said, I noticed you never join us for meals in the dining room. The buffet being served is delicious and there is more than enough for everyone and you are welcome to join us. He responded, I only had enough money to purchase my ticket and buy a little cheese and crackers and I don’t have any money for dinners. The gentleman replied, the price of your ticket included your room and your meals for the entire voyage. Many times we, christians, have been like this man who had extravagant provision all along but through ignorance and pride was malnourished and socially deprived. God’s grace includes, not just heaven in our future, but abundant provision for our entire journey. There are really only two major reasons God’s people are not receiving answers to their prayers. That is either a lack of faith or a lack of willingness (disobedience).  Isaiah 1:19  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall (not might) eat the good of the land.  Hosea 4:6 My people (christians) are destroyed for a lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Mt. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. I could go on and on giving you scripture after scripture about our willingness being one of the determining factors of us receiving answers to our prayers but this should be sufficient for now. The other major reason prayers are not being answered is because you do not believe (expect). Faith, hope, and love are the big three in the kingdom of God. We are commanded to believe. Believing is not an option. Heb. 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. Heb. 10:38 Now the just (christians) shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Next, we are told that drawing back (stop believing) leads to loss or destruction. I don’t know about you but I am not wanting any more loss or destruction and therefore I am going to believe and receive. Jesus said if we would open our eyes he would heal us. Notice Jesus is dealing with the issue of refusing to see, not the inability to see. Isaiah 7:9 … If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. The believing comes before the receiving. The flesh and natural human reasoning always want to believe after it receives, but that is not the way it works. Mk. 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. In order to get in faith, you have to get honest with God. No more reasoning that God might not do it for me. It is absolutely ridiculous to think that God will not do for you what he has said he would do. Romans 8:32   He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? The majority is not usually in faith (there are exceptions like the Passover meal before the exodus). The majority of the first generation delivered from Egypt refused to believe. Heb. 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.  2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (rejected). The Apostle Paul by the Spirit said that many are weak and sickly and dying young by not properly judging themselves when receiving communion. When we remember that Christ shed his blood for the remission of our sins and was bruised and beaten so that we could be healed he expects us to believe and give ourselves totally to him. 1 Cor. 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. We walk by faith and not by sight (five senses). Faith rejoices, gives thanks, and is glad. Faith talks about what God is doing before he does it. Faith calls those things that be not as though they were. 2 Cor. 4:13-18 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; knowing…   We are to have the same spirit of faith as Jesus and the patriarchs of old. And God said, let there be light and there was light. Abraham said, I and the lad will go ahead and worship and return to you. David said, I am going to take your head off and give the carcases of the host of the philistines to the fowls of the air today. Jesus said he was going to be crucified and rise from the dead the third day. Jairus said, lay your hands on my daughter and she shall live. The centurion said, say the word and my servant shall be healed. Faith calls those things that be not as though they were. Abram called himself Abraham (father of nations) before Isaac was conceived. The Apostle Paul writes that Abraham was like God, the one he believed, who quickens the dead and calls those things which be not as though they were. (Rom. 4:17)  Your faith will make you whole. Faith is a way of life in the Kingdom of God. If walking by faith was something that every believer automatically walked in with ease we would not be told to fight the good fight of faith. To walk by faith and not by sight is a fight. Natural human reasoning will say what God says is impossible  Jude 3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.