Heart Faith: by James Lantz

      Real love comes from the heart. Real faith also comes from the heart. Real faith or faith that comes from your heart is the kind of faith that God accepts. In writing to Timothy, the Apostle Paul exhorts that the end of the law is love out of a pure heart with good conscience and a genuine faith. The genuine faith is the God kind of faith. Now the fact that the Holy Spirit would emphasize unfeign (genuine) faith means there is a fake or substitute faith that is unacceptable to the Lord. Since God is the one who demands that we have faith, it would be wise to find his definition of faith in his word. 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. The epistle to the Hebrews was initially written to exhort the Hebrew christians not to cast away their faith in Christ, even though they were being pressured to return to Judaism. The eleventh chapter starts out with the elders having pleased God by faith, Jesus framed the worlds by faith, Able brought an offering by faith and Enoch was translated by faith. The writer continues that Noah prepared the ark by faith and Abraham left his homeland by faith, to go to the place God would show him. As we read and study the lives of these patriarchs we see that they also had to learn what was acceptable unto God. We also must approve what is good and acceptable to the Lord. God accepts no man in and of his own merits. Rom. 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed (Jesus), through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. We have no record that God had appeared unto Abram at this time, however, by faith he left his homeland, not knowing where God would lead him. As Abram obeyed the Lord, he became Abraham, the father of nations, and received the promised son. Gal. 3:6 – 9   Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.   . . .  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Now we know that Abraham had the kind of faith that pleased God and received the reward, because he is called the father of faith. Jesus said that we are to have the God kind of faith. The kind of faith that comes from our heart, our spirit, the very center of our being.  Mk. 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe ( from the heart) that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Jesus tells us that this God kind of faith can not operate with doubt or unforgiveness in the heart. The heart of man is the spirit of man, or we could say the real you, the one that slips out of the body (the house you live in) upon death and goes to the place of your eternal reward. The Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter refer to the heart of man as the inward man and the hidden man. 2 Cor. 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.    1 Pet. 3:4   But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirt, which is in the sight of God of great price. The Lord gives additional confirmation in Romans that the faith that saves, is from the heart.  Romans 10:10   For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. This believing from the heart and confessing with their mouth is what every one of the patriarchs listed in Hebrews eleven did. Every other person has taken these same steps in order to receive salvation, deliverance, healing, baptism in the Holy Ghost, provision etc. Believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth is the way faith is released unto God which brings God’s deliverance to you. This may sound strange to those who do not understand our covenant with God through Jesus Christ the Lord. God has always been a good God and everyone who comes to him in the right way (humbly, reverently, boldly, and respecting and believing in the sacrifice of his Son) will receive from Him. God being a just God and fully committed to freely saving anyone and everyone who calls on him can not and will not make an exception for any man. God is no respecter of persons, but, he is a respecter of those who believe in Jesus for their righteousness. 2 Cor. 5:21 For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Our being righteous (made righteous through believing in Jesus) is what qualifies us to receive from God. The patriarchs of old received on credit, looking forward to Jesus being the sacrificial lamb for their sins. We receive on credit also trusting that God’s grace will see us through this life till we see him face to face. Understanding faith and how to respond in faith is crucial to our walk with God, who we can not see. We can not please God without faith. We can not be saved without faith (Eph.2:8). We live by faith (Rom.1:17). We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). We overcome by faith (1 Tim. 6:12 & 1 John 5:4). As we follow the light God gives us, we step into more light and God’s plan for us becomes clearer.  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? By now we should understand that when we mention faith we are not talking about what denomination we may be associated with, but rather a real faith in Jesus the Son of the living God. It is the will of God that we believe the testimony of the Apostles and eyewitnesses of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus himself being the chief Apostle and the High Priest of our confession! Heb. 2:1-3 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; Let’s look at sense knowledge faith, or natural human faith in order to help us understand how it differs from heart faith. The disciples of Jesus were so discouraged after Jesus was crucified that they refused to believe the eyewitness account of those Jesus first appeared to. Thomas’s refusal to believe all the other disciples when they said, we saw the Lord, is an example of walking by sight and not by faith. John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. After eight days the disciples were inside with the doors shut and Jesus shows up. Immediately after greeting everyone, Jesus rebuked Thomas, saying, Put your finger in the nail hole in my hand, and look. Put your hand in my side. John 20:27-29 … and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Now compare that to how Abram responded to God when God said you will have a son. Gen. 15:6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Remember the woman that had the issue of blood for twelve years. She heard that people were being healed by Jesus. Mk. 5:28  For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And she pressed through the crowd and received her healing! Bartimaeus, who was blind, had heard that Jesus healed blind eyes. When he heard that Jesus was coming, he cried out, Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me. Many told him to be quiet, but he cried out more. (Faith is not in a hurry, faith is not intimidated, faith doesn’t shut up, faith expects, faith lets go of the unnecessary, faith perseveres, faith doesn’t quit, faith takes what God offered, faith believes it receives before it sees)  Bartimaeus received his sight. Faith rejoices, gives thanks, and is glad! Doubt complains, despairs, and is sad.  All things are possible to him that believes!