Thursday, October 2, 2008

Satisfied?


A DOG, crossing a bridge over a stream with a piece of flesh in his mouth, saw his own shadow in the water and took it for that of another Dog, with a piece of meat double his own in size. He immediately let go of his own, and fiercely attacked the other Dog to get his larger piece from him. He thus lost both: that which he grasped at in the water, because it was a shadow; and his own, because the stream swept it away.

Too many Christians don't realize the priceless gift they have in their salvation. Because they will attempt to seek the treasures of the earth. Yet, little do they realize how they may lose both: their material possessions and their eternal salvation

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.




“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17)

The Christian life is not behavior modification, but a change of heart . Therefore don’t change your actions, change your heart and then your actions change. Christianity works from the inside out.

A person who says they believe God for prosperity, but don’t give, are deceiving themselves. A person who says “I’m healed,” but continues to act sick, is killing whatever faith they have. A person who intercedes for someone, but then worries whether anything will ever happen, is not acting in faith. True biblical faith must be acted on.

If I told you the building you were sitting in was on fire and you would die unless you did something, you’d do something. I can’t imagine anyone saying that they believe you and then do not move. Different people might react differently, but they would all act. True biblical faith always produces action.

This concept is often taught and applied to the spiritual realm, but it’s usually misunderstood.

People mistakenly think that actions produce faith, but that’s incorrect. Faith comes from God through His Word ----

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

True biblical faith can be distinguished from any counterfeit by the actions it produces. If our actions are consistent with what God’s Word teaches, then we have the real thing.

Our actions indicate what we really believe in our hearts. We can deceive others and even ourselves into thinking we’re in faith when we are not. But our actions don’t lie. Although minor fluctuations may occur, our consistent actions reveal the overall belief of our hearts.

If your actions reveal that you are not in as much faith as your thought, don’t try to change your actions. Change your heart and then your actions will follow.

That’s the way GOD made YOU.

What you truly believe will manifest itself in your actions.

SO, HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO GO?

Mark 8:23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

We usually focus on the miracle this blind man received. But for a moment, think about the faith he exhibited.

Jesus took this man by the hand and led him out of town. Remember, this man was blind. He didn’t know where he was going and he was putting himself at risk. If Jesus decided to just leave him, what would he do? He couldn’t find his way back on his own----he couldn’t see! This man was committed. He was expecting to be healed. He made no other arrangements.

What if this man would’ve decided to stop following Jesus as soon as he discerned that he was getting out of the area familiar to him? After all, if he remained blind he’d be in trouble. It’s probable that thoughts of unbelief like that would’ve stopped him from receiving his healing. He had to go all the way with Jesus.

So do we.

There’s no record that the Lord explained where He was taking this man or how far away it was. He just told him to hold onto His hand and follow Him. Isn’t that enough? We often don’t know exactly where the Lord is leading us or how things will go if we don’t receive our miracles. But as long as we’re holding Jesus’ hand, we should feel safe.

How far are you willing to go with the Lord?

Jesus didn’t fail this blind man and He won’t fail you either. You can feel His hand as you fellowship with Him now. You do not need a “Plan B” or “Plan C” in case Jesus doesn’t work. No backups are necessary.

He’s more than enough!



-courtesy of Pisteuo