“But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:39 (KJV)
http://smorganministries.blogspot.com/ We believe: 1. Sola Scriptura—II Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:12 2. Solus Christus—I Tim. 2:5-6 3. Sola Gratia—Eph. 1:3-8 4. Sola Fide—Gal. 3:11 5. Soli Deo Gloria—I Cor. 10:31 Amen
Volume 1, Issue 6
June 2010
YOU BELIEVE IN GOD, THEN BELIEVE GOD! Doubt
We often limit ourselves by imposing stringent conditions upon ourselves. We subconsciously crave short-term gratifications and do not consider the implications of infinity and eternity. We do not combine our faith with works to bring forth what we hope for. The lack of affirmations from our peers also affects our perception of ourselves hence our faith becomes restricted. We become limited in our ability to receive from God because we do not believe He is a giving God. Who is God? In the April issue of this newsletter we discussed and now know what man is and why God is mindful of man. We also know that man was made in the image of God. In the May issue we discussed being born again and the believer’s position. In light of that lesson, it is evident who we are and the benefits of being in the family of God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. With those things in mind, it should be clearer to us now that we are powerful beyond measure when we are obedient to God’s word and when we operate in faith. Let us see who God is so we can enhance our faith in God and in who we are. God is omnipotent – He can do anything He desires; He is omniscient – He knows all things; and He is omnipresent – everywhere. The scripture presumes the existence of God! There is no story about His origin; He just IS! “In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1) The scripture also presumes the existence of God’s Spirit! Again there is no narrative leading up to His appearance! He just IS! “And the Spirit of God…” (Genesis 1:2) The scripture then tells us God spoke, thus framing the worlds which are seen from things which are unseen. Eternal and infinite God uttered a word and a creative force brought things into being. “God said…” (Genesis 1:3) What is it about this word that God spoke and what does
scripture tell us? The word ‘said’ derives from the Hebrew word AMAR and is a verb indicating intent and a command. The question remains, “Who carried out the intent and command?” Let us dissect ‘God’ further to find out. The word ‘God’ translates from the plural Hebrew word ELOHIYM, pronounced el o heem, a masculine noun derived from the singular root word ELOWAHH, pronounced el o ah. This plural Hebrew word speaks to the Godhead consisting of God (JAH – Psalm 68:4), Spirit (RUWACH – Genesis 1:2) and Jesus (YEHOWSHUWA or Joshua translated to the Greek IESOUS or Jesus – Matthew 1:21). The three are also evident in the following scriptures. “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) ‘Hear’ derives from the Hebrew word SHAMA, pronounced sha mah; it literally means ‘hear, listen, obey’. ‘LORD’ derives from the Hebrew YEHOVAH, pronounced Yeh ho va; it literally means ‘the existing one’ and is the proper name of the one true God. ‘God’ is the same word ELOHIYM above. ‘One’ derives from the Hebrew word ECHAD, pronounced ekh ad; it literally means ‘one in number’. The scripture is plainly saying: “Hear, listen and obey, O Israel: the existing one, our plural God consisting of three, is the same existing one, one in number.” “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (I John 5:7) ‘Father derives from the Greek word PATER, pronounced pa tayr; it literally means male ancestor, founder of a people. ‘Word’ derives from the Greek word LOGOS, pronounced lo gos; it literally means a word, uttered by a living voice and in John refers to Jesus. ‘Ghost’ derives from the Greek word PNEUMA, pronounced pnyu ma; it literally refers to the Spirit who is sometimes defined by His personality and character (Holy Spirit) and by His work and power (Spirit of Truth). We must acknowledge that the ‘Word’ was in the beginning with God. We must also acknowledge that the word was
Jesus and He performed the creative acts in Genesis. The scripture tells us that the ‘Word’ was God; the ‘Word’ made all things and there is nothing that was made without the ‘Word’. The scripture then attributes the personal pronoun ‘him’ to the ‘Word’. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4) The scripture then goes further and says that this ‘Word’ took on human form, became a man and dwelled on earth. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) The three therefore are one and have existed forever. Man became dead to God because of Adam. God took on the similitude of man, experienced all our weaknesses without sinning, sacrificed Himself to become the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and to provide a way for us to reconnect with Him. This is a picture of the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God that we serve and we just need to exercise our Faith to reap the benefits of being in the family of God. What is Faith? “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Hebrews 11:1-3) “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:20) The scripture says that faith, (Greek – PISTIS, pronounced pee stees), is the stuff, the material, the body and composition, the core and essence of the things that we hope for, which we have not yet perceived with our senses, and is the proof, confirmation, facts, substantiation, verification and support of these things, which we have not seen. It was by this same faith that the elders listed in Hebrews 11 obtained a good report. It is also through this same faith believers understand that the Word of God framed the material worlds from the immaterial things. Faith is associated with us understanding the creative act of God because we need to understand what the Word of God did then and is able to do now. Faith comes to us when we hear the word of God. We were justified by faith and we made peace with God through Jesus. Why aren’t we operating in faith with results? It was through faith that we accepted Christ and were reconnected to God.
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26) That means the grace we have access to now is through faith. Grace is favour; it is also the good-will by which God brings us to Christ, keeps us, strengthens us and increases us in faith. We believe and we receive. It is the same grace that we stand in and rejoice in, in hope of God’s glory. What is Works? We must also be reassured that our works are a manifestation of our faith and a symbol of what we have become. We do not perform works to prove our faith; we perform works because we are faithful or full of faith. This scripture below speaks of Abraham and how he was justified by works. God told him to sacrifice his son. He took God at His word (faith) and made every preparation. Abraham acted (works) and put everything in place himself, based on what God had asked. God stopped him at the very last second and provided the ram to be sacrificed in his son’s place. His action of following through with God’s command earned him the title ‘friend of God’. “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” (James 2:22) ‘Wrought’ derives from the Greek word SYNERGEO, pronounced sun er jay o; it literally means to work together or be a partner in labour; to put forth power together with and thereby assist. ‘Perfect’ derives from the Greek word TELEIOO, pronounced te lay o oh; it literally means to carry through completely; add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full; finish. Faith must partner with works and labour together in order to put forth power and become perfect or finish a thing. I cannot sit in front of the unplugged fan believing that it is going to cool me in this heat. By faith, I know the fan has the capacity to cool me because it was designed for that purpose. I must plug it in, position myself in front it and turn it on before it will begin to work. Believe God! Believe God. Abraham did. Now, everyone who believes similarly will be blessed with Abraham. We are one with Christ and God and possess the same creative power in thought, word and deed. In Isaiah 1:18 God said: “Come now, and let us reason together…” In Isaiah 43:26 God said: “Put me in remembrance.” In John 15:7 Jesus said: “...ye shall ask what ye will…” In Isaiah 45:11 God said: “Command ye me!” Yehovah our Lord is also our Father. He wants us to talk freely to him, remind Him of His Word, ask for what we want, and by these, compel Him to act. Let us continue in His word by being obedient to Him so that our power may become evident to us, we will increase in faith and God will be glorified. Believe God. Amen! Faithfully,
S. Morgan - ‡ Email:
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