Faith in Gods word Bible Study

Faith in Gods word Bible Study 1.What does the sword of God do? Hebrews 4:12 Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Through God's Word, we can distinguish between right and wrong. 2. How do I activate my faith in God? Faith becomes active and effective when it is built on a strong foundation of accurate answers (truth), when you believe in the integrity of that truth, when you trust in that truth, and when you are hearing that truth on a continual basis. If you do these things, your F.A.I.T.H. will be activated. 3. Do you have faith in God in difficult times? Second Corinthians 5:7 tells us it can be difficult to trust God during uncertain times, but as believers we know that His ways are not our ways, and He will ultimately work all things for good (Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 8:28). Having faith in difficult times can allow you to find peace in God's presence. 4. What is God sword? The god’s word is a powerful two-handed sword, 5.What is the shield of faith? The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. 6. How Satan knows how to shoot his flaming arrows? 1. Anything to get you to disobey God. 2. Blasphemous thoughts. 3. Critical and hateful thoughts 4. Thoughts of lust, wrath, revenge, or despair 5.Sudden fears, anxieties, panic attacks, a dull feeling like nothing is right, especially with God. 6. Medical attacks, as in the case of Job. 7.Questioning the inspiration and authority of the Bible, or the deity and atoning substitutionary sacrifice of Christ on your behalf, or your salvation by grace, through faith in Christ alone. 6.What is faith? Faith is a gift from God and it is one of the ways He keeps us from being prideful over what “we” do or did. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10). 7. What is a Christian Life? As Christians, our life is intended to be a strategic partnership with God. He needs us to fulfill His purpose and plans summarized in The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). We need Him to give us life “to the full” and to protect us. Always remember that the armor of God enables you to “stand against the devil’s schemes” because “they have divine power to demolish strongholds!” 8. How to Stand Firm After You Put on the Armor of God? Therefore, put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm…” Ephesians 13-14. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4 Note that Paul says “when” the day of evil comes, not if. When the devil tempted Christ in Luke 4:1-13, Christ ALWAYS used Scripture, and ONLY Scripture, to take his stand against the devil. Knowing God is much more powerful than Satan and that Scripture’s “divine power to demolish strongholds…, demolish arguments…, and…take captive every thought,” Jesus simply stood His ground with only Scripture as His weapon! 9. Why Satan fears word of God? Because Christ knew Satan fears God the Father and that if He stood on (had faith in) the truth of God’s word, Satan would give up and go away, “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). “Is that it?” you ask. “Is that all I have to do?” Yes, that’s all there is and that’s all you have to do! Do not battle with people. Do not battle with your flesh. Just quote Scripture to Satan, believe the Scripture and then trust in God’s power and obey God. “I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD,” (1 Kings 20:28). 10.How do we fight against Satan schemes? 1.Read the Bible Regularly so the Holy Spirit can “remind you” of what Scripture says during Satan’s attacks, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. 2.Obey Scripture in your daily life, see verses above. 3.Allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify you and teach you obedience, 1 Peter 5:8-9. 4.“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Resist means to repeal, not to agree with, not to receive his thoughts into your mind and soul and not to entertain anything that is contrary to the Word of God! 5.Quote Scripture back to Satan as Jesus did. Memorize a few key verses for this purpose, such as 1 John 5:11-13, 1 John 1:9, Galatians 2:20-21, John 15, John 15:9- 12, and others as the Holy Spirit instructs you to. 6.Focus on overcoming the World and Satan, 1 John 5:4-5. 7.Unity with other Christians. Make a declaration of interdependence with true “believers” and work together. Satan uses the age old strategy of “divide and conquer”, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. 11.what is sanctification? Sanctification is a process, not an event! “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him” (Romans 6:5- 8). To succeed in sanctification, rely on the power of Christ living in you: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body (of sin), I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:20-21). 12. Why is faith so important to God? Because God wants you to trust him. God wants you to judge HIM as FAITHFUL. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. It pleases God to bless you and love you and abide in you. 13. Why do we need Scripture? It is the living and active Word of God that speaks to us and through us. It helps us learn about who God is and what He has done. Also, the Bible is used to teach, correct, and train all believers in righteousness (2 Timothy, 3:16-17). The Bible is God’s truth that cannot be changed and will never fade away (John 17:17, Isaiah 40:8). When we are unsure or doubting, the Bible is a guide for us (Psalm 119:9). But did you know that the Bible is also a weapon – the Sword of the Spirit, in fact? 14.What is The Sword of the Spirit? In Hebrews 4:12, it says “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The Bible is described as a weapon used to separate the good and evil intentions of our heart. Also, it is living and active in our lives to grow us closer to God and to help us in our fight against sin! Additionally, Ephesians 6:12 says, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” But instead of fighting real people, we are fighting against the powers of darkness. And instead of using a physical sword, we use the Bible – the Sword of the Spirit! when we are found in spiritual battles without the Word of God at our side. Our enemy is very crafty and will do everything he can to tear you away from God and His will for your life. So, it is crucial that we prepare ourselves to defend against our enemy’s attacks. Bring your Bible with you wherever you go! The enemy can attack you anywhere, at any time. bring your Bible with you so that you can quickly turn to relevant passages of scripture when the enemy attacks. When it comes to seeking advice for yourself or others, there is no better book to know than the Bible. 15. In the Fight: How Do I Apply Scripture Memory in My Faith? The Word of God extends into every aspect of our faith, so if you’re just getting started then don’t worry. The more you seek the Lord in reading and prayer, the more He will affect your life. He promises us that if we seek Him with all that we have, we will find Him. So, keep seeking. And you’ll find that His scripture will change how you live. For example, whenever you feel tempted or overwhelmed by sin, it is helpful to remember Psalm 61 where it says, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” This is how you use the Sword of the Spirit! Remembering God’s words to us and knowing that he is with and in us provides peace when we feel overwhelmed or hopeless. 17. What if I Mess Up? Regardless of how hard you fight; everyone falls to sin at some point in this battle. Take heart, if you believe in Christ, then you have not been defeated! Romans 3:23-25 tells us that we are all guilty of sin but have been given Christ’s righteousness through His sacrifice. When you have fallen to sin or temptation, run to Jesus like the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 and receive grace from God, who is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9). He will strengthen you in your time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16, 2 Corinthians 12:9), and be your guiding light (Psalm 119:105). Apply your Scripture Memory strategies with these passages. Train with your Bible – the Sword of the Spirit. Then, you will dwell on God’s Word and be encouraged the next time you are tempted! 18. Why did Peter’s faith fail him when he was walking on water (Matt 14:31)? We are sometimes hard on Peter because of his impetuous nature but who else besides Peter ever walked on water? When Peter asked Jesus that he might come to Him, Jesus said, “Come”, “So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me” (Matt 14:29-30). Why did Peter start to sink (Matt 14:30)? 19. Why did Jesus say “your faith has made you well? And instantly the woman was made well” (Matt 9:22)? Some people say that if you’re not healed, you didn’t have enough faith and they point out this verse to prove their point, but was Jesus really saying that it was the woman’s faith that healed her? Was it her faith that healed her or was it her faith in Christ that allowed God to heal her? 20. What does the author of Hebrews mean by writing that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:10)? To the author of Hebrews, faith is tangible, concrete evidence of what we hope for in eternity (Rev 22). We have the assurance of God’s Word and not one of His great and precious promises ever have or ever will fail (2 Pet 1:4). Do you have that assurance and conviction of what you hope for, even though you don’t see it now? 21. What does the Apostle Paul mean by writing “The righteous shall live by faith” (Rom 1:17b)? Paul and James are not at odds with each other as some early Bible scholars and teachers believed. God never contradicts Himself. Paul is really saying what James wrote and that’s the righteous shall live by faith and that faith will produce good works. The righteous will live by faith…and the righteous will have evidence of that living by faith (1 John 3). 22. Why does James write that faith without works is dead? James wrote that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). What he means is that if someone says they have faith but have no works, then that is a dead faith or really, no faith at all. We are not saved by works (Eph 2:8-9) but a genuine faith should produce works, otherwise it’s not really faith. At least the faith that saves. We are saved for works that God has prepared beforehand (Eph 2:10). 23. Is believing the same thing as faith? We can believe in something but is that enough? James answers that question by saying “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder” (James 2:19) so if we say we believe, we can only say “congratulations, you’ve qualified to be a demon” for even they believe but that’s not saving faith or belief so I can believe in highway traffic but if I try to cross the interstate, it won’t save my life. 24. Are there references to faith in the Old Testament? We might believe that faith is a New Testament belief or doctrine but faith in God has been around as long as the Bible has been written. Noah believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness, just like Abraham was, as it says in Genesis 15:6 where Abraham “believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Gen 15:6). Abraham had enough faith that he “considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back” (Heb 11:19). 25. Why do they call grace so amazing? We were dead men and dead women walking (Eph 2:1) until the Spirit of God enters our hearts and revives us to new life, much like Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. The fact that we were once enemies of God, being ungodly and wicked sinners shows us that it’s all about God’ s grace and not about us (Rom 5:6-10). 26. Paul writes about “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16) but what is this power? The power of God is found in His Word and in His Spirit, so when the Word of God is heard, it comes with the power of God to make a new creature in Christ (2 Cor 5:17), It is much like Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 1:18 where he wrote “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18). 27. What does the Apostle Paul mean by writing “the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith” (Rom 1:17)? Does the Apostle Paul mean a different faith than that of saving faith when he writes Romans 1:17 saying that the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith? The faith Paul is talking about is saving faith because that’s the very righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21) so it is not from works to faith but faith that produces works. Paul may mean the faith of the old covenant led on to the faith of the new covenant, which shows that salvation has been by faith from the call of Abraham to the present time. 28. Does pride interfere with faith? When Elisha asked Naaman, a great commander in the mighty army of Syrian army to dip seven times in the Jordan River so that he could be healed of leprosy, the commander “Naaman was angry and went away, saying, ‘Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper’” (2 Kings 5:11). Did Naaman’s pride interfere with his being healed? Why? 29. Why are we tempted to add to it our own works? We are saved by grace alone and not by works so why is it that we’re so tempted to add works to our salvation? Because it’s just our nature to do so. We don’t like to receive something for nothing. We often want to add baptism, good works, or some other meritorious work to complete our salvation. Yes, we should know that we’re saved by grace alone but grace doesn’t come alone, does it? 30. Why is it hard to have faith in God? When a man came up to Jesus to discuss his mute son, he told Him, “I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able” (Mark 9:18b) so “Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:23-24). The son’s father said he believed but then says, “Help my unbelief” but why? Can Jesus help our unbelief? It is hard to believe today in God Who we can’t see? 31.How to exercise faith? Exercising faith in Jesus Christ means having trust and confidence in Him. Faith is the power to manifest His will in your life. Faith, a gift from God, comes as you are righteous. Faith is having trust and confidence in the Lord. Your faith in Him is a power that will lead you to obey His gospel, and your obedience will help you have more faith, which is a gift from God. As the scriptures say, if you have faith in the Lord, He can do all things for you, such as heal, forgive, comfort, and convert you. But having faith doesn’t mean telling God what to do. It means trusting Him and understanding that all blessings come “according to his will” and “in his own time, and in his own way”. For example, you may not receive an immediate answer to your prayers. But your faith assures you that Heavenly Father hears your prayers and will answer at the right time. To develop and exercise your faith, (1) learn the word of God, whether by reading the scriptures or listening to those who have the authority to teach it (see Romans 10:17). Knowing the word will help you see that God always keeps His promises. (3) Obey the commandments. Your righteousness allows the gift of faith to grow in your life. Show your belief in Jesus Christ by following His example and teachings. Do what He asks of you through the scriptures, the teachings of living prophets, and the promptings of the Holy Ghost. While many people get through life without faith in the Lord, they can never inherit eternal life without faith in Him. Only through the gospel of Jesus Christ—with faith in Him as the first principle—can we enjoy “eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” 32.What is faith in Christ? Having faith in Jesus Christ means trusting completely in Him and being sure in your mind and heart that He exists and that He is our Savior. We must place our trust in Christ because He knows how to help us overcome the difficulties in our lives. Our lack of faith in Him causes us to be worried about our spiritual state and to doubt God’s promises. Focusing on the Savior has helped me remain firm in the gospel, control my fears, and overcome obstacles. Exercise faith in Christ by obedience. Faith without works is dead. By obeying when we don’t know why, we show our trust and faith in Him. Obeying commandments shows that we trust Him and have faith in what He tells us to do. Prayer and reading the scriptures daily strengthen my relationship with Heavenly Father, giving me more faith in Him. Also, you have to expect answers to your prayers. Pray for help to obtain faith. 33. How can I believe God has not forsaken me? God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. “Hebrews 13:5 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. “Jeremiah 29:11 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.Isaiah 41:10 34. DO ALL RELIGIONS LEAD TO GOD? The truth is, all roads don’t lead to Rome and all religions don’t lead to God. You see, it all depends on which direction you take. Jesus said this: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). 35. What is a leap of faith? we find an impressive list of men and women in the Bible who took a “leap of faith,” as it were. These are just a few of the people mentioned who took God at His Word and trusted Him to do what He had promised: By faith, Noah obeyed God and built an ark to save his family from the flood (Genesis 6:9 – 7:24). By faith, Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, believing God would provide a lamb (Genesis 22:1–19). By faith, Moses chose to side with the Hebrews rather than stay in the Egyptian palace (Exodus 2 – 4). By faith, Rahab risked her life and sheltered enemy spies in her home (Joshua 2:1–24). By faith, David confronted a giant with only a sling and a stone (1 Samuel 17). By faith, Peter stepped out of the boat when Jesus invited him to come (Matthew 14:22–33). The accounts go on and on, each story helping us to understand the biblical meaning of a leap of faith. Exercising faith in God often requires taking a risk. 2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” A leap of faith might mean leaving the safety of your comfort zone. Peter abandoned his safety and comfort when he jumped out of the boat to walk on water to Jesus. He could take that leap of faith because he knew his Lord and trusted that He was good: “The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made” (Psalm 145:9). When Jesus said, “Come,” Peter exercised childlike faith, the type of faith we are all called to possess: “But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these’” (Luke 18:16). 36. What does it mean that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)? without faith it is impossible to come to God. It is also impossible to live for God—to follow and serve Him daily and persevere until the end—without faith. The entire Christian life is lived out by faith: “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:17; see also Habakkuk 2:4; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). The apostle Paul affirmed, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Scripture refers explicitly to Enoch’s faith as pleasing to God: “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—‘he disappeared, because God took him.’ For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God”.(Hebrews 11:5, Genesis 5:24). How did Enoch please God? Through living by faith. Enoch walked by faith in God. He obeyed the Word that had been revealed up to that point and lived in the light of its truth. Walking by faith means consistently living according to God’s Word (John 14:15). Without faith, it is impossible to believe God’s Word and obey it. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Joseph, Rahab, Gideon, and David all lived by faith. As they looked toward their future hope, they relied on God to fulfill His promises (Hebrews 11:13–16). And they obeyed God’s Word even when they did not understand it. This kind of walking by faith—accepting as truth the things we cannot yet touch, feel, or see, and then acting on them in obedience—is the prescription for living a life that pleases God. 37. Can faith really move mountains? In the context of Matthew 17, Jesus rebukes the disciples for their weak faith and says that even if they had mustard seed-sized faith, they could command the mountain to move. Contextually, the mountain must refer to the demon that was afflicting the man’s son. Jesus tells His disciples that, if their faith was stronger, they could have commanded the demon to leave the boy, and it would be so. This was clearly the case in Matthew 10 when Jesus sent them out to cure diseases, cast out demons, and spread the gospel. The point Jesus was making is that even a little bit of faith—faith the size of a tiny mustard seed—can overcome mountainous obstacles in our lives. 38. What does it mean that Satan is prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2)? Apostle Paul describes Satan first as a “prince” with power, because he has authentic power in the world (1 John 5:19). This power has been given him by God (Luke 4:6). Satan has power over some illnesses (Luke 13:16; see also 2 Corinthians 12:7—it’s unknown if Paul’s “thorn” was an illness or something else). In some sense, Satan has power over death (Hebrews 2:14). The reason Satan is called a prince rather than a king is that there is only one King—Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6:15). Satan also has power over some people. The “sons of disobedience” referred to in Ephesians 2:2 are those who have not trusted Christ as Lord and Savior (cf. Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 13:12). The demons are also under the rule of Satan (Matthew 12:24), and one of his titles is “prince of demons” (Matthew 9:34). Satan has a kingdom (Matthew 12:26) and a throne (Revelation 2:13). Satan is called a prince because he is a ruler and possesses power to manifest evil in the world through influencing people and commanding demons. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul writes, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” This evil realm called the “air” could be an actual locality, but it could also be synonymous with the “world” of John 12:31. This whole world is Satan’s domain (Matthew 4:8–9). Although Satan has power and authority in the current world system in which we exist, his power is limited, always under the sovereign control of God (Job 1:12), and it is temporary (Romans 16:20). God has not revealed all of the whys and whens concerning Satan’s rule, but He has made it clear that there is only one way to escape the power of Satan’s dominion, and that is through His Son, Jesus (Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13–14). It is Jesus who, speaking of the impending cross, declared victory: “Now the prince of this world will be driven out” (John 12:31). 38. What can we do if we don't have enough faith? Mark 9:23-24 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." 39. How do you grow in faith? Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Hearing and studying the Word of God can help us see God's faithfulness in the past and His solid promises for the future. 40. Is believing in God enough? James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. God wants us to believe in Him. For help in strengthening your belief in our Creator God, God also wants us to believe what He says. He wants us to diligently seek Him, which is done through prayer, Bible study, meditation and fasting. 41. What did Jesus Christ tell us to believe? Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." Gospel means "good news," and the news about the return of Jesus Christ to set up God's utopian Kingdom is the best news this troubled world can hear! When we believe the gospel, we will be motivated to share this good news (Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20) 42.What did Jesus Christ tell us to do? John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." When we believe what God says, we should do what God says. 43.What is dead faith? Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." James 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Just calling Jesus our Master isn't enough, and just saying we have faith isn't enough. Our growing belief in God will motivate us to strive to obey God—to do His will and obey His law. 44.What is living faith? James 2:17-18 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Real, living faith motivates our actions. There is no conflict between James and Paul, as some believe. When Paul said faith was a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8), he continued by saying we were "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). 45.When we believe in God and believe God, what will we be motivated to do? Matthew 3:8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance... Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? As we saw earlier in Mark 1:15, Jesus commanded us to repent and believe the gospel. God's goodness leads us to this next step in turning our lives toward God. And as John the Baptist mentioned, repentance also involves fruits, or changes in our lives. 46. How does the Bible describe faith? Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith goes beyond what we can perceive with our physical senses, so it does not work by the rules of science. Faith allows us to believe that the invisible God can do what is physically impossible. In that sense, faith is built and grows on a spiritual plane, not a physical or scientific one. But that doesn't mean observation, science and rational thinking aren't part of how we come to believe in our miraculous Creator God in the first place. In fact, there is no contradiction or conflict between godly faith and true science. After all, since God is the Creator of everything, science is the study of God's creation. 47. What are the Examples of Living in Faith? After Abel, Enoch and Noah had lived their lives of faith (Hebrews 11:4-7). Abel Taught Us Faith Can Save Our Souls. 1. Abel Taught Us Faith Can Save Our Souls. Hebrews 11:4 : By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. 2. Enoch Taught Us Faith Pleases God. Hebrews 11:5 “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Enoch walked so closely to God that our LORD translated him to Heaven, bypassing the process of death. Faith is central to the Christian life. Without faith, we cannot please God. With faith, we can move mountains! Through faith, we accomplish everything from the ordinary to the impossible. 3. Noah Taught Us Faith Can Save Our Families. Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” God told Noah to build an ark to save his family and the animals. Why? Rain and floods would overtake the Earth killing all that was not in the ark. There was only one problem. It had never rained! Noah believed God and saved His family. Your faith can save your family, as well. 1 Timothy 4:16 : Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. Believe God. Trust Him in your daily life. Your family will be blessed. 4. Abraham Taught Us Faith Can Guide Our Steps. Hebrews 11:8–10 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Abraham stepped out by faith. Literally. He followed a direction even though He didn’t know the destination. What a tremendous encouragement for us! Psalm 37:23 The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him. You don’t need all the information to trust God. You won’t know the details before you begin. All you need to know is the next step. As you follow God in faith, the next step will become clear. 5. Sara Taught Us Faith Can Do The Impossible. Hebrews 11:11 “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” Sara was beyond child-bearing years. She had always wanted to be a mom, but now that dream was dead. That was until God showed up! God promised Abraham a child and God delivered. Sarah laughed in unbelief at first but then God did the impossible. At times, it will seem that God didn’t keep His Word in your life. Never fear! God always keeps His Word. He will never let you down. Keep believing even though you feel like He is late.God can do the impossible. 6. Abraham Taught Us Faith Can Empower Us To Obey In The Most Desperate Situations. Hebrews 11:17–19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” God told Abraham to do the unthinkable. He was to take the miracle son that God gave Him to a mountain and sacrifice him unto God. What?? God never intended Abraham to complete the task. He would make sure Isaac lived. Yet, God needed to test Abraham’s commitment. He would be the “earthly father” of God’s people, after all. Abraham obeyed. His compliance was not blind faith. It was devoted faith. God had explained to Abraham the Gospel plan. One day God would send His miracle Son to Earth. God would sacrifice His Son for the sins of the World. Then His Son would rise from the dead. Abraham was told to act out the Gospel story. Abraham consented because He trusted God to raise Isaac from the dead. His faith in the coming Messiah proved His faith in God. Abraham was saved by faith. Romans 4:3 : What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness You can trust God in desperate circumstances. Trust God and watch Him work. 7. Isaac Taught Us Faith Brings Future Blessings. Hebrews 11:20 “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” Faith looks to the future. Faith and hope travel together. If you have faith in God, you can expect good things to come. When you lose faith, you lose the expectation of good. 8. Jacob Taught Us Faith Empowers Us To Bless Others When Facing Trials Ourselves. Hebrews 11:21 “By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.” Jacob was at the point of death, yet he wanted to bless his sons before he died. Doubt causes us to focus on our self and our problems. Faith prompts us to look at others and the possibilities. Live by faith, and you will bless those around you with words and deeds. 9. Joseph Taught Us Faith Looks Beyond This Life. Hebrews 11:22 “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.” Before Joseph died, he reminded the children of Israel that God would deliver them, restoring them to the promised land. He told them to take His bones to bury them there. Joseph’s entire life was a life of faith. His faith in God brought him safely through tremendous trials. Perhaps, this is the sweetest token of His faith. He didn’t want to be buried in Egypt. He believed that God would deliver the people and wanted to go home. Faith teaches us to look beyond this life. There is a heaven, and there is a hell. Make sure that you reserve your home in Heaven by faith in Jesus Christ. 10. Moses Taught Us Faith Can Overcome The World. Hebrews 11:23–26 “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” Moses was a miracle child saved from death by his parent’s faith and the tender heart of an Egyptian princess. He grew up in the palace of the wealthiest and most powerful country on the planet. Moses had the best teachers and countless opportunities. He had every pleasure and comfort life had to offer. Ultimately, by faith, He chose God over the world. He became the greatest leader of men, other than Jesus Christ, in History. He led 2-3 million traveling Jews for 40 years with no technology. Through faith, we can overcome the world too. Faith is the victory!1 John 5:4: for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 11. Rahab Taught Us Faith Can Change Lives For The Better. Hebrews 11:31 “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” Rahab was a harlot. Yes, that means what you think it means. She was a wicked woman who sold her body for gain. Yet, in a moment, she changed the direction of her life and legacy through faith. Joshua chapter two relates how she helped the spies of Israel escape in exchange for the lives of her family. Faith changed her life and her family’s destiny. Today, she is known for her faith rather than her old profession. Faith can change your life for the better! Regardless of your past, a moment of sincere faith can alter your direction and change your destiny! There are scores of examples of faith in the Bible. Seven more examples of faith are mentioned in Hebrews 11:32. Hebrews 11:32 “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:” What can their faith teach us? Gideon: The account of Gideon in Judges chapters 6-8. He is introduced as a weak and fearful man hiding and sneaking food to feed his family during a Midianite Invasion. But God saw him as a mighty man of valor. Gideon believed God and delivered Israel in spite of overwhelming odds. Barak: Barak was a man called upon to fight against the King of Canaan, who had 900 chariots of iron and a large army. By faith, he defeated an overpowered foe with only 10,000 soldiers. You can read the account of Barak in Judges chapters 4 and 5. Samson: Samson judged Isreal during a time of Philistine bondage. He was a thorn in the side of the Philistines his entire adult life. The Holy Spirit would come upon Him giving Samson supernatural strength. Samson was a man with serious flaws, but God still used Him. By faith, he was a one-man army killing thousands of the enemy. You can read his story in Judges chapters 13-16. Jephthae:Jephtha is an interesting addition to the Hall of Faith. He was the bastard son of an Israelite who had been exiled that was called upon to deliver the people from the Ammonites. He was a hard man who made bad decisions. He even sacrificed his own daughter to keep a vow. Yet, the Bible is not putting a stamp of approval on every action. God commends His faith. It was faith in God that empowered and encouraged Jephtha to fight the battle. Faith can be exercised by any who will believe God. You can read the account of Jephtha in Judges chapters 11 and 12. David: David’s storied life displays the mountains and valleys of the faith-life. He accomplished the impossible, lived through the unbearable, did the unthinkable, and trusted God through it all. The Book of Psalms gives us an intimate look into the heart of faith. You can read about David’s life in 1 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. Samuel: Samuel served God from birth. His example of service and piety from youth until death demonstrates the power of faith in everyday life. You can read about his life and ministry in 1 Samuel. The Prophets: Time does not allow us to discuss the exploits of the prophets mentioned in Scripture. Take a moment to remember the accounts of Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Daniel. They are representative of generations of men who lived by faith and spoke for God in a wicked world. These examples of faith are powerful reminders of what God can do in your life! 48.Who did God use in your life to grow your faith? The last verses in Hebrews chapter 11 teach us the power of faith modeled before us. Examples of faith show us what faith can ACCOMPLISH! Hebrews 11:33–35 “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:” Examples of faith show us what faith can ENDURE. Hebrews 11:36–38 “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the Earth.” Examples of faith show us what faith can CONTINUE. Hebrews 11:39–40“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” When a past testimony effects change in us, God rewards both the one who left a testimony and the one who follows the pattern. Their ministries are made complete by our obedience. God has given us many examples of faith. These testimonies of what faith did in others’ lives are powerful illustrations of what God can do through your faith. They convict us of our doubt and encourage us to trust God more. 49. Who are Some Were Counted Righteous by Faith? Holy men and women of God had faith in what God said and they were considered righteous because of that faith. Here is what the Bible says about some of these believers: Abel “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” (Hebrews 11:4) Enoch “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5) Noah By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Hebrews 11:7) Abraham “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10) By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” (Hebrews 11:17-19) Sara “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.” (Hebrews 11:11) Isaac, Jacob, Esau & Joseph “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.” (Hebrews 11:20-22) Rahab “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” (Hebrews 11:31) 50. 3 people in the Bible who showed exceptional faith? 1.The Roman officer – Matthew 8:5-13 2. The woman with an issue of blood – Mark 5:25-34 3. The Gentile woman – Matthew 15:21-28 51.What are the enemies of faith? Worry Jesus said God would take care of our needs, cautioning: "Do not worry . . . Now if God so clothes the grass of the field [splendidly], which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more cloth you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry . Fear While on a boat in the middle of a storm, the disciples woke Jesus and pleaded that He save them from drowning. He answered, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He rebuked the sea and it immediately grew calm (Matthew 8:23-26). Doubt Peter saw Jesus walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee and asked if he could do the same. Jesus invited him to join Him, and Peter, too, began walking on the water. "But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid" and began to sink (Matthew 14:30). Christ "stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'" (Matthew 14:31). Human reasoning without spiritual understanding Jesus warned His disciples, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees" (Matthew 16:6). He was cautioning them against the wrong teachings of these religious leaders (Matthew 16:12), but the disciples initially thought He was talking about the physical leavening of bread since they had not brought any bread with them (Matthew 16:7). Jesus responded, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?" (Matthew 16:8). He then said that they wouldn't have missed His point if they'd kept in mind that He could miraculously provide physical bread if there was a need, having done so to feed thousands on two occasions (Matthew 16:9-11). 52.What are some Examples of Great Faith in the Bible? 1. David 1 Samuel 17: 37, And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Long before David became King David, he was a shepherd boy, the youngest member of his family. Over time, he developed a strong faith in God and in God’s Power, as he witnessed the hand of God again and again in his daily life. While running an errand for his father Jesse, he discovered that the giant Goliath had been insulting and terrorizing the people of Israel for many days. David had a confident trust in God, and he knew that as God had done before, God would come through and be glorified. While on this journey of faith, David was misunderstood, looked down upon, insulted, and berated. Well meaning people tried to discourage him from confronting the monstrous terrorist, and when he remained unwavering, they tried to convince him to use someone else’s gifts to carry out the seemingly insurmountable task. But his faith stood firm. David ignored all the negativity, pressed on in faith, used his God given gifts, and conquered the giant – to the glory of God! 2.Queen Esther Esther 4:16-17, Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish. Some consider what Esther did one of the powerful examples of blind faith in the bible. Esther had no idea how things would turn out when she approached the king – in those times, her actions could very possibly have ended in her death. Esther was a brave woman of faith who trusted that God was in control, no matter how she herself personally fared. God honored her faith in a powerful way! 3.Nehemiah: Nehemiah faced a lot of discouragement. Like David, many told him what he hoped for could not be done. But Nehemiah fixed his eyes on God, and found his strength in God. Nehemiah 8:10b, the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 2:20, Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build… 4.The Woman with the issue of blood Mark 5:27-28, She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” Mark 5:34, And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” 5.Daniel: Daniel was a man of integrity. He had a strong prayer life, and displayed consistent faith in God in everything he did. He trusted God and remained devoted to God in the face of adversity. God delivered him from many calamities, including the Lion’s den. Daniel 6:10, When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 6. Joseph: Genesis 50:20, As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Joseph was a man of great faith. His life began with an absolutely delightful childhood, as he was much beloved by his father. All of a sudden, his life took a turn for crazy as his jealous brothers sold him into slavery. Over the next several years, he suffered many injustices, he was betrayed, he was tempted, he was falsely accused, and he was mistreated. Through it all, Joseph kept his faith in God, and continued to develop his relationship with God. Through the good and the bad, he kept on trusting God, developed his gifts, became wiser and wiser, and was used mightily by God. Joseph had faith that no matter what the enemy planned for him; God would work everything out for the best. And God certainly did! 53.Who are the Bible characters who wrestled with their faith and won. 1. John the Baptist The famous wilderness preacher who was sent to prepare the way of the Lord started out confident and certain. When talking about Jesus, he said, ”Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! And, I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” But when he found himself in jail, he questioned if Jesus was really the Messiah. John sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one. Jesus answered with evidence so John could hold fast to his profession of faith. 2. Simon Peter One of the original twelve disciples of Jesus, Peter is known for his boldness. It was Peter who was commended by Jesus for receiving the revelation from the Father that Jesus was the Son of the Living God. But when Jesus was arrested, Peter wrestled between faith and fear. He denied knowing Jesus with cursing and swearing. Peter had been so certain of his faith before that. Jesus knew he really wasn’t. Jesus had predicted Peter's denial and prayed for Peter’s faith to not fail—and it didn’t. Peter’s faith brought him back to Jesus, who not only reconciled him but asked him to feed His sheep. 3. Elijah Elijah is known for prophesying drought and subsequently being fed by ravens and a widow before his epic challenge to the prophets of Baal on Mount Horeb. His faith moved the Lord God to answer by fire; Elijah killed all the false prophets and then prophesied rain. But when the king’s wife, Jezebel, heard about all of this, she threatened Elijah’s life. Elijah’s humanity kicked in as he ran for his life, sat under a broom bush wrestling with his faith and praying to die. The Lord responded with compassion by feeding him, correcting him in grace and giving him a new purpose before he was taken to heaven on a chariot of fire. 4. Thomas Being a disciple of Jesus doesn’t automatically make one a faith giant. Thomas became known as Doubting Thomas because he wrestled with the truth that Jesus rose from the dead. But his wrestling with faith was as human as the labeling of him. Thomas was not the only disciple to wrestle with the truth of the resurrection—all of the disciples wrestled with believing when Mary and the other women came and told them Jesus was alive in Luke 24:10-11. It’s important to point out the grace of God for those who wrestle. The 11 didn’t believe until Jesus appeared to them—and then he appeared again just for Thomas. 5. Father of a Sick Boy I love this story. Here is a father with a son who’s mute and has seizures. He takes his son to the disciples of Jesus to be healed and comes away no different. Wrestling with his faith, he brings his son to Jesus asking if Jesus can help. Jesus points to his faith. But knowing he’s wrestling with his faith, the father responds honestly. He cries for help to win his faith-wrestling match with the words “I believe, help mine unbelief,” and Jesus brought the victory. Jesus will help us win our wrestling matches by his grace. 6. Gideon Israel was in trouble when God approached Gideon, declaring him to be a mighty warrior and calling him to save his people from the Midianites. But Gideon balked at the words and the call. Gideon was wrestling with his faith with questions similar to those we deal with. He wondered, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? He felt God had abandoned them, but cried out for favor. Gideon’s appeal for grace was answered abundantly and he fulfilled his mission as led by the Lord. 7. Moses One of the most prominent figures in the Bible endured many faith-wrestling matches. He struggled to believe he could deliver his people from Egypt after murdering an Egyptian and being rejected by his Hebrew brothers. After this, he ran into the wilderness until the time when the Lord appeared to him in the burning bush. But when God called him to do what he’d run away from, he wrestled with his faith with questions like, what if they don’t believe me or listen to me? Moses struggled with God’s response, claiming he couldn’t do public speaking. Frustrated with Moses, the Lord allowed him to have his brother Aaron help him. Every wrestling match that Moses went through was met with the grace of God. 8. David He was known as a man after God’s own heart, yet David was no stranger to wrestling with his faith. The book of Psalms is full of his questioning and pain, as well as his victories. David wrestled with his faith after Nabal treated his men improperly. Again, when Ziklag was destroyed, his wives were carried off and his men talked about stoning him. Additionally, there was the time he stayed home from war, commited adultery with Bathsheba and killed her husband after finding out she was pregnant—and these are only three examples. David always emerged from his faith-wrestling matches worshiping the Lord. 9. Jonah The story of Jonah is known for many things, including how Jonah ran away when God called him to preach the destruction of Nineveh, the big fish that swallowed him, how he was spit up onto dry land and finally obeyed, and how Jesus referred to him as a sign. But the reason for Jonah’s wrestling with his faith is made clear in the final chapter of the book using a plant. Jonah didn’t wrestle with his faith because what God asked him to do was hard; Jonah wanted Nineveh to be destroyed. But God had mercy on him. Jonah wrestled with his faith because he knew God was going to be gracious and compassionate to those he felt didn’t deserve it. 10. Mary and Martha Jesus spent a lot of time with these two sisters, along with their brother Lazarus. They followed him, served him, and listened to him, but still wrestled with their faith. Their brother became sick while Jesus was out of town and they sent for him. But Jesus didn’t come right away. Lazarus died, and the sisters wrestled with thoughts such as if you had been here, he wouldn’t have died. Jesus reminded them that he was the resurrection and the life. They believed for the future last day but wrestled with the now. Because Jesus is who he says he is, Lazarus was raised to life that same day. 11. Jeremiah Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, is one of the major prophets in the Bible. Israel was in a bad way when he was called, and he wrestled with the call at first. He claimed he didn’t know how to speak because he was too young. But God answered his wrestling with empowerment. He told him not to say he was too young, to not be afraid, and then God touched him putting His words into Jeremiah’s mouth. Like Jeremiah, we can be empowered in the midst of our wrestling. 12. Abraham Abraham is known as the father of our faith. I was intimidated by Abraham’s faith until I learned how much he wrestled with it, and how the wrestling didn’t stop him from receiving from God. The Bible tells us that because he believed God, he was made righteous. Sounds instant and simple. Yet it took God telling Abraham the promise seven times before Abraham was fully convinced. The sixth time God promised, Abraham fell face-down and laughed. After this, God told him to name the son Isaac (which means laughter). This gives me great hope. Abraham is an example that even if we keep wrestling, we can win. 13. Sarah The wife of Abraham went through her own time wrestling with faith while Abraham was going through his. She was barren for many years and passed off as Abraham’s sister two times to different kings. Eleven years passed after God’s promise for a child, and her wrestling led her to a bad plan that ended in the birth of Ishmael. But the promise was for her to have a child, not just Abraham. Thirteen years after Ishmael was born, God declared His promise of a son three more times for a total of seven. After the seventh time, Sarah laughed, unable to fathom having a child at her age. But nothing is too hard for the Lord. 14. Jesus Jesus Christ knew who he was and how he was going to die. He said, "when you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me." But in the garden of Gethsemane he felt our humanity under the intense pressure. He asked if there was another way. He knew there wasn’t, and he stuck with what he knew and fulfilled his mission of laying down his life for us. Jesus won everything for us in his wrestling match. He declared, it is finished! 54. what are Four Types of Faith, Which Do You Have? A person is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8). A Christian is sanctified by faith (Acts 26:18) and serves others by this same faith (1 Peter 4:8–11). A Christ-follower lives and walks by faith every day (Hebrews 3:10). Dead Faith James informs us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). In other words, if your faith is real, you will produce fruit. That is, good works are evidence that your faith is genuine. I’ve observed that you don’t have to motivate sincere Christians to do what the Holy Spirit is already urging them to do. If your faith is dead, it will be obvious by a lack of good fruit and an abundance of selfish thoughts, cruel words, and immoral deeds. Demonic Faith James also teaches that even demons believe and shudder at the name of Jesus (James 2:19). Their “faith” is intellectual. That is, the demons have no doubt that Jesus is the Son of the living God, but they rebelliously choose to serve a different master. And their master, Satan, is crystal clear on the fact that Jesus died and rose from the dead. As a matter of fact, Satan’s theology is probably better than yours or mine. But knowing all the answers and possessing a right theology doesn’t save you. Vain Faith Not everyone who says that Jesus is Lord of their lives will enter the kingdom of heaven on the day of His return. Only those who actually do the will of God will be permitted entry. Responding to an altar call, saying the sinner’s prayer, or religiously and generously tithing—these alone will not save you. Please don’t be the person who completes all kinds of religious milestones and cries out on the final day “Lord! Lord!” only to hear the dreadful words “I never knew you; depart from me” (Matthew 7:21–23). Saving Faith: The message of John 3:16 is so clear: God loves every one of us, He sent His only begotten Son to live among us, and whoever believes on Jesus will have eternal life. Ephesians 2:8–10 provides us with some additional details: You are saved by grace through faith. Salvation is a gift. You are not saved because of any good works you ever did. But you were made to do good works and point people to Christ. God prepared many good things for you to do. As you live by saving faith, you will supernaturally produce good fruit, works, and evidence that you are no longer a slave to sin. 55.what are 10 considerations of understanding Biblical faith? 1. Faith is defined for us as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1-2) 2. Faith believes even when it makes no sense to believe, not because of the proof before you, but because of the trust you place in the object of your faith. 3. Faith is based on the will of that person in whom you place your faith, not my will. You can have faith that the person you love most will never hurt you, for example, but whether they do or not is up to their will, not yours. 4. Biblical faith is in a person, the person of God. (God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit… they are One.) Faith is not in me or my abilities, but on God and His abilities. 5. When Jesus used the illustration of moving mountains He was giving an example of the power of God and how we should place our whole faith in Him. He was not talking about the power of my ability to have faith, but rather the power of the One in whom we place our faith. If God’s will is to move a mountain, He will surely move it. You can even ask Him to by faith. 6. When we talk about faith in God then, we are talking about His will, not our will. That’s how Jesus taught us to pray…. “Our Father, who is in Heaven… thy will be done….” Faith is based on God’s agenda, not my agenda. It’s not your ability to move mountains. It is God’s ability. It’s not your will to move mountains; it’s God’s will. 7. Faith is based on the promises of God, not our hopes or desires. When you struggle with faith, you don’t doubt your ability; you doubt God’s ability. Sometimes we get upset that God hasn’t done something we think He should do, but God never promised to do it. It may have never have been His will. 8. When you pray by faith then, you are praying that you trust God to do His will in your life, based not on your wishes or desires, but on what He has promised to do. Some things we can always have faith that God will do, because he has promised to do them, such as “love you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3), “work all things for good” (Romans 8:28), and “never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:8). We can’t always know that God will heal every sickness, for example, because He’s not promised that He will. In fact, He promised we would have trials, but that throughout it all we could rejoice in our sufferings. 9. God is trustworthy… worthy of our faith. I love how The Message Version puts 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” Do what? His will. Faith in the person of God is based then on your trust that He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do. 10. When your faith lines up with God’s will, you can absolutely, positively, unquestionably claim by faith that God’s will be done. One of the reasons it is so important to know God personally is so that we will know His will, so we can know how to pray in God’s will (Romans 12:1-2). 56. What signs of authentic faith do people see when they scrutinize our lives? Is it enough evidence to prove that our trust in God is real? The Bible suggests eight outward marks of authentic faith. We should… display the Beatitudes that Jesus described in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–16). think with a transformed mind, we express genuine love, and we respect authority (Romans 12:1,2; 13:1–7). overflow with love actions (1 Corinthians 13). display the Spirit’s fruit (Galatians 5:22–26). imitate Christ’s humility and look out for others’ interests (Philippians 2:1–4). pray without ceasing, and in everything we give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). carry out works of faith and compassion (James 2:14–17), we control our tongues (3:1–11), and we speak wisdom (3:13). hold to the truth about Jesus (2 John 4; 3 John 3, 4) and defend it (Jude 3). 57. why Jesus death is important? According to Scripture, God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3) and everyone is guilty of sin (Romans 3:10-12). God’s holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by death (Ezekiel 18:4). Even though God’s justice demands death for sin, His love has provided a Savior who paid the penalty and died for sinners (1 Peter 3:18). Christ’s death satisfied the demands of God’s justice, and Christ’s perfect life satisfied the demands of God’s holiness (2 Corinthians 5:21), God provided the means to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (Romans 3:26). The resurrection of Jesus Christ proved Jesus is God and has power over life and death (Luke 24:6-7, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and that He will raise those who believe in Him unto eternal life (John 6:40, John 11:25-26). If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). 58. Unsaved People Think They’re Saved. Matthew 7:21-23 JESUS says, “Not everyone who says to ME, ‘LORD, LORD,’ will enter the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, but he who does the WILL of MY FATHER who is in HEAVEN will enter. “MANY will say to ME on that DAY, ‘LORD, LORD, did we not PROPHESY in YOUR NAME, and in YOUR NAME CAST OUT DEMONS, and in YOUR NAME PERFORM MANY MIRACLES?‘ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I NEVER KNEW you; DEPART from ME, you who PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.” 59.Lukewarm Unsaved People can look and act Saved ? Attending Church or Christian Functions, Singing in the Church Choir, Lifting their Hands at Church, and being very excited about Jesus in their Youth Group, or at a: Christian Concert, Retreat, or Conference. They might Work at Church, Teach Sunday School, be a Priest, or a Worldwide well known Preacher, Teacher, Priest, or Pastor. Some might have an incredible Christian Ministry, or be working on an a Christian Project, Book, Movie, Magazine, Church, etc. in which they talk to others about their Project or their Ministry MORE than they talk to others about JESUS! (2 Cor 4:5) They might appear to be quite focused on God and appear to be a person of deep Prayer; they might even have a Ministry that teaches people on how to Pray. They might be very zealous, and outgoing for Jesus. They might give Money to Charities, or Tithe at Church, and/or they might have memorized their Bibles inside and out. They might be: Soul Winners, Perform Healings, Miracles, Cast out Demons, and have the Power to Prophecy. They might Follow Church Traditions and Doctrines, and say Christian Clich. They might be a Contemporary “Christian” Singer or a Musician in a very talented “Christian” Band, but when you go to their website or to a “Christian” Concert they have very little mention about the name of JESUS, and/or how one can be Biblically Saved; it’s mainly only info about themselves, and their “Christian” Music, Merchandise, Tours…etc. Lukewarmers can look “HOT” for Jesus by: displaying a Christian Bumper Sticker on their car, and even wearing a WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) wristband. T hey might be a Well-Known Person who took a stand for great “causes” like: Illiteracy, Aids, and Worldwide Famine, or be a Best Selling “Christian” Author, and have a “Christian” Radio or TV Show. They might simply be a: Good Person, a Mom, a Dad, or a Grand Parent, doing Good & Kind Deeds. The Lukewarm Person might be known to the World as a Good Person who was a: “Reverend,” a “Pope,” a “Father,” a “Bishop,” a Religious Nun, or a “Pastor” of a Church; even a very large and prosperous Church that is known Worldwide. Mark 4:12 Jesus says, ”They see what I do, but they don’t perceive its meaning. They hear My words, but they don’t understand. So they will not Turn from their Sins and be Forgiven.” The point is, you can appear to be the most Godly person on Earth, and still miss Heaven and spend Eternity in Hell. You can appear to have your act together with the Lord, but God knows the true condition of each man’s heart. 60. On Judgment Day many Good People who do GOOD DEEDS, who are even “Religious” will be sentenced to spend Eternity in Hell. Why? Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus Warns us, “Not everyone who calls out to Me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN WILL ENTER. On Judgment Day MANY will say to Me ‘Lord! Lord! We PROPHESIED (or PREACHED), CAST OUT DEMONS, and PERFORMED MANY MIRACLES IN YOUR NAME.‘ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who BREAK GOD’S LAWS.” So many people are Positive they are Saved because they think they are a: Good Person, have once said a “Sinner’s Prayer”, or go to Church. Yet the Bible clearly states you must: Repent & Believe the Gospel, Forsake All Sin, and Obey God’s Word. Then our Faith will be Tested to see if it’s Genuine or Not. (Deut 8:2, Deut 13:3; James 1:12; 1 Pet 1:7) Even Jesus was Tempted by Satan. (Matt 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13) Faith that Fizzles & Fails Before the Finish Line is Not a Saving Faith. Matthew 10:22 Jesus says, “Those who endure until the end, will be saved.” Luke 6:46 Jesus says, “Why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t DO what I say? Judas (the Disciple who “Accepted” Jesus and later betrayed Him), Failed his Tests & Temptations and was Found in the End to be a False Convert who had a Lukewarm “Love” for Jesus and a “Rocky Ground” Heart. Here Judas was a close friend of Jesus (God) Himself. Judas was in Ministry with Jesus working along side Him continually, getting all the latest and greatest Teachings and Revelations about God’s Word. He even “Accepted” and “Believed” in Jesus. Judas Ate, Talked, and Fellowshipped with Jesus on a regular basis, as well as Praying with Jesus, and who knows— maybe he even did some of the same miracles of healing like some of the other Disciples did. Judas however merely Professed with his mouth in Jesus. His Belief in Jesus amounted to NO GOOD FRUIT, because He did not truly LOVE Jesus, as Jesus told His Disciples to do— John 14:15 “If you Love Me Obey My Commandments.” Judas’ Belief in Jesus did not follow through to a true Love and Obedience to God’s Word. In fact, Judas was in the habit of Stealing from the Ministry of Jesus, so his life was actually the total opposite of what Jesus actual taught us in God’s Word. It’s easy to be deceived, even when you are doing much Work for Jesus— even with Jesus Himself! John 12:6 “Not that he (Judas) cared for the poor (he Professed that he did)—he was a THIEF, and since he was in charge of the Disciples’ Money, he OFTEN STOLE (practiced sin) some for himself.” Luke 16:10-13 Jesus says, “If you are DISHONEST (cheat, steal, lie) in LITTLE THINGS, you WON’T be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are UNTRUSTWORTHY ABOUT WORLDLY WEALTH, who will trust you with the TRUE RICHES OF HEAVEN?“ 61. What are the 7 powers of God? The sevenfold ministry of the Spirit Including the Spirit of the Lord, and the Spirits of wisdom, of understanding, of counsel, of might, of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, here are represented the seven Spirits, which are before the throne of God.

Prayer Against Violent, Evil, wicked people or Criminals

1.I declare Psalm 140 upon violent and evil people around me. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence, who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long along with me. They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble. The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path and lures are set out for me. 2.I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for help. O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you shield my head in the day of battle. LORD, do not let evil people have their way. Do not let their evil schemes succeed, or they will become proud. May the heads of those who surround me and my loved ones be covered in the trouble their lips have caused. May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again. 3.May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence. I know that the LORD upholds justice for me and defends the cause of my need. Surely, I will praise Your name; and dwell in Your presence. 4. Acc to Psalm 71, In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go, give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. 5.Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me. May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me, be covered with scorn and disgrace. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. 6. Acc to Psalm 121:7-8 I declare that The Lord will keep me and my children’s and my loved ones from all harm. He will watch over my life; the Lord will watch over my coming and going both now and forevermore. 7.I confess Now it is God who makes me stand firm in Christ. He anointed me, set his seal of ownership on me and upon my household. I am seated on the heavenly places with Him. All powers, principalities and evil authorities are subject to me in the Name of Jesus. I break every yoke of the enemy by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I will speak to the mountains, hurdles and obstacles and it will move and I walk in a straight path. I walk in authority in Christ Jesus and every plan of the enemy is thwarted. I reign in this life through faith, trust in the Name of Jesus and by the power of His Spirit. 8.God has not given me a spirit of fear but of love and sound mind. He will guard and keep me in perfect peace as I put my trust in Him. The Holy Spirit comforts me. Protect me and my children from the evil violent wicked people, slanderers, character assassinators, false accusers, sinful and wicked influencers, from their controlling powers, for their mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under their tongue. They conceive mischief and bring forth wickedness, and their inmost soul prepares deceit and fraud.” 9.Heavenly Father, I pray that you will prevent in my life and in my children’s life all deceitful and manipulative people, liars of all sorts of self-serving purposes, for revenge, personal gain, jealousy, gossiping, grudges, power and manipulation, bullying, anger, hiding guilt or avoidance of punishment, also prevent people who are disrespectful, scornful, violent and abusive who take advantage of our goodness, weak circumstances and innocence. Lord Jesus with your precious Blood prevent them from continuing in their destructive ways and prevented from hurting us and others. Lord rescue me and my loved ones from every evil attack and will bring me my household safely to his heavenly kingdom. Acc to 2 Timothy 4:18 in Jesus Mighty name. 10.In Matthew 12:34-37, you have reminded us that, for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil store up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by our words, you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. They have destroyed my sense of wellbeing, we feel unwanted, unappreciated, isolated, condemned neglected, rejected, stressed day and night, hurt, depressed, disappointment, dishonored, and felt left out and ostracized because of their evil deeds towards us. I pray that you will send your Holy angels to open the eyes of the good people who accept us as I am and who are there for me and stand by me and my children’s and may the Spirit of glory and of God rests on me and my children acc to I Peter 4:14 in Jesus mighty Name. 11. Acc to Psalm 109: I praise you, God; don't remain silent! Wicked people and liars have attacked me. They tell lies about me, and they say evil things about me, attacking me for no reason. They oppose me, even though I love them and have prayed for them. They pay me back evil for good and hatred for love. I am poor and needy; I am hurt to the depths of my heart. Help me, O LORD my God; because of your constant love, save me! Make my enemies know that you are the one who saves me. They may curse me, but you will bless me. May my persecutors be defeated, and may I, your servant, be glad. May my enemies be covered with disgrace; may they wear their shame like a robe. I will give loud thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the assembly of the people, because he defends the poor and saves them from those who condemn them to death. 12.Acc to Psalm 12:5, Lord God protect me from those who malign me, protect my reputation, protect my children’s being influenced by evil people, protect my family, my loved ones and my animals and everything that belongs to me. 13.I now take a firm stand for the truth as you tell us in the Bible, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.” (Ephesians 6:13, 14) 14.I stand my ground against these lies with all of the power and authority given to me by my Savior, Jesus Christ, who is my advocate and defender. I will not allow these lies to rob me of my joy nor destroy my confidence. I will not retreat and I will not lose my faith, because “Greater is He who is within me than he who is in the world.” (I John 4:4). 15.Lord let those who speak maliciously against my good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander acc to 1 Peter 3:16. 16. Father, in the name of Jesus, I now plead the Blood of Jesus over every inch of my physical body, over every inch my soul, and over every inch of my spirit, against any demons who may try to come against me and my loved ones. I now Plead the Blood of Jesus against any bad and evil people who may try and come against me and my family, I now plead the Blood of Jesus against any natural accidents or catastrophes, against any diseases, viruses, or illnesses, spirit of death that may come against me and my loved ones. Father, in the name of Jesus, I now have full faith and belief that the Blood of Jesus will now fully protect me against all of the things that I have just Pled His Blood on. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Jesus.”

Scripture Confessions for LONG LIFE

Scripture Confessions for LONG LIFE 1. I will live a full and abundant life according to GENESIS 15:15 and I spend my days in peace and will leave this earth at a ripe old age. 2.I walk in all of the ways of God according to DEUTERONOMY 5:33, that God is my Mentor and the example by which I live. I obey His every command. His Word is life to me and I will obey it so that it may go well with me and that I may live long in the land that He has given me. 3.According to 1 SAMUEL 20:14-15 I confess that, My Father is kind and loving towards me. He gives me a long, full, and abundant life on this earth and prevents death from taking me before my appointed time. He does not cut off His kindness from my family from this day to eternity. He has cut off every enemy from our midst and has stripped death of its power in our lives. We shall live and not die! 4. As God’s child Acc to 1 KINGS 3:9-14, I declare that I have a mind of the deepest understanding. My spirit is perceptive and I have a hearing heart that is discerning between what is right and what is wrong. I clearly discern between the voice of my Father and the voice of the devil. I seek my Father’s kingdom and He is pleased with my prayer life. I do not set my eyes upon riches to lust after them. I seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I am focused on attaining a discerning heart of wisdom. I have been given supernatural ability to obtain and deal rightly with knowledge. I do not have to worry about riches and protection. God surrounds me with these. I walk in the ways of my Father and do what is right in His sight. He lengthens my days on this earth and grants me the desires of my heart. 5. According to 1 CHRONICLES 29:28 I declare that I live out my life in satisfaction with a full number of days and will die at a ripe old age with riches and honor as an inheritance for my posterity. 6.According to JOB 5:26, I declare that I will live my life to the fullest and go to the grave at a ripe old age, full of vigor and strength unabated, like a sheave gathered in season. 7.I declare according to PSALM 39:4 I declare that The Lord makes me to know my end and the length of my days I will spend on this earth. In this I will not be proud, but recognize how fragile my life truly is. I will never take for granted a single second of the life I am given. 8.According to PSALM 41:1-3 I declare that The Lord delivers me out of every trouble and distressing situation. Because of this, I am a shield to those who lack the strength to stand against the devil’s evil schemes. He preserves my life from the attacks of the enemy and blesses me with His favor and abundance. He sustains me when sickness comes to take me from His work. He restores me to my true, energetic and healthy self. 9.According to PSALM 90:12, The Lord instructs me in my way. He teaches me to number my days, so that I may gain a heart of wisdom. 10. According to PSALM 91, I declare that I dwell in the secret place of the Most High and rest, remaining steadfast and secure, under the shadow of the Almighty. He is my refuge and my fortress, my God and Father, and I trust Him with all of my heart. He has given me a sure and certain deliverance from the traps of Satan and has freed me from all deadly pestilence. He has covered me with His feathers and under His wings I have taken refuge. His faithfulness is my shield and my rampart. I do not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at my side, even ten thousand at my right hand, but it shall not come near me. I will see with my own eyes the punishment of the wicked. The Most High God, my heavenly Father, is my fortress and my habitation. He has accepted me as His own. I am a son in His royal family. Therefore, no evil may befall me and no plague, sickness, or disaster is allowed to come near my dwelling. God has commanded the angels to set up camp around me as sentinels in my life. They guard me in all of my ways and keep me from all harm. They bear me up in their hands lest I dash my foot against a stone. I tread upon the lion and the cobra. The young lion and the serpent, I trample under my feet. The devil’s power over me has been completely stripped away. God has made a decree concerning me saying, “I will rescue him from every calamity; I will protect him because he acknowledges my name. He will call upon Me and I will answer him. I will be with him in times of trouble. I will deliver him and set him in the place of highest honor. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation. 11. According to PSALM 119:93 I confess and declare that I will never fail to remember the Word of God. By it, my health never fails and I shall live a long, happy and prosperous life. 12. According to PSALM 119:105-107 I declare that God’s Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I have taken my oath, and confirmed it with deeds tried and true, that I will follow the precepts that my Father has laid out for me. Therefore, I shall remain in good health and my vitality shall be preserved until I have lived a long, happy, and prosperous life. 13. According to PROVERBS 10:27-32, I confess and declare that I have added many years to my life because of my trust in the Lord. I humble myself under His mighty hand and give due reverence to His majesty. The hope that I have within me produces happiness and prosperity in my life. The way of the Lord is strength to me. I shall never be moved or caused to give up on my faith. I always stand strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Wisdom comes forth from my mouth continually and I am always keenly aware of what is good and acceptable in the eyes of God. 14. According to ISAIAH 46:4 I declare that the Lord sustains me even when I grow old and gray. He continually gives me health and vitality, and rescues me from every calamity.

Beware of Lies and Liers!

Lies bring brokenness, truth brings freedom. We now live in a society that has become so desensitized to lying that it has become the norm rather than the exception. Satan is a pathological liar, and Jesus described him in John eight as the father of all lies. Friends, when you lie you are not just breaking one of the Ten Commandments that says “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour”. You are engaging in an action that places you squarely on the opposite side of Christ. You are choosing darkness rather than light. Lying ultimately brings bondage, heartache and eternal repercussions. 1.Why do People Lie? People lie out of Fear, to Shirk Responsibility, to Gain an Advantage, to Hurt others in order to discredit, damage & destroy, some lie to pretend to be godly, there are professionals who lie to gain financial gain by taking advantage of other people. There are some people who are habitual pathological and compulsive liars they lie because they have character problems because of personality behavior mental and psychological disorders. They lie out of habit. They are having Legion of demons in them. Some lie to avoid embarrassment, or lie to escape detection, to defend someone, to protect someone or lie to avoid punishment, or even lie to serve God etc 2.Those who Lie Will Perish: Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Psalm 5:6 You destroy those who tell lies. Proverbs 19:9 …whoever pours out lies will perish. Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Revelation 22:14-15: Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 3. If you lie you belong to Devil: Satan does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him (John 8:44). He continues, “Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” The Word of God tells us in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Many religious people are deceived themselves and are used by Satan, the enemy, to deceive others. John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Revelation 21:8: But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. 4.Follower of Jesus Christ: A True Christian who will embrace truth and honesty and will reject the practice of deceit and practicing lying and we cannot call ourselves God’s children when we lie all the time and exaggerate truth. Jesus said all liars are Devil’s offspring because when we lie, we distort the truth like the Devil did back in the garden of Eden. Conclusion: Lying is a sin that pertains to the old self and abominable before God. The person who becomes a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) must be truthful. Since all unrepentant, habitual liars go to hell. We must never forget lying can cost a man his soul. When we lie, we become slaves to lies and bondage with devil which robs us of our freedom. We need to examine ourselves and be careful to be honest in all things (Eph. 4:25). Since Christ kingdom is of honesty and truth, we need to be truthful and honest all the time. Zechariah 8:3 We know that Proverbs 13:5 says that “A righteous man hates lying”.

Pray for the Person who hurt you!

By Shaila Touchton If we have a mature prayer life, we will appeal to God for our foes, those who do wrong to us, and not scrutinize or discuss about them. We are to petition God for the individuals who despitefully utilize and mistreat us. At the point when individuals show the Godly affection and benevolent mentality that appeals to God for other people, they will become individuals of genuine supplication. Those are the individuals whose voices will be heard on High since they are practitioners of the Word. Petitioning God for the individuals who have violated us empowers us to deliver damages, hard feelings, and unforgiveness we have in our souls against them. Righteousness and justice are the foundations of His throne (Psalm 89:14), so He ALWAYS wants to bring righteousness and justice into EVERY situation. Pride shields us from seeing our wrongdoing to others. With stunning elegance, God uncovered reality to repent, reestablish, reconcile and restore us to completeness. When we surrender to God, He will send His Word heal us and delivered us from self-destruction. The blamer, the gossiper, the arrogant, and the victim are all offered fresh doses of mercy from God each and every day. The wicked person is volatile, given to sudden outbursts of rage which are unpredictable, frightening and destructive. God made the individuals who hurt us. He has a good plan for their lives. He knows the reasons behind their ruinous practices. He knows the falsehoods they accept about themselves. He is a Shepherd who pursues every sheep that wanders away from all He offers. When we fight back against wrong doers it creates an atmosphere of anger and resentment and it opens the door for the devil to create a distance between us. The devil looks for an opportunity to tear us down. There is a dark force of evil behind every lethal personality disorder and self-defensive coping mechanism. Every casualty in a relationship war has fallen prey to the one who steals, kills, and destroys. The great news is that God has far more power than Satan. The God of angel armies makes us ready for battle with His truth, salvation, faith, righteousness, peace, and the sword—the Word of God. His banner of victory flies over us. When we arm ourselves and pray, we salute His authority and partner with His plan for the family of God. We can choose to live prayerfully and humbly before God. He can help us love those who do not love us well with a pure heart. God has given us clear instructions to bless those who curse us and pray for the people who mistreat us (Luke 6:27–28). Jesus modeled this pure love for us on the cross, and when He washed Judas’ feet knowing he was going to betray Him. Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). He also said, “Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27–28). Curses have long-lasting effects that can run from generation to generation. So be careful what you say to others! Say This Prayer: 1.The blessings of the Lord make me rich and he adds no sorrow with it. God is pleased with me and His favor endures for a lifetime. Heavenly Father, Pour your blessings upon my life and my family members in every area of our lives. Let all our ways be blessed, bless us when we woke up, when we go to sleep, when we go out, when we come into our homes, bless us when we travel and keep us safe from all evil and harm, in the Powerful Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Heavenly Father, Anoint my mind, body, soul, life, and my family members. Bless our finances, our houses, our food, our properties, our children, our families and our loved ones, bless those who has hurt us, who has accused us falsely, bless those who have spoken ill of us and who has cursed us, bless those who has persecuted us, bless those who have insulted us, belittled us, who condemned and mocked at us, who had pronounced their curses of destructions upon us, who has falsely accused us, who has brought tears to us, bless those who are angry at us. Those who have wronged us, I now forgive them and set aside our differences, as I allow the example of Christ to be my guide. I forgive every situation and every person I once held in my mind. They have mocked me, broken my heart, broken my trust, broken promises they have made, they laughed and they have degraded me, they were injustice to me, they have assassinated my character, betrayed me, and persecuted me. Lord Jesus, my savior and my defender Correct them and help them to experience Your unconditional love, joy, peace and happiness but, most of all, allow them to feel Your Holy presence and turn from their wicked ways. I pray that the person who has lied about me and caused hurt to my soul will see the error of their ways and will repent and turn back to you. I pray that they will be prevented from continuing in their destructive ways and prevented from hurting others In Jesus Holy Name I pray. 3.Father in Jesus Mighty Name, there is no distance in the spirit and I thank You for the person I am praying for who desires a prayer to stop lying and get Your divine help to be more truthful. They have embellished the facts and exaggerated a number of times and help them to repent for their wrong doings against me and let them take responsibility for their lies and manipulations. Heavenly Father, I humbly ask You to Rebuke and help them to stop being dishonest and stop making excuses for this dishonest behavior and exaggerate the truth or twist the facts. I decree and declare that no weapon fashioned against your people shall prosper; And every tongue that that shall rise up against me I condemn, according to Isaiah 54:17 Bless those who hates us, bless our relationships, our needs and comfort us in our miseries, bring healing to our body, mind and deliver us from all sickness and diseases. Protect all of us in your Mighty Hand and save our souls from every attack of an enemy. 4.Your Word says to “clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” (Col. 3:14) Help me demonstrate unconditional love today, even to those who hurt me. Heaven Father, I pray for healing in their soul, peace in their heart, and mind and rest in their body. I also ask that you would be their comforter, that you would cover them with your infinite grace and mercy, surrounding them in peace during this time of trial or difficulties. If they have gone astray, let your grace and mercy bring them back. I pray for fresh anointing, for renewed strength, for your goodness and mercy over their lives now in Jesus Holy Name I ask and pray. 5.Heavenly Father, let the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might and the spirit of knowledge shall rest upon them .O Lord, have mercy upon them and blot out all of their iniquities Save them with Your grace, unconditional love and compassion so that they will be worthy of your blessings. Forgive them for the pain they have caused me because of their inappropriate behavior and bad attitudes. Holy Spirit of God, Fire of God, destroy all works of darkness in their life. The anointing of the Lord be upon them that shall not be stolen and let there be a full and fresh outpouring of the Holy spirit upon them Angels of God, arise and surround them with your wings of protection and power. May your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that they may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. I pray that No evil will befall on them and no disaster shall come near their dwelling place, I prophesy long life, riches, prosperity, favor and the blessings of God upon them and on their family and the Lord shall be the shepherd over them and be their light and their salvation in Jesus Powerful Name 6.I pray, Lord that you will open their eyes so they can see the glory of Jesus Christ and open their heart so that they can hear your voice, break the yokes in their lives and give them liberty in their souls, that they may be free to repent. Show them every evil works and deeds they are guilty of and Lord Jesus Christ, convict their hearts unto repentance. Bring their soul out of darkness, save their souls to that you may have Glory. I plead the blood of Jesus Christ over the mindset that be confirmed to the mind of Christ and I speak health wellness upon them Wisdom, knowledge and understanding be their portion and I speak favor, prosperity and anointing of God over their lives and a minster of Gospel of Jesus Christ. 7.I pray that my family members glorify God in everything they do and fulfill Gods purpose in their life lord Let your name be glorified in our lives in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord has granted me long life and favor and has preserved my spirit from destruction. I declare that no matter what happens around me, I have a covenant of peace with God and His love, kindness and favor will never depart from me. In the name of Jesus, I dwell in the secret place of the Highest God and abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The Lord is my Refuge and Fortress. He delivers me from the enemy; therefore, I do not fear the terror in the night or the destruction that takes place at noonday. 8. When I call on the Lord, He immediately answers me. He is with me in trouble; He always delivers me. Because the Lord has given His angels charge over me, my life is redeemed from destruction. No evil comes near me, and neither does any plague come near my home. I declare that I fear no evil, because the Holy Spirit comforts me. He lives inside of me. Greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world. The Lord helps me to guard the door of my mouth and trains me not to speak against His favor at work in my life. I will not allow any corrupt communication to proceed out of my mouth. Instead, I will speak only that which is good, full of grace and edifying to others. Because I am God's "favorite," I prosper in every area of my life-spiritually, physically, financially, socially and mentally. 8.I actively seek and live by God's wisdom; therefore, I am highly favored and esteemed in the sight of God and men. Because the favor of God shields me, no sickness or disease has a right to live in my body. Wealth and riches are in my house because I am empowered with His anointing and favor to draw wealth. I walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in all respects. I bear fruit in every good work and I am increasing in the knowledge of God. My ways please the LORD and He makes even my enemies to be at peace with me.I am anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving I let my requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard my hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Is Onam a Christian Celebration or its Biblical?

Many Christians believe that participating in onam is a form of involvement in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness, which is forbidden in Scripture: many believers consider Onam activities of most to be harmless fun. Refraining from Onam Celebration and its activities is the safest and most appropriate response for you as an individual. When a Christian Participating in Onam activities represent that there are some Christians faith is compromised because they could have a background in the occult. Aren’t we diluting our faith when we celebrate Onam that is associated with paganess?Onam has nothing to do with bible or Jesus Christ.And most of churches of Kerala competing to celebrate onam in all spendor and opulence. Some even dressed up as Mahabali and goes around church preminses followed by onam songs and dances which shouldn’t happen in church premises nor celebrated by any Christians. Many of the Kerala churches have compromised their faith and worshipping False Gods directly or indirectly participating. There are Christian clergy and nuns who take mahabali idol inside churches or take selfie with the idols. Ultimately, Christians must decide for themselves and follow the convictions of their own heart. Ephesians 5:7-15 Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” So be careful how you live. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, – 2 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV). See also Isaiah 52:11, Jeremiah 15:17, Revelation 18:4. I realize this topic is embedded in controversy because people tend to defend deceptions and traditions of man, rather than biblical principles. The truth is, the devil still wins regardless of your motive or intention for celebrating a pagan, YES PAGAN, holiday. He still got you to participate in a ritual with paganish and evil roots. Satan does not really care how he gets you to compromise, as long as you do it. So, by participating and advocating a pagan holiday, you are a part of his ritual. There is no justification for it at all. It’s kind of like saying, “a little white lie is not the same as a big lie.” The bible makes it very clear and warns that “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2)”. There is no doubt, a great work of deception is being wrought by seducing spirits and Satan himself. Jesus warned us: “Take heed that no man deceive you.” -Matthew 24:4 . So let me ask you, have you been deceived? Scripture teaches us that Satan is the father of lies and a deceiver (John 8:44;2 and Thessalonians 2:9) and he cleverly disguises himself as an “angel of light.” And those who follow him, practice the same deceit (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Onam is nothing more than a pagan tradition to honor the practices of the occult. After all, our lives should mirror what GOD wants, not what the world deems acceptable, and most definitely not what Christians dream up as alternatives for celebrating a pagan holiday. Those who practice in the occult will DIE a death not by stoning, but in the everlasting lake of fire. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death -Revelation 21:8 God also gave clear instructions forbidding the mingling or associating with those who participate in any practices associated with the occult: 9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.-Deuteronomy 18:9-14 As Christians, we are not to fear the devil, nor give him a place in our lives. We are called to be separate, a shining light on a hill. What kind of witness for Jesus are you being, by participating in a pagan holiday? If you are angry or upset by the reality of these truths, I urge you to strongly consider how satan operates, moreover, how does satan lure people in? Does he not make sinning seem fun and mask its evil? Does he not convince the world that ” it’s not that bad?” Satan lures people in through deceptive practices. He hides evil with veneers of good. When we peel those veneers back, we see the horrifying truths. I pray that the wisdom of JESUS CHRIST be imparted to everyone who reads this. We are children of God. We were bought with a price, and we should remember that we are advocates of Christ, called to be separated from darkness and the world. Sometimes believers live like the world in one or more areas simply because they don’t know God’s standard. Yet God calls us to “not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance,” but to be holy in all we do (1 Peter 1:13-15). Jesus never compromised His Father’s standards to connect with the crowds. And yet He did “offend” many religious leaders. What is happening to the church today? People want to be popular and spread God word with a worldly attitude and they become offended when you talk to them about why they have to act like the world to draw the souls in. I believe that worldliness within the professing church is a huge problem. It grieves me greatly because we are supposed to be salt and light. The bible exhorts us many times to walk worthy of the gospel of Christ – Colossians 1:10, Ephesians 4:1, Philippians 1:27, 3John 1:6. Our Saviour is WORTHY! Sometimes Christians compromise because they fear being rejected. They fear that if they do not compromise, they will not be invited to events, they won't be welcome in the same circles, they'll be excluded. Don't compromise. Don't be afraid to shine the light of Christ wherever you are and wherever you go. We should follow Jesus Christ honoring culture and not a God dishonoring culture. So, we can’t separate ourselves from culture means, we have a choice to isolate ourselves from culture ,the culture that doesnt honor one true God and the one Savior Jesus Christ who died for all of us. We are not to forget the Great Commission as one of our priorities which is a great calling to take the good news of Christ to the nations, to all tribes, to make disciples of the nations, to bring the teaching of Christ to the nations and to build up the church and glorify Christ.You cannot walk with Jesus holding the devil’s hand. You cannot be a part of this world and call yourself a Christian. As the Scripture tells us – Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4.You cannot do the things of this world and think you are pleasing God.

Jesus is the life Giver and Sustainer

Jesus is the Life-Giver and Sustainer Jesus is the Living bread given by God so that we might have life Jesus is the bread of life, he who comes to Him will not hunger, he who comes to Him will not hunger, he who believes in him will never Thirst. He is the living bread that came down out of heaven, if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. In Jesus Christ was life and the life was the light of men. To know Jesus Christ is to know the life-giver He is the Abba, Almighty, Alpha, and Omega. He is the Amen, the author, and finisher of faith. He is the author of eternal Salvation and deliverer Jesus is the one with no beginning and end which is the life of God. Jesus is the one who raises the dead and givers life to whom he wishes He taught his disciples to pray in His name and claimed that He and the Father were one and that He was the Son of God. He is the upholder of all things and He forgives Sins He will raise the dead and execute judgment. He is equal with God the Father, He is worshipped as God He claimed to see Him was to see God To receive Him was to receive God and to believe him was to Believe in God And to Honor Him was to honor God, while to hate him was to hate God. He is the creator God, the redeemer and our guide He is our teacher, our sacrifice, and our Kinsman He is the light of the world, whoever follows him will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. Jesus is the resurrection and the life whoever believes him though he dies yet shall he Live. All authority has been given to Jesus in Heaven and on earth. He is the Resigning King, Passover lamb, and the High Priest He is the Judge and the lawgiver, everlasting redeemer and a faithful scribe, Our Shepard and our Burden Bearer. He is the Prince of Peace, Messiah who is born of the Virgin and would be born in Bethlehem. Jesus Knows us by name, he thinks about us and he will fight for us. He is our Refuge; he has a plan for us and He is always with us. HE Can restore what we lost, add years to our life. Jesus heard our prayers; He can feel our pain. He knows that we are overwhelmed, exhausted, and worried When we speak Jesus name, mountains are moved, Chains are loosened and darkness flees. There is a power, authority, healing, and deliverance I n the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the bridegroom, ruler of all, the judge of all nations, The First and the last. Jesus Christ is the Living word of God that saved us Jesus Claimed to have the attributes of God, claimed as omniscience and omnipotence. He refers to himself as the Son of Man more than 80 times throughout scriptures. He claimed himself as equal with God and even claimed to be God by saying I and Father are One. HE said that HE should receive the same honor that’s due to the Father. He also said He was before Abraham came into being and He was I am. He said He was the way, the truth, and the life And No one comes to Heaven except through Jesus Christ. He is the door, if anyone enters in by him, he will be saved and will go in and out and will find pasture He is the Alpha, the omega, who is who was and who is to come the Almighty. He is Born as God Almighty in the flesh and he was hated and despised by the world. Jesus is the Shelter, Restorer, Mediator, and the Spirit of truth. Jesus is Lord of peace, wonderful counselor, living water, and strong tower HE is the God of comfort, the Lord who heals. Jesus is the reason we Exist and He is our Purpose He is enough for us and All we need is Him.