Faith is the result of The Word dwelling in us by living It, practicing It, and declaring It. We meditate in The Word, we think deeply and ponder It until The Word becomes greater than anything else in our lives. It become first nature within us. The result is confidence and assurance in FATHER’S willingness, ability, and expectation to impart whatever is required for our particular situation. Sense knowledge will challenge and fight every step of the way while our faith is being built up. When this battle heats up, are we going to succumb to our senses or are we going to “conquer” our land by faith in HIS Word. Persistence is the key to building strong faith.
FATHER can Love us but not be well pleased. In John chapter 3 by THE SPIRIT it is written:
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
FATHER Loved us while we were still in sin and walking in lawlessness. Our acts were not pleasing but they did not prevent FATHER from Loving us and providing HIS first begotten Son as a sacrifice. Before He started His ministry, Jesus was tempted of the devil. He was required to spend 40 days in the wilderness yet many of us become disheartened if our situation isn’t corrected immediately. We must let patience have its perfect work and let our faith be unwavering while patience is being fulfilled. Jesus had faith in FATHER’S Word as much on day 40 as He did when He was directed into the wilderness on day 1. By THE SPIRIT James wrote in chapter 1:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
It takes time for seeds to germinate and grow once they are put in fertile soil. We must remain steadfast in our quest to ascend to full maturity on all fronts. Our foundation of Love promotes and empowers faith, then faith promotes hope with the expectation of future increase in fruitfulness.
By THE SPIRIT the Beloved Disciple recorded in John chapter 20:
24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Jesus differentiated sense knowledge from faith. Thomas relied on sense knowledge of “seeing, then believing” whereas Jesus declared those who believe without seeing first are the ones who are blessed. Faith brings forth blessings. Thomas only trusted in the external and required proof provided through the senses to assure him of the truth. Many believers rely on this same method in order to have faith. Their reassurance only comes by repeated confirmations through the senses. Jesus instructed Thomas to get two confirmations, one by His hands and the other by touching His side.
Faith expects outward signs to follow as confirmation whereas sense knowledge expects signs to come first in order to point toward a truth and believe a philosophy expanding on the apparent truth. If the Word truly resides in us then we should expect it to manifest in the internal first. Once It becomes alive inside, the physical result will come forth in due time.
Many trust in technology more than they trust The Word. Science and technology are but an accumulation of fragments of knowledge which preexisted as hidden truths in the universe. These fragments cannot produce Love, faith, or a new creation. Technology is only a tool, not a solution within itself although many are preoccupied with technology at the expense of their spiritual health. They have become slaves to manmade idols. Be assured that Jesus is not walking around texting, tweeting, or using some other electronic means of substitution for interpersonal relationships. We must not let the external enslave us any longer. Let us be led by THE SPIRIT which is internal and effect change in the external by walking in great faith.