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Tag: Faith comes by hearing

Busy Hands for God

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On January 24, 2013

In Christian

The Bible says that we ought to be doers of the word and not mere hearers of it, lest we deceive ourselves (James 1:22). Jesus likened the man who does what he hears of the word of God to be like the wise man who built his house on a rock (solid foundation) (Matthew 7:24). While it is important to recognize that we are saved solely by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and not by any of our own works (Ephesians 2:8), we are called to do good works (Ephesians 2:10) – works that glorify God the Father, who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). We must not only hear, for faith comes by hearing, but upon our response to Christ Jesus’ call, we must be busy in God’s kingdom business, of reconciling man unto God (2 Corinthians 5:20), by doing his will and not our own in our lives (Luke 22:42). In other words, we must act on our faith, by faith, for faith without action is dead (James 2:17)

Points to ponder:
One knows that time is counting when they see the hands of the clock busy and moving. In the same manner, one will know that the time of our life counts when they see our hands busy and moving, working for the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not waste our lives. Just like the builders in the time of Nehemiah, took on one hand, weapons and with the other carried materials to do the work of God (Nehemiah 4:17), we must take on the word of God (which is the weapon (Sword) of the Spirit) on one hand, and work for the Lord with the other. Jesus’ hands were pierced so ours did not have to be. The least we can do is use our hands to work for him. The word of God and the work of God go hand in hand, and our hands must be busy for God, with both.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

James 1:22 (KJV)
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Proverbs 18:9 (KJV)
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Nehemiah 4:17-18 (KJV)
17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

Lesser known characters :: Sergius Paulus

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On October 17, 2011

In Christian, Lesser known characters

When Barnabas and Saul (who also is called Paul) come to the island of Paphos, there are confronted by a sorcerer and false prophet whose name was Barjesus, also known as Elymas. This false prophet was with Sergius Paulus, the deputy of that country, but the Bible says that Sergius Paulus was a prudent man and he called for Barnabas and Saul, from whom he could hear the word of God. Elymas the sorcerer however withstood them and sought to turn away the deputy from faith that comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Paul tells Elymas that for his opposition to righteousness and his perversion of God’s right ways, he will be blind for a season and Elymas turns blind. Upon seeing this Sergius Paulus, is astonished and believes.

What can we learn from Sergius Paulus?
Even though Sergius Paulus had Elymas the sorcerer with him, he was wise to call for Barnabas and Saul and when he saw the sovereignty of God in blinding the sorcerer that wanted to blind Sergius Paulus from the faith,  Sergius Paulus believed. Like Sergius Paulus, we must be prudent as well and seek to hear the word of God.

Acts 13: 6-12 (KJV)
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Christian Senses :: To Hear

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On July 12, 2011

In Christian, Christian Senses

After Jesus read the portion from Isaiah, that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him, because he was anointed to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (captive) and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19), Jesus said that this scripture was now fulfilled in their ears. His words were “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” implying that in the hearing of Jesus, as the Salvation of mankind is the fulfillment of the scripture (Luke 4:21).

Faith (Salvation) comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). What is this word? Prophet Isaiah tells us that the word of the Lord that was revealed to him in his ears, by the LORD of hosts, is that his iniquity (sins) shall not be purged until he dies (Isaiah 22:14). The word of God is that we must die; die to self and die to sin. In other words, we must be righteous and holy. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin (Romans 4:8) but righteousness. To be righteous, we must be imputed righteousness, which is possible only by believing in Jesus. For when we believe in Jesus Christ, His righteousness is imputed on us (Romans 4:24).

He who has an ear, let him hear, what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.

Point(s) to ponder:
Have you/I heard the word of God? In Christ Jesus alone, is the scripture fulfilled (in our ears).

Luke 4:17-21 (KJV)
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Isaiah 22:14 (KJV)
14 And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Faith and Action – 2 sides of the same coin

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On September 17, 2010

In Christian

In the beginning was Jesus – the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1). Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). In other words, faith comes from the word of God and this means that the source of our faith is Jesus Christ – the Word of God.

But since faith OPERATES by works (actions), we are to OVERTLY respond to the will of God and OBEY the word of God. The Bible tells us that  faith without works (actions) is dead. Faith and action are akin to the two sides of the same coin, in the Hand of God. It is not mere preaching (VERBAL Faith) but practicing (VISIBLE Faith) that God seeks from all who believe in Him. Jesus is not only the PROVISION OF our faith, but He is also the PURPOSE OF our faith.

The Bible leaves the following question unanswered,”When the Son of man (Jesus) comes [again], will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Think about it and act on it by faith.


Dr. Jesus

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On March 22, 2010

In Christian

All of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), record the various cases in which Jesus healed someone. Jesus is the kind of physician who would put the pharmacy out of business, because Dr. Jesus operated by the fullness of the power of God that dwelt in Him, being the fullness Himself.

What can we learn from those whom Jesus healed?
Is there an application to take away, in a day, where man’s trust is more in medicine than in the maker of men.

Jesus healed the

  • paralytic – to show that that invalid can be made valid.
  • leper – to show that the unclean can be made clean.
  • man with the shriveled hand – to show that the withered can be made whole and that the whole must be stretched to serve.
  • blind – to show the darkness is dispelled by light and that no one is deprived of seeing Jesus, the Light of the World.
  • deaf – to show that the good news can be heard since Faith only comes by hearing (the word of God).
  • mute – to show that even the dumb and dumber can proclaim the good news.
  • lame – to show that no one can any longer have a lame excuse to not walk in newness of life.
  • possessed – to show that those in bondage can be freed and that captivity is set free.
  • dead – to show that Only In him is life, life abundantly and all those who believe in Him, though they die yet shall they live.

The greatest healing that Dr. Jesus has demonstrated to many of us -Christians (i.e., his followers, who have believed in His Name) is that He has healed us from the leprosy of sin to show us blameless without spot or wrinkle.

Matthew 9:35 (KJV)
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Luke 9:11 (KJV)
11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

Acts 10:38 (KJV)
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Faith and Fear

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On October 27, 2009

In Christian

What is Faith? Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1). It is the substance, meaning it it real. It is an evidence, meaning that it can be proven even if invisible.

What is Fear? An acrostic for the word ‘FEAR’ reads False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear is diametrically opposite of faith. There is no substance and the evidence is not only invisible, but non-existent and cannot be proven.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17)
Fear comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of the enemy of God, Satan. When Eve and Adam listened to the lies of Satan in the garden and sinned against God, they were afraid (they feared) and they hid themselves from God.

God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7). So are we living by Faith or are we living in Fear? The question really is, whose voice are we hearing – God or his enemy?

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