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ALL THE FAITH IN THE WORLD...
Murder in the Church, Part 10
Habakkuk 2:4

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Everywhere you turn today -- on Christian TV, Radio, bookshelves -- much clamour is being made about FAITH. 

What is FAITH?  Many will respond "the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen".  That's true, but there's one problem.  Many respond by quoting the passage from Hebrews 11 without doing three things:  1) looking at the passage's context, 2) defining faith by itself -- from a vocabulary perspective and 3) not embracing what the Bible has to say, as a whole, about faith.  This leads to error ... heresy ... destruction.

Let's broaden AND sharpen our horizons regarding faith by looking at these three aspects.  You'll thank God you did!

The Passage's Context

Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."  The surrounding text discusses things that happened in the lives of individuals as the result of having faith.  Each individual mentioned reflected the elements in Hebrews 11:6 -- they believed that God IS and they believed that He rewards those that diligently seek Him.  As you'll see, in retrospect (after reviewing the last point -- Habakkuk's Commentary), you'll see that each of these people lived by their faith, in the true sense of that phrase.

Believing in God, as many people claim to do, doesn't stop at believing that He exists.  The devil does that.  True faith believes that God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him -- so much so that one who truly believes will diligently seek Him and receive rewards for doing so.  If you say that you believe God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him, but you don't diligently seek Him, WHAT GIVES???  How can you say you believe He's a rewarder of diligent seekers, but you have no evidence of such in your own life?  You can't -- not with authority!!!

I challenge you also to take another look at the people in "The Hall of Faith" and consider the rewards they received for their faith:

Note Hebrews 11:13 -- "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."  This is the kind of faith that God wants us to have.  This is the kind of faith that should be taught in our churches, on our TV shows and on our radio broadcasts.  More specifically, we should be teaching the kind of faith that, firstly, is based on the unadulterated word.  We should be fully persuaded and embrace God's word.  Confession, contrary to popular belief, is something that cannot be taught.  It is automatic.  If you REALLY believe something, nobody has to press you to state such.  Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.  Those who confess things in an effort to make something happen are practicing FEIGNED FAITH (make believe). When the scripture states "without faith, it is impossible to believe God", be careful what kind of faith you have.  If God didn't author it (Hebrews 12:2), your faith is in vain. Defining Faith

The word "faith" has a definition that slips by most Christians.  Let's make sure we're all on the same page.  According to the Strong's dictionary, "Faith" means "persuasion or moral conviction".  Most today teaching and supposedly embracing faith, don't believe anything.  They're doing silly things like "making positive confessions" hoping to make something happen.  We're called to UNFEIGNED FAITH (1 Timothy 1:5).  Don't make stuff up and ascribe it to God. Let God author your faith.  If He authors it, He'll finish it.

Interestingly, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  Do you want unfeigned faith?  Hide the word of God in your heart!  If we submit to God's word, delight in God's word, keep God's word, He'll do wonderful things for us.  One of them is . . . He'll broaden our conviction/persuasion level and we'll walk by faith (conviction) and not by sight (only that which we can see -- natural understanding).

Scriptural Overview on Faith

As stated, faith if taught in many, many places.  It IS NOT being taught in accordance with God's will.  To shape a proper heart on the subject, consider these passages that discuss faith:

(Deuteronomy 32:20)  "And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith."  Froward, stubborn and disobedient people are said to have no faith.  This is yet one of many passages that connects faith with a lifestyle.

(Matthew 6:30)  "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"  This passage discusses faith for God's provision, but it is also talking about priorities (...seek ye first the kingdom of God....).  To believe God for "stuff", is not enough.  God desires that we prioritize what we seek and follow through accordingly.

(Matthew 8:7-10)  "And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. {8} The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. {9} For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. {10} When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."  When you read this passage with the definition of "persuasion and moral conviction" in mind, it changes your perception.  This man was persuaded and convicted (elements of submission).

(Matthew 8:26)  "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."  Wherre does faith apply here?  Jesus has stated, let us go to the other side.  This meant that they were GOING TO THE OTHER SIDE, regardless of what they were experiencing.  We need to trust God's word when He speaks on our behalf.  Too many times, we walk by sight and let what we see affect our confidence in what God has said -- fear replacing faith. 

(Matthew 9:2)  "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."  True faith can be SEEN -- most importantly, by God.

(Matthew 9:22)  "But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour." The woman with the issue of blood is a great example of someone who "moves" based on a conviction.  She was fully persuaded that she would be healed.  The catch?  God authored the faith.  The proof?  She was healed.  There is a difference between wishful thinking and faith.  Seek God for wisdom to differentiate between the two.

(Matthew 16:8)  "Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?"  Faith has EVERYTHING to do with understanding the words of the Lord.  Here, Jesus is reproving the disciples regarding their inability to understand something He said to them.  Do you have a hard time understanding what "thus saith the Lord"? 

(Matthew 21:21)  "Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done."  Remember, keep all scripture in mind.  This passage doesn't mean that you can "have whatever you say".  Remember, faith must be authored by God.  We're not license to create our own expectation levels.  We submit to God and He'll put things in our hearts.

(Mark 11:22)  "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God."  Some people have faith in faith.  This is inordinate.

(Luke 17:5-6)  "And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. {6} And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you."  Which is more important to you -- to have your faith increased OR to have the faith that you do have to be stabilized -- to become TRUE, uninhibited faith?  Selah.

(1 Corinthians 13:13)  "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."  Charity is greater than faith.  Hence, one must wonder why nobody has a "charity ministry".  Faith works by love (agape -- attitude).  Without the proper attitude, faith profits us nothing . . . in the long run.  To spend so much time teaching about faith and downplaying and overlooking charity is erroneous.

Closing -- Habukkuk's Commentary

The just shall live by his faith.  As alluded to earlier, by misdefining "faith", people end up in error.  This oft-quoted scripture is usually taken out of context.  Habakkuk is referring to something quite different that many teachers assay.  Here, the prophet shows faith as a means by which one lives. Here, the word "faith" refers to "firmness and fidelity" a/k/a steadfastness and integrity.

This is not a "for the moment" faith.  This is an "everyday, constant, operational" kind of faith that affects everything a person does.  It it not selective or selfish.  As a result of exercising this kind of faith, a person is declared just (Hebrew -- righteous).

Hence, the main/real issue of faith is RIGHTEOUSNESS -- NOT WHAT WE GET BY EXERCISING FAITH . . . STUFF!!!  Yes.  Our righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ.  This righteousness, however, is marked by the deeds that follow.  Even faith, coupled with a rejection of baptism, is an act of defiance; hence, transforming faith into unbelief.  First John 3:7-10 declares "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. {8} He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. {9} Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. {10} In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."  If you believe that someone who violates the Christian call to righteous is righteous, you're deceived.  True faith produces righteousness (good fruit).

In conclusion, truth is . . .. all the faith in the world won't save you from a devil's hell . . .. if you don't submit yourself to the Lord and present yourself a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto God -- our reasonable service.  Don't be fooled by feigned faith.  Have faith in God, but let it be the faith that HE sanctions.

The just man shall live by his faith.  Do you profess righteousness in Jesus Christ?  What do YOU live by?  Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  If you fall for "faddish" ministry about faith, you'll become a murder victim -- a statistic.

Until next time, keep the word and be blessed!

Reprinted from Cry Aloud: Volume 4, Issue 35 -- All the Faith in the World...Murder in the Church, Part 10
Copyright © 1998, 2000, CyberSaint/Scenario Ministries International
An outreach ministry of Remnant Christian Assembly, Inc. All rights reserved.
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