TI

[Mr. M]

;

 

[grampster]

I hope I'm not derailing this thread, but I saw it had to do with Faith. I've been pondering something since yesterday about that. I've been born again for around 40 years and am always amazed at simple insights that occur from time to time while in prayer, reading the bible, or just thinking about just who and what we are as saved individuals.

Yesterday it occurred to me something that is probably evident to many, but had never occurred to me; the difference between "belief" and "faith". I had sort of thought in terms of that they were much the same, or maybe didn't much think about it at all...like it was a "given" that belief and faith were interchangeable.

At the moment I am stunned to realize that maybe...or I don't think... they are the same at all. "I believe..." seems to be what we Christians operate by. But is that enough? Maybe not...as I recall the bible somewhere says that even demons "believe". The stunning thing to me is that "faith" is a concept that is throughout scripture, but never struck me as to exactly what it meant. I won't go on here about that as it would take up a lot of space. I'd just like to hear some opinions about how much more important faith is than just mere belief. To me it seems that faith is a confirmation of belief and having even a small portion of it brings much peace and confirmation of being forgiven and saved...and alter our lives going forward. Just how powerful a small piece of faith is as Jesus said...if we had a portion the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains.

I am also surprised it took 40 years to seem to understand this and now how do I deal with it?

I hope I managed to be at least a little clear with my comment.

 

[Mr. M]

At the moment I am stunned to realize that maybe...or I don't think... they are the same at all. "I believe..." seems to be what we Christians operate by. But is that enough?

It certainly begins with belief.
John 14:1. Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
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.

Belief becomes Faith when you commit your Trust.
This involves acting on your belief without doubting.
After 40 years you should be able to recognize when the Spirit
is directing you or correcting you, etc... and you accept The Lord's
sovereignty over your life to act on that heart belief.
David exhorts us to Trust In the Lord, this is Faith, in action.

Psalm 37:
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Surely you know this Proverb
3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

This sounds like walking by Faith to me.
This is addressed in the OP here:

If you know the Lord, and the Voice of His Spirit, you will keep His every Word,

as He speaks to you personally, in every moment.

Romans 8:4. That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who
do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

This is the only way to fulfill the Law.
You must listen and obey.
He is ever speaking to those who listen.

"Man does not live by bread alone, but every spoken Word that proceeds
from the Father's mouth. Matthew 4:4.

 

[grampster]

Thanks for your encouragement. I am familiar with much of scripture...it's just that maybe we sometimes look at them as words rather than personal messages in spite of the counsel we get. I have found in just the last couple days that the power of faith is something I knew, but is something I hadn't really grasped..even when looking at how obvious faith is discussed in scripture, especially by our Lord and Savior Jesus. It's hard to explain... but I am grateful to the Holy Spirit for nudging me a bit harder recently.

 

[Blessing James]

How do we have faith and is it through the heart

 

[Mr. M]

How do we have faith and is it through the heart

Heart, Soul, Mind, and Body; especially your tongue!
Let David teach you James. Pause and Meditate on each verse.
May The Lord lift up His Countenance upon you, and grant you peace.
Psalm 34:
1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.