The power of your faith
"Everything is possible for one who believes." Mark 9:23
"Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20c
There didn't seem to be an in-between for him. He seemed to see no reason to doubt or disbelieve him, or God the Father. No reason at all.
Of course, he's right. RA Torrey said, "Every act of sin is an act of distrust in God. Trusting God deprives sin and temptation of all their power. He who trusts God will do right though the heavens fall."
Trusting God is the source of sinless perfection and power. And why shouldn't we trust God?
He is perfectly good, perfectly powerful, and perfectly wise.
It should be the easiest thing in the world for us to do. And it is something to do, as it is also written, "Faith without works is dead. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead."
Notice what James is doing in those words:
Faith=the body
Works=the spirit.
I learned the opposite. I learned that faith animates works, but James says works animate, or give life to, faith, as the spirit gives life to the body.
We all know this. If we really believe something (or someone), we act on that belief. We do what we really believe. And when we believe, we can do anything. As Jesus said, everything is possible, and nothing impossible. Why? Because, as Jesus also said, "With God, all things are possible." So it's logical:
With God all things are possible.
I believe in God.
Therefore, with me, all things are possible.
Or put it another way. If everything I do is an act of trust in God, with whom all things are possible and nothing impossible, then everything I do will be possible, because everything I do is His will. This is why with people like Joseph, it was written, "God was with Joseph and gave him success in everything he did." God is the only one who succeeds in everything he does. So if someone is succeeding in everything he does, then it must mean God is with him.
Look at this yet another way.
It is written, "God is love."
It is also written, "Love never fails."
Therefore, God never fails.
And we never fail when we love. As it is also written, "Love is the fulfillment of the law."
And "the only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself in love."
So we come full circle. Love never fails. Love is the expression of faith. Therefore, faith never fails. This is the power of your faith.
"Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20c
Jesus consistently responded to faith.
He rewarded belief and rebuked disbelief.
Belief amazed Jesus. Disbelief angered Jesus.
There didn't seem to be an in-between for him. He seemed to see no reason to doubt or disbelieve him, or God the Father. No reason at all.
Of course, he's right. RA Torrey said, "Every act of sin is an act of distrust in God. Trusting God deprives sin and temptation of all their power. He who trusts God will do right though the heavens fall."
Trusting God is the source of sinless perfection and power. And why shouldn't we trust God?
He is perfectly good, perfectly powerful, and perfectly wise.
It should be the easiest thing in the world for us to do. And it is something to do, as it is also written, "Faith without works is dead. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead."
Notice what James is doing in those words:
Faith=the body
Works=the spirit.
I learned the opposite. I learned that faith animates works, but James says works animate, or give life to, faith, as the spirit gives life to the body.
We all know this. If we really believe something (or someone), we act on that belief. We do what we really believe. And when we believe, we can do anything. As Jesus said, everything is possible, and nothing impossible. Why? Because, as Jesus also said, "With God, all things are possible." So it's logical:
With God all things are possible.
I believe in God.
Therefore, with me, all things are possible.
Or put it another way. If everything I do is an act of trust in God, with whom all things are possible and nothing impossible, then everything I do will be possible, because everything I do is His will. This is why with people like Joseph, it was written, "God was with Joseph and gave him success in everything he did." God is the only one who succeeds in everything he does. So if someone is succeeding in everything he does, then it must mean God is with him.
Look at this yet another way.
It is written, "God is love."
It is also written, "Love never fails."
Therefore, God never fails.
And we never fail when we love. As it is also written, "Love is the fulfillment of the law."
And "the only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself in love."
So we come full circle. Love never fails. Love is the expression of faith. Therefore, faith never fails. This is the power of your faith.
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