Bible Study: Increasing Faith

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Today is Sunday October 17, 2010 and we are reading through and studying the Bible one day at a time. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Mark, chapters 10-11. In these chapters we will read about, divorce, eternal life, Jesus healing a blind man, Jesus arriving in Jerusalem and casting out those who were trading in the Temple, the withered fig tree, forgiveness, and faith. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-17


Today's Message: Increasing Faith
The word faith is defined as having confidence or trust in a person or thing, it is also defined as having a strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence. Okay, the world seems to have it half right, it sees our faith in God as without proof or evidence, it is good to know that we can find the truth from the book of all knowledge, the Bible. The true meaning of faith is, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen....Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear....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.” - Hebrews 11:1,3,6. Okay, so, the Bible tells us that faith is the core or center of putting our confidence or trust in God, whom we can not see, and receiving them with proof of His existence through our belief in Him.
Our faith in God is like a line graph chart, sometimes it is way up high a we feel God is with us and sometimes it is so low that we feel God is no where to be found. You know, if you are saved God is always with you, even if you are not, God is always there nudging you to get saved. The truth is this, our faith increases by the things we receive, the more we receive the more faith we have, but if we start losing things our faith decreases. The big reason for this, we want to receive things on our terms and not God's. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” - Hebrews 10:25,26.

The key to all blessings from God is knowing His terms and the only way to know His terms is to be saved and get in His Word. Reading His Word without being saved is like trying to find a house with absolutely no directions, you will never find or increase your faith in God if you are not saved. If I had stuck my face in this great book years ago it would have kept me from a lot of suffering, but thank God that He got me to read it before I suffered even more by marrying a man that had been divorced twice. Yes, divorce is not in the will of God, Jesus said, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.”- Mark 10:11,12.

While divorce is not in the will of God, He does give us a way out of every situation and is forgiving to those who have divorced. “But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.” - I Corinthians 7:15-17.

God will often place circumstances in our lives in order to increase our faith in Him, Jesus is always with us, we need, but to call Him, such as the case of a blind beggar who heard that Jesus was passing by. “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” - Mark 10:47-52.

Although Jesus was in His presence and knew what the man wanted He did not give Him what He wanted until first, he cried out to Him, and secondly, Jesus saw his faith. It is important that we have faith, but equally important to call Him. “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him....So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” - Romans 10:12,17.

While nothing is impossible with God, sometimes the things we ask God for are just ridiculous, so, we should not expect them. Think about it, do you think God is going to give you gun to kill yourself? That is just something people do out of their own will and not God's. When Jesus was explaining to His disciples the things that were about to take place before He leaves the earth two of His disciples asked Jesus for something that He just could not give them. “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory...But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” -Mark 11:35-37,42-45.

Stop and think of what these were asking of God, the cup that Jesus is about to drink from, is His crucifixion, as well as the cup that he will pour out upon the earth at His return. However to be baptized with their baptism that Jesus is speaking of here is all the suffering and death that is right in from of Jesus. They cannot be there and go through those times and troubles, for Christ must go through it alone. Jesus is on the right hand of the Father, these two are asking to take the place of Almighty God. Their request is asked in ignorance, as are many of the requests that we ask of Him each day. Thank God that He does not give us our every request, and wishful desire. We need to remind ourselves that, the higher we rise in seeking to be like Christ, the lower we shall willingly stoop to serve those around us. A Christian should always be available to do what will the will of God and that will increase our faith and the blessings we receive. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” -I Peter 1:7-9. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have an awesome week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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