Faith Christ Revealed

Faith begins when Christ is revealed

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Faith is a topic which has received more attention in pulpits in the last 50 years, than perhaps ever in the history of the world. Yet, here we are I believe, in a crisis of even understanding regarding it.

Our church used to belong to the Word of Faith movement, in which there is a TON of teaching on faith – some very good, some very misleading and some just downright wrong. Many years ago I taught a series on faith and on healing which addressed much of this, but in seeking the Lord this is where I believe He led me to begin teaching this morning.

I had a message all outlined and ready to go, when just a few hours before service I felt I needed to simply work thought Hebrews 11. So that is what this teaching is regarding.

It is sort of the basic nuts and bolts of faith with a focus on motive and Christ as its true author and object. I truly believe it is a timely message for believers of all ages and depths of walk. I too learned from this in that I believe the Holy Spirit filled my thoughts and mouth. If anything worth hearing and learning is here, it is from Him.

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Paul Prayers

In my prayers for you…

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Today we wrapped up our review of the “2nd stage letters” written by Paul to only certain churches.

By “2nd stage letters” I mean the letters he wrote calling them into deeper waters of maturity through his prayers and written encouragement.

There were only 3 churches and thereby 3 New Testament letters written by Paul who met these qualifications – Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians.

Things in common…
• They all loved Jesus and their brethren.
• They all had a well proven and demonstrated faith in Christ and faithfulness to Him

Things Prayed:
• Love will abound – hearts being knit together
• Filled with knowledge of Him and His will
• Understanding enhanced
• Approved walk (pure & blameless; full of fruit)
• Hope of calling; to the glory of His praise
• Two mentioned God’s power towards them to accomplish these goals

The difference is more pronounced by other letters…

The one to Rome, Thessalonians and Corinth come close, but are not as complete. In those there was an acknowledgement of their faith, and in some ways their love but their longing in prayer was to come to them and increase their faith through teaching.

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Train Child

Train up a Child?

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Proverbs 22 is a chapter full of some rather well known proverbial statements, a goo number of which are LOADED with buried treasures! By this I mean, that much is missed that is not dug for.

Examples include:
• A good name is better to be chosen than great riches…
• Train up a child in the way they should go…
• Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child…
• Do not move the ancient landmarks…
• …a man of skillful work will stand before kings…

In addition to these are many more which are less known, but no less profound. It was enjoyable to unpack these and discover their true meaning, if not their greater meanings within their given contexts.

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An eye for seeing what is truly valuable

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In this segment of our series on “face-to-face” we are looking at the encouragement of Paul to the Church in Philippi.

These saints had financially partnered with Paul from the very beginning of his ministry. In fact, it was immediately following support they had just sent to him while in prison by the messenger of their church Ephaphroditus that Paul wrote this letter.

We find that the encouragement he wrote to them is essentially the same as that to the Ephesians and for the same reasons. These believers possessed zealous love for their fellow Christians, even other churches where Paul ministered the Gospel. Time and again giving to his support. Additionally they expressed loyal faithfulness to Christ Jesus their Lord. These two attributes were Paul’s stated reason for praying the following for them – “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, (10) SO THAT YOU MAY APPROVE WHAT IS EXCELLENT, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, (11) filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

As we will see next week in Colossians, the same appeal is made to the Father on their behalf due to very similar reasons.

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Ignore poor

Ignore the poor, and you’ll be ignored

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This chapter 21 begins with a much quoted but misunderstood proverb and is often used in conjunction with misguided uses of 2 Chron. 7.

The proverb says,
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD like channels of water; He turns it wherever He wants.”  

Of course translations vary with some rendering the passage far better than others, but the sad take away for many is completely out of step with the rest of scripture. So we spent time examining this passage and studying some of the often assumed implications using Pharaoh King of Egypt and Cyrus the Great as key examples.

The second verse which really stood out from the rest was a sobering warning regarding the treatment of the poor. The scriptures have much to say about the poor and the blessings to those who give them aid. Here however, is a passage of warning regarding those who shut their ears to their cries for help. We learn that our Maker will treat us in kind when we cry out for help.

“The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and will not be answered.”  – Proverbs 21:13.

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