how much faith is enough?

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”  He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.  Luke 17:5-6

it seems like they had enough faith, as far as the Lord was concerned.  yes, he at times marveled at the "great faith" of some who trusted him, and rebuked the "little faith" of those who didn't; he even outright denounced the "faithless generation" that sought signs and wonders instead of trusting the signs he already performed.

yet he said that the smallest amount of faith could move mountains.

how much faith is enough, and how do we know we have it?
 

 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1 

so, do i have the smallest sureness of what i hope for, and the smallest certainty of what i do not see?  i want my children to be healed of sickness, for example.  this is what i hope for:  healing.  this is what i do not yet see:  perfect health.  how can i be sure that my children will be healed, and certain of their healing before i see it?

the verse assumes a promise, a surety, a legal guarantee from God.  like when i paid first and last months rent, and gave the land lord a security deposit, so God gives us a "security deposit," the Holy Spirit, as Paul said to the Ephesian Christians.  So, as Paul said, if God would not spare His Son, or His Spirit, and if God would give us His Son while we were His enemies, will He spare us anything else that is good and of far less value?

Of this I am sure and certain:  God is love, and God is good.  I know that God is full of compassion and great in mercy.  Jesus promised this:  Ask, and it will be given.  Seek, and you will find.  Knock, and the door will be opened.  He said if evil human fathers can give good gifts to their children when they ask, how much more will the perfectly good heavenly Father give good gifts, and His Holy Spirit, to His children when they ask?  now that i am a father, i have a deeper understanding of this verse.  i know without doubt i am an imperfect father, yet i can say with all honesty that i have not knowingly withheld ANYTHING good from my children when they've asked.  i give them whatever they need or want that is good when they ask.  if i can comfort them or help them, i do it without hesitation.  i am certain that God is infinitely better and has more power than i do.

Therefore, I am sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see:  That God will heal my family, and that the devil will flee from me.

how much faith is enough, and how do i know i have enough faith?
the smallest amount of sureness in God's goodness is enough.  i know that i have it, because i can't live without it.

 

What DID Jesus DO?

You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.  Acts 10:37-38

The question used to be asked: "What would Jesus DO?"

I believe the answer lies in what Jesus actually DID.

Wherever He went, He did good.  What good?  Miraculous good.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.

Matthew 4:23-24  NIV

1. Preaching

2. Teaching

3. Healing

4. Liberating

These are the good things Jesus did wherever He went.

He proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God:  that God's kingdom had indeed returned--by His very presence and the presence of the Spirit of God.  God was (and is) with those who believe, and will be with all who believe.  He also taught the ways of the kingdom of God, the means by which God's kingdom and will are to be done on earth as in heaven.

What better news is there than this--if it was true...

BUT IT REALLY WAS TRUE!  How do we know?

In heaven there is no sickness.  Therefore, Jesus cured all who came to Him or were brought to Him.

Christ cast Satan and the demons out of heaven.  Thus when they were in men and women, Jesus cast them out. 

Now we should know the answer to the question, "What would Jesus do?"  And indeed, for those who believe, we should do likewise.

Christians should preach and teach the Kingdom of God, and demonstrate the truth of God's kingdom by healing the sick and casting out demons--by supernatural power.  With power the proclamation of God's kingdom is made.  The Spirit of Christ is on earth.  Where the Spirit is, the kingdom of God is.

We know what Jesus did, therefore we know what Jesus would do in every situation, as it is written,

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." 

What He did is what He still does, and what He will do for all who will believe in Him.

GOD FIGHTS (PART 3)

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." 

Exodus 14:14

God fights for His people.

God fights through His people.

The people of God are warriors, strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

God armed them, making them dangerous with invincible armor and a double edged sword.

They are impenetrable and immovable.

Touch them and suffer consequences dire!

Called more than overcomers, more than conquerors, more than victors, God's people possess spirits of power, spirits of love, and sound minds.  They follow the example of their Lord, who silenced the mouths of enemies and kings; who told His followers that His Spirit gives irresistable and irrefutable words. 

End the madness of God's children who weaken their words as though weakness is love!

The God who is love is a consuming fire!  Thus the love of God warms and burns!

God's children overcome evil with good, unmercifulness wtih mercy, injustice with justice.  Take them lightly to your own harm, for the word of the Lord is on their tongues!  That word which is a double edged sword is theirs!  Beware!  Be enlightened!  Reject the deception that they have no weapons!!  Their weapons come from heaven and are made by the hands of GOD!

Children of God, all who read, heed the words of your brother:

You are warriors, sons and daughters of God, The Invincible Warrior!  Your words are swords. Your faith is an impenetrable invincible shield.  Wield the truth that is Christ, that is your life, without fear.  Love good.  Hate evil.  Accept good, reject evil--expose and eradicate the works of the devil!!!

God fights for you!

God fights through you!

GOD FIGHTS (PART 2)

"Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle."

Psalms 24:8

God not only fights.

GOD FIGHTS WELL!

And by God I mean THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE SPIRIT. 

Enough of the foolishness that makes GOD THE  FATHER THE MEAN GOD, and Jesus meek and mild, with the Spirit meeker and milder.

Hear all who read, the LORD our God, the LORD is ONE.

God cannot be mocked, defeated, played, or annoyed.

Who is this King of glory?

Who is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah?

Who is the Spirit who will not forgive blasphemy against Him?

To my dearest God and Father and Creator

Dearest God,

Thank you for creating me.  You thought of me in past eternities, honoring me in your infinite memory with the purpose of our intimacy.  I love you.  I love you.  I love you.

If this wasn't enough, you gave me a body in which you would dwell eternally, honoring me as your temple to fill and fulfill.  I have you as Father, Brother, and Master.  I know you as my best and only friend.

And if this wasn't enough...

You gave me Lucy, my wife, my sister, my lover, my best friend on earth.  This dearest sweetest and kindness,  this most beautiful witness of light brings me the delight of friendship in a world of loneliness and shallowness.  I love her with a love that is love.  For 11  years you blessed me with my one and only earthly love.  She is your precious and priceless gift to me.  My Lucy.

And yet you keep blessing me!

With six wonders of oneness, each a different reflection of you and me and my Lucy.  I am unworthy.  Forgive me for every pain or heartache caused to you or them.  May I please you, and them, from now on  and forever.

May all who read know the blessing of God on my life.