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.

 

GOD IN ME

Think of this:  God made us in His image and likeness. 

Think of the words of Jesus:  "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father."

Think of the implications of the purpose of our creation:  To be Christ imitations--Predestined Christian.

Think of what this means right now: 
If you believe in Christ, you possess the nature of Christ,
and the Holy Spirit of Christ;
so when someone sees you,
they have seen the Lord,
assuming you live in agreement with the Lord.

If you accept the mission of Christ as your mission, then men and women encounter God when they indeed encounter you.

This is the mission of Christ, in the words of Christ: 

"For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. All who are of the truth hear my voice."

Believe in Christ and commit yourself to the cause of Christ; in doing so you will be one with Christ.

Thus, when people encounter you, they will encounter Christ in you.

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!