Faith
Recently I wrote an article that flowed from a broken heart over the recent loss of a dear friend of mine. I stated there were simply sometimes that God does things we do not understand and it is impossible for us to understand. I went on a rampage about how God is not like a formula and we cannot use Him as such. I wrote I was a little comforted by the fact a friend had reminded me, “The Lord giveth and taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” I was pretty upset when I wrote that article (I wrote it the evening of the day she passed away) so I knew I was going to say things I did not mean, but at that point, I didn’t care.
All that to say this: Maybe I’m easily persuaded (I’m getting better though), but I’m writing this to refute most of what I wrote in that article.
Thank God for Starbucks. And thank God for friends. I found myself at Starbucks with my dear friend Amriel on Thursday night. I knew we were going to hang out and I knew this topic of faith and God and healing and such was bound to come up (and if it didn’t, I was going to bring it up.) Amy is the kind of person I can talk to about anything and tell her everything I’m thinking and as much as she may disagree (or agree,) she’ll listen and then speak God’s Word to me. She isn’t bound to a doctrine some church came up with…she just wants to know Jesus and His power. And she wants to make that known to people. She’s the one who challenges me and gives me hope that I can someday be like her. =P
I’ve grown up in the church where divine healing is taught and/or preached. That God has already purchased healing through Jesus Christ for His people and all that is required to do is to accept that gift (just like people accept the gift of salvation.) And I’ve always believed that because, number 1, from my reading and studying of Scripture, it is very much Biblical. My conversation with Amy on Thursday only reinforced that much more than before. And number 2, I’ve seen it take place. I’ve seen it in my own, personal life. I’ve seen it with my family, my friends and I’ve definitely heard many many stories about it (once again, Amy was sure to tell me many.)
Jesus never refused to heal anyone he met. If they wanted healing from Him, He gave it to them—as long as they had faith. The only time the Bible says Jesus did not heal people was in His own hometown of Nazareth where He marveled at their lack of belief! And if Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He is still that kind of God…despite what happened last week or what happens whenever a person does not receive their healing. According to Scripture, all believers have already been healed (1 Peter 2:24-“…by his wounds you have been healed.” Note that, originally, in Isaiah 53:5, it states, “…by his wounds we are healed.”) Once Christ died on the cross for us and was raised up, we have healing. It has been given to us. It is only for us to accept now. Just like when Christ died on the cross and rose again the world was given salvation. But it’s up to the people in the world to accept that gift.
Since yesterday morning at about 5:50, Hebrews 11 has been laid on my heart. Of course, we all know it is the “faith” chapter. It discusses what faith is and what people in the past exercised the faith that pleases God. And because I don’t just like to read a portion of Scripture and take it ‘as-is’, Hebrews 10 and 12 have also been of great benefit to me. Just think about these verses:
Hebrews 10:21-“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith…”
Hebrews 10:23-“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:38-39-“But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”
Hebrews 11:1-“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:2-“This is what the ancients were commended for.”
I love this one! I always have skipped over this verse because it seems a tad bit irrelevant and definitely not “new.” I’m all about changing the methods we use to get the message of Christ across to the culture we live in today so whenever I hear anything about “tradition” or “ancient” or “old times” my brain just kicks off. But seriously, if the ancients were commended for having the faith mentioned in Heb. 11:1, I want that kind of faith.
Hebrews 11:6-“And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:11-“By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.”
When we see a promise in Scripture, do we take it as truth because He who made it is faithful? Or do we simply say we believe the promise until we see it actually happen?? No, we must believe because it is true and God is faithful to keep His Word.
Hebrews 11:23,27-“By faith Moses’ parents…were not afraid…By faith he left Egypt, not fearing…”
In both those verses faith is mentioned right along side not being afraid, not doubting that God would hold up His end of the deal all the time.
Hebrews 11:30-“who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised…”
Hebrews 12:2-“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”
Jesus Christ, the Most Captivating Man Ever, is not only the Author of my faith—the one who started it all, but He is the Perfecter of my faith—He will help me to make my faith solid so it does not waiver
Those are amazing statements on faith. What I failed to realize the past week was that God, although not a formula God, He is a God of order. He, thankfully, set up a way for people to have a relationship with Him. That way is through faith (by grace, of course. Ephesians 2:8-9.) If we do not have faith, we can’t please Him. The problem I had the past week was that I was thinking, “If things go against God’s Word because of people’s lack of faith, God is not loving.” But how many times have I told a calvinistic-minded person, “How can you say everything is up to God?! That leaves no room for true love.” So I was really confused, but reading God’s Word on faith and listening to Amy talk to me about faith and how we, as believers, should exercise our faith has changed everything for me.
As much as I love books about being relevant to our culture, being a “new” kind of Christian or whatever, I had forgotten the difference the books about faith and certain books of the Bible and God’s Word had made in my life. They were the ones that gave me more revelation into God’s Word itself and that began to transform my life.
I have, unfortunately, exchanged God’s Power, His Word and His faithfulness for cultural relevance and trying to be a “cool” Christian. However, I do not think the past several months I have been researching how to be relevant and up-to-date on this Christianity thing have been in vain. I think they have helped me to understand more about Jesus and the way He lived His life. And I now understand way more about social justice and the importance of giving people hope and love. But in that, I now devote myself to knowing God more so I can make Him known in all His fullness.
Faith. It’s interesting stuff I sometimes don’t understand. But I think the next two books I’m going to read are by Smith Wigglesworth on faith. Do I sound like I’m going back to the traditional stuff? Do I sound like I’m going back to the “old” way of being a Christian? Perhaps it sounds like that. But this is going to push me forward into more of God and His power and therefore be able to make Him known in a better way. I can’t wait. It’ll be fun.
A Note:
This is a refute to the article I wrote last week (Why??) It is NOT a refute against anything I said about Rachel. Rachel was amazingness and I miss her so much. This is just a refute against my questioning God's faithfulness to His Word. His Word always stands and always 'works.' | 
