Questions and Answers

Quote 1. Quantitative: Is belief like water in a glass? Can you add to the glass? Can you have half a glass of belief? Can you have more belief than needed to receive what you need? The measure of faith by some is defined how successful we are spiritually. I truly don't believe that God determine (measure) our faith based on our own faith in each aspect of our lives. We need to guard our spiritual motives carefully and walk in Spirit regardless our circumstances. We need to examine our FAITH daily to make sure that our motives are pure. Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Quote 2. "All purpose": Can belief for salvation double as belief for healing or answered prayer? If belief is "quantitative" then would the "amount" of belief needed to be saved be sufficient to receive healing? 2 Corinthians 12:9 says "God said 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' We are to have faith in God, His Character and His plans. We can only see portion of the present while God sees the entire picture the present and the future. Quote 3. Made up of words: Do the words that describe belief actually make up that belief? Romans 5:2-4 Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Quote 4. The result of choice: Can you choose to believe? Can you choose not to? How does belief come? James 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Quote 5. Direct or Indirect: Does your belief have power resident within itself to accomplish the desired end. Or does the desired end require that God evaluate/validate your faith and then via His directed power perform the desired task? 2 Peter 1:3-11 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Quote 6. On the opposite end of a scale from "doubt". Is belief and doubt manifestations of the same substance? Or are they apples and oranges, one effecting the other. Spiritual maturity requires great care and a true knowledge of ourselves to distinguish a spiritual burden from irritation around us but at the same time, we cannot close our minds to everything that is happening around us. "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16) The Scriptures and Christian history have taught us ways to have spiritual endurance with the encouragement from the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 6:12 says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Quote 7. The opposite of unbelief? Is the lack of belief unbelief? Or is unbelief simply belief in something opposite of what you are desiring? Example: Belief in sickness is unbelief in health & belief in health unbelief in sickness. Actually, people like me actually believe but in a different way than some of you do. If we could see the end result of things from God’s view point, instead of asking “Why?”, we should be responding in FAITH and allow God to use our disavantage for HIS Glory. In Gal. 4:13-14, he writes "As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself." Paul also suffered from a "thorn in the flesh" which he unsuccessfully petitioned to have the Lord remove (2 Cor. 12:7-9). God does heal but only according to His will, not ours. Those who are not healed are not at fault. Its not about lack of faith or our sins or anything like that. The bible explains that each of our faith always pleases God, because it comes to grips with our own reality. If you know someone who is suffering, be careful what we say because your best guess as to the reason for someone's suffering is likely to be way off. God knows the reasons. We need to remember, God is God and He KNOWS ALL. Ecclesiastes 8:17 then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it. Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

More about Faith

Hebrews 11:1,2 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." James 1:3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 1 Peter 1:7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. Romans 5:2-4 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Faith recognizes the fact that God is in control of my life. Whether I believe it or not, it's a fact that God is in control of the world. If I don't believe it, I"m just robbing myself of the enjoyment of the fact. (Paul Little) "Faith never means gullibility. The man who believes everything is as far from God as the man who refuses to believe anything." The Root of the Righteous, 120. Faith (A.W. Tozer) Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. If we look at Ephesians 2:8 that FAITH is a gift from God. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 2 Peter 1:5-8 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reputation

Exodus 22:22 "Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. Leviticus 25:17 Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 24:14 Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. Jude 1:16 These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. Proverbs 11:16 A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. People around the world (mostly unbelievers) view TV Preachers as greedy preachers and that is NOT a good example of Christianity. They are using Christianity to gain wealth and take advantage of those who are looking for answers. It is really interesting what kind of teachers we have out there. Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus said "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" 1 Timothy 3:1-3 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. Reproach: an expression of rebuke or disapproval; the act or action of reproaching or disapproving ; a cause or occasion of blame, discredit, or disgrace; to express disappointment in or displeasure with (a person) for conduct that is blameworthy 1 Timothy 3:7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

Local Church Support

2 Corinthians 11:8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 1 Timothy 5:16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. We have to realize that a local church's accomplishments will depend upon members' spiritual condition. The church's financial health will be healthy if the people are submitting to the Holy Spirit, who will give them fruit. Your local Church's financial income and expenditures do not determine the quality of her ministries. Quality is measured by the Christlike living of the church members. If Christ is reigning in us, we will be giving joyfully and generously. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says that Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Remember the story about Macedonian churches? "And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity." (Second Corinthians 8:1–2) 2 Corinthians 8:19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. There are alot of TV preachers who take elderly people money without guilt, especially widows. This is why we need ought to check their ethics. Mark 12:40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely." Acts 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 1 Timothy 5:3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 1 Thessalonians 2:3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. Titus 1:11 They must be silenced. By their wrong teaching, they have already turned whole families away from the truth. Such teachers only want your money.