Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction of matters which are not being observed
To the Hebrews 11: 1, Concordant New Testament
One of the most talked and written about subjects we will find in Christianity is that of faith. There have been countless books, videos and Sunday sermons devoted to the subject. This was my question to my friend the other day, what is faith? Is our faith indeed something which we assume from God, as the writer of Hebrews suggests {To the Hebrews 11:1}? To this my friend disagreed. In his words, if I am to assume, then I make an a$$ out of me. So, the question remains, what is faith? Well, I believe that we cannot trash that entire iconic scripture from Hebrews in one sitting. For I do believe that our faith is indeed that conviction of what we do not see. That we trust in the Lord that what He has declared will come to pass. Now, this is where many in the mainstream church have gotten into the weeds so to speak. For they all too often speak that we can ask anything of God expecting Him to provide what we ask. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. I recall the "Name it and claim it" fad which many churches went through some years ago. Honestly, I believe that this craze was started by some wealth centered pastor, but I cannot be certain of that. Whoever it was, the name it and claim it spin on theology spoke to Christians believing in their own prosperity. That it wasn't wrong or non-biblical to ask God for material wealth. To support this claim, many pastors dug up scripture from the bible which speaks to our asking God to provide for us {Matthews Account 7:7, Paul to the Philippians 4:19}. Even back then, I felt a little guilty and out of place asking God for Him to provide something like a new car or house for me. Yet the name it and claim it crowd told me that it was absolutely fine to do so. One thing that I often wondered was, what does God want for me? What is it that He desires to provide me most of all? When we ask ourselves that question, we strip away all which the mainstream church has tried to tell us about faith.
For at present we are observing by means of a mirror, in an enigma, yet then, face to face. At present I know out of instalment, yet then I shall recognize according as I am recognized also
Paul to the Corinthians (1) 13: 20, Concordant New Testament
Far from our own prosperity, I believe that what God desires for us above all is to know our own relationship in Him. This is our relationship which Jesus speaks to in the book of John {Johns Account 14:20}. To trust that this life we live we are living in Him. THAT is faith. The author of the Proverbs speaks to our trust in God only. That is, to trust in God not looking to our own understanding {Proverbs 3:5}. Many in the world and in the mainstream church have often referred to such trust in God as blind faith. I would agree with that description. I place my trust in God, not in what I understand. Those in the church have trouble accepting the truth of our life in the Father. In my opinion, they lack the faith to accept this truth. Perhaps their own eyes have never been opened to what the Father desires for them. For far too many believers, faith is something we utilize when we want something FROM God. In His sermon on the mount which we find in Matthew, Jesus lays out the brutal truth of this misguided thinking. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also {Matthews Account 6:21}. How does the name it and claim it prosperity church culture fit into this teaching of Jesus? Are their hearts focused on material wealth, or on the Father? Now, I am in no way saying that we should not pray for God's intervention. But this gets into the discussion of what prayer truly is, and that if for another page on another day. As far as seeking Gods provision, Jesus has proclaimed that the Father already knows what it is that we need {Matthews Account 6:32}. Why wouldn't He? Our life in in Him. We can trust that God knows all too well not only what we need, but what we will be seeking of Him.
~Scott~
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