Monday, December 14, 2015

Turn on Your Radar

Radar is a device for determining the presence and location of an object by measuring the time for the echo of a radio wave to return from said object and the direction from which it returns. It can also be described as a means or sense of awareness or perception. From a spiritual perspective, we can say that faith is God's radar in the believer that gives them the ability to determine the natural from the spiritual or the visible from the invisible. "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:3)

Jesus tells us,  "...“Have faith in God." (Mark 11:22)  A more literal translation of this verse is, "Have God's faith" or "Have the God kind of faith." In Greek, the verb is in the passive voice, which means that the action comes from the outside. Jesus does not ask us to have faith in God; He is saying that God gives us a measure of faith (Romans 12:3) that in essence, is a part of Him. In other words, our human nature is incapable of generating the kind of faith that pleases God. We must take hold of God's faith. In a sense, Jesus was telling His disciples to receive God's faith to operate in the supernatural to bless others. 

Another aspect of faith is, it sees as real and complete that which has yet to be revealed to the natural senses, "the evidence of things not seen." Think about it, there are times when God commands that we do something, that might not seem to make sense, because the carnal mind cannot understand spiritual matters. (1 Corinthians 2:14) However, if we understand that faith is "the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1), we will begin to see things as God sees them. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10) God has already determined the end from the beginning as well as everything in between. So, how do we appropriate what He has declared in the now? This is where our faith comes in. It touches things in the spiritual realm that are already complete but cannot yet be seen in the natural realm or visible world. When our faith reaches into the spiritual realm, it gives us a conviction of its reality and persuades us to wait for the fulfillment of things not seen.In other words, faith converts things that cannot be seen, into a tangible reality in the physical world which manifests in the now, not in the future. 

If we continue reading the definition of faith as revealed in Hebrews 11:1, we will notice that there is still something pending, something that has yet to manifest, something that waits for the future, "things hoped for." But let us remember that in terms of eternity, where God resides, He has already completed everything. For example, He has already accomplished every miracle, sign, wonder, healing, provision or any other need that man could ever think or ask Him for. (Ephesians 1:3, 3:20) He has also completed and given every promise found in His Word. So, what is our part in all of this? We appropriate these eternal things into the now by activating our faith to believe for the impossible. Jesus tells us, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23) Also, keep in mind that with God, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

We may sometimes find ourselves in a place where these truths do not seem to be real. Maybe that is where you find yourself right now. You have asked in the Name of Jesus but what you have asked God for has not yet manifested in the physical realm. Well, in Mark's gospel a man came out of a crowd and asked Jesus to deliver his demon possessed son. He stated that he had some faith, but admitted to Jesus that it may not be enough, "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24) Maybe our faith has not risen enough to bring the eternal into the physical in a certain area, but the Lord certainly understands exactly where we are in our faith. As with the man in the above circumstance, let us also cry out to the Lord and ask Him to help our unbelief. With the mans honesty declaring his lack of faith, "Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him." (Mark 9:25-26)

Remember, God loves us and gave His only begotten Son to restore us to what Adam was and had before he disobeyed God. Not only that, in Christ, the believer has been given eternal life. Although Adam was not mortal nor immortal, but a perfect human being, He did not have eternal life. He ate of the fruit from the tree that brought death, not the tree of life. So, do not become discouraged, but continue to confess and stand on God's Word. Do not focus on the problem, but believe God for the solution, be thankful in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and release your faith now.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.