Has something ever made so much sense that its overwhelming?
Lelia Struve email [log in to unmask] msn [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2005 1:31 PM
Subject: Faith - Installment Six
> The Force Of Faith
> Part Two. The Operation Of Faith
> Installment Six.
> By Phil Scovell
>
>
> Comments.
>
> We are going to look at the passage under current study and
> as we do, I am going to point out some of the words important to
> our understanding of the nature of faith. I am beginning one
> verse prior to the passage already quoted in the last installment
> to help bring the passage into context as far as faith is
> concerned.
>
> Mark 11:21-24
>
> 21 And peter calling to remembrance saith unto Him, Master,
> Behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
> 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them...
>
> Note. At first, it would appear that Peter was the only one who
> noticed, and made comment, about the dead fig tree. Yet, when
> Jesus spoke, he used the word "them." It would appear the other
> disciples not only made notice of the tree but it is very likely
> they all wanted to know how such a thing could happen. It makes
> little difference, however, because Jesus began teaching them all
> when He said, "Have faith in God."
>
> This little phrase has caused a great deal of disagreement,
> not to mention friction, among a lot of Christians. If you are a
> Baptist, for example, the phrase has no more meaning than what it
> says, "Have faith *in* God," with strong emphasis on the word
> "in." "How could it be anything other than what it says?" they
> ask; meaning a Baptist. Well, as a Baptist myself, I certainly
> understand why a Baptist might think this way.
>
> charismatics, or Pentecostals, on the other hand, not to
> mention some different translations of the Bible, God forbid, say
> this little phrase actually says, "Have the faith of God." This
> immediately opens a big can of worms for some, as I have pointed
> out, so let me try and put the lid back on.
>
> Let's simply take the statement at face value, "Have faith in
> God." I have a question. Where did we get this faith? If you
> have agreed with the previous quoted bible verses in this study,
> you would be correct if you said that we get our faith from god
> because that is, in fact, what Scripture confirms.
>
> My second question is this. Where did God get the faith He
> gives us? You see, many people who don't believe God could have
> faith have absolutely no problems believing God has righteousness,
> love, holiness, purity, compassion, and a whole lot of other
> character traits exclusively God in origin. all of which, I might
> point out, are natural to his character. In fact, we can say, and
> do, God is righteousness, God is holy, and God is love. If we try
> and say, God is faith, on the other hand, the mud hits the fan
> with some people so we won't say that. I still would like an
> answer to my question, which is, if we are supposed to have faith
> in God, as Jesus said, He must be saying God has faith. Ok,
> regardless of what Jesus meant, where did God get the faith that
> we are supposed to have in Him?
>
> Illustration.
>
> To create even more conflict among brethren, let's briefly
> consider the creation of all things. without turning to a dozen
> Bible verses, we know who created all things.
>
> You see, one day, when God decided to put his plan into play,
> he saw nothing but darkness right in the place He wanted us to
> exist. So, naturally, being God, He said, Light, and it was. He
> didn't suggest it, He did not agree with anybody else about it, He
> didn't seek the will of others first, He simply spoke. "Yes,"
> some argue, "but He didn't use faith." Then, I ask, what did He
> use? Some say He used His power. Really? How much power did it
> take? Is that why He rested, as the bible says, on the seventh
> day? He was exhausted from exercising all that creative power?
> No, I am told, because He is God and His power is eternal. The
> truth is, God didn't use His power to create the universe, in my
> opinion, he used His authority but that's for an entirely
> different sermon.
>
> If I casually suggest to some people, that God used his faith
> by the power of His authority, to create all things, some blow
> like a broaching whale. More than once in my life have I been
> soaked by someone detonating like a hydrogen bomb at my statement
> that God's faith created the universe as spittle sprayed in every
> direction. These are all people that believe faith is something
> human in nature. It is not. Faith is supernatural and we Got it
> from God because nobody else has faith to give. Let's set that
> aside, however, and get on with the rest of the passage. For
> faith to work, you do not need to believe, for that matter, that
> God has faith. So there!
>
> 22 Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
> 23 For "verily" I saith unto you...
>
> Verily.
>
> This is not a word tossed in by the King James translators
> simply to fill space. It simply means that Jesus is about to tell
> us something that is an absolute fact. It literally means, of a
> truth. If it is the truth, therefore, you can bank on it or
> stated another way, you can live on it.
>
> 23 For verily I say unto you, that whosoever...
>
> Question. To whom is Jesus referring when he says "whosoever?"
> Just the disciples to whom He was speaking? It means exactly what
> you think it means. In short, He is speaking to you and to me.
>
> 23 For Verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say...
>
> SAY.
>
> Say? Think back. What did Jesus demonstrate the day before
> to the disciples by speaking to the fig tree. talking to trees?
> Isn't that a little weird? Yet, Jesus is telling us an absolute
> fact. Unless, of course, you are a dispensationalist and these
> words died away with the last apostle, whoever he was.
>
> 22 Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
> 23 For "verily" I saith unto you, that whosoever shall say unto
> this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and
> shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things
> which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he
> saith.
>
> Comments.
>
> Now the fun begins. If you think talking to trees is weird,
> now we find Jesus confirming that the absolute fact that talking
> to mountains is valid and acceptable. He even goes so far to tell
> us that we, with our own words, can tell a mountain where to go,
> sort of speak. Think of that. Surely, this has got to be
> spiritualized and not taken literally. There went your Baptist
> heritage right out the window. I thought, we as Baptist, believe
> the Bible literally. Well? Is what Jesus said literal,
> metaphorical, spiritual, or just right down lunacy or do you
> suppose the Creator of the universe meant what He said? If he
> didn't mean what He said, and it is just spiritual in its
> interpretation, then what happen to the fig tree Jesus spoke to
> the day before? Was that something to be spiritualized, too? You
> can't have it both ways regardless of which religious flag you
> fly. Jesus is speaking literally or He isn't. Which do you
> choose to believe?
>
> KEY Words.
>
> In the most basic of terms I can state it, Jesus taught his
> disciples, the day before, exactly what He was talking about
> concerning their faith, their words, and what to do no matter what
> tried to get in their way as they served God.
>
> Let's read the passage in Mark's Gospel again and I will
> highlight areas of focus.
>
> Mark 11:22-24
>
> 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
> 23 For *verily* I say unto you, That *whosoever* shall *say* unto
> this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and
> *shall not doubt* in his *heart*, but shall *believe* that those
> things which he *saith* shall come to pass; he shall *have*
> whatsoever he *saith*.
> 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when
> ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
>
> These highlighted words, as well as a few others we will
> eventually examine, create the outline I want to use to further
> interpret the Words of our Lord. The outline is:
>
> Say It
> Pray It
> Believe It
> Receive it
>
> End Of Installment Six.
>
>
> I Flew Kites With Jesus
> www.safeplacefellowship.com
>
>
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