Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Oh Friends, it’s supposed to be another beautiful Indian summer’s day in this part of the northern climes. And why do we believe that? Because we have faith, trust in our weather forecasters. (smile) They’re not always right, since weather forecasting is an inexact science, but they try their best, and that’s all we can ask. Faith and trust are what we live by, what our world runs on. From flipping a switch and expecting light, turning on your tap and expecting clear, clean water to come pouring out, turning on your radio, your t.v and expecting sound and picture to fill the air, going out to your car and expecting it to start on the first try, then driving to your job, which you expect to still be there. Unfortunately, sometimes the machinery malfunctions and we’re left in the lurch, but generally speaking our everyday lives function well. Why? Because all these things we expect to happen and take for granted are built on trust and faith. We’ve done them over and over again and know deep down that unless some unforeseen circumstance occurs, they will function as we expect. Friends, it’s the same way Jesus expects us to have faith and trust in Him. He obviously doesn’t want us to take Him for granted in the negative sense of just using Him for our selfish desires, but in the positive, meaning that whatever happens in our lives, whenever we need Him, He’ll always be there. Oh people, in His hands we’re safer than with All State, because that’s run by untrustworthy, unfaithful men, not by a faithful, ever present, ever ready to help deity like Christ. Hn! I was just reading over what I’d written to see if it made sense and noticed that I used the word ‘expect’ several times in connection with faith, and there’s a reason for it. Faith is based on our expectation of what’s going to happen. Since Bruh Paul says ‘we walk by faith and not sight,’ (2 Cor.5:7) then if we don’t see something, we have to have high expectations that it will materialize. Expectancy is the foundation of faith. And the author of Hebrews marvellously elucidates and expounds on the subject in Chapter 11. It’s a chapter that all believers should bookmark in their Bibles and turn to whenever they need a boost of faith; cause faith in Christ is what keeps us encouraged and keeping on through all the joy and sorrow, heartache and pain of this life. It’s what makes us believe that no negative situation will last forever, it too shall pass; the sun will shine on our parade sooner or later, if we just hang tight. And when our parade hits a roadblock, as it will at some stage, we won’t worry because we trust in the Risen Lord, who will clear those impediments and have us motoring along again smoothly. Oh Friends, I just LOVE writing these Bits where I’m just guided and carried away by the Spirit, that my pen can’t keep up to my mind. And I have to chuckle because I intended to insert a quote from Hebrews 11 earlier on, but the Spirit led me along otherwise. Anyway, here it is. It’s a sort of nutshell explanation of the relationship between sight, expectancy and faith. ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ (Heb.11:1) And that’s gospel mih breddren! It not only defines it, but also shows you what it can and does do. For faith is the realization of things we hope for, things we have not seen, but feel strongly about, have a strong conviction that they will happen. It gives us substance, something to hold on to, as well as evidence, proof that keeps us believing and trusting. That’s why Jesus told His disciples: ‘If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.’ That’s also why the writer of Hebrews specified: ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’ (Heb.11:6) Throughout that glorious chapter, the author mentions people of great faith who served the Lord. ‘By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain (his character)…By faith Enoch was translated (so) that he should not see death…By faith Noah being warned of things not seen as yet, moved with fear (reverence), prepared an ark to the saving of his house…By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive as an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out not knowing whither he went (where he was going)… (Heb.11:4,5,7,8) Those are only a few of the faithful mentioned in Hebrews 11. The author also talks about Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Sarah and Moses. ‘These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded (assured) of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.’ (Heb.11:13) Oh my people, we are all strangers and pilgrims here, and like those faithful servants of old we’re seeking ‘a better country, that is a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.’ (Heb.11:16) And how do we know this? Through faith; faith in God, in Jesus and the Holy Spirit that leads and guides us. But let’s end with one proviso my Friends. It’s a word of warning from Bruh Paul. ‘And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.’ (1 Cor.13:2) Yes my people, though we have all the faith in the world and can move mountains, if we don’t have LOVE, then we’re nothing, for LOVE is, was, and will always be the greatest. Much LOVE!…And now abideth…faith…hope…and charity…these three…
Oh Friends, it’s supposed to be another beautiful Indian summer’s day in this part of the northern climes. And why do we believe that? Because we have faith, trust in our weather forecasters. (smile) They’re not always right, since weather forecasting is an inexact science, but they try their best, and that’s all we can ask. Faith and trust are what we live by, what our world runs on. From flipping a switch and expecting light, turning on your tap and expecting clear, clean water to come pouring out, turning on your radio, your t.v and expecting sound and picture to fill the air, going out to your car and expecting it to start on the first try, then driving to your job, which you expect to still be there. Unfortunately, sometimes the machinery malfunctions and we’re left in the lurch, but generally speaking our everyday lives function well. Why? Because all these things we expect to happen and take for granted are built on trust and faith. We’ve done them over and over again and know deep down that unless some unforeseen circumstance occurs, they will function as we expect. Friends, it’s the same way Jesus expects us to have faith and trust in Him. He obviously doesn’t want us to take Him for granted in the negative sense of just using Him for our selfish desires, but in the positive, meaning that whatever happens in our lives, whenever we need Him, He’ll always be there. Oh people, in His hands we’re safer than with All State, because that’s run by untrustworthy, unfaithful men, not by a faithful, ever present, ever ready to help deity like Christ. Hn! I was just reading over what I’d written to see if it made sense and noticed that I used the word ‘expect’ several times in connection with faith, and there’s a reason for it. Faith is based on our expectation of what’s going to happen. Since Bruh Paul says ‘we walk by faith and not sight,’ (2 Cor.5:7) then if we don’t see something, we have to have high expectations that it will materialize. Expectancy is the foundation of faith. And the author of Hebrews marvellously elucidates and expounds on the subject in Chapter 11. It’s a chapter that all believers should bookmark in their Bibles and turn to whenever they need a boost of faith; cause faith in Christ is what keeps us encouraged and keeping on through all the joy and sorrow, heartache and pain of this life. It’s what makes us believe that no negative situation will last forever, it too shall pass; the sun will shine on our parade sooner or later, if we just hang tight. And when our parade hits a roadblock, as it will at some stage, we won’t worry because we trust in the Risen Lord, who will clear those impediments and have us motoring along again smoothly. Oh Friends, I just LOVE writing these Bits where I’m just guided and carried away by the Spirit, that my pen can’t keep up to my mind. And I have to chuckle because I intended to insert a quote from Hebrews 11 earlier on, but the Spirit led me along otherwise. Anyway, here it is. It’s a sort of nutshell explanation of the relationship between sight, expectancy and faith. ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ (Heb.11:1) And that’s gospel mih breddren! It not only defines it, but also shows you what it can and does do. For faith is the realization of things we hope for, things we have not seen, but feel strongly about, have a strong conviction that they will happen. It gives us substance, something to hold on to, as well as evidence, proof that keeps us believing and trusting. That’s why Jesus told His disciples: ‘If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.’ That’s also why the writer of Hebrews specified: ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’ (Heb.11:6) Throughout that glorious chapter, the author mentions people of great faith who served the Lord. ‘By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain (his character)…By faith Enoch was translated (so) that he should not see death…By faith Noah being warned of things not seen as yet, moved with fear (reverence), prepared an ark to the saving of his house…By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive as an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out not knowing whither he went (where he was going)… (Heb.11:4,5,7,8) Those are only a few of the faithful mentioned in Hebrews 11. The author also talks about Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Sarah and Moses. ‘These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded (assured) of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.’ (Heb.11:13) Oh my people, we are all strangers and pilgrims here, and like those faithful servants of old we’re seeking ‘a better country, that is a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.’ (Heb.11:16) And how do we know this? Through faith; faith in God, in Jesus and the Holy Spirit that leads and guides us. But let’s end with one proviso my Friends. It’s a word of warning from Bruh Paul. ‘And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.’ (1 Cor.13:2) Yes my people, though we have all the faith in the world and can move mountains, if we don’t have LOVE, then we’re nothing, for LOVE is, was, and will always be the greatest. Much LOVE!…And now abideth…faith…hope…and charity…these three…
SCRIP-BITS 