M/E International - Newsletter

Chapter IV. FAITH THE POWER OF GOD WITHOUT FAITH

"Without faith it is impossible to please Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Or from the eyes of "His Power Manifested" this says: "Without obedience to the power of God manifested to you (faith) it is impossible to please Him.

NOTE THE DIFFERENCE

Normally we feel that we must have some "blind" faith, or else we can't/don't please Him. Actually, we must only believe and obey Him -- obey His command(s) to us. Even as Jesus said, "If you love me you will keep my commandments".

The supposition of this first example is that we always hear His voice, and know His will.

FAITH IS SUBSTANCE

"Now the power of God manifested to you (faith) is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by (it) the power of God the elders received witness." (Hebrews 11:1) Through the creative power of God (faith) we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

From such examples, we then see that without obedience to God's power we can neither please our God nor even know substantively of Him; but with obedience to His power manifested to us (it) we can know Him and please Him, which results in sweet fellowship with Him and discipleship of others. The other-side-of-the-coin, of course, is the infinite differences of the lost -- utter despair versus utter joy to the saved. First, we see that it is the power of God that is substance. It is the very evidence of things not seen.

Note that in general, we automatically take this faith as being "our faith" of understanding instead of the generating force (God's creative force/power) to accomplish.

In power, it reads as follows: “We understand that it is by the creative power of God (faith) that the worlds were framed, yes, even by the Word of God. Indeed, things now seen were made of things which did not appear.”

THE APPENDICES

The heart of this study is really in the appendicized results, wherein book by book, verse by verse, the New Testament has been carefully reviewed to locate as many of the uses of the word faith as possible (in any of its forms).

These each have been analyzed and prayerfully re-expressed in the "two-fold" faith concept.

It is my desire that you too would find great blessing and pleasure in the review of each, reflecting on the power and majesty of our God's statements/dealings with man -- yes! with you! It is my purpose also that you would seek His clarification, His personalization to you of these wonderful truths - yes, truths of Himself. Yes, don't skip or just scan the appendices - there is real meat there - it is His Word.

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