Hi there!
I like to think of Paul's faith in the Letters to the Churches, as reflective of the growing faith the Churches have in the Lord. It is not that we come to faith and hold fast to the Lord, and that is all; rather, we come to faith and a bond is formed between His faith and ours. This is powerful; it is powerful because it is a similar bond to all the other believers already in faith in the Lord. What makes it hard to see, is that the Holy Spirit has not yet been revealed in the world (the fire at Pentecost and the vision of the dove at the Lord's baptism, yes, but not yet the pouring out of the Holy Spirit as promised - exact verse unknown). What I want for you to have, is the idea that this spread of little faiths, combined with the Great Faith of our Lord, is not just a little stronger, it is a lot lot lot stronger.
What powers does really really strong faith have? Remember that Jesus just had to speak and people fell over! I think it is important because it stops people questioning "sin", stirs in them a desire to be righteous (not just for a moment, but for life) and helps them from just going back to sin, when they feel weak. In other words, our "little" faith combined with everyone else's and the Lord's bring about or helps bring about the conversion of the world. This "conversion" is fundamentally what the Devil wants to challenge at this stage - be warned!
This faith is a gentle and meek faith, like the faith of our Lord, it does not need to boast. Paul certainly never boasted that he had all the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that he had - he was just answering his calling. Like Paul, our faith will combine with the Lord's and create an impression on the world. Take Gideon's example, merely by creating sudden light and great noise, he caused the enemies they faced to attack each other! I mean, really! Well done, brothers and sisters, you have become part of something very very important - may you have the Wisdom to hold it and the Compassion to keep it growing (in Jesus' Name Amen).
It is a marvel to the world, that they did not think to combine faith, the way the Lord does. This "marvel" will lead them away to their own nations and will result in greater faith among the nations, not for "anything" but for the coming of the Lord. This is the beginning of what will be the foundation for the Lord's rule. Conviction will break out!
I hope this has been of some encouragement.
God bless.
PS. Try to visualise that faith, in spirit and in truth, with the Holy Spirit and the Lord, into the future (to the end of your life) - that's what's coming!
I like to think of Paul's faith in the Letters to the Churches, as reflective of the growing faith the Churches have in the Lord. It is not that we come to faith and hold fast to the Lord, and that is all; rather, we come to faith and a bond is formed between His faith and ours. This is powerful; it is powerful because it is a similar bond to all the other believers already in faith in the Lord. What makes it hard to see, is that the Holy Spirit has not yet been revealed in the world (the fire at Pentecost and the vision of the dove at the Lord's baptism, yes, but not yet the pouring out of the Holy Spirit as promised - exact verse unknown). What I want for you to have, is the idea that this spread of little faiths, combined with the Great Faith of our Lord, is not just a little stronger, it is a lot lot lot stronger.
What powers does really really strong faith have? Remember that Jesus just had to speak and people fell over! I think it is important because it stops people questioning "sin", stirs in them a desire to be righteous (not just for a moment, but for life) and helps them from just going back to sin, when they feel weak. In other words, our "little" faith combined with everyone else's and the Lord's bring about or helps bring about the conversion of the world. This "conversion" is fundamentally what the Devil wants to challenge at this stage - be warned!
This faith is a gentle and meek faith, like the faith of our Lord, it does not need to boast. Paul certainly never boasted that he had all the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that he had - he was just answering his calling. Like Paul, our faith will combine with the Lord's and create an impression on the world. Take Gideon's example, merely by creating sudden light and great noise, he caused the enemies they faced to attack each other! I mean, really! Well done, brothers and sisters, you have become part of something very very important - may you have the Wisdom to hold it and the Compassion to keep it growing (in Jesus' Name Amen).
It is a marvel to the world, that they did not think to combine faith, the way the Lord does. This "marvel" will lead them away to their own nations and will result in greater faith among the nations, not for "anything" but for the coming of the Lord. This is the beginning of what will be the foundation for the Lord's rule. Conviction will break out!
I hope this has been of some encouragement.
God bless.
PS. Try to visualise that faith, in spirit and in truth, with the Holy Spirit and the Lord, into the future (to the end of your life) - that's what's coming!
