June 22, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Unfailing Faith—Staying in the Love of God!

I want to be a person full of faith always standing in the love of God ‘24/7’! I desire to ‘love God’ all the time, and I want ‘God’s miracles’ to be ‘regular events’ in my life, my family, and my community! I want everything that Jesus offered to me and to those around me.

I believe there are three ingredients in ‘exercising faith’ in order to live in the love of the Father. We need faith to please God (the Bible states) and to have His blessings on our lives. To have faith is not as hard as we think. Faith can be easy but positioning oneself, so you exercise faith in love is quite another matter.

First, we must understand that “God has given a ‘measure of faith’ to everyone”, this Scripture means that God has given each of us faith to respond to the will of God. Faith is our response to God, not some mystical attribute. God wants each of us to believe in Him and accept God’s plan and purpose for our lives, this is the essence of faith. Just a small amount of faith, like a mustard seed, can move mountains, Jesus said. This Biblical story/illustration by Jesus means ‘you either have faith or you don’t’. One either responses to the purposes and action plans of God or you do not. It is a choice, a decision on your part.

Furthermore, Satan through all his power and lies cannot stop any person from coming to Jesus—it is impossible. Note the Biblical story of the person who had a legion of demons living in him (Mark 5:1-20, NIV): When Jesus got out of the boat,a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him.This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.Night and day among the tombs and in the hills, he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me,Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!”For Jesus had said to him,“Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the man (this is only a portion of the Biblical account.). This man lived by himself in caves, cutting himself with knives, being naked and screaming, and could not be restrained with chains. He came to Jesus, begging for forgiveness—satanic demons could not stop him from his decision to come to Christ (i.e., the use of his measure of faith that God gives to everyone) allowing him to come to Christ to be healed, delivered, and saved.

Here is the point of this story—we all have a measure of faith in order to respond to and choose God’s offer of life and wholeness, and nothing can stop this from working in our life. I chose God and when I do, my faith springs into action. Godly faith is stated clearly in Hebrews chapter 11, giving us all kinds of examples and manifestations of how faith works. Faith is not believing more, rather it is responding more to the will of God.

Second, we must increase and have ‘operable’ faith! We must be bold and willing to take ‘spiritual risks’ to do God’s will. How many Scriptures are there that God tells His people to be bold and courageous, not to become fearful or weak-hearted? If you are to partner with Jesus, one must be fearless and confident that God will back up His promises with action. Jesus did not give us the Holy Spirit to be timid, shy, or afraid. Scriptures tell us that these signs follow those who believe (Mark 16:17-18 NIV): And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. This is the goal for our faith. Our faith should exist for others not just for ourselves. The operation of faith is imbedded in community and being one in Christ; it is for the Body of Christ. A believer accepts and responds to what God wants, who God is, and willing to reflect the person of God in their lives. It takes courage to be like Jesus—unafraid and accepting whatever Jesus wants to do. When I believe (unafraid) and respond to God’s requests (faith in action), then God’s will begin to change everything around you, me, & us.

Thirdly, get rid of your pride and replace it with faith. Pride hinders faith much more than one could imagine. Pride that says I am important, pride that says God will take care of me no matter what I do, pride that says if only I do ‘such and such’ for myself, not God’s way but my way, I will have finally become important in God’s eyes. This is exactly what Satan told Jesus when Jesus was in the desert, fasting for 40 days—before His ministry began. Think about it—Satan tried to get Jesus to lift himself up instead of doing things God’s way.

One can have pride in so many ways:

ü One can have pride in making money or not making money.

ü One can have pride in looking pretty or not being pretty.

ü One can have pride in one’s strength, intelligence, or talents.

ü Owning anything in this life or not owning anything.

ü Giving money or keeping one’s money.

ü Making decisions or not making a decision.

ü Being tall or being short.

ü Being humble or prideful.

ü Loving others or holding back one’s love.

ü In fact, anything one does, or does not do; is or is not; being popular or not can be prideful.

Begin to do a personal survey of your life—decisions you make, tasks you do, why you do what you do, where you go, how you dress/look, what you say or do not say—anything and everything you do or do not do. You will find pride in your life. This ‘pride’ keeps us from God—it keeps you from exercising faith to do God’s will and keeps the love of God out of your life. Get rid of your pride and you will find the ability to exercise faith and live in the love of God. Remember not to take any pride in losing your pride—stay humble—it is not you but Jesus in you that you can do anything good, loving, and for God. Do not steal or accept any of God’s glory. All glory and honor belong to God; it is not yours! Once you learn this 3-step process and live these 3-simple biblical truths you will find ‘that person of faith’ and ‘live in the love of God’.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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