The Many Facets of Faith.

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Hi Friends,
     It's a dark rainy day U.P. here in the far North of Middle America,  but we U.P. here also think about the loss of life and damage going on in the deep South, in Old Mexico with the Hurricane Patricia.   We pray for our brothers and sisters down that way, for safety, etc.  

When I was young,  I guess we all had some phobias and fears growing up, and one of mine was the fear of drowning in water.  My Dad who was Old Navy, tried to teach me how to swim,   but he was 'short on words --- and big on yelling at me.'   I also had some panic attacks when it came to solving problems in Mathematics, but some how over came them as the years went on.    I learned well with GOOD, SMART, kind,  teachers in life,  but suffered under incompetent, verbal aptitude challenged "teachers" who honestly should have been flipping burgers in some hot kitchen ! !   And so I went thru life having to PROVE that I was intelligent enough to be called a 'human being' --- going back to college twice to learn a good, life saving skill, also getting my Securities Federal Exam for Investments, and many other things.   I now enjoy a good living/ retirement,  if it were not for all the stinking bills we incurred lately....  Duh !   And I firmly believe that the corrupt IRS is cause for thousands of heart attacks in the good old, USA !   But, sorry, folks.....  'You ain't seen nothin' yet !'   Smart Financial men and women KNOW for a fact that our Gov't will steal most of our IRA's, 401K's, and other forms of wealth in the near future!   Actually, the USA is already BANKRUPT,  yet most Americans still can't see it !   That is why I and many other financial experts suggest that we all invest in some PM's  [Precious Metals], silver, gold, platinum, copper, etc., but NEVER store it in any bank, credit union, savings and loan where the Gov't can steal it !    Store it at home in several secret places and tell NO ONE!  Get a good watch dog and train him,  buy a GOOD, reliable pistol and shotgun and learn how to use it SAFELY, and pray to Father God every day.   
       Unfortunately,  I am not at the savings level I need to be, but I have a number of close friends who have agreed to come to my aid --- and visa versa, and we also "pool our resources, plans and prayers."   PTL.    In the end, most Americans will suffer greatly,  but those will Christ-like Faith will fair well and ARE Saved right now as I pen these words.   

Folks,   the reason I brought up the history of my fear of drowning ties into the wisdom of words below in the short article concerning Faith.     Aside from the fact that I was never a Math scholar...  lol, I did study and learn many things to help me in life, raising a family and serving God,  but I also pounded my head against a rock wall for my failing in life on many tiers, and areas,  because I THOUGHT I was smart and had an edge, as a 'Power Lifter', physically, and always learning and hanging around people smarter than me !    But I also learned from my mistakes in life.   

Here is the Bible's definition of Faith:   "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."   ---Hebrews 11: 1.   And then the rest of that chapter talks about all the faithful men and women of old in the Bible doing the right, courageous things to succeed and finish their goals/ jobs/ under takings.    The KJV Bible gives us the reasoning, wisdom, unlocks most everything we need to know --to succeed in our journey in life on earth.  BUT,  the bible leaves a little area unspoken and unexplained so we can have the Faith to make it through to our goal.   And what is that goal?   The reason that we were put/ born on earth is to worship the One, True, God the Father [Jehovah, or YHWH], and help spread the Gospel.   Period.    Since there are many false churches in the world today and false Messiahs,  the only REAL way to find the Truth is to read and study the KJV Bible ! !   Just do it.... Now !   Start with the Gospel [Matthew, Mark, Luke and John], and then read the book of Romans.   I  promise that will be a good beginning to learn all about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   Then start reading the rest of the bible.     Every body has got to start SOME WHERE, some time.    

Well, to finish my story about learning to swim....  I did learn to swim all by myself at a buddy's home pool in WI   -- after I came back home from Vietnam, in 1970, and also studied more Math in college, later in life.  

October 23rd, 2015

                                 

This week on 'The Hal Lindsey Report'

  This week, I'll continue my special presentation on "The Many Facets of Faith."
As I mentioned in this space last week, few subjects in the Bible are more important for us to understand than faith. I think it would be safe to say that many believers have no idea how truly important real faith is to their walk with Christ. In fact, you cannot have a walk with Christ without faith!
The issue of faith pervades every aspect of our relationship with God and our service for Him. Genuine faith is the source of our strength, our provision, our courage, our guidance, and our victory over the world system, the flesh, and the Devil. Faith is the only thing that can sustain us in the trials and persecutions predicted for the last days. It's imperative that we understand exactly what faith is, how we get it, and how it grows.
As we continue this examination of the role of faith in the life of the believer, I think it's important to understand that we are like aliens at war in an enemy territory from the moment we are born again into God's eternal family. We don't have the option of being pacifists in this war. We have to fight. That's why it's important to learn God's provisions for fighting and winning the war. Once again, faith is the key to victory. It is the only acceptable means we have for appropriating our strength, weapons, and armor for the battle.
I refer to this as "combat faith."
We'll also discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Even the Lord Jesus depended upon the Holy Spirit to empower and to work through His human nature while He voluntarily lived on earth under the limitations of being a true man. He kept saying in various ways throughout the Gospel of John, "I can do nothing of Myself."
Even though His divine nature had the power to perform any of His miracles, He voluntarily laid aside its use. Instead, by FAITH, He depended upon the Holy Spirit, who dwelt within His human nature. And it's the same Holy Spirit, activated by the same faith, that Jesus promised will do even greater works through us.
I'll also discuss various aspects of the "indwelling ministry" of the Holy Spirit and how the believer achieves maturity in his or her walk with Christ.
I'm reminded of that old saying, "The Christian life is not difficult. It's impossible!" Only the Holy Spirit can produce it in us as we depend -- through faith -- upon Him. But we humans seem to always have the feeling that, given enough time and the right circumstances, we can handle anything ourselves. This is such a subtle trap that the Lord has provided a special kind of training to teach us how to depend only upon the Spirit, and not our human abilities. Both Moses and Paul had to be broken of self-confidence and taught God-confidence. I refer to that course of instruction as the "B. D. Degree." Which simply means the "Backside of the Desert Degree."
Finally, in order to help us understand the impossibility of living the truly Christian life, God gave us the Law. As the Apostle Paul wrote, "I would not have come to know sin except through the Law...." God gave us the Law to show us how impossible it is to become acceptable to God by our own efforts. It drives us to despair of self-effort, then leads us to see that God's provision of salvation is a gift through FAITH in Christ alone.
So the more we understand about the role of faith (and grace) in our lives as believers, the more we'll be thankful to God. Then, out of a responsive heart of love toward God, we will want to serve Him. And it's the motive of love, not fear or obligation, that God wants to see us use in serving and loving Him.
Don't miss this week's Report on TBN, Daystar, CPM Network, The Word Network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Check your local listings.


God Bless,

Hal Lindsey

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