Little Faith, 9of9

~ Why is Faith Important? ~

Passage  ~  “Whatever is not from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23b). 

Comment  ~  Without faith we are operating on the human scale.  With faith we are operating in the divine realm.  The contextual meaning here is related to not violating our conscience.  If the Spirit of God tells you not to do something but you go ahead and do it anyway it is a sin (sin of commission).  Likewise if the Spirit tells you to do something and you don’t do it is a sin (sin of omission).  In summary, the way to walk with God and to please God is to “Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18b). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Little Faith, 8of9

~ Keys To Acquiring Faith ~

Passage  ~  “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’  So the Lord said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, “Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.  And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, “Come at once and sit down to eat?”  But will he not rather say to him, “Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink?”  Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?  I think not.  So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants.  We have done what was our duty to do”’” (Luke 17:5-10).

“Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I bear with you?  Bring him here to Me.’  And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.  Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’  So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief [lack of faith]; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.  However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting’” (Matthew 17:17-21).

Comment  ~  Notice that last phrase: faith does not come without continually maintaining close intimacy with your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Little Faith, 7of9

~ Faith is Not Binary—We All Need to Increase Our Faith ~

Passage  ~  “Jesus answered him and said, ‘O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I bear with you?  Bring him to Me.’  Then they brought him to Him.  And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.  So He asked his father, How long has this been happening to him?’  And he said, ‘From childhood.  And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.  But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’  Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe [I have faith]; help my unbelief [my lack of faith]!’” (Mark 9:19-24).

Comment   ~  In our life on earth we never “arrive,” but instead continue to struggle to “fight the good fight” (1 Timothy 6:12).  Even the Apostle Paul made it clear that even with all his faith he struggled (Romans 7:13-25).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .