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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 11/19/2008 4:42:09 PM
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sledmt
Posts: 321
Joined: 8/25/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
You are right Little 1. That's exactly what the father of the sick boy was saying to Jesus in Mark 9:24.
And that should give us comfort when we too, in our moment of weakness, struggle with our human emotions, doubts and fears. The knowledge that He'll forgive, and that He hears our prayers, will give us courage and strength to endure whatever comes our way.
The Lord is faithful, even when we trip up.
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 11/19/2008 5:40:49 PM
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dwain
Posts: 103
Joined: 3/4/2006
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John 4
[49] The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
[50] Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
[51] And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
"Sir, come down ere my child die." This is like saying, Sir, if you don't come down, my child WILL die. That's not a last ditch effort- that is confidence, from someone other than a disciple. It is like Peter saying on the lake, Lord if it is you, bid me to come. The focus was there initially on
Jesus, but we know what happened when Peter took his eyes off Christ.
Simply put, this is just faith in Jesus to heal, not faith in the ability for Him to give you healing power. The man had faith enough to seek out Jesus.
Although Christ delegates the power to heal, I believe He does the "work". A doctor stitches up a wound, Jesus knits it, and closes it. The Doctor knows the process.
This sounds like a "holier than thou", let Jesus do it all statement, yet the previous posts are clear that unbelief or lack of faith hinder the miracle.
If it is the will of Christ to heal, there will be healing. So, (Lord) I believe, help my unbelief is actually a beautiful prayer, that reveals our need.
Why does Christ not heal in every case? He may very well be keeping us
through our weakness from something even more detrimental. We are still of use to God, even when we are sick or weak. Paul knew first hand.
I think it is only faith in Christ, and His power to heal through us.
_____________________________
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~dwainfred/thegoodnewsofjesuschrist/
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~dwainfred/
Deut. 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 11/19/2008 8:00:52 PM
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Dancre
Posts: 1307
Joined: 4/12/2005
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Not a problem, Mvic. But in all seriousness, if you do see a bunch of women wondering the streets, they may be my clerical group that the aliens replaced. please pin a note on their coats, give them a few dollars and send them home. thanks. :)
quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
Thank you Dancre for your Post No. 37.
Thank you for your insight and for what you said. It is very helpful to me.
God bless.
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 11/19/2008 8:03:23 PM
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Dancre
Posts: 1307
Joined: 4/12/2005
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Yippee skippie. That's MY God!!!
quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
You are right Little 1. That's exactly what the father of the sick boy was saying to Jesus in Mark 9:24.
And that should give us comfort when we too, in our moment of weakness, struggle with our human emotions, doubts and fears. The knowledge that He'll forgive, and that He hears our prayers, will give us courage and strength to endure whatever comes our way.
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 11/22/2008 2:15:00 PM
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AbbyGrace
Posts: 660
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quote:
ORIGINAL: delete123
quote:
ORIGINAL: Dancre
Not a problem, buddy. faith is scary. Too many folks compare God to people and say, what if God doesn't come through? (MY dad who believes like a lot of folks here, not really believing in faith, actually said this to me.) It's bad enough to trust a human, it's even worse to trust someone as big as God, not to mention you can't see HIm. Plus the devil doesn't want you to trust God. Nooooo, that would give glory to God. So of course he puts fear and doubt on the heart that God will let them down. I hate the devil!!! :((((( Are you wanting to stand if faith for someone else?
And just to go off the topic. :) Also you have to remember, sometimes God doesn't do things the way we want Him to do like healing. My boss was diagnosed with breast cancer. She's a wonderful Catholic woman who loves God. I'm shocked at how God's hand is on her. HE is moving so much in her life. She got a free manogram (and those things are PRICEY!!) Her's was experimental, so it was free and she also got a $25 gift certificate. SHe needed new nightgowns that open in the front for her surgery and now she has the money to get them. But what made my eyes pop out of my head was the favor from the clerical group. These people DO. NOT. LIKE. HER. But they want to buy christmas gifts for the kids, CHRISTMAS GIFTS!! WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE???   , groceries, GROCERIES?? THESE CHEAPSKATES??? and other things. I think what happened was aliens came down and replaced my co-workers. If you see any pods out on the street, would please pop them open and send back my co-workers, b/c I don't know who THESE people are!!! (They don't do this to people they don't like.) Ok, I'm back.
Anyway, we say God chose not to do something like healing or taking care of the bills b/c He didn't do what we wanted Him to do. Like me saying, Vic, you don't love your family the way I think you should, which means you don't love your family. But back to healing, we don't see a miracle healing, so we say, God chose not to heal. BUT we don't see God's hands directing the surgeon's hands or the angels comforting her after the surgery or God's healing power that keeps away the infections. We don't see God putting the right people to be over her and pushing her to the front of the line. How sad!! We don't see what happens behind the scenes, so we say, God chose not to heal. If that's the case, then maybe we should worship the hospitals and doctors who did do the healing. It's like what God placed upon my heart today is that He does so many miracles in our lives each day, but b/c we are looking for the BIG thing, we accuse God of not doing what He promised. He said it was like looking for a sunrise at 5pm. You look to the east and see only darkness, but never see the beautiful sunset behind. How sad. 
Anyway, I see God moving in her life and I see Him lining up the best surgeon in the country who is working on her. She got bumped up, is getting favor from the GASP!! Clerical group and soon she will be back at work. If that's not God healing her, I don't know what is. It grieves my heart when folks talk about how God chose "not" to heal and only talk about their faith and yet ignore those little miracles that God did to heal them. Sad. :( So remember, when you think God said no to something, turn around and see the sunset. :)
quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
Thank you Dancre for your second response. It makes sense to me.
Thanx also to all others who have responded. Your thoughts and views are very helpful. You make some very good and valid points.
Thanx Little 1 for making the distinction between Faith and feelings.
Therein our difficulties lie as humans. When we are hurt - lose our job, fall ill, or face other problems in life - it is our feelings that come to the fore. Denial, fear, doubts, anger etc ... etc ...
And whether we like it or not, intentionally or not, our Faith takes a knock. We don't mean to waver or lose our Faith. But the initial hurt claims Faith as its first victim as it were. We act like humans and lash out blindly at God for having let us down.
Of course, not everyone is like that. I've known people with long and very painful illnesses whose Faith has remained un-shakable throughout their lengthy ordeals.
Hence my favourite prayer from Mark 9:24 - I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Dance~
This is hilarious, Awesome, and just beautiful!
Amen
Amen!
_____________________________
Hebrews 12:14 "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." 
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 11/22/2008 4:37:08 PM
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jn1010lf
Posts: 351
Joined: 4/20/2005
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Hello mvic
I don't think the amount of faith is important, it's in whom one's faith is placed. I you will note, every person that touched Jesus in some way was healed. Every person who acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of God was healed.
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 11/30/2008 3:21:16 PM
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figmentPez
Posts: 2113
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: TX
Status: offline
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My apologies for not responding sooner, I was out of town for a week, and then it took me a while to get back to my regular schedule.
Sledmt, I won't even quote a certain remark that you've posted, but why must you assume that things are wrong if God doesn't heal immediately? Was Paul in rebellion to God when he spent sleepless nights in the cold? Was Stephen stoned to death because of hidden sin in his life?
quote:
ORIGINAL: sledmt
To walk with such a presence of God, that we see instantly what he desire to do.
If we always have immediate fulfillment of God's ultimate desires, then why are we told to have hope?
Romans 8:23-25
23And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
If someone's faith is so weak that they only believe in what they're going to immediately have, then they, literally, have no hope. Hope is what we have for what is yet to come. All those who believe must have hope, because we have not yet received the fullness of God's promises. No Christian living on this earth has seen the fullness of God's promises.
You say that
quote:
One.
This idea breeds doubt. Because nothing ever really happens, doubt began to fill their mind.
The idea that God has greater in store for us is not about doubt, it is about hope. Hope that cannot be had if we refuse to believe that God works in His own time, and has better yet to come.
quote:
People who sometimes believe this are let to believe that if they prayed that good. But what happens, happens. There is really no expectation for God to show. And as a rule the people that believe in this, really don't began to move like the dispiles at all.
Once again, you have no understanding of Biblical hope. Those who know and believe in God's promises know that He is faithful and true, and that He will deliver what He has promised. However, this also means knowing that we see His promises and welcome them from afar. We must have perseverance and eagerly await God acting. God acts in His time. It is hope, certainty that God is reliable, that leads to this eager perseverance that is founded in firm faith.
You claim in your posts that believing that God may not act immediately is somehow a lack of faith. However, scripture shows that such hopless "faith" is contrary to God's instructions to us and contrary to reality.
_____________________________
I make this challenge to all Christians:
Read Daniel 7:13-14
And tell me: Who do you say that the Son of Man is?
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 11/30/2008 7:10:23 PM
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delete123
Posts: 988
Joined: 6/1/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: AbbyGrace
What is the "Gift of Faith?" Is this one of the 9 gifts that God gives accordingly to?
And yes, I know we all have faith, someone may have more faith than I do, so Im not questioning that, but the Bible does mention the "Gift of Faith," what is the difference?
Im not sure that I understand this.
Sure you do Abbey~
The gift of faith is the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to a believer. As scripture states that God give us each a measure of faith, right?
In that faith He give you gifts such as: Teacher, Prophecy, Pastor, Healer, etc.
as wriiten I believe I Corinthians
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 11/30/2008 7:17:18 PM
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AbbyGrace
Posts: 660
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: delete123
quote:
ORIGINAL: AbbyGrace
What is the "Gift of Faith?" Is this one of the 9 gifts that God gives accordingly to?
And yes, I know we all have faith, someone may have more faith than I do, so Im not questioning that, but the Bible does mention the "Gift of Faith," what is the difference?
Im not sure that I understand this.
Sure you do Abbey~
The gift of faith is the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to a believer. As scripture states that God give us each a measure of faith, right?
In that faith He give you gifts such as: Teacher, Prophecy, Pastor, Healer, etc.
as wriiten I believe I Corinthians
Thats exactly what I thought, so that leads me to this question, if a person has more faith than someone else, and we all know thats possible, then why in the world, are others so quick to label them? One person may have more faith in God for a healing of cancer, than I do...is there anything wrong with that? I dont think so.
_____________________________
Hebrews 12:14 "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 11/30/2008 9:00:54 PM
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delete123
Posts: 988
Joined: 6/1/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: AbbyGrace
Thats exactly what I thought, so that leads me to this question, if a person has more faith than someone else, and we all know thats possible, then why in the world, are others so quick to label them? One person may have more faith in God for a healing of cancer, than I do...is there anything wrong with that? I dont think so.
I believe sometimes when folks have that attitude, that they really do not understand and lean on their understanding, instead of the Lords.
Some will boast upon themselves which is against scripture, yet they believe they have the Inn key! 
In circumstances such as these is when we are better bearers of Christ by being humble.
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 12/1/2008 12:34:49 AM
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growingseed
Posts: 148
Joined: 5/24/2005
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Jesus teaches that all we need is faith the size of a mustard, but at the same time he teaches that a seed must die before it can grow. Die to ourselves and grow in spirit. If you do that you will in deed learn to strenghten your faith.
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 12/3/2008 3:03:03 PM
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figmentPez
Posts: 2113
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: TX
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: AbbyGrace
Thats exactly what I thought, so that leads me to this question, if a person has more faith than someone else, and we all know thats possible, then why in the world, are others so quick to label them? One person may have more faith in God for a healing of cancer, than I do...is there anything wrong with that? I dont think so.
Faith isn't about simply believing strongly that something will happen. Faith, as defined by scripture, is belief in God, that He is who He says He is, that He will do what He says He will do, that He is trustworthy, etc. There is nothing wrong with one person having greater faith in God than another person. However, a great problem arises when we try and measure a person's faith by their circumstances in this life. Health/sickness is not a measure of how much faith a person has. A healthy person may have no faith at all, while a sick person may have so much faith that this world is not worthy of them. Similarly, it is impossible to judge a persons faith by their wealth or poverty, by their being a slave, in jail or free, by their being kept safe or suffering calamity.
_____________________________
I make this challenge to all Christians:
Read Daniel 7:13-14
And tell me: Who do you say that the Son of Man is?
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 12/3/2008 5:24:05 PM
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tw12357
Posts: 49
Joined: 10/7/2008
Status: offline
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figmentPez - I've been following this conversation, and your sister's story is greatly encouraging to me. It shows that our God cares about who we become most of all, as he worked on your sister. If I hadn't gotton ill and been in the hospital, I doubt that I would have come to Christ at all. And I still haven't been totally healed. But I have faith that it will happen some day, perhaps not until heaven. But its who God is creating in me that matters, not whether I'm in a state of bodily perfection. I want to be an overcomer at the end of my life, not prideful and arrogant as I use to be.
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 12/3/2008 11:50:38 PM
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mikekelley
Posts: 6
Joined: 10/10/2008
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This is the best post of the night and is the easiest to comment about. The bible teaches us that it takes very little faith, only the size of a mustard seed, right? Right! But it is not always as easy as it sounds. If you want to build faith, you must be willing to study the word of God. This is a fact. I am going to recommend 2 sites to visit that I personally found very helpful for my walk with the Lord. Pastor Rodney Howard Browne has posted thousand of blogs across the Internet but I will give you my 2 favorite. First, visit http://www.shakingtheplanet.com/ then next visit this site http://rodneyhowardbrowne.net/ you will find very solid teaching that will build your faith!
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RE: How much Faith is needed? - 12/5/2008 11:52:22 AM
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terryjohn
Posts: 469
Joined: 3/23/2007
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Interesting. Have we only come to faith in Christ through the seeing of miracles or answers to prayer? If miracles and answers to prayer were with held, would Christ find faith in men when he comes? If as has been recorded men were not convinced by the miracles that were performed for them, then they cannot be the basis for faith or even essential outcomes of faith for 1 Cor 13:13 ...now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
One may say, if you do not have faith you should not expect miracles, but we could say if we do not have love we should not even suspose we have saving faith. Christ says to Thomas, blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe. To those who desire to see miracles or claim to have seen miracles is the demand to be more loving.
If we put our faith in miracles before puting it in knowing Christ and the power of his suffering and resurrection are we as likely to put it in satan? Faith is all about the acceptance of God's love, forgiveness and righteousness or goodness. All else in this light seems unessential and unimportant. If a man will not accept Christ for His own goodness sake he is lost. No manner of miracles or positive thinking or even wishful thing will save him.
It has been said miracles are for unbelievers.
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