BY THY FAITH COMMAND THOU ME

BY THY FAITH COMMAND THOU ME Eph. 3:20 (MsgB) "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us." Petersen's Version

Did you know that your life will always go in the direction of your most prominent thoughts? In order to follow God’s plan, you have to think God’s thoughts for your life, which will encourage you and build you up.

God says: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you." Jeremiah 29:11-12; Isaiah 55:9

1. We walk by faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

a) Satan works to discourage us. We focus only on the bad things which overwhelm us at times. Yet James teaches us: "Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. " James 4:2-3

I think MacKnight gives the key to this by viewing James as a unity. He says: "Next he told them, they never could succeed in converting the heathens, and destroying idolatry, because they did not use the methods proper for these ends [results]. They neither prayed to God for assistance and success, nor exercised meekness towards those whom they wished to convert."

The Jews still expected an earthly version of Messiah’s Kingdom, and they thought it would come by converting Gentiles to Judaism. Even many Christian Jews still thought this, and they expected to be able to live their lives wallowing in sensual pleasure when Messiah’s Kingdom came! The paradox is their mixed attitude, wanting to bring the Gentiles to Christ, but also to the Law of Moses (and their traditions). Rather than asking God’s guidance, they used ranting and raving, quarreling and fighting, to try to make converts, and were ready to kill when they failed to succeed!

2. "By thy faith command thou Me" is a Bible principle. God listens to His children. He sometimes gives, and sometimes withholds. Because He has given us free will, He will respect the choices we make even when they are not wise choices.

a) "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:16

b) "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Matthew 13:58
So they rejected His claims without closely studying them. Miracles would not impress these people, because they had already decided not to believe.

c) "And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:24

d) "Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour." Matthew 15:28

e) "Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you." Matthew 9:29

3. Satan asks to sift us.

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:31-32; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6

a) It will happen again and again. The church at Ephesus "lost their first love" [of JESUS] and their "candlestick" was removed. But GOD continues to raise up new men & women who love Him and praise Him. Each one of us is "challenged" by the events of life. Yet we repent and claim the FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST JESUS. What a wonderful GOD we have! We love HIM because He first loved us!

b) "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Cor 13:13

"Charity, or love, is connected specially with the Holy Spirit, who is the bond of the loving union between the brethren (Romans 15:30; Col 1:8). Faith is towards God. Hope is in behalf of ourselves." —Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Father in heaven, today I choose to believe that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. I trust that You have a good plan for me and that You are leading and guiding my every step. Help me stand strong in You, today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.