ILLUSIVE FAITH

IN THE BIBLE, MARK 11:23 SAYS:

'TRULY I TELL YOU, WHOEVER SAYS TO THIS MOUNTAIN,

BE LIFTED UP AND THROWN INTO THE SEA AND DOES

NOT DOUBT AT ALL IN HIS HEART BUT BELIEVES THAT WHAT

HE SAYS WILL TAKE PLACE, IT WILL BE DONE FOR HIM.'

THIS SCRIPTURE IMPLIES OR CAUSES US TO BELIEVE THAT

FAITH IS BELIEVING IN WHAT WE SAY? THIS SCRIPTURE WAS

THE HALLMARK OF THE GREAT 'FAITH MOVEMENT' WHICH WE ALL

FELL PREY TO IN THE SEVENTIES.

ALL OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, WENT AROUND PROCLAIMING

THINGS THAT WE HOPED WOULD COME TO PASS. WHEN THEY

DIDN'T WE BLAMED IT ON OURSELVES FOR NOT HAVING ENOUGH FAITH OR

WE THOUGHT OUR FAITH WAS WEAK.

HEBREWS 11:1 SAYS THAT 'FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR,

THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN.' THAT'S CLEARER, BUT STILL ILLUSIVE.

THAT SAME VERSE SAYS FAITH IS A CONVICTION THAT THE THINGS WE HOPE

FOR ARE REAL. BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

FAITH IN WHAT? IS IT FAITH IN GOD? IF SO, WHAT PART OF GOD DO WE HAVE FAITH

IN? HIS EXISTENCE? HIS GREATNESS? HIS FORGIVENESS?

THE TRUE MEANING OF FAITH IS ILLUSIVE.

ROMANS 3:25 MIGHT GIVE US MORE INSIGHT INTO THIS QUESTION OF FAITH. SO

THE QUESTION IS YES, WE MUST HAVE FAITH BUT FAITH IN WHAT? FAITH NEEDS

SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL FOR US TO BELIEVE IN.

IF YOU READ ROMANS 3:25 IN THE KING JAMES VERSION, YOU CAN GET LOST IN

THE WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE FAITH SUCH AS MERCY SEAT, PROPITIATION,

ATONEMENT, OR RECONCILIATION.

BUT IF YOU READ THE SAME VERSE IN THE PASSION TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE,

THE OBJECT OF FAITH IS CLEAR.

'JESUS' GOD-GIVEN DESTINY WAS TO BE THE SACRIFICE TO TAKE AWAY SINS, AND

NOW HE IS OUR MERCY SEAT BECAUSE OF HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS. WE COME

TO HIM FOR MERCY, FOR GOD HAS MADE A PROVISION FOR US TO BE FORGIVEN

BY FAITH (FAITH IN WHAT. WATCH THIS) BY FAITH IN THE SACRED BLOOD OF JESUS.'

HAVING FAITH IN THE SACRED BLOOD OF JESUS IS WHERE OUR FAITH MUST BE

PLACED.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE POWER OF JESUS' SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS? THAT IS THE KEY TO YOUR SALVATION AND DELIVERANCE. IT IS HIS SACRED BLOOD THAT GIVES FAITH ITS POWER.