If you want faith then hear by the Word of God

If you want faith then hear by the Word of God. Yes don’t bother to increase your faith by worldly ways and neither by vain traditions of man.

The Holy Bible teaches us ; ‘So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ (Romans 10:17)

Dear believer in Christ, do not trust everything blindly. Not everything can bring up faith. You need to take that time out to listen to the Word of God. Here a few things that you can try out in this regard:

1) Read the Bible for yourself, especially the Psalms and the book of Proverbs and the Gospels and the book of the Revelation. You may even read the other books of the Bible but make sure that you don’t miss out on reading the one’s I mentioned especially never miss out on the Gospel.

2) Read the Bible aloud when in a private place such as your home. This will give you the opportunity to both hear and memorize the Word of God to increase your faith

3) If you can use Bible apps such this one (click here) given on this blog, it has no charge for usage on Android based phones. Or you can use any other Bible app similar to this, which has the feature of text to speech by which you can hear the verses of the Bible being automatically read out to you at the touch of a button. This comes in handy, especially if you are having earphones to maintain your focus as you hear the Word of God.

4) There are various Christian podcasts available online or for download that preach the Word of God. Pray to the Lord God for discernment and hear them out whenever you get the chance.

5) Most importantly, you can visit your local church / preaching center where the Word of God is preached so that your faith in God increases and also that it brings edification to you as the people of God encourage you in the Word of God.

Verses for Reflection:

• What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
• Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)
• How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:14)

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

O believers in Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God, take heed that though we are in world we are not of this world. For this world rejects God and rebels against the Word of God. But we are called to repent and believe in the Gospel. Honor God and give glory to God because He deserves and the judgements of God are true.

We are not to hate people but instead to hate the deceptions that they hold dear without ourselves getting overwhelmed by the temptations they give into. Don’t enticed by the clothes of sinners nor their debauchery. We can preach the Gospel of Jesus to those we encounter but we must never give up on the Gospel ourselves no matter what the outcome.

But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And convince some, who doubt; save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 1:20-23)

Your mind and heart must always be focused on giving glory to God by believing and upholding the Word of God in your thoughts, words and actions. Loving the world becomes a snare for those who want to confirm to this world of sin and vanity. Never ever give up on believing that Jesus is the Son of God just because your want to keep your friends and neighbors happy and end up losing your friendship with God. No wonder God through his Holy Word has already warned us, so that we do not stray away from God but rather remain in the will of God.

Verses for reflection:

• Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)
• Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
•  Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
• For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5)

Practice Your Faith

Practice the true Gospel that you’ve heard,
Because avoiding it would be all absurd.
Know O believer you are called to action,
Called to do good works to God’s satisfaction.

Practice your faith for the Lord God alone,
Because false pretenses he doesn’t condone.
Do it because you love God’s Son,
For by Jesus against the darkness you’ve won.

Practice your faith because its a work that’s good,
Doesn’t matter if no one else has understood.
Walk never in things of the flesh,
But in hope in Christ for your soul to refresh.

Jesus Heals The Ten Lepers

On his way to Jerusalem in his ministry actually,
Jesus passed by the border between Samaria and Galilee.
There he met some lepers numbering ten,
In that village he healed them, amen!

They called Jesus from a distance afar,
Hoping to be healed of each leprous scar.
“Jesus, master, have pity on us!”
In their misery they called out to Him thus.

Upon Christ’s word to their priest they all went,
As they walked they got healed with no lament.
One of those cleansed did greatly rejoice,
And came back praising God in a loud voice.

He was the only one of the ten lepers who returned,
To give thanks to the Lord as Jesus had discerned.
The Lord Jesus questioned this Samaritan who became fine,
As to where were all the other nine?

For the Lord Jesus heals because he is faithful,
And expects those healed to be grateful.
Remember Jesus to the Leper did solemnly tell,
“Rise and go: your faith had made you well.”

 

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Bible reference : Gospel of St Luke 17:1-19

Quick reminder: Keep trusting the Lord

Quick Reminder: Many are called but few are chosen

• Matthew 22:14 – For many are called, but few are chosen.
• Matthew 24:24 – For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
• 2 Peter 1:10 – Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble.
• Revelation 17:14 – They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”

Quick Reminder: Faith without works is dead!

• ¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? ¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14-17)
  
• ¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! ²⁰ Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. ²⁴ You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? ²⁶ For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:18-26)
• Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
• But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians 5:16-17)

Fear not for the Lord is risen

Fear not for the Lord is risen,
Move out of any doubt filled prison.
Remember his Holy Word, remember his miracles,
And also his resurrection prophesied by God’s oracles.

Fear not for the Lord is risen,
Walk in faith in the Great Commission.
Jesus Christ is the Lord’s name,
By his grace the Gospel you proclaim.

Fear not for God has defeated death,
When to his son Jesus he again gave breath.
Those who believe will share in the first resurrection,
And get to walk in the new Jerusalem; all perfection.

Fear not any trouble nor any persecution,
For in Christ you have victory and absolution.
Stay away from sin, idleness and unbelief,
Guard you faith from each deceptive thief.

Fear not for your reward is great,
As for the Lord your heart does elate.
Hold on to the hope of Christ’s resurrection,
And stay put in your walk in God’s direction.

Praying alone

Sometimes in life you are in that zone,
Where you must be willing to pray alone.
These are times where your responsibility is personal,
When you focus on God for his grace inspirational.

Don’t be shy then at all when you pray alone,
For by prayers individuals have darkness overthrown.
What matters is your solemn faith,
Don’t let it dim on day eight.

Christ Jesus prayed in solitude,
Unto God who gave him fortitude.
The prophets of God prayed on their own,
And God’s wisdom to them was shown.

You might like times you pray together,
But be content if you get lonely weather.
O believer get not sad if you pray alone,
For Christ intercedes for you at God’s Throne.