The Proof of Having True Faith
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September 04, 2016 |
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 Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
Faith is privilege given to the children of God. Even the things that can't be done with human power will be made possible with spiritual faith. In spiritual faith, nothing is impossible, and it is like treasure. Then, what is the proof of having true faith?
1. First, it is complete truste
If you believe something only when things agree with your thoughts and interests, it is not trust. Trust does not change over time or in different situations. Peter could become the foremost of the disciples because he had trust.
Peter had not caught a single fish all night and he was very tired. Jesus told him to 'go down to the deep and let down the net'. He did as Jesus said. So many fish were caught that he had to call for help to get them (Luke 5:3-7).
From that point in time on, as Peter stayed with Jesus, his trust in Him increased and finally, he could even make a deep spiritual confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Because Peter had such trust, Jesus was with Peter in the important moments and He trusted him with many works, too.
Jesus also once told him that if he caught a fish, he'd find money, and with it he was to pay the tax. Also, He told him to meet a man who was carrying a pitcher of water, follow him to the house he was entering, and ask him to prepare for the Supper. Peter had no doubt at all even when Jesus ordered him to do such strange things.
"How could there be money in the mouth of a fish?" "What if I can't catch any fish?" "Will a man carrying a pitcher of water pass me at exactly the right moment?" If Peter asked these questions and tried to listen to the explanations, how much more difficult it would have been for Jesus! Or perhaps even though he did not ask such questions, if he had uncomfortable feelings and doubted Jesus as to why He was telling him to do such things, then Jesus wouldn't have given him any work to do in the first place.
In fact, at that time, Peter had not even reached the full measure of perfect faith yet. But seeing Jesus' powerful works and experiencing His authority of words, Peter just recognized and trusted Jesus. Later, after he received the Holy Spirit and as his trust became even deeper, he dedicated his whole life even to reaching the point of martyrdom.
Since the day I was healed of all the diseases that had afflicted me for the previous seven years, I just believed any and all the words of God. All the ministries of this church have been also accomplished through complete trust. No matter what God said, I just accepted it with 'Amen', even the things that couldn't be understood with men's thoughts. Even though 10, 20, even 30 years had passed, and even though there were fiery trials, I've never doubted the promise of God. I did not worry at all because God was going to do everything.
Do you trust God completely? Some people can rely on God for minor illnesses but not for serious diseases. If things don't go well, some feel God's love is far from them and they are filled with worries.
It means they don't have faith. If they really trust God, they will believe Him and rejoice and give thanks in any situation. They will try to look for the ways to please God and do them even more diligently than before. For big things and small, for difficult times or good times, I hope you will completely trust God and experience the works of faith.
2. The proof of having faith is secondly, complete obediencee
If you have true faith and if you truly trust, there must be the evidence of obedience. When told to 'go down to the deep and let down the net' (Luke 5:4), what if Peter had not obeyed? If he had said, "Jesus, I think I know a little better about fishing than you. I tried all night and it's not going to work if we go out again," then, we wouldn't be able to say he trusted Jesus.
"Jesus, I believe You are a man of God and Your word will be fulfilled. But today, I'm so tired and we already washed the net, and I will surely follow Your advice next time." Can we say such a man has any trust or faith? It's like a tree that has many leaves but bears no fruit. There is no evidence of true faith. We can experience the power of God only when we obey.
How about you? You say you believe there is nothing impossible in the Lord and through His power, but how much do you actually try to become sanctified and how much do you obey? Do you pray without ceasing? Do you pray with all your heart in the Spirit, and do you seek God's kingdom and His righteousness more earnestly than for your own desires? Do you worship in spirit and truth and keep in mind all the messages that you hear every week?
Is there anybody who thinks like, "If Jesus tells me to catch a fish, I will obey right away. If you senior pastor order me directly, I will obey anything. If you tell me to go to a remote place for missionary works, I will only obey"? If you can really do that, you would accept all the messages preached every week as your own and obey them one by one. Only then can God trust you in return and give you a bigger duty.
3. The proof of having true faith, thirdly, is to be faithful with all your hearte
If we really have faith, we will fulfill all our duties with all our best efforts and certainly bear the fruit. If church leaders have a stoppage in faith and are not recognized for their work in their respective groups, then it is somewhat awkward to say they love God. If they only do the work that they want to do, or if they do not care more for their task when they are given a work they don't really want to do, they'd be ashamed to say they have true faith.
What does it mean by participating in the ministry of fulfilling the providence of this church in the end time? When you are faithful to your duties in your small groups or cell groups, it is 'participating in the ministry of Manmin and enjoying the fruit of the glory together'. If you are faithful with all your heart, there will certainly be the fruit borne of it wherever it may be.
Also, if you have faithful trust in God, you will not incline toward only one area. If you work hard in the church but not in your home or workplace, then we cannot really say you have true faith. If you resent your family members saying, "Other husbands and children have good faith, so why don't mine?" then it means you don't have true faith. I hope you will first check yourself as to whether you set a good example of faith before your family members and delivered happiness to people around you by leading a Christian life full of faith, hope, and love.
If you have true faith, you should set an example of grace of God and service of love everywhere. In so doing, the darkness in your family and workplace will go away by your light and the grace of God will come. When you are faithful in all areas, and when you serve with faith, God will give you the fruit of your faithfulness.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I hope you will all trust God completely and obey all the words with joy. Also, I hope you will be faithful with all your heart in your respective areas and bear abundant spiritual fruits. I pray in the name of the Lord that in so doing, you will participate in the great honor in this precious church that fulfills the providence of God in the end time.
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