Faith

 

Faith – the one and only way to please God…!

 

Faith is the most significant aspect of Christian walk. God expects the attitude of faith under all circumstances. Our first reaction to any situation should be a ‘faith filled prayer’. Jesus lived by it to bring in salvation for the whole world. If He would have acted human and doubted His purpose without faith, we would have been thrown into the lake of fire. Jesus set an example through His life for us to walk by faith. Well, faith is the major ingredient that needs to be present to experience miracles and breakthroughs. Have you ever thought as to ‘why God doesn’t come in front us so that we can believe Him without any doubts’? The answer to this question is that He gave us sufficient materialistic evidence when He walked among us as Jesus of Nazareth (1Jn.1:1`-3).

 

Faith is an essential element in human existence

Imagine a situation when people do not trust each other.  Can the society function at all?  We feel good when people rely on us, hence we don’t like to disappoint them. If we mortals can act with responsibility towards the person who relies on us, how much more will our super natural Heavenly Father be happy when we rely on Him? Isn’t it a pleasure to make our creator smile?

 

Faith is all about believing without seeing now

The Word says that the people who believe without seeing are blessed (Jn.20:29). It also says that things that are seen are temporary but the things that are unseen are permanent and precious (2Cor.4:18). However believing without seeing is the essence and definition of faith (2Cor.5:7). Faith has to be present even if circumstances are not in favor of us. Even when we don’t encounter the after effects of faith immediately, God expects us to have faith without ceasing.

 

Faith has to grow from a mustard seed to a gigantic mustard tree.

The most prominent verse in the bible is “if we have faith like a seed, we can move mountains” (Mt.17:20).  Based on this verse, many people think that small level of faith is sufficient to please God. If this is the case then Jesus could have told that a faith up to a grain of sand is sufficient to move mountains. Why did He compare faith to a seed? The answer to this question is that seed is a living organism and has to grow gradually into a large tree. Faith cannot be stagnant. It has to grow into a mustard tree, which is one of the largest trees. Jesus compared faith to a mustard seed because mustards, one of the smallest seeds, can grow to big tree. He wants our faith to grow with enthusiasm.

 

Faith is the opposite of Fear… Anxiety … Worry

A child like faith is all that is expected of us form our Lord. If we have this child like faith with its complete essence, we do not have to suffer with fear, anxiety and worry. The lord says that He is with us at always, He never leaves us nor forsakes us. We must have the mind set to completely rely on Him. Thinking and fearing about tomorrow’s issues will never make tomorrow better. We must remember the fact the person who fears the lord will not fear anything else but the one who doesn’t fear the Lord might fear any thing and every thing!

 

The Number of the Beast

Most of the times in this modern world we are so concerned about the number 666 either sometimes we receive a bill or when we spend money on bad things.

Ever since John, the servant of God, wrote the Book of Revelation and mentioned the number 666, people have been trying to figure out the meaning of the mark of the beast. The number is mentioned in Revelation 13:16-18.

I believe the mark or number of the beast will be a financial identification system that the Antichrist will establish during the tribulation. He will use the mark as a tool for controlling all aspects of society.

The Antichrist will make it compulsory for everyone to have a tiny microchip implanted under the skin of the right hand or on the forehead. The microchip will hold various amounts of data pertaining to each person who receives the implant. Right now, the technology exists to fully implement this system. From here on out, the only changes will be in how much information those microchips will be able to hold.

Everyone who receives the mark will also have to swear allegiance to the Antichrist and acknowledge him as the supreme authority. This is why all who take the mark of the beast will be condemned to hell. All who choose not to receive the mark will be unable to buy anything because cash, checks, and credit cards will all be replaced by the beast system's instant funds.

As time has passed, we have lost the true meaning of the mark of the beast. Even though it is clearly defined as a mark that will be placed upon the right hand or forehead, a number of people throughout history have attached new and even weird meanings to the number 666. The number has become trivialized by its repeated association with its every random occurrence. Some folks have believed the beast’s number was to be a certain year. Because of this, the year 666 AD was at one time considered the date for the advent of the Antichrist. When that date came and went without incident, many began to anticipate the year 1666 with dread. Nostradamus pointed to the year 1999 as an inverted 666 year.

Because the beast’s number will have something to do with the Antichrist's name, scholars have been busy working equations to figure which world leaders have had names equaling 666 in some way. Depending on how you figure it, 666 can be made to add up to just about anyone's name.

A number of people have superstitions or phobias about this number. One person refused to ride in a car that had a license plate with 666 on it. Another person I know adds a stick of gum or something to his purchases if his check-out total at the store is triple six in any way. When President Ronald Reagan and Mrs. Reagan moved out to California, their house number was 666. They had it changed to 668. Any time a bill numbered 666 is produced by a governing body like the UN or Congress, prophecy watchers give the document a good going-over to see if it has a connection with end-time events.

A friend recently emailed me a note listing other numbers of the beast. I expanded upon it and provide it here to illustrate how people can become too focused on the unholy number and how superstitious people can become.

A Collection of Numbers of the Beast

666             Number of the beast

668             Neighbor of the beast

660             Approximate number of the beast

DCLXVI          Roman numeral of the beast

666.0000        Number of the high-precision beast

0.666           Number of the millibeast

1/666           Common denominator of the beast

666[-/(-1)]     Imaginary number of the beast

1010011010      Binary number of the beast

29A             Hexidecimal number of the beast

-666            Negative number of the beast

00666           Zip code of the beast

$665.95         Retail price of the beast

$699.25         Price of the beast plus 5% state sales tax

$769.95         Price of the beast with all accessories and replacements 

$656.66         Wal-Mart price of the beast

$646.66         Next week's Wal-Mart price of the beast

$333.00         After-Christmas sale price of the beast

$222.00         Going-out of business liquidation price of the beast 

Phillips 666    Gasoline of the beast

Route 666       Way of the beast

665             Older brother of the beast

667             Younger brother of the beast

666 UP          Soft drink of the beast

666lb cap       Weight limit of the beast 

666 F           Oven temperature for cooking roast "beast"

666k            Retirement plan of the beast

666 mg          Recommended minimum daily requirement of the beast

6.66%           5-year CD rate at First Beast of Hell, $666 minimum deposit

20/666          Vision of the beast

1-800-666-6666  Toll-free number of the beast   

999             Australian number of the beast

6"X 6"X 6"      Lumber of the beast

66.6 GHZ        Computer processor of the beast 

666i            BMW of the beast

666-66-6666     Social security number of the beast

6/6/66          Birth date of the beast

666.AC.com      URL of the beast    

IAM 666         License plate number of the beast

Formula 666     All-purpose cleaner of the beast

666 calories    Diet of the beast

969             Dyslexic number of the beast

WD-666          Spray lubricant of the beast  

66.6 MHz        FM radio station of the beast 

666 KHz         AM radio station of the beast

Chanel No. 666  The beast's favorite perfume

666%            What the beast gives in his game

I wouldn't totally rule out any other meaning to the appearance of the number 666. For example, a lottery pick-3 drawing once turned up 666 as the winning number. We may have to allow for the occasional sovereignty of God in His attempt to warn folks of the evils of this world.

A Poem

Once it was a blessing,

Now it is the Lord;

Once it was the feeling,

Now it is His word

Once His gifts I wanted,

Now the giver own;

Once I sought for healing,

Now Himself alone.

Once it was painful trying,

Now this perfect trust;

Once a half salvation

Now the uttermost.

Once it was ceaseless holding,

Now He holds me fast,

Once it was constant drifting,

Now my anchors cast.

All in all forever,

Jesus will I sing;

Everything in Jesus,

And Jesus Everything.

How to Fight Temptation?

Defining Temptation
Fighting temptation describes a battle that is as much spiritual as it is emotional or physical. To be tempted is not a sin. Everyone is tempted and at different levels. Even Jesus was tempted! Temptation happens when the opportunity is presented to do what we know is wrong, whether against God, ourselves, or others. Being tempted is not wrong - it's the decision to do wrong and the corresponding action that follows.

Sometimes we can confuse temptation with God's testing of our hearts, but temptation and God's testing are very different. Most of the time, though, what we're experiencing is both! God's testing presents the opportunity to do that which would please Him. When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, Abraham was being tested - both his heart to obey God and his ability to trust Him (Genesis 22). God's Word clearly states that He tries the heart and tests for faith. Proverbs 17:3 says, "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart."

At the time we are experiencing it, we may not be able to distinguish the difference between testing and temptation. Afterward, if we are seeking God's purposes in our dilemma, we will likely understand God's intent.

Temptation can occur on many levels. We may be tempted to eat something we shouldn't for health reasons, we may be trapped in a harmful pattern of thinking, or dangerously involved in a lifestyle that is harmful. In all cases, temptation is rarely a one-time event.

Tests may occur more than once in similar ways, but temptation is almost always cyclical. James 1:12-16 discusses the process of being tempted, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers."

Fighting Temptation - God Allows Temptation
Fighting temptation is combat God allows, because it is won or lost at the spiritual level. He desires that we endure when we are tempted and promises that there is a way out. When we are sorely tempted, it may not seem that there is a way out, but the God who made us knows what we can endure and bear, and it is He who provides a way of escape. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Depending on what His goal is in our lives, God's way of escape might be to take us through the temptation, or He may give us strength to overcome it. His desire is that we don't fall into temptation, but that we proceed through it and master it, rather than it mastering us. God wants us to overcome! 1 Peter 1:3-8, reminds us, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

God Allows Temptation
Temptation is as old as mankind, beginning in the Garden of Eden. When Satan tempted Eve to do what God had forbidden, he appealed to her reasoning. "Did God really say…," the enemy hissed. Then he appealed to her desires, "You can be like gods!" Finally, he slithered aside and let her passions take over. She looked at the fruit on the forbidden tree - and she wanted it (Genesis 3). Temptation still works like that. There is nothing new in Satan's bag of tricks. King David was tempted when he saw his neighbor's beautiful wife, Bathsheba, and he succumbed to that temptation (2 Samuel 11:2-5). Throughout the book of Psalms, we find David recording his distress after falling into temptation. His soul was grieved and felt as if it were torn in two. In a discussion with Peter, Jesus tells him that Satan wants to rule him (Luke 22:31-32). Jesus was taken by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by Satan (Matthew 4).

God wants us to succeed and prevail over temptation, but Satan, God's sworn enemy, longs to devour us. In fact, 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." When Adam and Eve gave in to temptation in the Garden, rather than obeying God as He desired, they yielded control of this physical world to Satan. His goal in our lives is two-fold: first, he wants to take us with him to hell. If he loses that battle because we become Christians, his goal is then to make us ineffective for God in this world. He uses temptation to accomplish his purposes. The very essence and meaning of sin is to miss the mark, and this is accomplished through giving in to temptation.

Fighting Temptation - The Secret of Success is Spiritual!
Fighting temptation focuses on the cravings and desires of the flesh versus doing what is right. No one is above temptation or the potential to sin (1 John 1:8). When fighting temptation, society's solutions revolve around personal stamina and will-power. However as worthwhile as this may seem, the chances of success are minimal, due to the focus being on natural ability. As Scripture clearly tells us, the battle is not natural-but spiritual. Ephesians 6:12-13 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." As an example to us, Jesus used the weapon of God's Word in resisting temptations (Matthew 4). Since He is the only human who has ever been tempted, yet did not sin, His example is a good one to follow! God knows how to provide a way to both get through temptation, and overcome temptation. Psalm 34:17 says, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles."

When we choose to rely on our own strength in defeating temptation, independent of God, God looks at this as pride (James 4:6). He has a plan of deliverance, a way of escape which is found primarily through relationship with Him and experiencing His loving hand of correction (Hebrews 12).

When we come to God for salvation, He gives us a new nature. The old one - full of deceit and the desire to please only ourselves - is gone. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" What begins to transpire at this point is a literal transformation. As we start to read the Bible and get to know who God is, our way of thinking is gradually changed. This is a renewing that changes the moral fiber and character of a person. New traits and disciplines are learned and integrated, replacing the old characteristics. Through a relationship with God, we become likeminded with Christ and grow in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord.

Temptation always involves choice - do we obey God or give in to our own desires? Yet climbing out of the pit of temptation is rarely simple, as anyone who has been there knows. The good news is that with God's help, we can end the cycle. There may be pain and anguish in your heart and mind when declining temptations of the flesh, but overcoming temptation is treasure for the soul.

Fighting Temptation - How the Battle is Played Out
Fighting temptation can feel like struggling for breath. It's everywhere you turn, like a boxer wanting to pummel his opponent. Victory involves God's Word, prayer, confession, and avoiding situations where temptation is likely to occur. God knows who we are. After all, in the person of Jesus, He has been tempted as we have. He knows what we need to do in order to defeat sin. Whatever your area of greatest temptation is, ask God to help you recognize and stay away from compromising situations. Use God's Word to change harmful thought patterns. We have this good news from the Apostle Paul, "We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT).

FRIENDS BLESS OUR LIVES

Text: I thank my God every time I remember you. Phil. 1:3

This is from one of the epistles from the Bible which I studied…

This epistle was written by Paul the Apostle. Paul found the church at Philippi on his second missionary journey; after Paul left the city the church stayed in contact with him and often took care of his needs. After a while they lost their communication.

When later in his life when he went as a prisoner to Rome they once more established a relationship with him. The immediate occasion for the writing of Philipians was Paul's receiving a gift from the Christians at Philippi. When Paul learnt about the church's feelings and sincerity he wrote to them, Paul wanted them to know how grateful he was to the kindness and sincerity of the church shown by the church at Philippi. This epistle of Paul to the church at Philippi is mainly filled with various personal forms of the word joy.

I. Friends are important but don't forget your parents advices

Elizabeth Barett Browning a poetess (an atheist) of the 18^th century once asked a novelist Charles Kinglesley (the son of a vicar of a church in England) tell me the secret of your life he replied I had a friend who always helped me.

Few of us realize how important our good friends are and what a contribution they make to our lives. But it is our duty to identify which are the good and the bad ones. Most of the times I used to ignore the words or the advice of my parents and considered the words of my friends greater, later I realized that how important those words of my parents meant to me. I am not saying in every friend you make you should ask your parents but we have to remember the advices provided by them, most of the times we give less value to these advices we have to highly value the advices provided by our parents and I am sure none of the parents will be guiding their children to go the wrong way because they expect us to walk in the right ways. Not only that as I Corinthians.15:33 Bad company corrupts good character so we should be careful when we make friends.

Someone has once said like this even circumstance leads us to death if we have two or three friends we are fortunate. Paul has happy memories when he looks back although he had been away for a long time. He also thanks God for his friends and remembered them in prayer.

II. Our friends in Christ are our dearest friends

A tremendous difference exists within friendships. Most of the times we meet and make friends with many people. Some may be good; some may be bad; some may be just an acquaintance (that is a person who knows just the moment you met him only).But during the times of trouble no one except the friend who knows Christ would be there to help you.

Paul loved his Christian friends and he often mentions in his letters. Sometimes Paul even mentions the good qualities of his friends. Even when disappointed with someone Paul made special attention about them in his letters for e.g John Mark turned back on the first missionary. Paul refused to take Mark when he came back on the second missionary journey. It is not because Paul hated Mark but I think Paul loved Mark and wanted Mark to know that doing God's work should be a continuous work and not doing it half by half. Years later as we read

2Timothy. 4:11 Paul includes Mark when writing to Timothy.

III. To make and to keep friends, we must be a friend

To show ourselves friendly we should throw out the selfish attitude away from us. Most of the times we expect others to come forward to communicate with us or to make friends. Often we must take the first step in establishing the relationship. Jesus said of himself in Mark. 10:45 "…..not come to be served but to serve…..." each christian should have this attitude toward life. We should not seek what we can get from our friends but rather what we can do for our friends. In this way we gain friends and I am sure no one likes to be with a selfish person.

Jesus said we are his friends if we do what he commands us to do. This means friendship also carries obligation

IV. The greatest friend is Jesus

Prov. 18:24 says "A man of many companions may come to ruin but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” This marvelous Old Testament passage referring to our Saviour.

He delivered us from sin and he promised to stay with us in every step of life's journey. Jesus laid down his life for his friends but he also did for his enemies as well. In fact this is the way he made his enemies his friends. Jesus showed by dying on the cross that he loved us so much.

I would like to conclude by saying that friends may come and go. In that itself some may be bad or some be good will be there, no matter how much time will pass on there is only one man who sticks closer to us forever as he promised to us and that is our Lord Jesus Christ.