News you won't see in controlled mainstream media.

--Does God Expect Us to have "Blind Faith?"

--Question: "Does God expect us to have blind faith?"

--Answer: The phrase “blind faith” means different things to different people, and, sadly, many people use it as a negative, disparaging term to describe anyone who believes in God. A dictionary definition of 'blind faith' is “belief without true understanding, perception, or discrimination.” But is this the kind of faith God desires us to have? More to the point, is the kind of faith God gives us a blind faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)? Is our faith really to be blind, without true understanding?

To answer this, we will start by looking at one of the greatest examples of faith found in the Old Testament. God told Abraham that Abraham would be a father of many nations and that his wife Sarah would bear him a child even though they were very old. Indeed, Sarah was 90, and Abraham was around 100 when Isaac was finally born to them. Then God told Abraham to do the unthinkable, to kill Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19). Upon receiving the order, Abraham did not question God. He “blindly” followed God’s orders and traveled quite a distance to a mountain with the intention of killing his son. In the end, God stopped him and said, [color:#000099]“Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” (Genesis 22:12).

This account makes it seem that God was rewarding and complimenting Abraham for blind faith, and since Abraham is one of the models given to us to follow, it would seem that blind faith is the ideal. That, however, is not the whole story. If we turn to the book of Hebrews and read what it says about Abraham, we can find out a bit more.

-Hebrews 11 is often referred to as the hall of fame of faith. In it we find many of the greatest people of the Bible and their accomplishments through faith. Abraham is listed more than once, but verses 18-19 tell us Abraham “reasoned” that God had promised a great nation through Isaac and that even if Isaac were killed, God could bring Isaac back from the dead, and because of that reasoning—not blind faith—Abraham followed through with the command. Abraham did not act blindly. Instead, he used his powers of reason, based on what he knew about God, to think it through. He knew God’s nature as a faithful God, and he remembered God’s promise regarding Isaac. Then he acted accordingly.

Throughout Scripture we find that reason, wisdom, and logic are lifted up as good traits. For example, Proverbs 3:13 says we are blessed when we find knowledge and understanding. Hebrews 5:12-14 reproves teachers for not learning and growing in understanding. Paul commends the church at Berea because they searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11). In many places throughout Acts the apostle Paul was said to “reason” with the lost, attempting to prove to them the truth of his words. James 1:5 even tells us to ask God for wisdom, which He gives “generously to all without finding fault.”

There are many other places where reason and understanding are uplifted. To state the point simply, God created humans with the ability to think and reason, and God expects us to use the gift He has given us. Remember that at its core the goal of reason and logic is to find truth, and Jesus made the bold claim that He is truth (John 14:6), so reason and logic should lead us to Jesus every time.

We are expected to act in faith on God’s promises just as Abraham did, but we do that from a position of trust based on all the knowledge we have of God. Abraham followed God’s order based on his faith that God would keep His promise to raise up a nation through Isaac. Abraham had learned that God would keep His promises through a lifetime of walking with God, so this was a reasoned and informed faith.

There will be times in our walk with God that we will act purely on faith because we do not have the whole picture, as in the case of Abraham. However this faith is not blind; it is based on knowledge of God’s nature and character, His promises in the Scriptures, and our personal experience walking with God every day.
-<further information: GotQuestions.org>

---BIBLE FAITH
[Question:] "What does the Bible say about faith?"

[Answer:] Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Perhaps no other component of the Christian life is more important than faith. We cannot purchase it, sell it or give it to our friends. So what is faith and what role does faith play in the Christian life? The dictionary defines faith as “belief in, devotion to, or trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof.” It also defines faith as “belief in and devotion to God.” The Bible has much more to say about faith and how important it is. In fact, it is so important that, without faith, we have no place with God, and it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). According to the Bible, faith is belief in the one, true God without actually seeing Him.

Where does faith come from? Faith is not something we conjure up on our own, nor is it something we are born with, nor is faith a result of diligence in study or pursuit of the spiritual. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that faith is a gift from God, not because we deserve it, have earned it, or are worthy to have it. It is not from ourselves; it is from God. It is not obtained by our power or our free will. Faith is simply given to us by God, along with His grace and mercy, according to His holy plan and purpose, and because of that, He gets all the glory.

-Why have faith? God designed a way to distinguish between those who belong to Him and those who don’t, and it is called faith. Very simply, we need faith to please God. God tells us that it pleases Him that we believe in Him even though we cannot see Him. A key part of Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” This is not to say that we have faith in God just to get something from Him. However, God loves to bless those who are obedient and faithful. We see a perfect example of this in Luke 7:50. Jesus is engaged in dialog with a sinful woman when He gives us a glimpse of why faith is so rewarding. “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” The woman believed in Jesus Christ by faith, and He rewarded her for it. Finally, faith is what sustains us to the end, knowing that by faith we will be in heaven with God for all eternity. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9).

Examples of faith.** Hebrews chapter 11 is known as the “faith chapter” because in it great deeds of faith are described. By faith Abel offered a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord (v. 4); by faith Noah prepared the ark in a time when rain was unknown (v. 7); by faith Abraham left his home and obeyed God’s command to go he knew not where, then willingly offered up his only son (vv. 8-10, 17); by faith Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt (vv. 23-29); by faith Rahab received the spies of Israel and saved her life (v. 31). Many more heroes of the faith are mentioned “who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies” (vv. 33-34). Clearly, the existence of faith is demonstrated by action.

According to the Bible, faith is essential to Christianity. Without demonstrating faith and trust in God, we have no place with Him. We believe in God’s existence by faith. Most people have a vague, disjointed notion of who God is but lack the reverence necessary for His exalted position in their lives. These people lack the true faith needed to have an eternal relationship with the God who loves them. Our faith can falter at times, but because it is the gift of God, given to His children, He provides times of trial and testing in order to prove that our faith is real and to sharpen and strengthen it. This is why James tells us to consider it “pure joy” when we fall into trials, because the testing of our faith produces perseverance and matures us, providing the evidence that our faith is real (James 1:2-4).~~

--BEWARE OF THE 'Word of Faith' Doctrine --

***FALSE DOCTRINE!
"Satan always masquerades as angel of light."-(2 Corinthians 11:13-14)
Question: "Is the Word of Faith movement biblical?"

**Answer: Word of Faith teaching is decidedly unbiblical. It is not a denomination and does not have a formal organization or hierarchy. Instead, it is a movement that is heavily influenced by a number of high-profile pastors and teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Paul and Jan Crouch, and Fred Price.

The Word of Faith movement grew out of the Pentecostal movement in the late 20th century. Its founder was E. W. Kenyon, who studied the metaphysical New Thought teachings of Phineas Quimby. Mind science (where "name it and claim it" originated) was combined with Pentecostalism, resulting in a peculiar mix of orthodox Christianity and mysticism. Kenneth Hagin, in turn, studied under E. W. Kenyon and made the Word of Faith movement what it is today. Although individual teachings range from completely heretical to completely ridiculous, what follows is the basic theology most Word of Faith teachers align themselves with.

At the heart of the Word of Faith movement is the belief in the "force of faith." It is believed words can be used to manipulate the faith-force, and thus actually create what they believe Scripture promises (health and wealth). Laws supposedly governing the faith-force are said to operate independently of God's sovereign will and that God Himself is subject to these laws. This is nothing short of idolatry, turning our faith—and by extension ourselves—into god.

From here, its theology just strays further and further from Scripture: it claims that God created human beings in His literal, physical image as little gods. Before the fall, humans had the potential to call things into existence by using the faith-force. After the fall, humans took on Satan's nature and lost the ability to call things into existence. In order to correct this situation, Jesus Christ gave up His divinity and became a man, died spiritually, took Satan's nature upon Himself, went to hell, was born again, and rose from the dead with God's nature. After this, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to replicate the Incarnation in believers so they could become little gods as God had originally intended.

Following the natural progression of these teachings, as little gods we again have the ability to manipulate the faith-force and become prosperous in all areas of life. Illness, sin, and failure are the result of a lack of faith, and are remedied by confession—claiming God's promises for oneself into existence. Simply put, the Word of Faith movement exalts man to god-status and reduces God to man-status. Needless to say, this is a false representation of what Christianity is all about. Obviously, 'Word of Faith' teaching does not take into account what is found in Scripture. Personal revelation, not Scripture, is highly relied upon in order to come up with such absurd beliefs, which is just one more proof of its heretical nature.

Countering 'Word of Faith' teaching is a simple matter of reading the Bible. God alone is the Sovereign Creator of the Universe (Genesis 1:3; 1 Timothy 6:15) and does not need faith—He is the object of faith (Mark 11:22; Hebrews 11:3). God is spirit and does not have a physical body (John 4:24). Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 9:6), but this does not make him a little god or divine. Only God has a divine nature (Galatians 4:8; Isaiah 1:6-11, 43:10, 44:6; Ezekiel 28:2; Psalm 8:6-8). Christ is Eternal, the Only Begotten Son, and the only incarnation of God (John 1:1, 2, 14, 15, 18; 3:16; 1 John 4:1). In Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). By becoming a man, Jesus gave up the glory of heaven but not His divinity (Philippians 2:6-7), though He did choose to withhold His power while walking the earth as man.

The Word of Faith movement is deceiving countless people, causing them to grasp after a way of life and faith that is not biblical. At its core is the same lie Satan has been telling since the Garden: “You shall be as God” (Genesis 3:5). Sadly, those who buy into the 'Word of Faith' movement are still listening to him.

Our hope is in the Lord, not in our own words, not even in our own faith (Psalm 33:20-22). Our faith comes from God in the first place (Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 12:2) and is not something we create for ourselves. So, be wary of the 'Word of Faith' movement and any church that aligns itself with 'Word of Faith' teachings.
[ Get out of there as fast as you can. That is of the enemy of our soul, Satan.]
<http://www.gotquestions.org/Word-Faith.html>

--There is NO BLIND FAITH.

When a person is born again (John 3:3), he or she is automatically a NEW CREATION, a new person, in Christ. Bad habits are gone/ or leaving. You cannot profess to being a follower of Jesus and turn around and follow Satan's ways. There is only One way to Heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ.

God's Word is Truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6). There is no other person, place, or thing that can take the place of YAHWEH, YHWH. Jehovah Yahweh is a Covenant Keeping God. God can not lie.

Yes, you will hear many false teachers and preachers tell you, "God loves you just like you are and He wants you to have a new abundant life." Those very exact words are spoken often by Joel and his wife Osteen, Benny Hinn, Kenneth a Gloria Copeland. We can NOT make up faith. "Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Without faith it is impossible to please God." Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not yet seen."

Jesus, He who begins a new work in you will complete it until He returns. You will want to be more like Jesus. You will have a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and through Him, you will find true peace. Worldly peace is of the enemy of our soul, the devil. "We know that we are children of God and that the whole world is under control of the evil one." --(1 John 5:19).

Do not just take the words said by some television Pastor, or by radio. Jesus said, "If you seek Me with all of your heart, I will be found by you." He will reveal himself to you. After your 'new birth in Christ', your soul will guide your steps. You won't even want to live the way your former person lived. "The old man must die, so the new man can live in Christ." Below is a Devotional by Pastor Charles Stanley, a true man of God, "Our Growth As Christians." We must die to self in order to live for Jesus. Darkness can not dwell in the light. Jesus is the Light of the world. He said, "He who follows Me, will not walk in darkness."

Surrender your sinful (dead) life to Christ and He will help you to live the new abundant life, in Him. We grow daily. Jesus loves you. Please do not turn Him away, He died so you can have eternal life. Yes, 'YOU'. God richly bless you as you seek His face.~~
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----Our Growth as Christians
--(Please Read/ Galatians 2:20--

There's a goal to the Christian life, which God expresses this way: "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom. 8:29). This refining process is called sanctification. And there are several identifiable stages en route to this goal, but sadly, most believers are unfamiliar with them. Let me offer some definitions so you can identify where you are on the journey and understand what to expect.

Salvation is the first stage of the Christian life. This describes our redemption from sinfulness through Jesus' atoning sacrifice. What results is forgiveness of sin, which lets us have a relationship with Almighty God.

Next, God gives us opportunity to serve (Eph. 2:10). We were created to do good works in Jesus' name.

But at some point, we notice something isn't working. This is the start to stage three: frustrated inadequacy. This unpleasant but necessary part of the journey can last varying amounts of time. Without it, we'd undoubtedly experience self-sufficiency and pride. But we should recognize this difficult phase as beautiful because it leads us into the best part of our spiritual lives: total dependency upon Jesus as Lord of our life. And we will be fulfilling our ultimate goal: becoming a reflection of Christ.

Sadly, many Christians don't reach a point of complete reliance on the Lord. Pride, discouragement, and distraction can ruin focus and perseverance. Paul reminds us to fix our eyes on the goal of maturity in Christ (Phil. 3:14). Learning to die to self is painful, but ironically, it's the only true way to life.
--IN TOUCH~~

--We Must Discern Between God's Word and Worldly Ways~~

--[The post below is from a sincere man of God, Pastor Allen Jackson. The message is clear, "Capture and Subdue". Posted here to inform 'all' of us that we live in a fallen world, full of sin. And because of that, the enemy of our souls, Satan, does put evil and sinful thoughts in our minds. We must learn to put those evil thoughts out of our minds. Pastor Allen Jackson knows we live in this world, and Satan has been given authority over this world until Jesus returns. Our job is to know when to think Biblically and we will know-- "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."-(JOHN 8:36) ~~]
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----CAPTURE AND SUBDUE~~

--"For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want."
---(Galatians 5:17)--NIV

---God is our Deliverer, and He asks us to choose not to cooperate with the sinful, carnal, earthly nature that is so present in all of us. I’ve been following Christ for a long time and a “professional Christian” for many years, but those sinful attitudes are still present in me. It’s shocking how close to the surface they are sometimes. I can worship the Lord, preach a sermon, and then think some pretty bad thoughts when I have to sit in traffic. I can be in a grocery store filled with abundance, with the money in my wallet to buy whatever I need. The provision and blessing of God is all around me, but when the person in front of me in the express lane has twenty items instead of fifteen, I want to swat him with a celery stalk.

-- Those sinful attitudes will be in me for all my days in the earth. But because they are “contrary to the Spirit,” I will continually work to be aware of them and learn to subdue them so that my thoughts and actions will please my Lord.

**THINK ABOUT IT
--What is your plan for recognizing and subduing the ungodly thoughts that come to your mind?

***PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, You provided everything I need to overcome my sinful nature through Jesus Christ, Your Son. On the Cross, Christ shed His blood to pay the price for my sin, and He overcame the enemy when He rose from the grave. I receive what He accomplished for me. I know I could do nothing to earn it. Help me to cooperate with Your Holy Spirit so that the days of my life will honor You alone. In Jesus’ name, amen."

**Blessings,
**Pastor Allen Jackson
***Intend Ministries

--No, GOD Does Not Expect 'BLIND FAITH'.

His Word is Truth. "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." --

Let's see the Bible verses that FAITH is not something we 'make up'. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit gives us FAITH. The Victory that overcomes the world is FAITH!. Our 'FAITH' is always according to God's will.
We have all heard some preachers tell us to 'just have faith in faith.' Where in heavens name did they get that??

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKAg00mvnPs>
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