What is Faith?

What it means to have FAITH!

Good Morning, everyone, I hope you’re week went well, and that it was filled with love, family, friends, and togetherness, but most of all I hope it was Christ-filled, with prayers, scripture, blessings, and miracles. I personally had a great week, a grand week, even though I mostly stay home and either spend time with family and/or friends, my week was pretty amazing. I pray for all of you in the upcoming week.

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Let’s open in prayer today brothers and sisters. “Father God, you do so much for us each and every day, everything from carrying us when we need you, to just sitting with us when we think we don’t, you perform miracles and give us blessings and you grant us mercy when we don’t deserve it. YOU God are the Perfect Father, filled with love and kindness. We just need you to know we are here today to bring you honor, to worship you in the manner of which you call us, we open our minds and prepare our hearts for YOUR message today Lord, the message in which you need us to hear, we are ready to accept and live by your words O Lord, from now until forever you are and always have been our Father, The Perfect Spirit, Alpha and Omega, Almighty I AM, Creator of all creation, and Judge over the just and unjust we give you praise Lord God. Amen”

Let us go to our scripture reading for today.

Daniel chapter 6 verses 12 through 23 says “So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "The decree stands--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed. “Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day."

When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.

"So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!" A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles so that Daniel's situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?" Daniel answered, "O king, live forever!

My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.”

Just as the title states, what does it mean to have faith brothers and sisters? The better question would be what does it mean to have BLIND FAITH? As most of us do, some have witnessed miracles, visits, or even heard the Almighty HIMSELF when they are being called to do HIS work, but what does it mean to have Faith or blind faith for that matter?

Well, Webster’s dictionary describes faith as having confidence in a person or thing. Belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion. The obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement etc.…

Blind faith is the unquestioning belief in something even when it’s unreasonable or wrong. The person refuses to question their own faith because they feel their religion is the correct religion.

Isn’t that who we are today brothers and sisters, we feel strongly, wholeheartedly that what the bible says is true, and how we feel about what the bible says is the correct and only way to life beyond life, We are guided by our faith to constantly check ourselves and make sure that in all aspects of our life we are bringing honor to God so whether you have faith in God because you’ve had an experience or three, or whether you believe simply because you just do, we are honoring God no matter what.

In John chapter 20 verses 28 and 29 Jesus does say “you believe because you see me, Those who believe without seeing me will be truly blessed.”

Yes, we did have that scripture last week as well. But this is what ties today’s lesson in with last week’s Signs and Wonders, if you haven’t read it yet, I suggest doing so after reading today’s lesson.

Let us continue now.

Matthew chapter 21 verse 21 says “And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.”

Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1 says it differently in different versions so I’ll just list them here, KJV Says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

ESV says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

NLT says, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen, it gives us assurance about things we cannot see”

Although each one varies in one way or another the common goal is that Faith is the confidence in the doctrines of God and that what they speak is true. We base our beliefs on that fact alone. That the Bible, or rather the books tell us the truth and we truly believe that God our Father exists.

We’re touching on a tough subject I know, Some people don’t want to discuss their faith and that’s ok, some people will walk up to just about everyone in the grocery store and talk about their faith and that’s ok too. The Bible says we should.

Jesus himself went to the lepers and spoke with them, if He had let social cues, and social interests dictate who he talks to and when, he wouldn’t have gone to the leper colonies at all. Social standards said to leave them alone, but Jesus said everyone needs to hear the truth not just us, but everyone.

If we actually lived as Jesus lived, we’d probably be arrested and thrown in Jail but that’s what happened to Daniel, isn’t it? He believed in God, told people about his God, and was thrown into the lion’s den. Because he believed in God and never let his faith be shaken, God protected him. Kept him from harm.

If we are right and faithful, and just, why don’t we live more as Jesus did? Are we too afraid of what might happen, too scared of what people might think or do? Is it fair to God to hold back the Joys and happiness that he has to offer others?

Having Faith, truly blind faith knowing that HE is there watching over us, protecting us, carrying us through the hard times, and sharing those experiences is the true core of whether or not we truly believe.

I think we should all strive to live more like Jesus, I know we’re not perfect, but neither is God’s army I encourage you to watch a video on YouTube this week. It’s called the “march of the unqualified.” It’s a short minute maybe two, but it’s powerful and you’ll learn a lot about who the people are in the bible and you’ll learn something about yourself as well.

There’s not much more I can say. We didn’t have a lot of scripture to back up things, but does God really need to be backed up? Do I need to prove to all of you brothers and sisters that God does exist? I mean come on now you have the whole bible telling you this is what happened and why, this is who God is right there in black and white and sometimes red.

There’s nothing I can say or do as a person, an imperfect person that will prove to you or anyone that God is with us always. I can only refer you to the bible and point to some key scriptures such as Daniel chapter 6.

Let us close in prayer, “Father God we know you’re here with us, we know that you help us when we need it, you guide us when we are lost, you carry us when we are hurt, and we know that you are the GREAT I AM, there is no doubt that your existence is merely a coincidence or out of necessity, We know you’re there because the bible tells us so. We know you’re with us, among us because you say when two or three are gathered in YOUR NAME, there you will be found. We are all here because we wish to bring you honor and praise you the best we can, we thank you for the lesson, and we thank you for opening our hearts and preparing our minds. In your high and holy name, we pray, Amen.