

FAITH

without

LIMITS.

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Copyright 2016, by Joel Perdomo.

NOTE.

THIS IS AN ENGLISH TRANSLATIÓN FROM THE ORIGINAL BOOK,

WRITEN IN SPANISH BY JOEL PERDOMO.

WE APOLOGIZE IF ANY UNVOLUNTARY MISTAKE WAS MADE IN THIS TRANSLATION.

IMPORTANT.

THIS BOOK IS AN OFFERING TO GOD AND COPYRIGHT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ON EARTH.

SO:

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  * CAN BE PRINTED - NON-PROFIT.

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  * IT IS A GIFT FROM JOEL PERDOMO TO THE BELOVED CHURCH OF CHRIST. GIVING BY GRACE, WHAT BY GRACE HAS RECEIVED.

GOD BLESS YOU!

JOEL PERDOMO.

PREFACE.

Faith in God, and consequently in Jesus as savior of the world , is the most precious treasure and the greatest blessing that a human being can acquire on earth (Matthew 13: 44-46). Maybe now, in our limited human condition we do not understand or value it as much, as we'll in eternity.

Faith is the only means to approach God, and to acquire the eternal salvation of the soul. Through faith we accept the existence of God, revealed through his blessed creation, and his holy word (the Bible).

It is through faith that God allows the human being to achieve all realization, spiritual, physical, and material.

Faith emanates from the heart, just as water flows from its source. The Bible compares the person who, through faith, finds salvation, with a man who finds the most desired treasure. Jesus said:

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field (Matthew 13: 44).

The joy of salvation allows the human being to shed all that he possesses, and loves, to follow Jesus:

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it (Matthew 13: 45-46 ).

Faith has no anchors to rely on, only in God. As the wind guides a boat on the wide sea, so faith allows the Christian to depend totally on God. Faith canstill allow getting rid of or abandoning ships to follow the Lord as Peter did. Faith has no limits.

INTRODUCTION.

Number 1. All my prayers are answered.

Would you be surprised if I tell you that all my prayers have been answered? Don't worry, you are not the first one to be surprised. When I have expressed publicly that God has answered all my prayers, the audience seems to enter in a moment of silence, the atmosphere becomes saturated with doubts and many questions.

At that moment, I take a deep breath and reiterate with a firm voice, yes, dear brothers and sisters, God has answered all my prayers. It is like adding fuel to the fire. Then, I explain to them that God always answers the prayers of his children, the point is that God has different answers for each request: Sometimes he will say yes, sometimes he will say not, or that you should wait.

Christians believe that when God does not answer prayers immediately, as we expect or with a yes, it is because that prayer was not answered. In fact, the only prayer that God does not listen to, is that which is not done according to His will or is contrary to the bible.

It is important to know God; to learn to pray according to His will that is revealed in the Bible, which is the basis to all prayers. Also, is important to pray according to His specific purpose for our life, so that our faith will produce positive results.

Many prayers -even those well intentioned- are not answered, because they are not made according to the will of God which is revealed in the bible or because we focus on temporary or material things instead of the eternal priorities.

Number 2. Use your faith correctly to see good results.

A person was very ill and traveled to the city where I lived for a surgery, she had been a christian, but she did not persevere in her faith. Her sister called me to pray for her and insisted that I placed my hands over her when making a healing prayer. When she saw that I was refusing to do so, she took my hand and placed it on her sister. I removed my hand immediately.

When there was an opportunity I explained to her that we were praying incorrectly, because she needed salvation, before healing. She had accepted Jesus as Savior, but she had abandoned him. The priority at that moment was the salvation of her soul; not the healing of her body.

I invited the person to confess Jesus as her savior and she accepted. Then, we prayed for divine healing. The next day she went to the hospital and the doctors suspended the surgery because they found nothing in her body. The disease had disappeared by the power of God. In the divine order, the soul is more important than the physical body. The body is important, but it is temporary. The soul is eternal, Jesus said:

And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul (Matthew 10: 28 a).

Many well-intentioned christian prayers are not answered, because they are not done according to the divine will revealed in the bible. What in a certain moment of life is the most important or necessary thing for us, is not necessarily God's priority.

Although God is all love, his priorities for our life are the eternals (the soul); not the temporaries or physical. On the other hand, the human being is more concerned with the physical and material things of this world.

By living in a world limited by time and space, we can make the mistake of believing that God is concerned about the same things that concern us. This can lead us to think and wrongly ask God. It's not that God is not interested in our needs, it's just that our mind is limited, compared to his great wisdom. He says:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55: 8-9).

If we do not align our mind with the character of God so that it conforms to his will revealed in the Bible, we will make great mistakes when using our faith to communicate effectively with Him, in order to ask correctly. Our first priority on the way to developing our Christian faith is to align ourselves with the divine will.

If we care about knowing and doing God's will, rather than about our issues, no matter how important they may be, He will take care of our problems and needs. Our focus should be obedience, even if in the process our faith is tested over and over again.

Our first step towards the development of faith is to exercise faith. And there is no better way to do it, but trusting that if we focus in obeying God, He will take care of everything that worries us in this world, even of those things that are impossible for us.

The biblical faith that produces great miracles is simple, and consists in leaving all our needs in the hands of God. That is what sometimes gives us more work, because God is not in a hurry, nor thinks as we think. But he will not put a heavier burden than we can't carry. At the end, he will give us the exit, which he considers correct. The bible states:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (First Corinthians 10: 13).

Chapter - 1 -

THE REVELATION OF FAITH.

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Part 1. WHAT IS FAITH?

Number 1. The biblical faith.

Faith in God is one of the most amazing topics in the Bible. Faith is so deep in its reach, that it has no limits, nor does it know impossible; but it is so simple to understand and easy to acquire, that the most common of the humans can appropriate it, since it emanates from a personal decision by hearing the word of God. Believing or not in God is voluntary. God has displayed his glory through his wonderful creation. The bible points out that the Earth is full of the glory of God:

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole Earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6: 3).

The creation is a perfect testimony of the Creator. The human being can acquire faith in God through creation. However, the saving faith comes by hearing and obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ, revealed in the bible:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10: 17).

It does not mean that faith is acquired automatically, just by listening to the gospel. Hearing the message is only the means to acquire faith, but the decision to believe or not is determined by each listener in their heart. It's there where the free will that God gave to each person works.

God gave free will to every person to choose individually. Therefore, faithis a decision. However, faith is essential to communicate with God. The bible states that: Without faith it is impossible to please God:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11: 6).

Faith is the first step for the sinner to approach God in search of restoration, after the fall of the first couple in the garden of Eden. By faith we understand that God created all existing things, with the power of His word:

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11: 3).

Faith is the way we approach God and interpret his knowledge. God is spirit and the fallen nature of the human mind is carnal and can not understand spiritual things, as the bible says:

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8: 7-9).

Faith brings us closer to God, from whom we separated at the beginning, because of original sin; by which all mankind was separated from God, and removed from His presence.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Romans 5: 12). See, Romans 3: 2 and 3.

To a person can understand and restore their communion with God, it is necessary to be born of the Spirit (John 3: 7); he must receive the knowledge of God, which is revealed in the bible. In another way, the spiritual will seem madness; as the bible says:

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (First Corinthians 2: 14).

Faith can be developed by any wonderful work displayed in creation, but that faith must lead to Jesus of Nazareth, the only means for eternal salvation (John 14: 6).

To those who never heard of the gospel, the bible says that God will judge them by means of their conscience (which convinceth about good and evil) and by his reasoning, which demands an intelligent Creator:

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits (Romans 2: 14-16).

Number 2. Faith in God.

In the etymological root of the biblical language, the word faith (from the greek pistis) has many variants; but in a general way, its meaning refers to the following concepts : Trust, certainty, guarantee, security, trustworthy, reliable, obedience. All this is in relation to the action of what faith must teach everyone who comes to God.

When someone decides to believe in God and believe God; which are two different things, you must do it without hesitation. The meaning of these words evokes an absolute trust in God, with the assurance that He will not fail.

It is like an innocent creature that abandons itself confidently in the tender arms of his mother, without doubting of her love and care and convinced that nowhere will he be more secure.

Faith also, is implicitly linked to obedience. Hence, faith is to be shown through obedience to God and His word (the bible). Faith is by nature obedient.

No one can confess that has faith, if he is not obedient to the word of God. Someone can have a lot of faith in God in his mind and heart; but at the same time, can be equally lost as an unbeliever, without obedience.

The faith will bear fruit only if we act according to it. Faith without fruits is dead (James 2: 17). The best way to show our faith, is not through the words; but only through our obedience to the God of the bible.

It is not enough to say that we believe in God; we must believe and obey what the bible says. There are people who believe in God but do not obey Him. Their faith is vain, because God only rewards those who act through their faith:

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11: 6).

Probably there are many people who profess to have faith in God; but they do not obey Him, nor do they know Him. It is as if they did not have any faith, because their faith is vain. True faith is shown in obedience to the word of God. The Bible says that even the demons believe in God and tremble in their presence, but they do not obey Him:

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble (James 2: 19).

Number 3. Faith in the sovereign God of the Bible.

Faith is one of the most wonderful mysteries revealed by God in the bible, but faith is not just a theological concept, it refers directly to God who is the giver of faith. Whom who has no faith, denies God.

Although God spoke to the first couple in the Garden of Eden, faith was necessary from the beginning to believe in the Creator. After the fall and the introduction of sin into the world, faith became more indispensable in the relationship between God and humanity because of the holyness of God, in contrast to the prevailing sin in the world. God can not dwell where there is sin. Therefore, faith became the means by which God, in His sovereignty, wanted humanity to relate to Him.

From the beginning of creation, it is noted that God did not have a foreman relationship with the first couple.

He gave them room for locomotion (the paradise) and freedom to function as individuals (free will). This is noticeable when the first couple sins and God appears at the scene in the Eden's Garden:

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden (Genesis 3: 8).

This verse shows that God was not in paradise, which connected the first couple to God, was His word:

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2: 15-17).

The word given by God was what connected the first couple with the Creator, and that communion was broken because of human disobedience. From somewhere (his throne) God appeared on the scene talking to Adam and Eve.

Today too, God does not bind the human being to seek Him. His revealed word (the Bible) shows how we should communicate with God; and this one points out, that it is through faith. Faith is a mystery revealed. But, even so, our mind is limited to understand everything concerning faith, and why God established it as a means of communication with humanity.

The truth is that God is sovereign. However, for God it is highly esteemed that his creatures recognize him, even without having seen him. The bible points out that human beings can not see the face of God: No man hath seen God at any time (First John 4: 12).

God loves the faith of His children. God has angels who adore him and love him; but they have a reason to adore him, because they see his face (Matthew 18: 10).

Faith breaks all rational parameters, because it is to recognize God voluntarily; without having seen him. Only through their manifested acts, first through creation, and then through those revealed in the Bible.

God has not left humanity without witness; the creation speaks of its greatness and his word given to the prophets (the Bible) confirms it. But after the fall of man, the most sublime manifestation of divine love, has been revealed on sending his Son, Jesus the Lorld, to save humanity.

Number 4. Faith is a gift from God for all mankind.

In the book of Hebrews, one of the most profound and revealing biblical descriptions of faith in God is found:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11: 1).

According to this description, faith is the anticipated security of what is believed, and the conviction proper to what is expected; even if nothing is seen, nor is there any indication that such a request can be made. This kimd of faith, it is sustained in God himself. He is the giver of faith, for those who believe him.

Faith emanates from God and is revealed to humanity through the great power with which God created all things, which is witnessed through creation. The book of Hebrews points out that what is seen (visible) was made by the word of God, of what was not seen (invisible):

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11: 3).

What is seen was made of what was not seen. Therefore, the invisible is first. Faith is responsible to connect with the invisible, with God himself.

Faith is the biblical means that God, in His sovereignty, has established for human beings to relate with Him. This faith not only derives from its tangible facts (creation); it is also witnessed through his revealed word (the Bible).

Part 2. **THE** ACTIVE FAITH.

Number 1. Faith without deeds is dead.

The bible points out that the saving faith, is obtained by hearing and obeying the word of God:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10: 17).

The word hear, here not only refers to listening; but to obeying the word of God, to put it to work. It is an active faith as the bible explains:

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (James 1: 22-25).

Israel did not take advantage of hearing the word of God, because they did not receive it with faith in their hearts:

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it (Hebrews 4: 2).

For faith to produce results, it is not enough to have faith in God, we must act according to that faith received.

A person can acquire faith by admiring the creation of God or by listening to the holy gospel, but it would be of no use if he does not invoke God for salvation in the name of Jesús.

True faith in God requires action. Active faith is the response of the human being to the call of God. God gives testimony of himself and wants the human being to seek him, invoke him and know him.

When Moses met Jehovah, he told him to use the shepherd's rod he had in his hand to make a sign. The first miracle happened when he threw his rod to the ground and became a snake (Exodus 4: 3).

Every time Moses obeyed and stretched his rod, according to the order he received from God, great wonders happened, like the ten plagues of Egypt.

The insignificant rod highlighted the great power of God. Moses must believe that by stretching the inert rod that he had carried for so long, the power of God would be unleashed at the command of his word.

On one occasion, Moses doubted that God could draw water from a rock by touching it with the rod in his hand and this was counted as disbelief, because he did it reluctantly, without faith. From that day, God promised that Moses would not enter the promised land.

Moses did it reluctantly and God honored him before the people of Israel by drawing water from the rock, but punished him for his disbelief. For God to work miracles, faith must be accompanied by our true action of faith that requires obedience:

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them (Numbers 20: 7-12).

Number 2. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Faith is an essential revelation to communicate with God. The bible states that:

Without faith, it is impossible to please God: But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11: 6).

Abraham is the man who opens the door of faith, to the salvation of humanity, all becasue obeying God, even without knowing what awaited him:

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went (Hebrews 11: 8).

Abraham became known as the father of faith:

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Galatians 3: 6).

Faith is a divine law (Romans 3: 27). The bible points out that everything that is not done with faith, becomes sin:

For whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14: 23 b).

Any action, even if well intentioned, that is done without faith in the service of God, becomes more of a sin. God is not pleased with a monotonous worship and lacking of faith; although they look good.

That was the reason why Cain's offering displeased God. He gave it because he felt pressured by the rigth actions of his brother, Abel. As a result of envy.

Sometimes we give offerings by pressure, and we do not do it from the heart. That kind of offering offends God and makes us sin, because we do not offer it with sincere faith. Any person would be offended if someone gave him something, because He doesn't need it or for another interest or reason that is not the genuine appreciation and pure love. It is the same with God.

Number 3. Three pillars to activate faith.

First pillar. Faith in God is an individual decision.

One of the most intriguing questions we can ask ourselves about faith is: Whether faith comes from God or from the human heart. Certainly, faith is given by God to those who decide to believe in him; but it is a personal decision, to believe or not. Therefore, like all things concerning to the restoration of the relationship of human beings with God and the eternal salvation of the soul (after the fall) it is a decision of human free will, to accept them or not.

Once the human being decides to believe in God, in His mercy, He is responsible for feeding back the faith, so that it develops and grows.

Second pillar. Faith starts from nothing.

God does not need anything to carry out His work. He parts from nowhere to do it:

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11: 3).

For God to work in our favor, faith is enough:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11: 1).

This implies that we can not depend on the circumstances that surround us, or on what we have, to believe in God and his promises.

He is almighty to do what he says, if we are only able to believe him. Obviously, believe means waiting, until He fulfill it's promises.

Third pillar. God calls things that are not as if they were.

God is not subject to human parameters to relate to his creatures. We must believe God, before seeing His work done. He calls things by their name, before they are made:

Who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4: 17 b).

The knowledge of God is so profound that he possesses omniscience as one of his attributes, that means that he knows everything. In addition, his forknowledge allows him to know all things before they happen.

It implies that he knows in advance the path that each human being will choose during his life, although He does not coerce the human will; but, that allows Him to prepare a plan beforehand. That's what he told the prophet Jeremiah:Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations (Jeremiah 1: 4-5).

Chapter - 2 -

FAITH IS A DIVINE LAW.

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PART 1. JUSTICE THROUGH FAITH.

Number 1. Faith as a law of divine justice.

Near the year 600 b. C., the prophet Habakkuk had prophesied about faith as a means of justice and that then, it was revealed through Jesus:

But the just shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2: 4 b).

The revelation of justice through faith in Jesus is made known to humanity by the preaching of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith (Romans 1: 17).

Faith is a divine law:

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (Romans 3: 27-28).

Before the faith in Jesus was revealed, humanity was confined to the Law:

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed (Galatians 3: 23).

The Law was revealed by Moses, but salvation through faith has been made known by our Lord Jesus, and witnessed by his apostles through the Gospel of Grace:

For the Law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1: 17).

Salvation through faith in Jesus was announced by the prophets, revealed by Jesus, and witnessed by his holy apostles in the Gospels:

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3: 21-24).

The only faith that produces salvation is obedient faith in the gospel of Jesus of Nazareth. He is the way, the truth and the life. No one goes to the Father, if it is not through Jesus:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me (John 14: 6).

Number 2. Salvation by Faith, and practical faith.

Faith as a theological concept can be explained in two major ways: Salvation by faith and practical faith.

The first concept is the saving by faith. This theological definition of biblical faith refers to the faith founded on Jesus, as the only means for eternal salvation.

Faith can be placed in any object or person, but the faith that produces salvation and eternal life, according to the Bible, is the faith in Jesus (See, Acts 4: 11-12).

Hence, to be saved, we must confess Jesus as the only Savior. He is the only way to heaven:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14: 6).

Faith for salvation is acquired by hearing the preaching of the Gospel, believing in the heart, and confessing Jesus as Savior with the mouth:

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10: 8-10).

By receiving Jesus as Savior, we acquire the saving faith. However, after being saved through faith in Jesus, there is one practical faith.

This practical faith is exhibit through the fruits that show the saving faith. The faith by means of which one day we acquire our salvation by believing in Jesus as savior, we now demonstrate it by means of a practical faith, with fruits worthy of repentance and righteous deeds that evidence the saving faith that we acquired by confessing Jesus our Savior.

Faith for salvation (saving faith) is the one that we acquired the day that we receive Jesus as our Savior; but the practical faith, is the one that we show every day through proper actions. These deeds do not save us by themselves; but they are evidences of the saving faith that we acquire.

Number 3. Faith leads to repentance and to conversion.

In the Bible, God's call to humanity to repent is constantly repeated; but also, to convertion, as the Apostle Peter points out:

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3: 19).

Repentance brings recognition of sin, which leads to the repentance and the application of divine forgiveness. However, there must be a conversion to abandon sin and begin a holy life, separated from sin.

Genuine repentance produces salvation; but conversion or abandonment of the practice of sin, leads christians to live in holiness during his pilgrimage on Earth, to maintain the acquired salvation.

The salvation of the soul is acquired by faith alone in Jesus Christ. That is unquestionable.

When referring to conversion, we are not talking about a second step to be saved. Rather, we refer to the fruits of the spirit in the life of the christian who has been born again (John 3: 3; and Second Corinthians 5: 17) but must abandon the sins of the old man (Galatians 5: 16- 26).

Hearing the word of God produces repentance in the sinner and this leads him to ask forgiveness for his sins. Jesus forgives sin and salvation is obtained; but, we must keep salvation (James 4: 19-20). Is like giving us a new car, we have to give it maintenance. The conversion are the fruits that testify of the acquired salvation. The new birth in Christ is reflected through worthy fruits of repentance. When John preached the baptism for repentance of sins (Mark 1: 4), the Jews were lined up to be baptized, but John urged them harshly not only repent; but to bear fruits worthy of repentance:

Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance (Luke 3: 7- 8 a).

The Bible says that, whoever is in Christ, is a new creature and must show a nothorium change in its style of life:

Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (Second Corinthians 5: 17).

God saves us through faith in Jesus, but Christians must evidence their faith through a christian life that reflects fruits worthy of repentance. The salvation of the soul is a divine gift, but it must be maintained through a life separated from sin.

PART 2. DEVELOPMENT OF BIBLICAL FAITH.

Number 1. Development of christian faith.

God is the one who leads our faith, so that we can see His power manifested in our favor. But, faith is like a muscle that develops with exercise.

Our faith is increased, according to our ability to believe God, and it develops on the battlefield, in the midst of trial and difficulty. That will not happen without our obedience to what God commands us to do.

The disciples of Jesus, who heard his teachings and saw his miracles, felt the need for Jesus to increase their faith and they made a request to the Lord:

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you (Luke 17: 5-6).

Jesus did not put his hands on the heads of his disciples, in order that they might receive the gift of faith, that's not the way. His answer was clear: He challenged them to believe; before seeing, pointing out that even the mountains could move, if they were able to believe God.

The faith that produces miracles is developed according to our ability to believe and obey God. When Jesus pointed out to his disciples that if they had faith like a mustard seed they would do great things, it was not motivating them to have little faith. Quite the opposite.

Rather, He wanted to point out that, until that moment, they had no faith at all, because when they got to have a little, just as a small mustard seed, they would do great things. The teaching is as follows: "You do not have any faith now, if you had a little, like a little seed of mustard, you would do great things. Now, imagine if you had more faith than a mustard seed, what would you not do?

Number 2. The use of active faith.

The active faith, the one that produces miracles, is not founded only on what we are able to believe; but in believing what God asks us to believe.

Someone can reach the level of faith to believe that God can move the mountains. What Jesus said is literal. However, He put it as an example that for God nothing is impossible, if we can believe Him.

But, the next thing we should ask ourselves is: What would we achieve by moving a mountain from its place? Maybe we would create chaos, a disaster or many problems for the owners of the property.

What would be the purpose of that miracle happen? Having faith that God can do anything is the first thing, but it is not everything we need. The faith that truly produces miracles is that which walks in obedience to the will of God. Our faith must be well aligned with the will of God in order to produce real fruits.

Someone can have enough faith to believe that God moves the Mountains, but maybe God is not interested in moving it, because there is no purpose at that time. So, even if we pray with all our faith, God will not act, because He does not agree with that unproductive miracle.

Perhaps, this person who has faith to move mountains, the only thing God asks him at that time, is to visit someone at the hospital and bring him something to eat. His faith in moving mountains would be of no use to him, if he does not fulfill the simple request of God.

It is good to have enough faith to believe that God can move mountains, but that faith will not be useful, if it is not used in obedience to God.

Now is when comes one of the most important statementes about productive faith in this book: Faith is not believing everything that we can imagine or be able to believe in, Faith is only productive when we are able to believe and obey what God tells us to do.

Faith is the key that opens the door to the power of God; but, only obedience activates the divine hand in favor of his children. There is no difference in God asking us to believe in something impossible or something simple. The most important thing is obedience, instead of the greatness of the miracle.

PART 3. THE OBSTACLES OF FAITH.

Number 1. Disbelief.

The Bible points out that: Without faith it is impossible to please God.  After the fall man, faith is the basis of the relationship between God and humanity. God is revealed to those who come to Him with faith: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11: 6).

Faith is the individual recognition of God as absolute Creator and sovereign king of all things (visible and invisible, according to Colossians 1:16). Faith is so crucial to communicate with God, that there is no other way to do it.

The opposite of faith is disbelief. That is the first obstacle to seek God. The creation speaks of an intelligent creator (Psalm 19: 7). God will judge the world even by the consciousness that bears witness of God, and for the knowledge all created things to those who have not heard the Gospel:

For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel (Romans 2: 14-16).

Faith in God also comes from hearing the word of God (Romans 10: 17). There is a possibility that we believe in God or in miracles by some time, but later we lack on faith. Jesus rebuked the disbelief of his disciples saying: Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen (Mark 16: 14).

Jesus harshly rebuked Thomas, one of his apostles, because he had not been there when Jesus appeared to the rest of his disciples and had not believed:

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, we have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20: 24-29).

Jesus told him to become a believer, not an unbeliever. In addition, Jesus gave a blessing to the other apostles: Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. About Thomas, nothing else is known, apart from the exhortation that Jesus made to him, because of his disbelief. Peter, who was a believer, once asked Jesus to walk on the waters and did so for a moment, but then he sank because of his disbelief:

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14: 28-31).

The prophet Elijha, during a siege in Samaria, prophesied that the next day there would be plenty of food and cheap.

It must have been a miracle, because when they besieged a city, the armies surrounded the city and no one could enter or leave, until they died of starvation or because of hunger. Although this word had been given by Elijah, a recognized prophet of God in Israel, a prince did not believe and mocked Elijah, saying that it could be only possible, if a window opened in heaven:

Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof (Second Kings 7: 2).

The next day the miracle happened, because the Syrians had left the city because of a fear sent by Jehovah and the king put the unbelieving prince at the entrance of the city, but when the people entered, they ran over him and died.

Sometimes disbelief produces immediate consequences, because it confronts God directly, discredits his name and denies its truthfulness. It's so decisive the contrast between believing or not, that faith in Jesus saves and disbelief is cause of condemnation:

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3: 18).

Number 2. Disobedience to God.

Faith has a twin sister, it is obedience. Both walk hand in hand in the exercise of believing God. Our faith is as important as obedience in the presence of God.

The point is that without obedience, the faith is sterile. It would be useless to have a big faith in God, without obedience. All human beings enjoy free will and even christians can choose what they want to do, God does not force us to obey Him. That's why bedience is more important than all sacrifices, before God:

And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams (First Samuel 15: 22).

God had commanded Saul not to take anything from the Amalekites. However, he took cattle to sacrifice to Jehovah (this idea did not seem bad), but it displeased God, who had ordered him not to touch anything of the anathema.

Everything that was in the pagan cities that God gave to Israel, had been placed under the divine anathema. That means that they were destined for destruction, because they were the product of theft and those animals were contaminated because of the evil of their inhabitants.

The order for Saul was that he would not take anything from those cities; neither to sacrifice it to God. Good intentions are not enouhg before God, only obedience satisfies him.

Sometimes we think that we are pleasing God or helping his kingdom with well-intentioned actions that God does not approve, because we do not do them in obedience.

Learning to use faith in accordance to the will of God, is one of the most important tasks in our relation with God through faith. What pleased God most of Jesus was his obedience:

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10: 9-10).

Jesus did not go to the cross because he wanted to. Quite the opposite, he used his faith to ask the Father to avoid the cross, if possible:

And it said: Abba, Father, all things are possible for you; put this cup away from me (Mark 14: 36 a).

Jesus knew that for the Father all things are possible and so asked him to avoid the bitter cup of the cross, but knowing that obedience was more important than all His faith, with all its pain concluded by saying: Nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt (Mark 14: 36 b).

The life of Jesus is a clear example that faith without obedience is sterile. Faith is shown through our obedience to God.

Number 3. Asking outside of God's will.

Faith has no limits, but our lack of knowledge can truncate our faith. When Jesus points out that: What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them (Mark 11: 24), does not imply that everything that we imagine, God will give it to us; but everything we ask according to his will, as the Bible warns:

If we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us (First John 5: 14).

We must be sure to ask according to the will of God and his written word (the Bible) so that our requests may be answered. We can make the mistake of asking wrong:

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (James 4: 3).

Asking in disagreement with God will, is one of the biggest reasons why our faith does not produce results. To ask in the will of God, we need to have a complete knowledge of his will revealed in the Bible, and then, we must learn to ask that his specific will be done, in our personal life .

One way to be sure that we ask God correctly could be by signaling. This works in those who are able to believe and have certain spiritual maturity, since they do not ask for a sign because of doubt; but because they want to make sure they will do God's will.

Abraham and his servant put signs to God about the future wife of Isaac and they were fulfilled (Genesis 24). Gideon also asked God for a sign to make sure that God would give him victory before facing his enemies (John 6: 37-40).

Number 4. Disobedience to the Word of God.

The first obstacle that the christian can find in the way of faith, is to believe that only by having faith, God will answer his prayers, forgetting that God is a person and as such, is more interested in us to relate well with him, than in miracles, petitions or needs, however urgent they may be. God is great in mercy, but he is more interested in having us with him for an eternity, that simply responding to our requests. That's how serious our relationship with God is. God wants our relationship with him to take us to eternity and for that reason we must learn to relate well with him.

Our human limitation makes us believe that our requests, even if they are necessary and urgent, are more important than the demands of God. That is why we suffer so much frustration when we do not see results or answers to our prayers, however great our faith may be.

The problem sometimes is not the lack of faith, but the lack of knowledge and obedience to the Word of God (the Bible) and then to the guidance that God gives us in personal matters through his Holy Spirit. If there is no obedience to the Bible, the Spirit of God can not guide us in personal matters, as promised in the Bible (John 16: 13).

Disobedience to the Bible is the first obstacle of faith. While faith is the basis of our relationship with God, that must be accompanied by obedience.

On one occasion Jesus answered to his disciples that the reason why they had not been able to cast out a demon was because their lack of faith, but also said that they would not come out, if it was not through fasting and prayer:

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17: 20-21).

There is no contradiction between the two affirmations. Jesus knew they did not have faith. But their lack of faith also did not allow them to seek God correctly, in obedience.

Faith is the first thing that is needed to unleash the power of God, but faith requires action. If someone believes that God has the power for healing and deliverance, then he must pray to grant them these miracles. But, fasting and prayer is the way to increase our intercession for miracles. Faith guides us to God, who is the source of power.

Number 5. Infidelity to the word of God.

Another obstacle of faith is infidelity. One of the big needs that human being has, by it's physical nature, is the desire for material things; but, God can not bless an unfaithful. The Bible points out that the way to achieve economic blessing is fidelity in tithes and offerings:

Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts (Malachi 3: 9-11).

There are Christians who believe that only by their faith, and intense life of fasting and prayer will achieve the neccesary things in God. However, they found out the reality of living limited in their basic needs. They even come to believe that it is God's will that they live without their basic needs supplied. Certainly, God can test His children for a certain time, but God's will is that his beloved children have their basic needs supplied:

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 19).

The blessing of God in the financial aspect is directly related to our fidelity in tithes and offerings; not only in our faith. There are even christians who fast and pray to rebuke the spirit of poverty and it is wrong because is lack of knowledge (Hosea 4: 6).

In the case of financial blessings, the Bible points out that if the children of God are faithful, God Himself will rebuke the devourer for them:

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts (Malachi 3: 11).

The financial blessing is based on obedience to the divine promises. It is not achieved with faith without obedience; but, through fidelity to the divine blessing promised in the Bible. God has not only promised to keep his promise, if we do our part; He even challenges by saying:

Prove me now herewith. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it (Malachi 3: 10).

It would be useless for christians to have all the faith of the world to believe that God can supply all his material needs; if we do not have faith to believe in the promise of divine blessings written in the Bible, as we bilieve in the other promises, as the healing ones. Faith must be accompanied by obedience to the acchieve divine promises. The Bible states that no one should tempt God (Matthew 4: 7); but in this case it is God himself who makes the challeng , saying: "Prove me now herewith."

Chapter - 3 -

FAITH IN ACTION.

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PART 1. WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD.

Number 1. Faith is required for the power of God to be manifested.

Faith, is to believe with certainty that God can do anything, before things happen. The Bible points out that God works through faith. It is a requirement to believe, before seeing their promises made. The Bible states:

Who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4: 17b).

God gives life to the dead. This implies that to see a literal miracle of resurrection it is necessary to believe that God can give life to that dead body. But, the means by which God works ( faith), requires believing first, before seeing the miracles. By pointing out that God calls things that are not as if they were, it implies that God will ask us to believe something that is physically not seen, nor does it exist, before working the miracle. Faith starts from nothing, that is real faith.

On multiple occasions, when people approached Jesus asking for a miracle, the only requirement he demanded was to believe. The Bible reveals that because of the unbelief of the people, especially the Jews, Jesus did not perform miracles in certain cities of Israel:

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief (Matthew 13: 58).

Lack of faith, is one of the biggest obstacles to God manifest his power in favor of his childrens. It is important to believe that nothing is impossible for God. Jesus called for his disciples to have faith in God:

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them (Mark 11: 22-24).

Believing in God and in his promises is an individual decision. God is the giver of faith, but faith begins and grows, insofar as we are able to believe him.

Number 2. The test of faith.

God test the faith of his children. It is through testing that faith is perfected. Faith has to be evidenced, before any miracle occurs. One of the greatest tests of faith recorded in the Bible is that of Abraham.

Abraham is the man who, by his great faith, reached blessings for all the nations of the earth, that is why he is called the father of faith. He was given the promise of a Savior for all mankind (the Seed, which is Christ, Genesis 22: 18, and Galathians 3: 16 ). His descendants were given the promise of the birth of the Messiah. His faith was tested in great measure as the Bible shows:

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11: 8-10).

 A BRAHAM SHOWED EVIDENCE OF HIS FAITH, BEFORE SEEING THE MIRACLES.

a) Abraham left his family in obedience to God, not knowing where he was going to, only believing that God would give him an unknown land.

b) Abraham lived as a foreigner on earth, dwelling in tents, seeking a city founded by God (Hebrews 11: 10).

c) Abraham believed that his offspring would be a great nation, as God promised him; but he arrived at old age without having a son to inherit him so that the promise could be fulfilled. Abraham prayed and God promised to give him a son, although his wife (Sarah) could no longer conceive. He believed and God gave him a son.

d) God asked Abraham to sacrifice that only child, which was his hope of having offspring so that the divine promise was fulfilled and he did not deny it to God.

For any human being, God's request to Abraham to sacrifice his son would have been contradictory, and he would have been justified in not believing that God asked for such a thing. How could God ask that he sacrifice the son, of whom he had promised to make him a great nation? That make no sense at all, but Abraham obeyed God. However, God stop Him of making the sacrifce, because God was only testing the abraham faith.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to obey King Nebuchadnezzar's order to prostrate themselves before their idols, even though they knew they would die (Daniel 13). They said that God could deliver them from the fire; but, they affirmed that if it still did not save them from the fire, they would not adore either. God honored their faith and they lived to glorify God, for they were not afraid to die for their God.

When Naaman, the Syrian, came to Israel in search of healing, the prophet Elisha did not even see him, he ordered his servant to tell him to dive seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman became angry, because he expected many attentions that he would pay materially in exchange for his healing, but his servants made him reconsider.

Naaman did not know that faith works through obedience to the word of God. He finally agreed to dive seven times in the river and obtained his miracle. The leprosy disappeared (Second Kings 5).

By obedience to a word of God, King Jehoshaphat confronted his enemies singing and praising God (it was a terrible risk, a madness), but God manifested himself through the praise of his people and Israel's enemies were confused and defeated (Second Chronicles 20: 15-30).

Joshua also received an order from God to surround the city of Jericho for seven days. On the last day, the priests blew horns and the people shouted and the power of God was manifested and the huge walls of Jericho were turn down (Joshua 6). Faith is tested and obedience is the motor that drives it to manifest.

When Gideon confronted the Midianites, God told him to lay off more than thirty thousand soldiers, only leaving him three hundred. God tested his faith, but with those few he gave him victory (Judges 7).

The King Saul was also ordered to wait for the prophet Samuel for seven days, before a battle; but when he saw that Samuel did not arrive and that the soldiers deserted, his faith failed and he went ahead to make the sacrifice, which he was not allowed to do, and it was counted as sin (First Samuel 13).
PART 2. THE FAITH OF THE MEN OF GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, BASED ON HEBREWS 11.

This part is dedicated to recovering the testimonies of faith of the Old Testament, described in Hebrews 11, which summarizes the victories obtained through faith.

Number 1. Unwavering faith. Hebrews 11: 1-2 says:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.

The faith shown in the bible by these men and women of faith when they lived on earth was without hesitation and serves as an example to all of humanity. They were ordinary and fragil people (James 5: 7), but unlike the rest, they decided to believe that God can do the impossible. Faith makes the difference.

This kind of faith, allowed them to do great things for the kingdom of God when they lived on earth; and their testimonies were written to serve as examples and inspiration (Romans 15: 4).

We do not refer to material achievements strictly, but rather to the conviction that they showed in the midst of the test and the difficult circumstances that they experienced on earth, to love God until death.

Number 2. Abel, a worshiper in spirit and truth.

Hebrews 11: 4 says: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Abel was a worshiper in spirit and in truth. The difference between the offerings of these two brothers (Cain and Abel) was made by Abel's faith. Abel worshiped God with faith, but his brother lacked conviction, so God rejected his offering. Cain gave his offering for competition or envy to the genuine act of his brother, but lacking faith in his heart, that is why God did not accept his offering. People of faith approach God with sincerity and with a reverent fear.

Number 3. Enoch, learning to walk with God.

Hebrews 11: 5 says: By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Through his faith, Enoch developed a life of intimate communion with God when he was on earth.

In a primitive language, the Bible states that Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5: 24), trying to describe his relationship and friendship with God.

His relationship with God was so profound that Enoch was transported to heaven. God took him, for he longs for his beloved sons to be with him for eternity (Psalm 116: 15), away from the sin of this world.

The case of Enoch illustrates that believing God is an individual matter. Enoch decided to make a difference in his generation and we can decide to do the same. Our faith in God will be able to take us far, as far as we are able to believe God.

Number 4. Noah, the faith in God is obedient.

Hebrews 11: 7 says: By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

This verses makes it suggests that in the days of Noah, there was no rain in the magnitude that God had warned humanity, but he believed God.

One of the greatest evidences of the flood is the immense quantity of marine species beings petrified in the highest rocks of the earth. The only way that a fish can be imprinted on a rock, in the highest mountains, in the deserts far from the sea, is that they have arrived there alive and has been covered with earth. The only explanation to that fact is the universal flood, which covered the whole earth.

Noah's faith saved his life from the great universal flood, but his faith also condemned his generation, of which he will be the judge. Faith pleases God, and a single person with his well-founded faith can make a difference on earth.

Number 5. Faith defies natural laws.

Hebrews 11: 11-12 says: Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

A genuine and well-founded faith in God can cause natural laws to be changed to make way for a miracle. For God that is simple, because He is the creator and his power is inherent to him.

God promised to give Abraham a son in his old age. This must be a great miracle, because Sara (his wife), was already in his menopause and her old age did not allow her to conceive naturally. Although the Bible states that Sarah laughed when she heard that she would conceive a child, God did the miracle and gave his son to Abraham.

Number 6. The test is the crucible of faith.

Hebrews 11: 13-16 says: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Faith does not depend on what is seen; but of what is not seen. God promised a land to Israel and many righteous men, prophets and patriarchs, lived in tents waiting for the promise. This made them win the rejection of the people, suffering torture and even death for the love of their God, which they did not deny.

The world is not the home of the children of God. Even if many things are accomplished on this earth, we are only pilgrims and foreigners, because our citizenship is in heaven.

There is a danger of worrying so much for the things of this world, which can become a stumbling block to reach the eternal ones.

These men of faith of the Bible, refused to settle in this world, preferring to live as foreigners on earth, because they longed for a heavenly city, which they palpated through their faith, confessing it in front of the people.

A gigantic faith like that, could be considered crazy and mocked by others, but the true believers are not ashamed of their God, nor are complexed with the contempt of the unbelievers.

Number 7. Praise as an instrument of war.

Hebrews 11: 30 says: By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

God had given many cities to Joshua, to take them by the army of Israel. But sometimes God works miraculously, so that his children do not glory in their own abilities.

Jericho was a walled and impenetrable city. It's inhabitants surely felt very sure that no one could defeat them. It is important to remember that these cities had given themselves up to sin and that is why God had given them to Israel.

In the case of Jericho, God asked Joshua to face his enemies with musical instruments. Praising God is a powerful spiritual weapon to fight battles.

Joshua must have used faith in obedience to the word of God, since it is not easy to face armed enemies with music. That is a very difficult challenge of faith, because humanly, it is surrendering to death.

The miracle had to be bigger than usual, the walls not only had to be demolished, they had to sink so that the people of Israel could go to take the city. The angels of God must have done this work. The people only had to obey God, to blow the trumpets, to go around and scream. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Chapter - 4 -

FAITH, IN THE MINISTRY OF JESUS.

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PART 1. THE MIRACLES IN THE MINISTRY OF JESUS.

In the Bible there are amazing cases of the use of faith that were written to inspire us to believe in God:

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Romans 15: 4).

Number 1. Two blind men receive their sight.

In the case of the two blind men who came to Jesus to be healed, He ask them: Believe ye that I am able to do this? They answered, yes. And Jesus said to them: According to your faith be it unto you.

It is important to analyze Jesus response. He not only touched their eyes, but at the same time He makes a statement saying: According to your faith be it unto you.

Jesus meant: If you truly believe you will receive sight; otherwise, nothing would happen.

Another version states: Let it be done for you according to your faith. The healing revealed that these blind men believed, becouse they received sight. They must have believed; before seeing:

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, see that no man know it (Matthew 9: 27-30).

If they had not believed, even if Jesus had touched them, they would not have received the sight. God works miracles becouse He love humanity; but, our lack of faith can limit the manifestation of God's power on our behalf.

Number 2. The resurrection of Lazarus.

In the case of Lazarus, Jesus had been warned of the disease; but He dind't go immediately, until Lazarus died. Jesus knew from the spirit that Lazarus had died, and he told his disciples that he was glad that they were not in the house of Martha and Lazarus to confirm what he had told them, so when they see the resurrection of Lazarus, his faith will increased.

When Jesus met Marta and Maria, they both said the same words: Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Maybe that's why Jesus had such a good friendship with them, because they believed in Him. However, they had seen miracles of healing, not resurrection.

When Jesus sees Martha, he tells her that Lazarus will be resurrected, but she believes it would be in the resurrection of the dead in Christ.

When Jesus was at the tomb he asks Mary to remove the stone from the tomb, she resists, saying that he was four days dead. But he answers: Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? In his answer, Jesus confirms that in order to see the glory of God, we must first believe:

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? (John 11: 39-40).

Number 3. A father asks for the release of his son.

Jesus let the people know that miracles came from his power, but they were conditioned to their faith.

A father came desperate to Jesus, asking to free his son from a demonic possession:

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief (Mark 9: 23-24).

This man was desperate for his son and despite his little faith, he was sincere. It is obvious that the man had faith, that is why he came to Jesus; but his faith faltered, it was not so strong, that's why he says to Jesus: Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Faith is the key that opens the doors for miracles. On the opposite, unbelief hinders the work of God. Jesus exhorted his disciples because they did not believe those who had seen him resurrected, but until they saw him:

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen (Mark 16: 14).

Jesus did not perform miracles in certain cities because of the unbelief of the people:

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief (Matthew 13: 58).

Number 4. The healing of the lepers.

This case of the ten lepers is surprising and instructive in terms of faith. They cry out to Jesus to cleanse them of leprosy. He does not even pray or lay hands on them, because all he needed was their faith. He just said to them, Go, show yourselves to the priests.

This was a great challenge of faith, because he did not even heal them and he orders them to present themselves first to the priest.

According to the Law the lepers could not even enter in the temple because of their illness; but they went in obedience, by faith. Maybe some of them would argue along the way if that was correct. But obedience became healing, because when they went along the road they were all healed of leprosy:

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God (Luke 17: 12-15).

However, only one of the ten lepers returned to thank Jesus; but he also received salvation. Christians should not focus more on divine healing than on the salvation of the soul. It is preferable that someone die in Christ and not that his soul be lost eternally.

Chapter \- 5 -

FAITH WITHOUT LIMITS.

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PART 1. BIBLICAL TESTIMONIES OF FAITH.

Number 1. The bold faith of a Canaanite woman.

Sometimes the need becomes wit and fighting spirit. Therefore, God moves his hand among the most needy, because they have no other resourse but to pray Him, for a miracle. In the Bible we find the case of a Canaanite woman, who He did not surrender to adversity:

Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour (Matthew 15: 21-28).

At first, it seems that Jesus ignored the cry of the Canaanite woman; but, in other biblical cases it is noted that Jesus attitude was to test the faith of those who sought him.

Such is the case of the storm in the boat, where Jesus slept peacefully, but his disciples felt on the verge of death. Sometimes, God remains silent before our requests, but it is not that he does not listen to them, he is only testing our faith, which is required for Him to work on our behalf (Hebrews 11: 6)

The disciples asked Jesus to dismiss the woman. This was an attitude of rebuke, since it was considered disrespectful that a woman was shouting at a Rabbi and worse in public. But, she did not care about the rejection, she just wanted a miracle.

Jesus gave her the reason why he did not listen to his request. He came first to Israel to fulfill the promise made to the descendants of Abraham. And this woman was a foreigner. But she did not give up. She told Jesus that even the dogs ate the crumbs that fall from the table of their owners.

Jesus was moved by the woman's faith, exclaiming: O woman, great is thy faith. In that same hour he granted the release of his daughter who was demon-possessed. An unbrakable faith moves the hand of God, even if the circumstances are adverse. Nothing is impossible for God.

Number 2. A desperate man believes Jesus.

An officer of the king had his son about to die. He came to Jesus asking him to come to his house to heal his son:

Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee (John 4: 43-54).

Jesus did not come down with the man, he just told him to go back to his house that his son was living. On returning to his house his servants came to meet him and gave him the good news that his son lived.

The father asked his servants, at what time his son had felt better. They replied that at seven. The man proved that at that time Jesus had given the order of healing. On many occasions everything that Jesus gave to the people was a word, they only had to believe it.

Number 3. Faith determines the miracle.

During a famine that hit Israel, because of their sin, the prophet Elijah prophesied that the next day there would be food and that it would be very cheap:

Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria (Second Kings 7: 1).

But a prince was incredulous and pointed out that: That would only be possible if God made a window in the heavens:

Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? (Second Kings 7: 2 a).

Elijah replied that he would see the miracle, but that he would not enjoy it, because of his disbelief:

And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof (Second Kings 7: 2 b).

The next day, the unbelieving prince was run over at the entrance to the Syrian city, which had been abandoned by a fear sent from God:

And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him (Second Kings 7: 17).

In a similar case, but with a different outcome, when the prophet Elijah arrived at the house of a widow who was gathering wood to make his last meal with the flour that remained because of the famine, the prophet asked her to cook for him first with the promise that the flour would not be scarce. It was a challenge to believe in those conditions.

The widow could think that the prophet wanted to take advantage of her, but she had faith to believe that God would fulfill the word of the prophet. Obviously, Elijah was a prophet who had earned the respect of the people.

The important thing is that she believed and first served him to eat. The Bible points out that flour and oil multiplied (First Kings 17: 8: 16). God honored the faith of that humble woman.

PART 2. THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD.

Number 1. The power of the name of Jesus.

From the beginning, God with the power of the words coming out of his mouth created, from himself, the universe:

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11: 3).

The word of God is alive and has power in itself to do what God commands in His will:

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4: 12 ).

The power of the word of God has been revealed to the Church through the name of Jesus, who has all power in heaven and on earth:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28: 18).

All the creation is subject to Jesus, because it is God's pleasure to empty his fullness in Him:

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell (Colossians 1: 15-19).

It is important to know how powerful the revelation of Jesus' name is. This authority was won by Jesus because of his obedience to the Father during his time on earth, being faithful until his death on the cross. For that reason, the Father gave Jesus a name, which is above all names:

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philipians 2: 9-11).

The powers of darkness, and the entire creation, only obey the name of Jesus. It is in the name of Jesus that we must ask for all things, so that God may work:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it (John 14: 12-14).

Number 2. Jesus; name above all name.

Jesus used the power of his word during his earthly ministry to heal, do miracles, and rising from the dead. Being God incarnated, Jesus affirmed his power to give life to the dead in his name:

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (John 11:25 ).

It is in the name of Jesus, that the church must act on earth. No christian can do any work in the kingdom of God, except in the name of Jesus.

Jesus taught that in his name we should ask the Father and do the same works that He did on earth. Therefore, even greater, because he would ask the Father for us:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it (John 14:13 ) .

Jesus proved to have authority over creation. He once commanded the winds and the sea to calm down, and they obeyed to his voice:

Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him (Luke 8: 22-25).

Jesus again exhorted his disciples because of their disbelief, when seeing the storm, they trembled in their faith; even knowing that Jesus was with them in the boat.

Surely, the disciples had seen miracles; but, they did not know that Jesus has power over all of creation. They were amazed, seeing that the winds obeyed him.

On another occasion Jesus was hungry and went to a fig tree to eat its fruits, but it was sterile. Then he cursed it and the fig tree dried up:

Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away (Matthew 21: 18-20).

The disciples, after confirming that the fig tree dried up, wondered how such a miracle had happened. Jesus replied:

Jesus answered and said unto them, verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive (Matthew 21: 21-22).

Jesus explained that everything had been done through faith and he encouraged them to believe, without hesitation; so that everything they asked in prayer, believing they would receive it. It is not enough to pray, prayer must be accompanied by faith. Faith is the assurance that God will answer our petitions, before it happens. That is true faith.

Número 3. Jesus resurrects the son of the widow of Naín.

Just when Jesus entered the city of Nain, a procession of people went to the cementery to bury the son of a widow. In Israel, the widows suffered tremendously, because they were totally dependent on their husbands to survive. The hope of this woman was that her only son would help her to sustain her, but he had died:

Now when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her (Luke 7: 12).

Jesus was moved into tears when he saw the woman and interprets her deep pain of having lost her husband and now facing the death of her only son. Jesus gives words of encouragement, pointing out: Do not cry, with the conviction that his joy would be returned:

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not (Luke 7: 13).

Immediately, Jesus extended his hand to touch the coffin and used the power of his words, ordering the dead body to recover life:

And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise (Luke 7: 14).

Instantly, the soul heard the powerful voice of Jesus and returned to his body. The young man resurrected, spoke, and Jesus gave him alive to his mother:

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother (Luke 7: 15 ).

Number 4. Talitha cumi: The power of the resurrection.

A leading man of the synagogue (temple where Jews learned the law) named Jairus, came to Jesus and bowed before him as a sign of humiliation, and begging him to come to his home and lay his hands on his dying daughter, so she can live:

And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, and besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live (Mark 5: 22-23).

Jesus agreed to go; but, just as he was going to Jairus' house, a woman interrupted him on the way. She had been suffering from a blood flow for twelve years and had spent all her money on doctors, but they had not healed her.

This woman was considered impure according to the Law, because of her condition of the blood flow (Leviticus 15: 19-31). She knew that she could not approach Jesus and never the less touch his clothes; but her faith and need for healing was greater than the obstacles. She believed that if she only touched Jesus' cloak she would be healed; but, she had to do it without being noticed by people:

And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole (Mark 5: 24-28).

The plan worked perfectly. She touched the border of of Jesus clothes, without anyone noticing, but Jesus felt that virtue had come from Him, when someone touched Him. He did not want to betray the woman, he just wanted to make her faith known and confirm his healing.

The woman, although she already had her miracle of healing, which happened instantly when she touched the border of Jesus clothes, now feared for her life when she was discovered:

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague (Mark 5: 29-34).

Sometimes God tests our faith. Going back to the case of Jairus, Jesus proved his faith. This man came desperate before Jesus because his daughter had minutes of life left. The worst thing that could happen was that this woman interrupted Jesus on her way and the worst news came to Jairo: Your daughter has died. Do not bother the teacher any more:

While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? (Mark 5: 35).

Jesus knew the urgency of Jairus request and it was not indifference or ignorance that stopped him. He knew well that the young woman would die; but, also knew that He would resurrect her, so he let time go by. Advancing to the miracle of resurrection, Jesus tells Jairus not to feel fear, but believe only:

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe (Mark 5: 36).

Jesus does not work where there is disbelief, for that reason, he only allowed some of his disciples and the parents of the girl to enter the house:

And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James (Mark 5: 37).

The girl was dead, and Jesus tells them that she was not dead, that she only sleeps. This caused the mockery of those present:

And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn (Mark 5: 38- 40 a).

Jesus went inside the house where the dead girl was and took her hand and said, Talita cumi. That is to say: Girl, get up, and the girl came back to life in obedience to the voice of Jesus:

But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment (Mark 5: 40 b–42).

Now the unbelievers were scared. It is sad to point out, but the unbeliever becomes more incredulous, because by not believing first, he limits himself to seeing the power of God manifested in his favor. It is a law of the kingdom of God: We must believe first, before seeing his power.

PART 5. IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

Number 1. The apostles use ro n authority d the name of Jesus.

The disciples of Jesus were amazed at the authority of his name. When Jesus sent them to preach, he gave them authority to use his name and the demons obeyed:

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Mark 16: 17-18).

The Father gave Jesus, a name that is above all names in heaven, earth , and under the earth:

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philipians 2: 9-11).

To the name of Jesus are subject all created things, visible (phisical) or invisible (spiritual):

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell (Colossians 1: 15-19).

Number 2. Using the name of Jesus correctly.

The name of Jesus became so popular in his days, that some disciples who were not from Jesus' ministry team also released people in his name:

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me (Mark 9: 38-39).

The apostles, jealous for their teacher, forbade others to use the name of Jesus; only because they were not with them.

Those disciples, who cast out demons in the name of Jesus were not part of Jesus' ministry team; not because they did not want to, maybe Jesus had sent them to reach other people for the kingdom; but, they loved and obeyed him, that's why the demons left when they pronounced the name of Jesus.

Jesus urged his apostles not to prevent them from using his name, because thay loved him and were worthy of using it.

The important thing of this passage is to note how the name of Jesus is the only and enough weapon that the church possesses, to heal and liberate humanity from sin.  
In another biblical case, intrepid and sinful men tried to use the name of Jesus, but were ashamed because they did not live a life of holiness:

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded (Acts 19: 13-16 ).

The name of Jesus is not a magic word that can be used at anyones will. Jesus is a person with whom we must enjoy communion so that we can manifest his power and enjoy the right to use his holy name.

Seeing the power of God manifested, Simon the magician converted to Jesus; but when he saw that the apostles of Jesus laid their hands on the disciples and received the Holy Spirit, he offered them money to have that power. Peter rebuked him harshly and exhorted him to repent for that thought:

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lordfor me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans (Acts 8: 18-25).

Number 3. Miracles in the name of Jesus.

After the departure of Jesus to heaven, his disciples began to have a greater revelation of the power of his name and repeated the wonders that Jesus did during his ministry. Peter used his faith in Jesus for the resurrection of the dead, as in the case of Tabitha, who was already being watched:

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber (Acts 9: 36-37).

While Peter uses his faith in this case, it must be noted that he was led by the Holy Spirit to make this prayer of resurrection. As we said before, faith is not enough, we must act in obedience to God and that is learned over time, through the exercise of faith.

Peter used his faith, and it is evident, because he first spoke to the dead body, saying: Get up! And she sat up:

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive (Acts 9: 40-41) .

Chapter - 6 -

FAITH IN THE WORD OF GOD.

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PART 1. THE SECRET OF THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION.

a. A faith with correct motivations.

The word centurion, refers to a military leader in charge of a hundred and up to a thousand people; in the time of the Romans this number of soldiers could vary, but the title referred to a captain of the army.

The story of the centurion is fascinating, because he has characteristics as an individual in the formation of his life, which made him worthy of praise from our Lord Jesus, who, referring to the centurion, said: I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

What was the secret of the centurion's faith? There are elements of training in his personal and military life that led the centurion to develop an unshakable faith.

First, the centurion had the right motivation when he asked Jesus to heal his servant: And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die (Luke 7: 2).

This centurion who was a Gentile man, and captain of the Roman army, was moved to mercy by a selfless love to ask Jesus for the healing of his servant. Besides the faith, it is very important the reason that encourages us when we ask God for something.

The centurion asked to Jesus directly when he was on earth. This experience is similar to the prayer that christians make to the Father in the name of Jesus nowadays, because now Jesus is at the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19).

This centurion stripped himself of his position of authority to humble himself before Jesus, this was not easy, because by his rank of authority in the Roman government he could be accused of treason for recognizing Jesus as the Lord and Messiah of Israel.

However, the centurion risked everything by the love towards his neighbor, without thinking about his military position or the consequences of his decision but based on his convictions of faith. Every act of faith must have the right motivation, based on love for God and our neighbor.

Number 2. Love is the basis of a productive faith.

The servant of the centurion was a slave and at that moment in history the easiest thing for the centurion was to buy another slave and the problem was solved.

For this slave there was no possibility of salvation. All he had, was the right to serve his master; and now he could not do that, because he was paralyzed, and besides (according to the story) , he was tormented by severe pains in his body that anguished him: Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented (Matthew 8: 6).

This centurion cared for his servant. Pure love was his motivation, not just his faith. Motivated by love he asked Jesus to heal his servant:

And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue (Luke 7: 3-5) .

Maybe this centurion did not know Jesus; if not by reference; but that did not stop his faith. While the Jews demanded signs to believe in Jesus, this gentle recognize Jesus as the Messiah, even without knowing him .

The centurion as a knower of Judaism knew that a Rabbi could not be contaminated by entering the house of a Gentile (considered unclean in the judaism), and for that reason he sent some Jewish elders to intercede before Jesus for his servant. These elders were Jewish authorities, who gave testimony of the works and love that the centurion had shown towards the Jews.

Jesus left for the centurion's house:

Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed (Luke 7: 6-7).

This centurion recognized his sinfulness and the greatness of Christ, who was not considered worthy to receive him in his house. Out of respect for Jesus and the desire of him not being contaminated motivated this man not to receive Jesus in his house.

The faith of this man was so great, that he asked Jesus not to enter his house, and to only ordered healing with the power of his word and his servant would heal.

Number 3. Obedience and knowledge of authority produce faith in the Christian.

We enter an interesting part of the story of the centurion's life, because it reveals the secret of his faith. To reach the position he had as a centurion, there is no doubt that this man began as a recruit or novice of the Roman army and through discipline and obedience climbed positions in his military life, as is typical of every army.

But the key that the centurion gives to understand his faith, which led him to believe that Jesus could heal his servant by just giving the order, is simple and profound at the same time. The centurion took the path of obedience and knew that authority does not come from knowing how to command; but for knowing how to obey.

The first reason the centurion gave to believe that Jesus could heal his servant by just giving the order, was not: "I am a man who knows how to command. But otherwise, he said: "I am one who knows how to obey".

The concept of authority was clear in the centurion's mind; so, he did not doubt the authority that Christ had over all things.

The centurion first points out: For I also am a man set under authority, as he knew how to obey, it was easy for him to understand the authority of Christ.

When this truth is understood and practiced, the christian begins to move in a dimension of greater faith. Who knows how to obey, understands better the concept of authority and can move easily in a greater degree of faith.

This centurion was a soldier who first learned to recognize the authority of his superiors and to obey their orders. He knew that an order was only obeyed.

In recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, he had no doubt that Jesus could exercise authority over all things with the power of his word, for he was also a man placed in authority and his orders were obeyed.

There are those who call the kingdom of God, the kingdom in reverse. Because in the kingdom of the world the bravest one climbs, because the end justifies the means. No matter who you have to run over or take to meet, in order to achieve their goals. But in the kingdom of God, whoever wants to be greater, must be the servant of others (Luke 22: 25-26) and for that reason, humility and submission to authority is required.

Faith is synonymous of obedience. It would be useless to have all the faith of the world, without knowing how to obey. Faith is demonstrated through obedience.

Number 4. The centurion learned to exercise authority as a product of their obedience.

Obedience leads to the recognition of authority. In the kingdom of God, it is never the other way around. Knowing how to give orders is not synonymous with knowing authority. The centurion continued saying:

Having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it (Luke 7: 8b).

As a result of having learned obedience, the centurion recognizes that he can now exercise authority. First, he says: "I am a man under authority"; and then: "I am a man placed in authority". That is the correct order. You can not exercise authority if you first do not learn to obey. The centurion learned to obey and that is why he could exercise authority and ask in faith.

This knowledge of obedience is what allows christians to exercise authority. The key to the centurion's faith was his knowledge of the authority.

For the centurion was natural to say: "Say the word and it will be done" because he knew that before Jesus' command disease can not resist. He knew how to recognize the authority that exists in Jesus; Therefore, he said: I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel (Luke 7: 9b).

For faith to produce answers, the christian must be placed in the correct perspective. This man got what he asked because he knew how to ask. The Bible states: And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick (Luke 7: 10).

Number 5. Objective lessons to learn from the faith of the centurion.

  * He did not need to know Jesus to believe him.

  * His request was not motivated by personal fame, the ministry or recognition; but by the love for his sick servant.

  * He recognized the authority that Jesus possessed; because he had learned to recognize authority through his exercise of obedience.

  * He showed humility, despite being a very important official of the Roman army.

  * He felt unworthy to receive Jesus in his home despite being a faithful servant of God. He had to glory, but he did not allude to his works to obtain the benefit of Christ; but he took as certainty that his request would be answered by his faith and love in the power of Jesus.

  * His request was not motivated to see the power of God manifested, but the desire to see his servant healthy.

  * He showed love for his neighbor and did not ask for anything for himself.

PART 2. THE CONFESSION OF THE WORD OF GOD.

Number 1. The divine part and the human part in the faith.

For faith to bear fruit it must be asked based on the divine promises written in the Bible. God has left great promises in his Word and they are like a blank checkbook, ready to be used by the faithful children of God, at the moment that is needed.

In the dynamics of faith, there is the divine and the human part. God has already done his part by giving us his promises of blessing through Christ; but these promises will not be obtained if the Christian does not activate his faith in the name of Jesus. Jesus or btuvo all power by defeating Satan on the cross and in his name, they gave authority to his s children to defeat any evil force (Luke 10: 19).

In the beginning of creation, God assigned the kingdom o Earth to men for them to govern. Sadly, Satan snatched it with deceit and lies. However, Christ, through his death and resurrection, has replaced this authority that has been delegated to the Church. But it is necessary to take action so that the promises written in the Bible are effective.

From the beginning, God created all the cosies by the power of His Word. The word of God gave the order, before everything created existed. This principle has not changed. Christians, have the divine promises written in the Bible, but must confess properly to activate them in your favor. You must claim this inheritance.

God knew that by giving his order, the word of mouth would do what it was intended to do, when he created the universe. God has left us his spoken word written in the Bible, but christians must confess it and use it in a correct way.

Number 2. Calling things that are not as if they were.

The confession of the Word of God , must be made in full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10: 19-22), believing that it will be done. Paul taught this principle of faith, in which God first gives the word and calls the things that are not as if they were; before they exist:

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4: 17).

This principle is based on what God says. Without Him nothing can be done. That is why it is compulsory that the christian faith be founded based on what God has said in his word. God has delegated this authority of his kingdom to the church and every christian must declare what God has said in his word to obtain the promises and defeat Satan's work.

This principle of faith was taught by Christ:

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them (Mark 11: 22-24).

The basic principle to claim the divine promises is to have faith and then ask for it correctly. God does not need faith. He only declares his Word and it is done. The human being, on the other hand, must have faith. But faith must be accompanied by an accurate declaration of the Word of God. Confessing what you believe, before it is done. Jesus said: What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Faith must be accompanied by the declaration of what is wanted. Faith comes to life through the word. It is very important to note that Jesus assumes that the person who believes his word, must declare with his mouth that is done before it happens. He said: Believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. First, what is believed should be declared done, and then we see results.

This principle of believing before seeing is one of the most important mysteries of faith and the reason why many requests receive or not the desired answer, because no one can expect results in what he asks for, if he does not truly believe that it will be done before.

Number 3. God demands to believe; before seeing.

Faith is the certainty of what is asked, before seeing it realized. That divine principle of faith does not change and was used by God himself from the beginning of creation. God demands faith in his Word from the human being so that he can see his manifested power.

It can not be expected that God's response will be received, without making an accurate statement of faith of what will happen, before seeing it realized. Santiago points out:

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord (James 1: 6-7).

Once what is asked is declared, faith must be maintained in the process , since the requests have a waiting time to be answered and the question may lie in wait for victory.

But this declaration of faith that the person makes , before seeing any miracle, is not a simple positive thought ; it is founded on the rights of the children of God who are obedient.

Jesus used this same principle of faith in his earthly ministry. He demanded to believe those who asked him, before seeing the results. When the centurion begged Jesus for his servant, He answered him:

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour (Matthew 8: 13).

Jesus' words: as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee, it implies that the C enturion first thought and see exactly what had believed and hoped before seeing it. That also implies that he would not see more than he had believed.

Once you have the faith, the only thing that the Christian should seek is to pray according to the will of God revealed in the Bible and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, because you can have a lot of faith, but if the request is not in accordance with the volume of God will not be answered. The Holy Spirit helps us to ask correctly:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Ro 8: 26-27).

Chapter - 7 -

SEVEN BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF FAITH.

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PART 1. WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD.

Number 1. The Christian faith is founded on the God of the Bible.

Faith, is a word that comes from the Greek "pistis " and that in its different variants means: conviction, confidence, certainty, belief, dependence, fidelity, persuasion , in God and his Word.

Within the Old Testament Jewish context , faith comes from Hebrew word " emunah ", and its , from the root "aman" , which means solid, firm , established, secure, verified; but its most common translation is " Amen", which means: genuine, truly, so be it.

Biblical faith is different from any secular interpretation of faith, because it is founded precisely, in the God of the Bible. Secular faith is the belief in something, without the need of any justification and that can not be guaranteed by rational processes. Only through intuition or trustworthy testimony or total trust in things or people. In the secular faith you can believe in anything, without any foundation to support it.

Biblical faith, on the other hand, is based on God himself as the giver of faith, one of its characteristics being:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not see. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11: 1, 3, 6).

No one can please God except through faith. The lack of faith is the biggest obstacle that the human being can have to communicate with God or to answer their requests. However, God is interested in imparting faith to those who seek Him. The bible exhorts Christians to pray with faith:

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord (James 1 : 6-7).

Number 2. The Word of God in action.

The determinant understand the power of God's word to use faith during prayer. The Bible points out that, in the beginning, God created all things with the power of His Word:

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11: 3).

In the targúms writings the word "God" transposes by "memra " , that means word. In Genesis 1 would say: In the beginning the "memra" or the word made the heavens and the earth. John aptly points out that in the beginning, this Word (logos in greek) created all things and that this Word is God himself: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made (John 1: 1-3).

Logos and Rhema are two very important Greek words that although they are synonymous and signify Word, they help to illustrate the action of the Word of God.

Logos means Word or Verb and refers to the Logos made flesh (Jesus) the incarnate word, according to John 1: 1-3 . Logos also refers to the written word ( the Bible ); and the vivifying Logos , which is the Holy Spirit, who remembers the written word and vivifies it (John 14:26 ).

When the Christian activates his faith and uses the promises of the Bible, for a specific situation or need, that written Logos comes alive and becomes a rhema . Although the word has life in itself, it is activated through the faith of the Christian. The Holy Spirit vivifies the word to work in favor of the Christian, according to his need.

The word of God is the one that ministers faith in the heart of the Christian and leads him to the confession of the promises so that they may come alive. But that faith does not refer only to believe what is read and keep just with the testimony, but transcends the personal plane to pray for any need.

The divine promises written in the Bible are valid all the time, but the miracles recorded in the Bible were written for the purpose of inspiring faith, not to imitate them. They must imitate the faith of the men of God of the Bible and not exactly what they did, unless God guides the Christian to do the same. Note the following example:

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus (Matthew 14: 28-29).

In this passage the Lord gave a word to Peter , who authorized him to walk on the waters. It is a rhema or direct word for Peter. If someone today would like to use that word to walk on water; It would be wrong for him to throw himself into the water , if the Lord has not commanded him directly, as he did with Peter.

For Peter it was a rhema , for everyone who reads, it is l ogos. Unless God ordered someone to do the same, then he would become a rhema . Simply by reading and believing something that is written in the Bible , does not mean that the same will be obtained. That event can be repeated when God wants to act in the same way.

The intention of the Word of God is to create faith, not imitate written miracles. A God will not move him to work for what you're able to think for yourself, if not p or r the fact that you believe what he tells you.

During his ministry Jesus impelled his followers to have faith in Him , due to the unbelief of the people in relation to their divine messianic attributes written in His Word, as He quoted at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 4: 16-21). ; Isiah 61: 1-2). The Christian faith is based on the promises of the Word of God.

Number 3. Faith is more than a monotonous repetition.

Biblical faith is not believing everything that occurs to us in the mind . The Christian faith is based on the word of God (Bible) . Believing the promises of God produces fruit , if used correctly. It is not believing that God can do everything we can think of.

The key to biblical faith is to believe and do what God has told us; exactly that; although it is not possible humanly. To repeat monotonously something that comes to mind in the mind , does not mean that was carried out ará, that is not the concept of biblical faith, s and needs that request this according to what God wants for each person. There are some key verses to understand this principle of faith:

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive (Matthew 21:22 ).

When a verse of the Bible is interpreted, everything that the biblical context says about that subject must be considered. In this case, Jesus does not mention that everything that is given must be according to the will of God. But that is not mentioned in this verse does not mean that this principle of faith may not be reflected in the Bible. In the next verse , Jesus asks that the Father's will be done in his life:

O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt (Matthew 26:39).

The Bible teaches that whatever we ask with faith, we will receive it. But , he also warns that that faith must be aligned according to the will of God, as we see the example of Christ himself , who knowing that he came to the world to die on the cross, even so, he asked the Father that, if possible , He will free him from the drink of the love of the cross; but in the end he declares: Thy will be done and not mine. The same concept is found in John's first letter:

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us (First John 5:14).

The assurance that the prayers of the children of God will be answered is based on doing it according to the will of God. That is the guarantee that God will answer prayer, hence the importance of praying according to God's purpose.

Faith is not mechanically repeating what we want; yes no, the confession of what God wants for us, accompanied by the action.

There are those who use verses such as: Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours (Deuteronomy 11: 24) and they believe that the verse itself gives them the authority to do the same, without having personally received the order to do so.

This promise was given to Israel and that does not mean that anyone can stand anywhere and declare that something is theirs. Unless God has commanded you, that's a steal. But, if someone is praying for some land and the Lord tells him to stand on it and declare it his, then the declaration of faith will be effective.

The Bible wants to convey the Christian faith through their stories to the use according to their needs and circumstances; but according to God's plan for his life, not to imitate the miracles performed by others.

Faith does not work apart from God either. Faith is not something independent, it is not a wand that we can move according to our will.

There are Christians who believe that only by declaring or decreeing something with their mouths will it happen. In fact, only God can decree. Faith only works if it is done according to the will of God.

There are Christians who supposedly until they give order to the angels of God. But, the angels only obey God. Nobody else. What we can do is use our faith to ask God to send his angels. Not even Jesus, being perfect, taught that angels could be given order. He said that he must first ask his Father in prayer. It is a request, not an order:

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26: 53).

Number 4. Confess is a commitment for life.

The word confess has importance within the theme of faith. This word is translated from the Greek, "homologeo" and is very broad in its meaning. But it has the connotation of a pact (Hebrew Kittel) between two people who each one assume the legal commitment to fulfill their responsibilities to enjoy their rights.

The human being, for his part, contracts salvation through faith, confessing Jesus as his personal savior :

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10: 9).

This initial confession does not refer to the mere mention of the name of Jesus and after go through life without a commitment to God. This confession involving the heart and faith is only the commitment assumed that covenant, but the person agree to confess Jesus with his words and demostrate it with his deeds every day of his life.

The new believer is bound by the contract, to confess lifetime against men, Jesus is your savior and so that, if denied, the contract is broken and lost his salvation:

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God (Luke 12:8-9).

If someone buys a car or a house, usually it is given an initial amount of money, but it is committed to pay the rest and runs the risk of losing their property, if fail the commitment in its fullness. Likewise, salvation is free, but the commitment to keep it until the day of death or departure to the presence of the Lord is assumed.

Salvation is obtained by believing and confessing Jesus as savior; But faith is practice, and to obtain the rights and promises of the children of God, we must confess Christ as savior every day of life and live a practical faith.

He who believes in Christ must demonstrate it with his actions every day of his life. That is how you can legally appropriate the promises of the Word of God, so that your prayers can be answered. Otherwise, the petition will not have answers.

Faith must be maintained and exercised . E n no way means simply ask and God will do the rest, without really believing that He will do it without practicing the faith professed revealed in the Bible . Faith must be maintained and practiced so that God works.

There is the story of a person who read in the Bible that if he told a mountain to move, God would. Then he opened his window and spoke to a mountain to move on. The next day he woke up and the mountain was right there. Then he said: I knew he would not move. It is not enough with a simple declaration of the divine promises to obtain results with the faith. Confession implies, hold fast that faith, until God works in need and answer prayer according to his will.

The obstacles that can prevent Obre our faith is unbelief (Hebrews 11: 6; James 1: 6-7); ask badly (James 4: 3); or for infidelity, for not practicing the faith that he professes with his lips. You can believe in God and at the same time not believe God.

Someone may bilieve that God is real, but it may be that he does not believe God and deny his faith , by failing to obey what the Bible sues you. The Bible says that even demons believe, but do not obey (James 2: 20).

5. Faith is proven.

In this covenant of faith that is established with God, the Christian has the right to trust entirely in God and His written word. God, on the other hand, has the right to prove that faith. Faith is not a bridge that rises over the mighty river of the difficulties of life. Faith is a path that opens in the midst of these turbulent waters.

God does not promise that the Christian will not have difficulties in his life, but if he promises an exit for them:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (First Corinthians 10: 13).

The Christian must know that God has a time to answer the requests and that means learning to wait patiently. God can let all hope die that prayers are answered, then do what is impossible. Sometimes when we are more sure that God will respond, he does not answer. Maybe because it is not time or in his will he knows it is not convenient. So, God's answers in certain circumstances do not depend on our faith; if not of his will. That implies that it is more important to ask according to the will of God, than our faith.

Number 6. How to use faith correctly.

In the Greek there are several words that translate "power" among them is "kratos", and "dunamis".

But there is the word "exousia" that refers to the authority delegated to the Church to act in the name of Jesus.

This delegated authority gives the Christian the right to act on behalf of Christ, to work in the spiritual realm and for miracles to happen in the natural world. Every Christian has the delegated authority of God to act in His name. The promises of the Bible are like a blank checkbook that only needs a well-founded faith to be used and obtain its benefits according to the individual need.

The Bible contains divine promises for every need, but if the Christian does not appropriate those truths and believes God, it is possible that the power of the word will not be activated. The knowledge of the promises and faith in the power of the word of God , can make a difference in the lives of Christians. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing , the word of God: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10: 17).

Number 7. Faith must be activated.

The book of Hebrews states:

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11: 6).

One must act according to the faith revealed in the Bible, if the faith is activated, nothing will happen. It is not about helping God or forcing miracles, but about believing God despite the circumstances. James points out:

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (James 2: 17).

James speaks of an active faith and invites to ask without hesitation:

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord (James 1: 6-7).

You can have all the faith in the world, but without action and guidance of the Holy Spirit, miracles will not happen.

The authority has already been delegated to the Christian and if that power is not used, that is in the Word of God spoken in the name of Jesus, by which all things exist, God will not move on our behalf. Believing must be accompanied by knowledge and accurate confession of what is written in the Word of God. We must activate faith so that God acts on our behalf. The Bible states:

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed (Romans 10: 11).

But it is necessary to believe, before seeing, for God calls the things that are not, as if they were and create where there is none, all through our faith:

Who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4: 17b).

This principle of faith, of believing before seeing is embodied in the Bible. God created all things in nothing, through His Word:

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11: 3).

The process of faith would be: Believe; then ask according to his will and then wait for the answer with the assurance that he hears us, as the bible says:

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him (First John 5: 14-15).

Chapter \- 8 -

FAITH AND LOVE.

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First. LOVE IS GREATER THAN FAITH.

Number 1. Love is the greatest of all gifts.

Faith is one of the most precious mysteries revealed by God in the Bible. Peter points out that on earth faith is more valuable than gold:

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (First Peter 1: 7).

But, without love, faith is like a garden without flowers. The divine throne is based on the pure and perfect love of God. God is love and he who does not love, even if he has faith, does not know God. The Bible says:

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (Firt John 4: 8).

Every Christian actions must bear the seal of divine love. This love must be mature. That implies that it is a love with justice, that knows that God is love; but he also knows that it is consuming fire. He knows God in his loving character ; but at the same time in his justice. Is knowing him as "The Lamb of God" ; but, also as the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah".

The Bible says that it would be useless for us to have faith, if we do not have love. That does not mean that faith is not important. One thing does not deny the other. Faith is as important as love; but, in the order in which God has established the spiritual gifts, love comes first than the others. On one occasion, Jesus condemned the attitude of the Pharisees because they were good tithers and fasted, but they had no love in their hearts:

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23: 23a).

By rebuking the lack of love that the Pharisees had in their hearts, Jesus was not saying that tithing was not good. That was important. He just rebuked the lack of love, so he said they should have mercy, but still tithing:

These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone (Matthew 23: 23 b).
Part 2. The preeminence of love over all spiritual gifts.

Faith even the more great, without love is nothing. The Bible points out that faith without love is like an annoying noise:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal (First Corinthians 13 :1).

Love has preeminence over any spiritual gift. It is not that faith or another gift is unnecessary, it is only that they must go hand in hand with divine love.

Faith without love is nothing:

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing (First Corinthians 13: 2).

Sacrifices or well \- intentioned work we do for the cause of God and neighbor, must be motivated by pure divine love. Thaths the way is built in the kingdom of God.

Other causes unrelated to love, such as: Pride, fame, the personal interest, competition or other outside the love intentions, do not qualify as works pleasing to God.

These works will only be litter to be burned and will no be rewarded when facing divine judgment (First Corinthians 3: 12-13). It is necessary to dress more of divine love, than of any other spiritual gift:

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing (First Corinthians 13: 3).

The Bible points out that now there are three bastions that sustain the Church on earth: Faith, hope and love. Faith, is necessary to achieve all divine promises and at the end, the eternal life. Hope, is necessary because we expect the return of the king and his kingdom. Love or charirty is the one that covers a multitude of sins and gives us victory over hatred and evil in the world. However, love is the greatest:

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (First Corinthians 13: 13).

The Christian must take care to act with love, not just pretend to see the power of God manifested through faith. We can enjoy our faith and see the hand of our Savior working miracles in the lives of people if our hearts are overflowing with divine love.

Number 3. Faith without love is sterile.

Faith without love is arrogant, humiliates one's neighbor and displeases God. All Jesus miracles are motivated by his pure love, not just for showing his power.

The Christian must fall in love with God, not with his power. It would be like the child who is more interested in the gifts his father gives him than in his father. When a Christian acts giving more importance to the power of God than to his love, the focus of the divine purpose is lost. This can lead to the mistake of developing major projects in the name of Christian faith, but without God's approval. God works through the love that we show when we ask, not only for our faith. God healed the centurion's servant, because he asked motivated for his neighbor's love (Matthew 8) .

When a family father brought his demon-possessed son to be released, Jesus said to him: If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. The man replied: Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief (Mark 9:24). The passage reveals that the man had little faith, but appealed more to the mercy of Jesus than to his own faith, and Jesus did not resist, granting his request.

Cain appeared before God with an offering of adoration, but devoid of love. He knew that God was real, for when God confronted him with his sin, he responded with a bad attitude and no apparent desire for repentance for the murder of his brother.

Christian's can become a fan of the power of God and yet be at odds with others and with God, to not act with love.

In one occasion Jacob and John, where angry because in a Samaritan village rejected Jesus and they ask for power to consume them with fire from heaven, as Elijah had done in the period of the law; but Jesus rebuked them saying: Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of (Lk. 9:55).

The Spirit of God is life, love, forgiveness, mercy, but the disciples of Jesus wanted revenge and death in the name of God. Believing in God is not enough to please him. That's is just the beginning. We must have a heart full of love and forgiveness to please God. Loving our neighbors and God is the fulfillment of the whole Law. He who loves God and his neighbor has fulfilled all the law:

We no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13: 8-10).

Number 4. Faith confirms divine love.

Faith testifies of the divine love. We should not think that someone has faith only because he is capable of believing that God can heal the sick and raise the dead. It is good to believe that God can do it; but biblical faith that pleases God, is the one that is able to believe what God says in His Word (Bible); even if miracles don't happen.

People are not saved by seeing miracles, they are saved by believing in Jesus and obeying the word of God.

The greatest testimonie's of faith in the Bible, are not related to what God can do; but with the faith of those who believed him despite not seeing anything, as explained in Hebrews, chapter eleven:

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth (Hebrews 11: 33-38 ).

Many of these heroes of the faith did not see what they expected, they did not receive immediate answers, and they even had to die martyred for the cause of God, without being freed. But their faith continued with them. The Bible points out that faith defeats the world:

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (Firt John 5: 4).

This faith is not founded in the miracles of God; but in the God of miracles. This faith is capable of believing that God can rid from danger and death; but he is also capable of suffering for his cause, even if he does not saves from physical death.

Jesus believed in his heavenly father and by that faith he went to death, but only saw his victory after his death on the cross. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to obey the order of N abucodonosor to worship a statue, pointing out that God was able to deliver them from the furnace of fire; but their faith was not based on God's freeing them, for they expressed that even if God did not deliver them, they would not obey the king's order. That is faith:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up (Daniel 3: 16-18).

The faith of Elijah not only served to make fire fall from heaven over his enemies and watch the crows feed him; that same faith also helped him endure forty days without eating; and the persecution of Jezebel without God releasing him; loneliness in the desert and the marginalization of society.

Biblical faith is not based on seeing miracles, these are only the result of an accurate faith in God. Having faith in God, is not only being able to believe to see miracles, mature faith is that which is capable of believing God, even if there are no miracles. Faith starts from nothing to believe God. That is a true faith.

CONCLUSION

 FAITH IS TO BELIEVE AND OBEY GOD

God produces the willing and the doing in his children, by his good will, to then perform his wonderful works and the plans he has revealed to his children :

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2: 13).

In the project of carrying out his work, God commands us to do something that He has done before, since his omniscience allows him to see the future. In fact, God saw in an eternal present, for him there is no past or future as we understand it on earth.

God gives us the model of the plans He has already realized. His wisdom and power allow him to start from the future, backwards.

Our part in the process is simple, it only consists in believing and obeying what God commands us to do. Although our faith is tested during the time required to see his completed work.

Thats means, that the faith must be kept firm during the process of waiting, convinced that He is faithful to his Word and that he will fulfill his promises.

God is the one who makes all things possible, He only asks us to believe him. His purpose is to make us share in his work and involve us in his projects, in order to be rewarded for eternity.

Faith is all that is needed to see the power of God manifested. The Bible states that: All things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9: 23 b).

That must be a great joy for all the children of God, because God does not need anything to begin his work, only that we bilieve him. And sometimes it 's better to have nothing to depend on, to depend on God absolutely.

Sometimes, God Himself allows us not to have anything or take away everything we have so that we learn to depend only on Him.

Moses only had a rod in his hand, when God called him. God said to him: What is that you have in your hand? By implying that he can use whatever you have and if you have nothing, it does not matter, his power will cause all things to be done. He made the creation of nothing:

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11: 3) .

Faith is what gives us victory over all things of this world:

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (First John 5: 4).

ANNEX - I -

 BIBLICAL PROMISES OF FAITH

  * For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).

  * Is any thing too hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18: 14a).

  * Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23).

  * But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

  * And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have the (Mark 11: 22-24).

CHRISTIAN BOOKS WRITTEN BY JOEL PERDOMO

  1. THERE IS NO CURSE FOR CHRISTIANS

  2. THE TITHE FROM ABRAHAM TO CHRIST

  3. THE PROPHECY AS A MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH

  4. EFFECTIVE PRAYER

  5. THE LAW AND GRACE

  6. THE CALL TO THE MINISTRY

  7. THE MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH

  8. WORSHIPERS IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH

  9. FAITH WITHOUT LIMITS

  10. WITHOUT HOLINESS, NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD

  11. LIFE AND MINISTRY, AUTOBIOGRAPHY

  12. THE CHURCH AND ISRAEL AS SIGNS OF THE END

  13. THE AUTHORITY - THE CHRISTIAN CHALLENGE

  14. HUMILIATION AND EXALTATION OF THE CHRISTIAN

  15. ANSWERS TO DIFFICULT QUESTIONS FROM THE BIBLE

  16. INTERESTING THEMES OF THE BIBLE

  17. JESUS, NAME ABOVE ALL NAME

  18. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH

  19. BECOMING ONE FLESH - Marriage - Divorce - Remarriage

(Search them on internet).

1

 Carnal, refers to the nature of humanity, especially after the fall. In contrast to the new nature of the Christian, which is spiritual, through the new birth in Christ (the new Adam, 1 Cor. 15: 21-49).

 Original sin, refers to the sin of the first couple. They enjoyed perfect communion with God, before the fall. But that relationship was broken, because of human disobedience. The first couple is responsible for introducing sin into the world, but they are not responsible for our actions or personal sin, of which every human being will give account before God. Christ came into the world to restore the lost communion between God and man (Eph. 2: 11-18).

 Kittel, Gerhard. Gerhard Friedrich. Geoffrey W. Bromiley. "Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. (Grand Rapids, Desafió Books, 2002. Pg. 827).

 To believe in God is to believe that He exists. To believe God is to do his will. May be someone believes in God, but does not believe God, by not obeying Him. For that matter, the Bible points out that demons believe in God and tremble; but they do not obey Him (James 2:19).

