Monday, August 18, 2014

Faith Partners

There is truly something beautiful about watching a person walk by faith and have their needs met. I am truly blessed to be surrounded by such people.

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." - Philippians 4:19-20 ESV

Just as advertising creates a need in people made in the image of God the prayer of faith creates a need in God. People walking by faith create a need that God gladly meets and He meets it out of the riches of His glory.

Why we buy or don't buy something is a similar, if not equivalent, dynamic.

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, 'He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us'? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' " - James 4:3-6 ESV

In other words God not in a buying mood. He loves and has compassion but it's going to buy into this program. Some other spiritual power might but not God. The humility of faith aligns in some invisible way with the glory of God and God pours His provision through a channel of grace.

You might say, 'Yes, It's great to see God answer peoples prayer but what about my unanswered prayers. What about all the people that pour out their hearts and do not get the results they hoped and prayed for??'

God in His integrity and royal discretion answers out of the riches of His glory. He is good and can not go against His own integrity. He functions in grace no one can force His hand.

It isn't going to be by effort. It is going to be by grace and by faith that creates or amplifies a need.

Have you ever had a salesman get you to buy something you had no intention of buying? I have. Not often but I have.

Faith sells a need because it aligns with God's glory. Glory isn't just something that makes God look good. Glory is the revealing of God's true character and nature of being good. God's grace has glory.

God isn't aloof, selfish or stingy. It isn't in Him. He is not holding anything back but like any rich person He wants to 'be sold' on certain ideas and projects. Need isn't enough or no child would ever be sick or lacking. God the Father is willing to invest in the things that His Son is involved in. He loves His Son so much. In our humility can we put on His Son's seamless clothing. Can we let God's grace transform us into having His character and nature.

Our faith not only causes God to buy... it sells us as well.

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys." - Luke 12:32-33 ESV

"Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." - 1 Corinthians 3:8-9 KJV

God shares His glory with no one but He shares His riches generously with those He chooses. God uses our faith to change us and make us generous.. sacrificially generous.

God wants co-laborers. Faith partners who will opens channels to bring light into darkness. We are made that way. Will we choose to believe and be that way?

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