Integrity- People of God

Faith is displayed in three parts, just as God is revealed in three parts; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Faith is revealed as a gift of God in the power of the Holy Spirit, in the knowledge of the Word of God, and in the trust and confidence of the love God has for us. We have been confused on how to operate in faith because we have taken only a portion of what faith really is and tried to make it work.

We are given the full measure of faith. The Holy Spirit of God is living in us. Some people think they can operate in this life with the Spirit alone but they lack the knowledge of God’s word and His promises. These are those who have a saving belief in Jesus and have the Spirit of God living in them and will go to heaven when they die, but they are living defeated in the world because they are not operating in faith.

Others have faith in God and have knowledge of God’s word. They know God is able to heal, provide and protect us in these present times as He has done in times past as seen in the Bible but they believe they have not done enough, or fallen short in prayer, or in service, or in fleshly ways. These are those who have knowledge of God’s word and believe God is able but they are not sure God will do it for them. Some think if they pray a lot, plead with God, fast or even have others to pray; perhaps this will move the hand of God to answer their prayers.

It is when we trust in the love God has for us we are able to rest in the promises that are in the word of God, which gives us hope and joy to wait on the manifestation of God’s promises in our lives. Faith works by love.

Galatians 5:6           For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love

Faith in Christ does not come through the work of circumcision that came in the Old Testament, which is the law of sacrifice to be right with God. Nor does it come through uncircumcision, with no responsibility to do anything. Faith works through love. When we know and understand the love God has for us, then our Hope is in Him which gives us peace. Our joy is the evidence that the world sees while we are waiting for the appearance and display of these promises in our natural state.

Faith works through the trust we have in God’s love for us. We will never understand just how much God loves us until we see it displayed in His word. It is the lack of knowledge of God, His love for us and His promises that destroy many people who believe in Christ. The world’s religious traditions of men have made the word of God to no effect. Too often people believe in what they have heard from others and see on social media because they lack the true knowledge of God’s word.

We obtain hope through the knowledge of God’s word and we trust His word because we understand how much He loves us. You may have seen the joy and hope on a child’s face when a parent or grandparent promises them a gift. Though the promise is for a time in the future that child will display evidence of joy and expectation because they trust the one who promised. This is the faith of those who know the love God has for them. They know the promises of His word and they have hope and great expectation that the world cannot understand.

1 John 4:18      There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Perfect love casts out fear. God’s love is perfect love. He has given us this perfect love in the person of the Holy Spirit living in us. God has displayed love in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. No greater love can no one have than to give his life for that person. When we understand God’s love is not based on any act of service or good deeds, it is only because of Who He is, we can rest in God’s love for us. There is no fear of God becoming mad or the anger of God coming against us because Jesus took all of God’s wrath and judgement. Now there is only the love God has for us.

Romans 5:8     But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Father gave His Son to die in our place which displayed a boundless love for us. Jesus left His position in heaven to come, live and die in our place as a mighty act of love. Jesus came and bore our sorrows, received our judgement and the wrath of God for our sins. This exhibited God’s unlimited love for us. God did not wait until we got ourselves together, stopped sinning, or to become holy to love us, to save us, or to send Jesus to redeem us. While we were still in our mess and totally enemies of God in our own minds, He showed His love and forgiveness toward us.

It is when we trust, believe and have faith in God’s love for us that we have confidence to look with hope at our circumstances. No matter how hopeless it may appear to the world, we may display a peace and a joy with expectancy and anticipation of the word of God to be manifested in our lives.