FAITH
without
LIMITS
________________________________
Copyright 2016, by Joel Perdomo
NOTE
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WRITEN IN SPANISH BY JOEL PERDOMO.
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MISTAKE WAS MADE IN THIS TRANSLATION.
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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.
2
INDEX
Chapter - 1 - THE REVELATION OF FAITH
I. WHAT IS FAITH? ...............................................................................11
a. Biblical faith
b. Faith in God
c. Faith in the sovereign God of the Bible
d. Faith is a gift from God for all mankind
II. THE ACTIVE FAITH ...........................................................19
a. Faith without works is dead
b. Without faith it is impossible to please God
c. Three pillars to activate faith
Chapter - 2 - FAITH IS A DIVINE LAW
I. JUSTICE THROUGH FAITH .......................................25
a. Faith as a law of divine justice
b. Salvation faith and practical faith
c. Faith leads to repentance and to conversion
II. DEVELOPING OF BIBLE FAITH ......................................35
a. The development of the Christian faith
b. The use of active faith
II I. THE OBSTACLES OF THE FAITH .........................................33
a. Disbelief
b. Disobedience to God
c. Asking outside of God's will
d. Disobedience to the Word of God
e. Infidelity to the word of God
Chapter - 3 - FAITH IN ACTION
I. WITHOUT FAITH, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD .................................43
a. Faith is required for the power of God to be manifested
b . The test of faith
3
II. THE FAITH OF THE MEN OF GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT - BASED ON HEBREWS
11 ...47
1. Unwavering faith
2. Abel, a worshiper in spirit and truth
3. Enoch, learning to walk with God
4. Noah, the faith in God is obedient
5. Faith defies natural laws
6. The test is the crucible of faith
7. Praise as an instrument of war
Chapter - 4 – FAITH, IN THE MINISTRY OF JESUS
I. THE MIRACLES IN THE NAME OF JESUS ..............................53
a. Two blind men receive sight
b. The resurrection of Lazarus
c. A father asks for the release of his son
d. The healing of the ten lepers
Chapter - 5 - FAITH WITHOUT LIMITS
I. BIBLICAL TESTIMONIES OF FAITH .......................................57
a. The bold faith of a Canaanite woman
b. A desperate man believes Jesus
c. Faith determines the miracle
II. THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD .................................62
a. The power of the name of Jesus
b. Jesus; name above every names
c. Jesus resurrects the son of the widow of Naín
d. "Talita Cumi": The resurrection power
III. IN THE NAME OF JESUS .............................................71
a. The apostles used the authority of the name of Jesus
b. Using the name of Jesus correctly
c. Miracles in the name of Jesus
Chapter - 6 - FAITH IN THE WORD OF GOD
4
I. THE SECRET OF THE FAITH OF THE CENTURY .................................75
a. A faith with correct motivations
b. Love is the basis of a productive faith
c. Obedience and knowledge of authority produce faith in the Christian
d. The centurion learned to exercise authority, as a product of their obedience.
e. Objective lessons to learn from the faith of the centurion
II. CONFESSION OF THE WORD OF GOD ..............................81
a. The divine part and the human part in the faith
b. Calling things that are not, as if they were
c. God demands to believe; before seeing
Chapter - 7 - SEVEN BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF FAITH
I. WITHOUT FAITH IS IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD ..............................85
1. The Christian faith is founded on the God of the Bible
2. The Word of God in action
3. Faith is more than a monotonous repetition
4. Confess is a commitment for life
5. Faith is proven
6. How to use faith correctly
7. Faith must be activated
Chapter - 8 - FAITH AND LOVE
I. LOVE IS GREATER THAN FAITH .......................................97
a. Love is the greatest of all gifts
b. The preeminence of love, over all spiritual gifts
c. Faith without love is sterile
d. Faith confirms divine love
ANNEX I. ...............................................................105
5
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 can still allow
getting rid of or abandoning ships to follow the Lord as
Peter did. Faith has no limits.
6
INTRODUCTION
a. 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.
7
b. 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.
8
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
9
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).
10
Chapter - 1 THE REVELATION OF FAITH
____________________________________________________
I. WHAT IS FAITH?
a. 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.
11
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 carnal1 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
sin2; by
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).
2
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
12
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: 1416).
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).
13
b. 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, obedience3. 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 things4, 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
3
Kittel, Gerhard. Gerhard Friedrich. Geoffrey W. Bromiley.
"Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. (Grand Rapids, Desafió
Books, 2002. Pg. 827).
4
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).
14
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).
c. 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,
15
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.
16
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.
d. 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
17
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).
18
II. THE ACTIVE FAITH
a. 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.
19
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
20
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).
b. 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).
21
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.
c. Three pillars to activate faith
1. 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.
2. Faith starts from nothing
God does not need anything to carry out His work. He
parts from nowhere to do it:
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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.
3. 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).
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24
Chapter - 2 FAITH IS A DIVINE LAW
____________________________________________________
I. JUSTICE THROUGH FAITH
a. 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).
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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).
b. 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).
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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.
c. 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:
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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
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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.
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II. DEVELOPMENT OF BIBLICAL FAITH
a. 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
30
mustard, you would do great things. Now, imagine if you
had more faith than a mustard seed, what would you not
do?
b. 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.
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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.
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III. THE OBSTACLES OF FAITH
a. 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
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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,
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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
35
not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God (John 3: 18).
b. 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.
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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.
c. 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).
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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).
d. 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
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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
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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.
e. 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).
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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."
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42
Chapter - 3 FAITH IN ACTION
____________________________________________________
I. WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE
GOD
a.
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
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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.
b. 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
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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
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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).
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II. 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.
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.
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
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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.
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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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.
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Chapter - 4 FAITH, IN THE MINISTRY OF JESUS
____________________________________________________
I. 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).
a. 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
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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: 2730).
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.
b. 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:
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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).
c. 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).
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d. 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.
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Chapter - 5 FAITH WITHOUT LIMITS
____________________________________________________
I. BIBLICAL TESTIMONIES OF FAITH
a. 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.
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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.
b. 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
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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.
c. 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:
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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
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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.
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II. THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD
a. 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
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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: 911).
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).
b. Jesus; name above all names
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 ).
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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.
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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.
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c. 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 ).
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d. Talitha cumi: The resurrection power
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
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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
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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
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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.
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III. IN THE NAME OF JESUS
a. The apostles use the authority of 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 (Luke
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: 911).
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
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preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him
should all fulness dwell (Colossians 1: 15-19).
b. 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
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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
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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).
c. 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) .
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Chapter - 6 FAITH IN THE WORD OF GOD
____________________________________________________
I. 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
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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.
b. 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) .
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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.
c. 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
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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
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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.
d. 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
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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).
e. 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.
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II. THE CONFESSION OF THE WORD OF GOD
a. 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
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Bible, but christians must confess it and use it in a correct
way.
b. 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
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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.
c. 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
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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).
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Chapter - 7 SEVEN BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF FAITH
____________________________________________________
I. WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE
GOD
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
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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).
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).
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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: 13 . 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: 2829).
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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.
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
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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,
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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
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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).
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
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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:
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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.
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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 wellfounded 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).
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:
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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).
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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).
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Chapter - 8 FAITH AND LOVE
____________________________________________________
I. LOVE IS GREATER THAN FAITH
a. 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
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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).
b. 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.
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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.
c. 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
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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
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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).
d. 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
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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
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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.
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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,
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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).
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ANNEX - I 
BIBLICAL PROMISES OF FAITH

For with God
(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
nothing
shall
be
impossible
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).
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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
20. SINGLE – How to wait on God?
21. ADOLESCENCE. How to face the changes?
22. DIVINE WISDOM
23. THE FIRST STEPS
24. CHRISTIAN LIFE – Reflections
25. TREASURES OF THE BIBLE
26. NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL VISION
27. TESTIMONIES OF THE POWER OF GOD
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(Search them on internet).
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