Faith will work for anyone, no matter your religion

I am a Christian and believe Jesus is the way of salvation for man, but I want to post about faith & how it works for anyone who will use it. I would like to point out what STOPS so many from getting what they desire from prayers & from faith. It doesn't have to be a hit & miss process.

I have seen many miracles in my lifetime, some I have witnessed as an observer and some I was a participant in the prayer process. A lady with stage 4 cancer was instantly healed, not remission, but cancer disappeared, a baby on life support at Children's hospital recovered with in hours after my aunt & I prayed over him in the ICU. I could go on and on.

Not all prayers have to be about life threatening disease.

 I have witnessed deals come thru that looked impossible, financial blessings, relationships improve etc. I've  seen alcoholics delivered instantly. Most of this had been in a NON CHURCH SETTING!

I have also seen many prayers of good Christian people go unanswered, no matter how hard they prayed ! I used to be confused about this, but not anymore.

I have also read many testimonies and talked with people who are not Christians who have used faith for healing and to change situations in their lives. Seeing this bag of mixed results is what has led to this post, PLEASE HANG WITH ME.

What hinders Prayer & Faith, besides just unbelief

One thing that gets in the way of results is religion. Churches & TV preachers are complicating things in order to make money. They come up with all these formulas you are supposed to follow, or some standard of living you are supposed to meet and on and on.

Another thing that kills a lot of faith & prayer is the perception that God is sitting there in the sky and when you ask for something he is sitting there looking down on you & decides weather or not he is going to grant your request based on who knows what, and you have to figure out if it's something according to his will or not etc. etc.

Not getting instant results: This is another thing that discourages people. We need to remember the delays serve us, allow us to focus and be clear on what we REALLY desire. Truthfully, haven't there been times looking back you where grateful you didn't get what you asked for? Delays usually serve us.

Also remember when he cursed the fig tree, it died at the roots, that means at first, it still looked alive when it was dieing. Our faith works the same way. When it seems nothing is changing, we have to remember things are beginning to move, even if we do not see it.

BEFORE WE GO ANY FARTHER: Its also important remember that a negative belief is still a belief. Lack of faith is still faith, just in the opposite direction. Expecting not to be healed, blessed or whatever is still faith. We can't escape this point! All have been given the measure of faith. We are created in God's image and LIKENESS. What direction you take it is up to you.

It's faith / belief, pure & simple that gets results.

  Lets look what Jesus said: He said WHOSOEVER believes, WHOSOEVER says to this mountain and does not doubt.... When He healed the blind man, he said according to YOUR faith be it unto you. When the lady touched his garment and was healed, He said YOUR faith has made you whole.

The N/T says Jesus couldn't do many miracles in his own hometown because of  THEIR unbelief.

It's important to note, Jesus didn't say only those who obey me shall say to the mountain be removed, he said WHOSOEVER, and whosoever is YOU, AND ME or whoever! Christian or not.

Great thinkers have known faith/ belief is a powerful force for thousands of years. The law of attraction is another way that modern thinkers explain it. When you meditate on something as having already having it, many times it shows up. It is real. It's not the ultimate law as the teachers teach it, but it does exist. EVERY MAJOR FAITH & TEACHER HAS REALIZED THESE UNIVERSAL TRUTHS. I could quote many, but just google them & see for yourself.

HOW TO ACTIVATE FAITH, MADE EASY:  "Whatsoever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it and it shall be yours", pretty strait forward according to Jesus. He never put forth some several step plan full of loop holes.

1. Ask (be specific, for whatever you desire) WE are the ones who limit it. When the man asked Jesus if he could heal his son, he replied ALL THINGS are possible to him who believes. It's important to remember that he said, I believe, help my unbelief. Even believers can doubt from time to time.

2. Believe you have received it. IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO FIGURE OUT THE HOW. Just visualize it as yours, or it as done. Feel it, enjoy it, be grateful for it, just like when you order something off e-bay, you know its yours even when you haven't seen it yet. If you are injured as I recently was, visualize yourself as if it never happened . 10  minutes, three times a day, THEN RELEASE IT and forget it. Have fun with this part. Get excited!

3. Receive it. Often you will not even be aware when you receive it, you will just notice it's done! Recently after a back injury/ disc disease I tied my shoes and realized my back no longer hurt, just like I had imagined.

LASTLY & this is where Christianity comes in:

Do not be guilty of worshipping the created thing instead of the Creator. Apostle Paul wrote about this is Romans. God gave us the power of faith, thank Him for it. Worldly people use their faith to achieve selfish results. Christians should use thier faith to help others along with themselves. Jesus said he would answer our prayers to glorify the father.

BOTTOM LINE: Faith works no matter who you are if you just use it. Start small & build.

Hell, Eternal Torment Or Annihilation?

The wages of sin is death and yet the belief in eternal torment dominates Christian thinking.

These beliefs actually entered the church through Greek philosophers.

To save space here (and a lot of typing), I am going to provide a couple links and recommend two books.

The Fire That Consumes: http://www.amazon.com/Fire-That-Consumes-Historical-Punishment/dp/0595143423/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219864622&sr=8-1

Immortality Or Resurrection: http://www.amazon.com/Immortality-Resurrection-Biblical-Nature-Destiny/dp/1930987129/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219864728&sr=1-1

Here is a link to the chapter on Hell from Immortality Or Resurrection: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/books/immortality_resurrection/6.htm

Here is a quiz about Hell, http://www.edwardfudge.com/hellquiz.html

I hope you take the time to read the article above with an open mind.

Allow me to leave you with two verses, one OT & one NT.

Mal. 4:1 "For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch."

Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord

OUR FULL TENETS OF FAITH

1. We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God ( 2Tim. 3:15-17, 2Pet. 1:21 )

2. We believe in one God in three persons. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Moses starting in Gen. 1:1 uses Elohim for God, Gen. 19:24 speaks of a Lord on earth and a Lord in Heaven, Gen. 1:26 & 11:7 uses “Us” for the latter fuller revelation of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Trinity) in John 17:11-21, 14:26 , 2Cor 13:14 just to name a few . One also refers unity as in John 17:21.
Jesus Himself taught the Trinity in John 14:16

3. We believe Jesus Christ is God (the Word) manifest in human flesh, born of the virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit ( Isaiah 7:14, Matt. 1:18, John 1:1, 14, 1John 5:7) And He is now at the right hand of the Father advocating for us. ( Acts 7:55, Heb. 8:1 )

4. Salvation after the fall of man:

A. Man was created in God’s image and by voluntary transgression he fell. His only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ. ( Gen. 1:26 & 3:17 Rom 5:12-21)

B. Salvation is offered to all through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God ( Luke 24:47, John 3:3, 16, Acts 16:31 & 10:43, Romans 10: 9-15, Eph. 2:8, Titus 2:11 & 3:5-7)

C. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the spirit ( Rom. 8:16 )
The outward evidence of salvation is a life of love. ( 1John 3:23-24 )

5. Ordinances:

A. Water baptism. A commandment of our Lord Jesus. It is a symbol of a Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.
( Matt. 28:19, Roman 6:4, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39 )

B. Holy Communion, we are to do it often. The Lord’s supper consists of bread and fruit of the vine, it is a symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our lord Jesus, a
memorial of his suffering and death, and a prophesy of His second coming.
( 2 Pet. 1:4, 1Cor. 11:26, )

6. The returning of Jesus to gather his saints to Heaven ( 1Cor. 15:51-52, 1Thess. 4:15-17
2Thess. 2:1, 1John 3:2-3 )

7. The millennial reign of Jesus here on earth and then a new heaven and earth.
( Rev. 20:4-7 )

8. Those who have accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will spend eternity in the presence of God. Those who reject Christ will perish in the lake of fire. (John 3:16, Rom. 3:26)

FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS

1. ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS: GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.

2. SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT OFFERED TO ALL THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS.

Jesus said That God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Jesus did not tell half truths!

When you put your faith in the completed work of Christ, and accept His death, burial & resurrection as payment in full for your sins, you are saved. Rom. 10: 8-10
The Apostle John, who was present on the day of Pentecost, wrote his Gospel some 70 years after the resurrection, and in verse 20:31 he stated his whole purpose in writing his gospel, which says: These things where written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

3. ALL BELIEVERS ARE GIVEN THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit lives in all believers to comfort them and lead them in truth.
Apostle Paul wrote the new believers in Ephesus and told them “And you also where included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed you marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of His glory. Eph. 1: 13-14 NIV

Also 1John 4:15 states: If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.

As the above scriptures plainly prove all believers have the Holy Spirit.
There is no scripture that even hints that one must fast, beg, cry, “seek” or “tarry” to receive the Holy Spirit nor any command to speak in tongues to show “evidence” of receiving Him.

A closer look at the book of Acts, Pentecost & speaking in tongues

Acts is a historical book that details the beginning of the New Testament church after the resurrection and the coming together of the Jews and Gentiles.
The Holy Spirit was poured out as promised beginning on the day of Pentecost ( a Jewish holiday). First to the Jews and later the Gentiles. The gift of tongues ( human languages ) served several purposes. They where used as a supernatural sign to the Jews, allowed the Apostles to magnify God to people from other nations who spoke different languages.
Tongues also was used to unify the early church ( unlike today ) by bring Jews & Gentiles into one faith. Peter himself, a Jew, would not have believed Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit nor allowed them to be baptized had he not heard them speak in tongues. Acts 10.

4. BAPTISM IS ONLY FOR SAVED BELIEVERS

Baptism is for those who have already been saved by placing their faith and Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. BAPTISM IS NOT AND NEVER WAS TO GET SAVED. The message through out the whole New Testament (over 185 scriptures) is salvation is by FAITH IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS. ( John 3:16, 3:36, Acts 16:30-31, Romans 10: 9-10, 13 just to name a few)
Neither is baptism to actually receive forgiveness of sins, Acts 10:43 states that happens at the moment of belief. Therefore baptism is an act of obedience to Jesus and a public profession of your faith.

5. THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS

The Scripture teaches that every believer, without the aid of priest or churchmen may go “boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in our time of need.” ( Hebrews 4:16) The Scripture states “ therefore brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus”. (Heb. 10:19) The believer does not need a priest or church to intercede on their behalf to God. The believer can have instant contact with God through simple prayer, and may have forgiveness of sins, and petition God without a priest or church. (1john 1:9) We recognize we are instructed to not fail to meet together with fellow believers for the purpose of building up one another and walking in truth.

6. WE BELIEVE IN THE AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

Simply stated the Scripture gives no higher authority than the local congregation of born again believers. We believe the local congregation is to be governed by the Word of God, and the local church does not need, nor does Scripture teach that the local body rest under the authority of any earthly group. It is a group unto itself, under the authority of God, and solely responsible unto Him for its conduct, direction and affairs. In Revelation 2:6, 15 Jesus stated that he “hated” the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. This group of heretics in the early church with other doctrinal errors promoted a clerical hierarchy in the church.

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

The validity of a church as being a true Biblical New Testament church does not rest in its ability to show an unbroken line of succession from the time of Christ. In fact, no church on earth can make that claim. Even the Roman Catholic Church which boasts of its unbroken history cannot prove an unbroken line of churches earlier than the third century, and what Catholicism teaches today, in no way resembles what the New Testament teaches or what the early church believed or practiced.

A true New Testament church is founded on its belief and practice of Scriptures, and not on any outward succession of a visible or invisible organization. In this sense, any church which founds itself strictly on the New Testament teachings, is a true and Biblical church, even if it existed in time, only yesterday. It is not the name or the organization that makes a biblical church, it is the practice of faith as revealed in the New Testament.