What Faith Looks like

Good afternoon everybody. Bless the Lord!
As a school teacher and unofficial observer of the human race, I’ve seen lots of people of all ages react to all different circumstances, from young children scared of swinging high to grandparent guardians of a troubled teen. I’ve seen kids try to be kids while parents were divorcing and families who lost a parent, both suddenly and slowly. I’ve seen parents lose children to disease. But I’ve also seen families reconcile, and parents overcome disease. I’ve seen teens beat severe test anxiety and little ones get over the fear of heights. And I knew that there were some characteristics that showed me true faith, but I really couldn’t put it into words. However after all of the sermons I have heard online, (free at www.morelifenow.org ‘word supply’ and www.kcm.org ‘media’ ‘on demand’) I heard two sayings that do a good job, and they are based on scripture. The first is this; (Hebrews ) faith is a rest. The second is this;
Doubt despairs, complains and is sad. Faith rejoices, gives thanks and is glad.
When I first heard that, I was a little miffed. Because I was in ‘the fight of faith’, I wasn’t really glad. But as he explained, if you really believe you received like Mark 11:24 says, then you know the victory is yours, and you will be glad. It took me a long time (he says it in many different sermons) to finally have the boldness to look at my life as well as those I’ve watched. Boy, it was hard. Most of them said the things you expect to hear. I know I did, and got worse. So please understand this is not an indictment on anyone’s spiritual strength or character.
Kenneth Hagin said that during his battle for life, when heart spells came, he would laugh at them, because he knew that if satan could have, he would already have killed him. So far, I have not remembered to laugh at breathing issues when they have gotten severe. But satan has not been, nor will he be, able to kill me. So I should laugh at him every day, because I win. 2 Corinthians 2:14 ‘thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ’. We win today. We win tomorrow. We win always!
Hebrews talks about the children of Israel being unbelieving, and what did it look like? They murmured and complained, they cried and despaired because of the giants in their land, and they blamed Moses and others for their problems. Have I ever done any of that?
What did Paul and Silas do in prison, after being beaten and facing the death penalty? They sang praise songs, rejoicing. They had big smiles and big welts. Paul did not deny the problems but he always focused on the answer. 2 Corinthians 4 tells us how he focused…
8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
‘yeah, but that was the great Paul’. Paul was a man. He was in the same church we are in and had the same Holy Spirit we have. We have no excuse, really.
So rejoice, give thanks, be glad and rest, knowing that your Father loves you, Jesus redeemed you from everything evil, you have believed you received, and you have the petitions you ask! In the Lord ‘s mind, it’s done. And you have the mind or Christ, so you know it’s done!
That is what faith looks like. I love you all.
healed by His stripes,
Nancy