SALT & SONSHINE
Pastor/Teacher James R. Paxrton

 

You have Faith
    Faith is a powerful and important part of your life.  Whether you are aware of it or not;  faith is operating in your life.  Real faith is a gift from God to help you negotiate the issues of life.  The more time you spend in God’s word the stronger your faith will become.  Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  You have God’s word on it.  However if you do not take advantage of your faith it will die.  Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.  Just like the muscles of your body your faith must be exercised to be strong.
   God expects you to use your faith in Him and His word.  Exercising your faith in God and His word will cause you to reach into the supernatural and lay hold of the promises of God.  Once faith is anchored in God and His word you will hold on until the promise of God comes to pass.  That is why the Word of God tells us to resist the enemy and stand fast.  It is called the good fight of faith.  1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.  You become a witness to the world around you of your trust in God.
   The opposite side of faith is fear.  Fear operates the same way as faith except it is in the world or the devil and if that is where you abide;  it will reap a harvest.  If your heart is full of fear, doubt or anxiety that is what your future will be.  Lu 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.   Proverbs cautions us further:   Pr 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:  Listen to the words you speak.  They are for-casting your future.  (scared me to death – it don’t work for me – I’ll always be poor).
   The choices of what you think, what you expect or where you stand belongs to you.  We can all be changed.  It is up to you whether you believe God or expect what the world has to offer.  Neither God nor His word ever fails.  We may fail to believe it, trust it or know it.  You can ignore it if you choose.  Life itself hounds you with many battles that must be fought.  Where is your help coming from?  Jesus loves you.
    Maranatha!