Todd Engwall, a fellow spiritual traveler, submits his journals with our Lord to me for verification. Recently, he asked our Lord to tell him more about faith, after watching the movie, The Bible, where he saw the faith of Abraham in action. Todd agreed to share this journal with others, so here is what he received:
Lord, do you want to tell me more about faith?
Yes Todd. Faith is not hope. It is the substance of things hoped for. It is a part of the actual thing promised. Abraham had faith. He had a part of the thing that was hoped for already. His faith was a piece of the promise. Part of the thing that he did not see yet was in his possession already. His faith was evidence of the thing not seen. Since there was faith, there was the thing promised. The faith did not create the thing. The thing was promised and he knew it was coming so he put faith in the promise of the birth of a son. When you order a book online from Amazon, you know it is coming as promised. Each day as the delivery date draws near you check the mailbox because you know it’s going to arrive. There’s no doubt. Abraham had no doubt his son would come. He got in the way of the “how” it would come and birthed an Ishmael. Nevertheless, he knew his son would come. The thing was promised to him and he put his faith in me - the God who promised. He interacted with the promise correctly. He did not doubt. I have given you many precious promises. Engage your faith with them. Why not take part in the promise? Let your faith be the evidence of the thing unseen. Let your faith be the substance of the promise. It is yours for the taking.
Comments
Faith vs Doubt or Unbelief
by Anonymous
Matthew 17:19-21 (NKJV) says, “19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Sooo, even if you have “little faith” (“faith as a mustard seed”), you can move a mountain!
I believe God can do whatsoever He promises. My problem is my “unbelief” (doubt)… that for whatsoever reason, I will be able to receive the promise.
My questions are… was Jesus saying that “this kind” of “unbelief” does not go out except by prayer and fasting? Or, was Jesus saying “this kind” of “demon”?
I know “faith comes by hearing… the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV).
Does hearing the word of God lessen unbelief? Or, does prayer and fasting lessen unbelief? Or, something else lessen unbelief?
I know that when I speak to some problems like ringing-in-the-ears or pains that stop even for a little while, my unbelief lessens. Should I just practice exercising my faith to lessen unbelief? Does increasing faith decrease unbelief? As you can see, I have a lot of questions about this...
I would like to be free of unbelief or doubt! Especially when I pray for others...
I appreciate your help.
Faith and unbelief
by Anonymous
Though I am hesitant in responding to an anonymous person, I felt nudged to respond to you. I do not have the answers to all of your questions, for I too have been wrestling with the issue of healing for major needs in my body. Over time, I have come to the conclusion that unbelief plagues most all of us who are exposed to our culture and most all of our churches. Sadly, we have been taught unbelief. For greater detail on this issue, please go to www.cwgministries.org and download free my ebook on Unbelief and Disbelief in the Western Church. I have also learned that Jesus wants us to do as He did. He did nothing unless He first saw and/or heard His Heavenly Father say or do it (John 5:19,20, 30). Learning to respond in our Lord's timing is critical in our faith walk. Included is one of my journals with our Lord on this subject:
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5-3-12 11:45am Holy Lord Jesus, it is my understanding from John 5:19,20, and 30 that you did nothing unless you first heard or saw our Heavenly Father do it. Looking at Matthew 18:19, 21:22 and similar verses, if we are expecting heavenly results praying this way, the results, if obtained, could be out of your will and timing. We need Your comments on this, Lord.
Ben, here again you can see that if you isolate Scriptures, you can miss My will and My timing. This is the trouble with some religious training that is out there, such as the “name it and claim it” adherents. What I am wanting My people to do is to learn to come to Me first in every situation. Going ahead on your own desires and thinking does not allow Me to give My input into each situation. Remember, I know when things should happen, and how they should happen, to bring glory to My Father and yours. Please, let us all get the cart behind the horse, so to speak.
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Getting our Lord's input requires our spending time with Jesus. Seeing Him in vision and hearing His voice lets us do the same. If you are having difficulty hearing His voice, Mark Virkler has many writings that will help you do this. However, even though I am able to hear His voice or see Him in vision and He says to do a certain thing, it may not happen right at that moment. His timing enters in and I struggle waiting for His response. So you can see, there is no cut and dried approach to seeing prayers answers. The bottom line is spending time in His presence and being led by His Spirit. I personally believe that spending time with Jesus is the greatest cure to unbelief.
Romans 10:17 says: "Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." The Greek word for word in this verse is Rhema, which means the spoken word of God. This fits in with John 5:19, 20, 30. This is why it is so important to learn to His voice.
I pray that something herein will bless you,
Ben
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