Where did our perception of FAITH come from??

A WALK OF FAITH-WHERE DID OUR PERCEPTION COME FROM??

2 Corinthians 5:7
We live by faith, not by sight.
KJV (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Walk defined means: peripateo in the Greek language meaning to make one’s way, progress; to make due use of opportunities

Isaiah 45: 18-25
18 For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other. 19 I have not spoken in secret, In a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain'; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. 20 "Assemble yourselves and come; Draw near together, You who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, Who carry the wood of their carved image, And pray to a god that cannot save. 21 Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. 22 "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 23 I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath. 24 He shall say, 'Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, And all shall be ashamed Who are incensed against Him. 25 In the LORD all the descendants of Israel Shall be justified, and shall glory.' "

How similar is ‘The God He says He is’ to ‘The God you say He is’??

Faith unchallenged is faith stifled. It is important to analyze how we have developed our present spiritual belief system and measure it against the Word. We must determine what we believe and then measure it for accuracy of biblical concepts against the Bible itself, not against what we’ve seen or what we’ve heard. The beauty of the Holy Spirit is that if we are actively seeking wisdom and knowledge, the Holy Spirit will uproot and replace any beliefs that are inaccurate or not totally complete.

A TEST OF FAITH

Following is a faith test from the ‘Believing God is Who He Says He Is’ Bible study. This test is meant entirely for our self-examination and reflection. Here are a few ground rules. Please be completely honest. Don’t mark the answers that you think you are supposed to or that you believe most people would mark. Your answers aren’t meant to be right or wrong. They are meant to be honest. Don’t overanalyze. The first gut-level honest answer that comes to you is probably the most accurate. Mark only one answer. Do not under any circumstances feel condemned by any question. Keep the positive purpose of the test before you. God could very well use this tool to liberate you from an area of bondage to unbelief.

Now Stop and Pray. Ask God to help you examine and test your present condition of faith in order to remove any obstacles of unbelief that stand in the way of life more abundant, more adventurous, and more effective.

1. I believe ______ Scripture is actually God’s Word.
a. all
b. most
c. some
d. little

2. I believe ___________________________________.
a. there is only one true God, the God of the Bible
b. the God of Hebrews and Christians is also the God of Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and all other primary world religions
c. many gods and many ways provide a peaceful or happy life after death
d. very little about an unseen, spiritual world involving God or gods

3. I believe __________________________________________________.
a. Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God
b. Jesus Christ was a great prophet
c. Jesus Christ was a great teacher
d. Jesus Christ may be a mythical figure

4. I believe the four Gospels reveal a(n) _______________ portrayal of Christ.
a. absolutely accurate
b. mostly accurate
c. partly accurate
d. questionable

5. I believe the New Testament reveals a(n) ______________________ portrayal of Christ’s signs, wonders, and works.
a. absolutely accurate
b. mostly accurate
c. partly accurate
d. questionable

6. I’m _________ convinced of God’s love for me.
a. always
b. usually
c. sometimes
d. rarely

7. I believe the Jesus Christ of the Gospels is ___________ today.
a. just as powerful and active
b. very powerful and active
c. more watchful than active
d. more distant and less likely to intervene with action

8. I have seen _______ firsthand evidences of a miracle of God.
a. many
b. some
c. a few
d. no

9. I tend to ___________________ testimonies of modern-day miracles.
a. at least favorably consider
b. give a second thought to
c. discount
d. automatically disbelieve

10. I feel that God _________ hears my prayers.
a. always
b. usually
c. occasionally
d. rarely

11. I ________ sense the activity of God in several other people I observe.
a. constantly
b. often
c. occasionally
d. rarely

12. I ­­­___________ believe God is active in my life.
a. constantly
b. often
c. occasionally
d. rarely

13. I believe God speaks through His Word, His Holy Spirit, human vessels, and circumstances to ______________________________________________.
a. anyone willing to listen
b. most people who are willing to listen
c. only those who are most obedient
d. only those who are in important spiritual positions

14. I ___________________ that I am forgiven for my past confessed.
a. am thoroughly convinced
b. am ordinarily confident
c. am hopeful
d. have difficulty accepting

15. I ______________________ that God has a specific, fruitful plan for every believer in Christ, including me.
a. am thoroughly convinced
b. am ordinarily confident
c. am hopeful
d. have difficulty accepting

16. I feel that God has ________________________________________ in the past when I’ve exercised faith in Him.
a. actively and affirmatively responded to me
b. faithfully revealed Himself to me, even if I didn’t get what I asked
c. rarely seemed responsive to me
d. failed me

17. I am __________________ to take my faith to a new level in Christ.
a. very willing and ready
b. anxious but a little scared
c. scared half to death
d. presently unwilling

18. I ______________ pray generic prayers because I don’t want to be disappointed by God.
a. rarely
b. occasionally
c. often
d. most commonly

19. I believe that God is willing, able and pleased to redeem _____________________ in any life (including mine) and work it/them for His glory and the person’s good.
a. absolutely anything
b. many things
c. certain things (To me, things like ____________ seem unredeemable. He can diffuse those things, perhaps, but I don’t think He uses those things.)
d. few things. Frankly, I haven’t seen much redemption of bad things in my environment.

20. When fear comes on me like a tidal wave, I tend most quickly to ________________.
a. recall Scripture and turn it into prayer
b. pray
c. call a friend to pray for me
d. panic.

We are not going to get scientific or terribly statistical with the results, but if you’d like a mere suggestion to what degree you may presently be exercising faith, consider the following:
- If you circled mostly a’s and b’s, you are probably exercising active and abundant faith. I’d imagine your journey with Christ has been pretty adventurous.
- If you circled mostly b’s and c’s, you are probably exercising a moderate amount of faith. Perhaps you are young in the faith and on your way to developing lavish belief. Or you may have recently had a setback that has caused you to be distrustful. Keep in mind that virtually anyone is capable of going from predominately a answers to d answers almost overnight due to a sudden change in circumstances and the ability to sense God’s activity. Happily, the opposite is also true. We are never wise to judge others for a weakness of faith (Romans 14:1-Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.), because we have no idea what challenges we have ahead.
- If you circled mostly c’s and d’s, you may battle significant uncertainty and fear. On the other hand, you may also be repulsed by the interferences because any teaching of faith seems a heretical name-it-and-claim-it theology.

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

1 John 1:1
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--

Colossians 2:9
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily

Mark 9:21-23
So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. 22 "And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

Jeremiah 33:3
'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

John 5:17
Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.