How We Understand
This message came to be as a very real and pressing revelation of the things that I know and believe. How we approach the Bible and our intrinsic choice to believe it effects our world view on all things.
HOW WE UNDERSTAND!
"Through faith we understand..." Hebrews 11:3
There are many things that are hard to be understood. We can read many writers of scriptures as they ponder the mysteries of God and the wonder of his creation. God would always come back with a response to remind us that the answer is found in his greatness.
We live in the age of endless questions. Questions in and of themselves are good and it is a proper pursuit to find out and learn as much as we are able. If we are not careful, we will miss learning the most valuable basis of understanding and fail to fully appreciate what we might learn.
Faith, is a choice that we all make. Like the Tree of Life, faith is the fruit in this garden of God, the more we eat from it, the more we truly live. The serpent tricked Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of Knowledge, when really all they could ever want to know would have been found in the Tree of Life. Rather than exercise faith in eating life, they used doubt and ate from the tree that left them with more questions, fears and doubt than they were ever intended to have.
Faith, if we will choose to let this be a source of nourishment for our life, will pay untold dividends, when knowledge only leaves with more questions. It has been said, “The more I know, the more I don’t know.” However, the more I believe, the more I understand.
Faith is the way we understand
There is a war going on. I am not talking about Iran or Iraq, but a war over the minds of people. This is not fought with missiles and bombs, but ideas and principles that govern the perceptions and morality of life.
The values that this war is fought over how we think. What we naturally assume, and what God wants us to learn. There are some things we get in our spirits and hearts and that take a long time to get worked out. Transformation happens through the working of the Spirit of God and his Word.
Transformation happens through renewing, restoring and regeneration of our mind. This is a progressive and
constant work of the Spirit of God. Often what we learn is to unlearn what we thought we knew. Concepts of Unity, Love, Wealth and True Riches. What we might naturally think of these is often the very opposite of what they truly are.
Faith is the way we understand
How can red blood, take a black heart and make it white?
How can immersion in water, calling, taking and entering into a Name bring forgiveness of sins?
How can a spoken faith overcome a world of negative realities?
How can we believe in a resurrection and a Heaven?
Faith in the Word of God opens a world of possibilities.
We understand the Power of the Cross
We understand the Power of the name
We understand Eternity
We understand the Godhead.
We understand Salvation and Redemption.
We understand Divine Healing.
We understand Speaking in Tongues.
We understand the Power and Singularity of God.
These things are riddles and rhymes to the carnal mind, but to the Child of God, riches of untold value, treasures of faith.
The More I put my trust and thrust my life into this stream of understanding the more I appreciate its power and majesty.
I want to eat the fruit called faith. I want to wash in the river called Faith. I want to take the Shield of Faith. I want to walk in the Path of Faith.
Faith is how we understand. Not just faith, but Faith in the Word of God and the Power of His Almighty Spirit and Magnificent Name.
When you combine faith with the ways, words and will of God anything and everything is possible. Nothing and no one can take you out, destroy or hinder if you will wrap your hands, hearts, minds and lives around this faith.
Through Faith we Understand!
In Him, By Him, Through Him,
Scott Phillips
www.newbirth.us
“Through Faith we understand.”
The elements that distinguish the Apostolic movement is how we view the word of God. This influences every area of faith from the importance put on the baptismal formula to our concepts of separation.
So many religious groups base so much of their theological system on the things that
a. they don’t believe are necessary
b. that are not pertinent for today
c. or outright refuse to discuss.
It is not a system based on faith, but it is in fact a system of belief that is based on the fact they do not take the word of God at face value and choose rather to apply some other standards or authority into the equation. In a word, it is a system built on doubt and unbelief dealing with certain subjects and issues covered in scripture.
For example, most of the Christian world does not believe Baptism is important. They practice it, but do not believe there is any salvation or benefits beyond being seen and affirmed. They see it as merely an outward sign you really believe. When in reality, the scripture plainly teaches a different set of values and benefits of baptism. (If you’re interested I can send this to you. It is quite astounding.)
Others don’t see a real value in how you are baptized, specifically the formula used. They don’t believe in the distinguishing and distinctive power that the Word of God says specifically about the Name of Jesus. I know they or you might disagree with this conclusion, but all the while refusing to really consider the fact that everyone in scripture was baptized differently and in contradiction to how it is administered today.
How we understand the power and benefit of Baptism in Jesus Name is the very fact that we take the Word of God at face value, and relegate and reject all other voices and decisions that take away from the importance and power that the word of God says.
Someone could say, “Really why would it matter?” From a logical and carnal view, not much. But in a faith point of view, if what you value is scripture, it is the difference between Biblical and Unbiblical. It is the difference between right and wrong.
The Creation versus Darwin theories illustrate this doubt questioning faith. Darwin disiples belittle someone who would be simple minded enough to “believe” what the Bible says, while the Creationist state with full confidence, “The Bible says it and that settles it.” Our faith in the word of God, establishes it as the only authority needed. We ignore the skeptics and doubters and hold to the Word of God and what it says on this subject.
By Faith we understand.
This is the same mindset that we apply to other issues, issues discussed in this article. On the issues of separation, this idea has fallen on hard times even within the groups who have historically represented these ideas.
“But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” 1 Corinthians 11:15 KJV (If you really want to know more, read the whole chapter. Read it with a desire to know and not excuse what you don’t won’t to hear or believe.)
Most of Christianity has not even heard that this is in the scripture, and if they have, they giggle and scoff and cause others to doubt what is not just an isolated scripture, but is presented in a logical, thoughtful and purposeful approach. Many write it off as culture, but culture was not the argument that Paul was making here, he appeals to nature and the order in which God created all things.
So the point is, how you interpret this scripture in many ways defines how you may view all of scripture. You either choose to believe, accept and endeavour to obey, or you find reason and excuse not to believe and importantly understand. Through Faith you understand.
How did God create everything? Why is Baptism Important? Why should women have long hair? Three disjointed ideas, but all appeal back the same source. Through Faith we understand. Faith in what? Faith in the Word of God and the fact it is the basis for truth.
There are many issues I can cover, but let me suffice it to say, anything and everything that we do from Church Attendance, Giving, Baptism, Consecration is all based on a choice to believe what God has said through his word. Period. End of Story. End of Discussion.
If we exercise the right to Doubt the word of God and go dig up all the reasons why it is not pertinent, how is this any different than what Adam and Eve did? They chose not to believe the Word of God, questioned its true power and give reasons why it was alright for them to sort it out in their own way of thinking.
“ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” Genesis 3:6
The progress of doubt, is the same progression we see people questioning the validity of the Word of God today.
Consider your life and how it is compatible with scripture.
We as leaders and pastors cannot make anyone do anything. However we can present these and other truths and at least give people the opportunity to benefit from the spiritual principles that are held therein.
So you say you don’t understand?
How about just accept the word of God at face value and obey it?
By faith I understand, in fact it is the only way understanding really comes.
Why? Because he said so.
In Him, By Him, Through Him,
Scott Phillips
www.newbirth.us
