{"id":5935,"date":"2023-03-12T00:15:04","date_gmt":"2023-03-11T20:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/?p=5935"},"modified":"2023-03-12T00:15:04","modified_gmt":"2023-03-11T20:15:04","slug":"faith-or-negligence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/en\/faith-or-negligence\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0\u00a0FAITH OR NEGLIGENCE"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is faith? \u201cYour faith has made you well (in the Armenian Bible: \u2018has given you life\u2019)\u201d (Mt. 9:22). Faith gives life, a life of dignity. How is this related to the measure of faith \u2013 great faith or little faith? Has God given faith to everyone, and has He given the same measure of it? Does receiving something by faith depend on social standing, certain level of education or the environment of a person? We will answer these questions in detail so that the blessings that are made available to mankind at the price of the cross of Jesus Christ would be available to every person who believes and trusts God.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

God gave faith to every person. Just as everyone has a nose, a mouth, or muscles, they have faith. To believe means to be sure in fulfilment of one\u2019s expectation. However, life situations show the opposite; people believe in certain things, which do not happen, and they get disappointed. All this has an explanation. There is biblical interpretation and teaching, and the one who understands it will never be disappointed.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe just shall live by faith\u201d (Rom. 1:17). This means that all the spheres of the righteous one\u2019s life \u2013 everyday life, health, education, and so on \u2013 are inseparably linked to faith \u2013 faith in God Who created Heaven and earth \u2013 in the Holy Trinity \u2013 God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who is righteous?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The righteous is the one who has received Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of his life. According to the Bible, a person is made righteous at the price of the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross, and not by his own works: \u201cIf you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.\u201d (Rom. 10:9-10).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is faith?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNow faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen\u201d (Heb. 11:1). A person hopes that he is going to see or receive something he expects, although in the physical realm, it is still invisible for him. However, if his faith is firm, it will surely manifest in the physical realm, and he will receive it.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Has God given everyone faith in an equal measure? How big must a faith be for the supernatural to become natural in a person\u2019s life? Is faith related to social standing or education?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

God gave faith to everyone, and He explained, \u201cAssuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, \u2018Move from here to there,\u2019 and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you\u201d (Mt. 17:20). Social standing or education have absolutely nothing to do with faith. Faith is a disposition of heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Does the environment influence a person? Can negative attitude of the people around prevent a person from getting what he expects by trusting God?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Absolutely not! it is unlikely that there has ever been someone on this earth who was persecuted and slandered, who was envied and opposed in the same way as Jesus the Savior, when He was on the earth and was one hundred percent human, and not God or a demigod. \u201cAnd [they] rose up and thrust Him [Jesus] out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way\u201d (Lk. 4:29-30). They could not kill Jesus; also, they could not prevent Him from doing miracles. His crucifixion was the will of God the Father Who opened the door of reconciliation between God and man.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How to develop faith? How to be strengthened in faith?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We know that all people have muscles, but not everyone has developed them. Muscles are strengthened through exercise. Trainers monitor the correct development of muscles, because improper training can damage muscles, and the expected result will be delayed or will not come at all. Faith must be developed in the same way. In developing our faith, we are directed by the Holy Spirit, Who is our Teacher, Helper and Leader. \u201cThe Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things\u201d (Jn. 14:26). A man of God once said, \u201cIf you don\u2019t eat the flatbread, don\u2019t expect the seven-tiered cake!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

An Olympic champion does not start with a heavy bar right away. The victory is built gradually. During training, not only the muscles of the future champion are developed, but also the character is formed. The same applies to the Christian: not only he must develop the faith, but also the character. He must be humble and obedient; he must know and do the Word of God.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Along with the development of faith, new miracles take place. Developing faith means turning unbelief into firm belief, being convinced that not only little desires are available to us, but also big ones. It is written about Abraham: \u201cHe did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God\u201d (Rom. 4:20). How did this happen? God took him out of the tent and showed him the work of His hands: \u201cLook now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them\u2026 So shall your descendants be\u201d (Gen. 15:5).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A godly person must build intimacy with the Lord in his prayer closet by spending enough time in His presence. He must come out of his tent \u2013 his narrow mindset, and soar in the boundless freedom of God. Then his faith will grow to the point that he will be ready to do the desires of God\u2019s heart being confident that God will not let him be put to shame: \u201cFor the Scripture says, \u2018Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame\u2019\u201d (Rom. 10:11).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How did Joshua become so bold that he could continue the work of Moses and fulfill the promise of the Lord by bringing the people to Canaan and dividing the land among the 12 tribes of Israel?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joshua\u2019s victory was conditioned by the days, months and years of faithfulness to the Word of God. He remained faithful to the command of the Lord: \u201cThis Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go\u201d (Jos. 1:8-9). A person obtains strength only through reading and doing the Word, and by spending enough time with the Lord, according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, not the dictate of his flesh. Although at the initial stage of conquering the city of Ai Joshua suffered a humiliating defeat, and Israel had casualties, he, having humbled himself before the Lord, realized his mistake and corrected it. His mistake was trusting in his generals who were experienced men of war instead of receiving confirmation from the Lord. This story is written in in the book of Joshua chapters 7 and 8.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What does it mean to receive a word from the Lord and rely on the word received for a certain situation? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When a person finds himself in a challenging situation, he must pray and receive a word from the Lord to correct the situation. As an example, there is a story in the New Testament about the disciples in a boat who got into a storm. They were terrified while Jesus, Who was in the same boat, was sleeping peacefully. The terrified disciples woke Him up saying, \u201c\u2018Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?\u2019 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, \u2018Peace, be still!\u2019 And the wind ceased and there was a great calm\u201d (Mk. 4:38-39).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We see a similar situation in the Old Testament. A ship with Prophet Jonah on board was caught in a severe storm. The pagans who were on the boat cried to their gods to save them from the storm. And Jonah said, \u201c\u2018Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me\u2019 \u2026 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging\u201d (Jon. 1:12, 16). The same storm, the same danger for the boat or ship, but different solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the first case, the will of God was to command the storm and to forbid it, and in the second case, to throw the prophet who was a minister of God into the very storm, so that others would be saved. Both in the fist and the second story, everyone submitted to God\u2019s will, and obedience allowed them to see the fruit of faith \u2013 the storm subsided, and they escaped death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There are people who instead of receiving a special word from the Lord for their situation, choose a Scripture at the dictate of their soul and having believed in it begin to proclaim it. Naturally, they see no results. \u201cDo not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life\u201d (Gal. 6:7-8).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Let us consider Prophet Elijah. For three years, no sound of rain was heard in Israel; there was draught in the country. God revealed to Elijah that soon there would be rain. The Prophet along with his assistant went up to Mount Carmel to pray so that the word that came from the mouth of the Lord would be fulfilled. Elijah prayed as much as necessary \u201c\u2026and said to his servant, \u2018Go up now, look toward the sea.\u2019 So he went up and looked, and said, \u201cThere is nothing.\u201d And seven times he said, \u2018Go again.\u2019 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, \u2018There is a cloud, as small as a man\u2019s hand, rising out of the sea!\u2019 So he said, \u2018Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.\u2019 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain\u201d (1 Kgs 18:42-45).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cElijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit\u201d (Jas 5:17-18). Many receive a word from the Lord, but do not fulfill it the way the Lord would desire. They are negligent in their work: \u201cHe who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer\u201d (Pr. 18:9). They prefer to take the easy road: \u201cTherefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures, who dwell securely\u2026 desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know\u201d (Is. 47:8-11).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

During His life of 33 years, Jesus the Savior showed who is God and what is His will, His good, acceptable and perfect will. He showed how each time He trusted God, received a word from Him and acted on that word: \u201cMost 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. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things\u2026\u201d (Jn. 5:19-20). Miracles did not happen only when there was unbelief: \u201cNow He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief\u201d (Mt. 13:58). \u201cBut without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him\u201d (Heb. 11:6).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

An example from my life<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As I noted, before every step in our life, it is necessary to know God\u2019s will. I wanted to do a project, for which 700.000 Armenian drams were necessary. I did not have that amount, but that project was God\u2019s will. I asked God with fasting and prayer to give me an answer, and He confirmed it. When an opportune time came, I boldly set out to work. In the process, we ran out of funds, and I invested my own salary in it. I had no money left. Of course, I had food in my refrigerator and gas in my car, but my wallet was empty, and I still had 25 more days before my next salary. At that day, I prayed and said, \u201cLord, I boldly invested my salary in this project because You gave me a word that I would succeed, and that this project pleased You. Right now, my needs are met, but my wallet is empty. Lord, I beg You in the name of Jesus the Savior, do not allow my wallet to be empty for even a day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The day was not yet over, when my friend Gohar wrote to me that someone gave her 50.000 drams for me. Until my next salary, I was blessed financially several times, and while there was several days until the end of the month, my tithe was 106.000 drams. But even after that, I continued to receive financial blessings. The tithe, which was more than 106.000 showed what financial blessing I had received only because I completely trusted God. First of all, I learned His will through fasting and prayer, and I also kept my vow to Him to never borrow money, and there was not even a day when I lacked; rather, I was sowing and reaping abundantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Luke 6:38 says: \u201cGive, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.\u201d Wonderful words; however, everyone who desires these words to be fulfilled in their lives, so that the blessing of the Lord can flow to them in \u201cgood measure, pressed down\u2026\u201d must pay attention to the passage right before this verse and to observe it completely:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. \u201cBut if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven\u201d (Lk. 6:27-37).<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At the first sight, all this seems so difficult; however, when a godly person realizes that between his offender and himself stands Jesus the Savior\u2013 the One Who paid the price on the cross and freed him from the burden of sin and curse, then though the help of the Holy Spirit he is able to forgive people the way God forgave him.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Glory to the heavenly Father, who did not spare His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, but sacrificed Him so that everyone who believes in His resurrection and keeps His Word would have life and even more \u2013 eternity with his Creator!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is faith? \u201cYour faith has made you well (in the Armenian Bible: \u2018has given you life\u2019)\u201d (Mt. 9:22). Faith gives life, a life of dignity. How is this related to the measure of faith \u2013 great faith or little faith? Has God given faith to everyone, and has He given the same measure of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5920,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-change-your-life"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5935\/"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post\/"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1\/"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments\/?post=5935"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5935\/revisions\/"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5936,"href":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5935\/revisions\/5936\/"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5920\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/?parent=5935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories\/?post=5935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gayaneblog.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags\/?post=5935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}