The Object Of Your Faith
By Phil Scovell
Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory
by Christ Jesus.
1. Focus.
* "But my God."
This is our personal focus. If we don't start there, it isn't
going to happen no matter whom we claim as our favorite preacher.
2. Fulfillment.
* "Shall supply."
This is our fulfillment. The Greek word for "supply" is the same
word translated "filled in Ephesians 5:18 "and be ye filled with the
Spirit," as well as the same word rendered "complete" in Colossians
2:10 which says, "And ye are complete in Him which is the head of all
principality and power." Try and improve upon that. Like we used to
say in the sixties, "Far out."
3. Fruitfulness.
* "All your need."
This is your fruitfulness. The word rendered as "need" means
what you think it means. However, it is a stronger word which also
encompasses your wants, that is, whatever is required to conduct
business, and provide to the fullest. No lack, in other words. It
isn't just in reference to money.
4. Fortune.
* "According to his riches in glory."
this is your fortune, that is, those things which are eternal and what
comes from Heaven to Earth in your behalf for provision.
5. Faith.
* "By Christ Jesus."
this is the object of your faith.
Hebrews 11:1 is perhaps the most popular of passages on faith.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.
Compare this passage with another reference from the same book.
Hebrews 1:3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his
person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had
by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty
on high.
There is absolutely no doubt to whom the writer of Hebrews is
referring; Jesus The Christ. The word for "person" in this passage,
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his
person," is the same Greek word translated as "substance in Hebrews
11:1 which says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for."
Thus, the passage can literally read, "Now faith is the person of
things hoped for." Stated precisely, it reads, "Now faith is the
Christ of things hoped for."
The Bottom Line
This is my personal opinion, of course, so you can take it for
what it's worth.
Jesus the Christ is the object of our faith. Most of us attempt
exercising faith. Why? It's how we've been taught, for the most
part, so we "practice" our faith. The frustration of this philosophy
is that we have to keep practicing and practicing and practicing.
Eventually, therefore, we grow tired of trying and figure it just must
be because we don't have enough faith. If we don't feel that way,
somebody somewhere will be sure to tell us such is the case.
Romans 12:3 tells us that God has given to every man the measure
of faith. If you study the Greek word for "measure," you will quickly
learn that the faith we have is an exact measurement. That is,
everybody who comes to Christ as Lord and Savior receives the same,
or exact, or identical measurement of faith. It is like cutting a pie
into exactly six pieces. Everybody gets the same size. I don't have
more than you and you don't have more than me. In fact, the preacher
you are listening to on the television doesn't even have any more
faith than you have regardless of what he says. On the other hand, it
is what we do with the faith that counts.
I have literally heard Bible teachers comparing faith to muscular
strength. Therefore, the more you exercise, lift weights, the
stronger you become. According to proper interpretive Scripture
methodology, that is, hermeneutics, this is completely erroneous
theology. The truth is simple; Jesus Christ is the object of our
faith. If you go any place else for it, if you attempt to practice
faith, if you follow a four step plan, or if you attempt to use the
faith you think you see in someone else, you will experience nothing
in return. You heard me correctly. Faith is an experience. I will
prove what I just said in a moment.
Illustration
when I was little, I was fascinated with watching my dad wash his
car. He would screw a nozzle on to the end of the long snake green
hose and turn on the water. The adjustable nozzle had four settings
which were used for different purposes. One setting was a needle
spray which was so fine, if you placed your bare hand in front of the
hose, it literally would sting your skin. This was perfect for
lasering off thick encrusted dried mud stuck in the wheel wells.
Other settings allowed you to gently caress the car's surface to wash
away loose dirt. One setting I always enjoyed playing with was a hard
cylinder shape of water which gushed out of the nozzle under
tremendous force. It was so powerful, I could hold the nozzle in the
air and the spray of water would arc high into the air across the yard
and land a good 30 feet away. Yes, you are correct. I spent more
time playing with the hose and the water than I did washing the car.
One day, dad told me to go out and wash the car. I loved doing
it so I was happy to obey. I didn't know where the nozzle was so I
just decided to use the hose by itself by placing my thumb over the
end of the hose, just like I had see my dad do at times, and thus
increase the pressure coming out of the hose. It had so precious
little effect, it was obvious I couldn't wash the car that way.
Putting the hose down, I ran to look for the nozzle. Shutting the
water off, I screwed the nozzle on the end. Twisting the water back
on, I dialed up the various settings. That made all the difference in
the world. Now I could finish the job and do it right and in a lot
less time, too.
One day, while meditating on faith, the Holy Spirit reminded me
of this childhood memory. He said, "This is faith." I asked the Lord
what He was talking about. He clearly told me that faith was a fixed
and exact measurement of His own nature which He had given to all
those truly born again. The water running through the hose was a
picture of that exact measurement of faith. I asked the Lord what
made the difference in how the water was used. He said, "Whatever you
screw on to the end of your faith.
What are you using on the end of your faith? If you are using a
favorite testimonial you heard in a sermon, if you are using some
outline, if you are practicing on small things at first to see if it
works or not before reaching for bigger acts of faith, then you will
discover not only does it not work, but you will eventually become
deceived by the Enemy for "your lack of faith." "It is your fault,
you aren't spiritual enough," or, "you have secret sin in your life,"
are some of the Enemy's most favorite lies he will drop into the flow
of your daily thought processes.
Let me ask you this question. What did you use for faith when
you received Christ as your Savior, confessing you were a sinner, and
couldn't save yourself? That's right. You used Jesus as the object
of your faith. May I now ask this question? When did you stop using
Jesus as the object of your faith? It is time to rethink what we
believe. Do it now.
Safe Place Fellowship
Phil Scovell
Denver, Colorado
Mountain Time Zone
Phone: 303-507-5175
WWW.SafePlaceFellowship.COM
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