Faith Changes People
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.Hebrews 11:9
Several years ago I began to alter what I would say is my definition of faith. I used to think faith was based on my response to God’s word. Today, I don’t think it is quite that simple. There is a little thing called human depravity that seems to get in the way. We all have good intentions, we will just leave it at that. Our good intentions never seem to take us far enough. Today I believe faith is actually initiated in heaven. The Lord opens the eyes of my heart to His glorious grace. Suddenly, I am no longer blind. My eyes can see, my ears can hear, and I can actually respond to His word in faith. Here is how Martin Luther describes this mystery called faith.
“Faith changes people. It makes them see everything in a new light. Their ears hear, their eyes see, and their hearts feel something completely different from what everyone else perceives. Faith is living and powerful. It’s not a simpleminded idea. It doesn’t float around in the heart like a goose on the water. Rather, it’s like water that’s been heated. After heating, the water is different. It’s still water, but it’s warm. The same thing happens when the Holy Spirit gives us faith. Faith transforms the mind and attitudes. It creates an entirely new person. Faith is active, profound, and powerful. If people were to describe faith correctly, they would say it’s a process, not a result. In other words, faith changes the heart and mind. Reason tends to concentrate on what is present—the here and now. Faith concerns itself with things that are intangible and, contrary to reason, regards them as actually being present. That is why faith isn’t as common among people as the five senses are. Considering the number of people in the world, there are relatively few believers. Most people concern themselves with what they can see, touch, and handle rather than listening to God’s Word.”
Many of the miracles of Jesus deal with our natural senses. He healed the blind and deaf so that they could function in the physical world. In the same way, spiritual blindness and deafness incapacitate us. It is pretty hard to function when you can’t see or hear. The grace of God restores our ability to perceive the kingdom of God. This is what faith is. It is the ability to perceive as real the unseen world of the Spirit. So this is how my definition of faith has been changed. I now see faith as the opening up of my ability to perceive as real the kingdom of God.
Heb. 11:1 Amplified Bible – NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
3 thoughts on “FAITH CHANGES PEOPLE”
Amen and amen! God is a faith God; He gives us faith and we are changed into His likeness as we walk in it. Let us say with Him; let there be and the light of Christ will shine through us. 🙂
GOOD MORNING, Pastor Frank, Amen, Thank You, LORD.
HALLELUJAH to the King of Kings. Thank You for opening up my eyes and ears toward Your Ways/ Bible. Holy Spirit, Thank You for being my Helper, Teacher, Instructor, Guider, my everything as You Lead me. I am earnestly seeking my Spiritual Gifts daily.
What a change, what a love, what a NEW coat He gives us. A NEW name, a NEW life, a NEW excitement, how He pulls us out of this world and NOW It’s all about Jesus/HIM/THE I AM… What a NEW and fresh start, your not scared anymore, you just let it flow and let it be what He wants it to be. Your Faith grows, assurance is there stamped on you as a seal, I belong to the King and I am a Heir of His, I boldly and courageously step out in Faith don’t care what people think anymore, its Him and me. I know who He is now, and how POWERFUL/DUNAMAS HE IS and He backs me up in everything I do in HIm. You will never fear or worry again, you will trust in Him at all times, no matter what the circumstances bring, He will deliver You. What a Peace/Joy/Love/relaxation He is. O how I Love His Presence. Your content with what you have.
You said it Pastor Frank, FAITH CHANGES PEOPLE, HALLELUJAH times trillions, HA, Thank You my LORD. I just jump out in faith and let it flow, He has my back and all the way around.
What an amazing NEW light, He is, I am in HIm and He is in Me, ha, what more precious loving Spiritual living being can you ask for, and very, very, very POWERFUL…with love, have Your way Holy Spirit, let it rain, open the flood gates of Heaven. Have an Awesome day in our LORD.. :):):):):). Lord thank You for dieing on the cross for me, I love You!!! Awesome blog
I loved reading your enthusiasm during this post! In our mission field, there is not great joy than a changed our. It’s truly amazing to see God’s work in people. I loved this line:”I now see faith as the opening up of my ability to perceive as real the kingdom of God.” What a great realization.
-Tasha, The Bridge Chicago