Understanding and Growing in Faith

Who is God? What is God's Character? How does he work in the World? How does someone lean on him? Faith starts with belief, Faith is a knowledgeable dependence. It is something that grows. You accepted Jesus and was baptized at your Church? That was a start. You took a leap and now you believe. Your walls were down, and you accepted the Spirit of God? Now you grow in Faith and knowledge of God through Bible Study and trials. You learn about God and faith, then you apply your Faith and go through trials. (James 1:2-4) A trial could come from every day life like work and family. Some people may end up with bigger trials the bigger their calling is, and the more they work for God to build God's Kingdom.

God is Love. (1 John 4:8) Love is a two way street. Do you know what God's plan is? God's plan is The Kingdom of God. Do you know what The Kingdom of God is? What do you do to build The Kingdom of God? Did you bare your Cross?

 I like "Kingdom of God" Kingdomwatchers as a description of The Kingdom. Understanding God's plan, and where God may be going or doing is very very important. What is a Pastor's or individual's motivation who is talking about God? Is his motivation ego and pride and liking the power of being a Pastor? Is his motivation money? Is his motivation some sort of ideology outside the Bible, and he uses religion towards some other purpose? A yes would be the wrong answer. The right answer is The Kingdom of God.

God likes Glory. When you say the word Glory what do you think of? David killing Goliath was Glorious. Glory may be something that happens on the battlefield. It may be an artist making a great work of art. It may be a new born child. These things are Glorious. God likes Glory. When you pray, "If it would bring you Glory" seemed to have been the right answer.

• Reason and Faith Miracles happen at the intersection of Faith and Reason. The more Faith someone has, the more God becomes their Reason. Faith is a knowledgeable dependence. A man studies his Bible, and goes through trials. He grows in Faith and in Trust of God.

• Don't Look Down Jesus is walking on water. He takes Peter's hand, and Peter is now walking on water. Peter's senses tell him that this should not be happening or he is in shock and awe. He may have some fear or doubt. Peter looks down. Peter sinks. Doubt and Fear kill Faith. Going into the Spiritual and growing in Faith may take some conditioning. You condition your mind and will against doubt or fear. Don't look down. What kind of conditioning or faith did Jonah and Jesus have that they could sleep through a storm and not care while everyone else is panicking? (Jonah 1:5,6)(Matthew 8:23-27)

• Don't look back.
  Don't look back is like Lot and his family leaving Sodom. You had a life as an individual and had sin. You are starting a new life in Christ to build God's Kingdom. Don't look back to your old life. Given you picked up the plow and looked back you are not worthy. Don't look back could be like Lot's wife. She may have sensed some heat behind her. She may have heard sounds. She was instructed to not look back. Curiosity killed the cat?
  Don't look back is an important element of growing in Faith. I YouTube searched it one day, and found "Won't Look Back" by Duke Dumont. As to what how I break down the video: The Post Modern World is like a Masquerade. What Spirit is someone of? Spirits affect motivation. Sometimes God hides his prophets. Who serves God and who is serving themselves or something else? The video is prophetic.

• God has good plans for you.God knows you. God created you. God is love. His love is fatherly. Given you end up being able to talk to God, you may end up seeing or hearing spirits and other things. God has a plan and he has good plans for you. If you are not centered on God, being able to see these or hear these things could throw you off. God will not ask you to do more than you are capable of handling.

• Walk The Line.
  1 Kings 13. God's way is a path. There may be liars or deceivers or distractions. Walk the line. Don't trust man. Trust God.