Appendix2Q

Appendix 2Q; Engage your Faith

As you become aware of God’s truth and humbly accept it, you will embrace His Holy boundaries and decide to change your habits (Zephaniah 3:5, Micah 6:8, Romans 7:12, 1 John 4:8). When you are willing to change your habits (your A, B, C’s) to those divine (D) habits inspired by the Holy Spirit, D(A + B) = C , you will achieve freedom, or what Isaiah 60:15 (NKJV) calls “Eternal Excellency” (E ) here on earth; “Whereas thou has been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations”… In the New Testament John records Jesus as referring to this eternal life as knowing Him so that you can live the abundant life today and forever (John 10:10, 17:3, 3:16, 6:35).

God provides the gift of faith. Think of this gift as worthless until it’s opened and used as intended. This implies that faith is active and accountable. When you choose to walk in your faith, your choosing to draw from your knowledge of God’s Word and show it by respecting your relationship with God. An influencing and volatile factor to your knowledge and your personal relationship with God are your emotion. Belief is a personal choice; a blend of your cognition and your emotional state and is the reason why you are responsible for the outcomes of your faith. Acting out what you believe in is best understood as a function of how well you regulate your emotions to align with the truth of God’s Word.

Belief is like love, it might feel natural but it's a decision. A person who acts on their faith chooses to do the right thing as measured by the authenticity and integrity to the Christian Psycho-social balance. A Christian makes a conscious choice to participate in the world by acting on faith, not cultural norms or fads, displaying their willingness to trade self-esteem and popularity for an authentic display of their Christ identity. Faith is constant, it is not meant to fluctuate based on how you feel on a situational basis. Picture a balloon where the air you use to fill it is faith. Once you tie the knot, the balloon stays inflated. Picture worry, nervousness, fear, and pride as making small tears in the balloon. Faith deflates when anxious but expands with use. Emotions can either thicken the air in your balloon or tear it down. The key to using your faith is to eliminate doubt.

Scripture references: Romans 12:1-3, John 18:36, 1 John 2:15-17, Philippians 3:20, John 8:31-32, John 17:14-16.

As recorded in Matthew chapter 11, even John the Baptist had doubts. From prison, John heard about all the things his cousin, Jesus - the Messiah, was doing but he was so discouraged about how own destiny turned out, he gave in to doubt which clouded his judgement about Jesus Christ. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” But listen to the faith Jesus has in John as recorded in Matthew 11:11, “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!"

Doubt is a cognitive process of trying to resolve uncertainty that is further hampered by the negative emotions that arise because of the existence of doubt, a contaminate of faith. Taking action, even when the solution is visible, is not an automatic or continuous response because of the emotions you feel about doing or not doing what you believe. That’s why you need hope to believe that when you trust in God and do what His Word reveals about Him, you can control doubt with faith so you can act with Christian Cognitive Consistency. Biblical examples of fear often lead to negative consequences like hiding, doubt, disobedience, and deception, though "fear of the Lord" leads to wisdom. Belief in your heart is acted out in public for your good and God’s glory.

Exhibiting faith and doubt can happen in sequence. Read about the Apostle Peter's example of walking on the water in Matthew 14:28-31.

A psycho-social balance is achieved when you are mindful of God’s love for you, and in gratitude, with self-imposed discipline, you extend Christlike love to those around you (Colossians 2:6-7). God’s love is electric and contagious! Let mercy and grace season your humanity and then share it! The Holy Spirit always fills the vacuum* of your faith. (*The pieces of your faith that you may not feel like implementing.) Christian author John Piper explains the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer like this:

Picture yourself drinking ice water with a straw. The water is the Holy Spirit. The air in the straw is doubt and unbelief. Faith is the vacuum you create when you suck on the straw. And what happens when the vacuum of faith is created? The water of the Spirit comes in immediately. And if the straw is full of the vacuum of faith, the straw will also be full of the water of the Spirit.

For a quick five-minute video see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ut96I5gRUY .

With an objective and responsible look, you can see that having an accountability mentality sets appropriate expectations and standards, and you'll be able to discern the truth of the scriptures that reveal an Almighty God that never disappoints (Ephesians 3:20, Isaiah 40:28-31, Romans 5:4-5, 8:28, Micah 7:7). Here are some tips;

Don’t let human pride or spiritual egotism puncture the straw. Don't let short-sightedness blur your vision of a perfect, just in time, God. God's perfect timing stretches your faith as you wait in hope for God to work all things for good for those who love Him (Proverbs 3:5-6, Ecclesiastes 3:1, Jeremiah 29:11-12, Lamentations 3:25-26, Romans 8:28).
Keep your behavior within the boundaries of God’s Holy Word and character (Romans 5:4-5, 10:11). Align your expectations to the Word. Act as a Christ-follower and trust God to bring results, in His timing! It is faith that fulfills hope which results in the expression of Christian unconditional love towards yourself and others (1 Corinthians 13:13, Bright, B., (2007)).
Make an intentional choice as to whom you will serve and arm yourself with faith and love as you journey through life (Joshua 24:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:8).

Christian behavior in you ShinE s God’s power through you as you walk in peace and love showing others what an impact God can have on your life (Psalm 18:28, Ecclesiastes 2:13, Isaiah 26:3-4,60:1, Matthew 5:16, Luke 11:34-35, John 1:5 Philippians 4:7, Colossians 2:8, James 4:4, 1 Peter 2:12).