Faith Is Not...

In order for me or any other theologian to teach faith effectively, we must first convince you of God’s perspective. I sincerely hope that the previous chapter accomplished that. However, I feel led to keep this perspective in view as we proceed. Remember, Christianity is not a lifestyle; it is a “life.” It is literally the “life of Jesus Christ” being lived out in earthen vessels. Beloved, you cannot dissect Christ. You must accept all of Him or none. When we walk after the Spirit we walk in the mind of Christ. Again I say to you, “It is impossible to walk in the mind of Christ and not take on His emotions, desires, attributes and character. It is also impossible not to walk in His faith.” For the life we live now in the flesh, we live by the faith of Jesus Christ (Gal. 2:20). This is the reality of the Sons.

His faith has been tried and tested and found to be lacking nothing. We need to stop and consider that the scripture does intend for us to be as Christ was in this world today. That includes the fact that Christ was not running around yelling “money cometh.” Neither did He ever stand on a platform and zap His congregation into material prosperity. Furthermore, we cannot find any messages where His central theme or subject matter was “how to obtain the wealth of this world.” Jesus was concerned about souls and ministry. [He never set a man on a path that uses faith to acquire the things of this world.] To the contrary His message was, Love not the world nor the things of the world, for all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-16).

What do we do with Jesus’ comment about the rich young ruler, whom He told to go and sell all that he had and then come and follow Him? As the man dropped his head in sadness, Jesus replied that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it was for a rich man to enter the kingdom. If this was the case then why would Jesus and the Father insist on giving us the wealth of this world in this present time, knowing that it is likely to pull us away from Him? Paul wrote to Timothy warning him of the mindset of many men of God who had corrupted themselves and the people they led. But some diehards in an attempt to hold on to the faith and prosperity connection try to place the focus of the passages below on unbelievers or the unsaved. However, the 10th verse settles that issue. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. In order for one to err from the faith, one must first be in the faith. So I want you to read these scriptures very carefully, as they express the disposition of much of the leadership and their following in the Body today.

1 Timothy 6:5-11

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Listen to the preacher as he goes directly to the bottom line. He implies that those who teach such doctrines are corrupt in their minds; therefore they do not walk in the mind of Christ. They are also destitute or void of the truth. Yes, there are a lot of truths within some of their teachings, but as I stated in an earlier chapter, when truth is ministered from an improper perspective the result can only be a perverted gospel. Paul goes on to say these men suppose or assume that material gain is evidence of God’s glory in our lives. If such is the case, then what is the evidence of His glory in the lives of those who came into the Body with great wealth; those whose profession or worldly affairs caused them to acquire much material gain before they even met Christ? As Paul stated, this is indeed an assumption. It has no scriptural basis for the New Testament Church. Now the instructions are clear; “From such withdraw yourself.” It is amazing how the preacher can tell us not to bid an individual Godspeed if he should come preaching any other doctrine other than that of the apostles’ doctrine. Still many are willing to turn away from every false teaching except that of earthly prosperity. I sincerely hope that will not be the case after you have finished this study.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

The world is not enjoying contentment and neither is the Church. It is not the order of the day. To be content with what God has given is almost considered a slanderous thing against God. I know that by now some of you are thinking, “Well, I know where she’s going with this. This is another one of those poverty advocates.” Although the scriptures do declare we will have the poor among us always, and not to mention how Paul did go about collecting monies from some of the churches to help the poor saints at Jerusalem, (Rom 15:26).

This is not a poverty doctrine. It is a doctrine that says all things were created by Him and for Him. Those who walk after the Spirit will be able to gain access to much material wealth to be used in the establishing of the covenant. They will use it to finance the Gospel of the Kingdom but it is the Father however who will channel the finances to meet the needs and the overall scope of the ministry. He will never renew the vanity of the flesh. I use the term “access” because many of us will not physically own the resources needed to further this message, but the Father is committed to leading, guiding and putting us in the paths of those who are ready and willing to help get this Word to the masses.

My ministry is one such ministry. I believe we have learned and lived enough in this way for the Lord to be able to trust us with the finances needed to get this Word out. But to this date we would be considered a very financially poor ministry. We do not have the big bucks, the great cathedrals or the mega donor base. However, I am not careful concerning this matter. It is time for this Word to come to the Body and the Lord has assured me that He has prepared hearts that are willing and able to finance His truth. There are those who will see it as the greatest investment of their lives.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

I don’t think it gets any plainer than this. Paul is trying desperately to destroy an erroneous mindset about materialism in this world. It is not the intent of the Father for us to be in hot pursuit of things.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

One thing can truly be said of the writers of the New Testament; their teachings were extremely consistent with those of Christ Jesus. In

Luke 12:22

22 Jesus said to His disciples; “. . . Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.”

This must be the mind of those who will please the Father. If not, lust and the spirit of the world will be allowed once again to rule and reign in their life. If those who desire to be rich are subject to fall into foolish and hurtful lusts that drown men in destruction, why would the wealth of this world be the focal point of any message in the Church? The Lord knows how to finance that which is His. He does not need to defame His glory by pointing men and women to the world for personal gain.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

The Father shows that the end result of the acquisition of personal wealth is to give us pre-eminence, power and authority in the lives of others. He knows many will not be able to handle personal gain, but will indeed become victims of lusts that lead to destruction. This is truly the mind of the Father. It is plain and simple. This message is literal and needs no philosophical interpretation. We have established then that this warning and commandment is written to the people of God (those in the Faith). To covet the riches of this world is error and to make material wealth synonymous with the glory of God in the New Testament Church is “heresy”.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness

As the songwriter said, “Run and don’t look back, you better run.” Depart from this doctrine that keeps you in hot pursuit of the things of the world, promising you great wealth that can only be seen in houses, land, cars, jewels and clothes. How cheap the blood of Jesus has become! Do you believe that He was humiliated and crucified just so that we would have the same things that others got by profession or just plain hard work? I love to shop. What woman doesn’t? I also like nice things. But I am instructed; in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Therefore, I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need (Phil 4:11-12).

Bear with me a moment while I stir up your pure mind to think on those things that are contrary to the mind of Christ and the preaching of the apostles. If you understood the previous chapters, then you didn’t miss the fact that we are spiritual beings. We are the Sons of the Most High; His children, His offspring. We are divine in nature, circumcised in the flesh. The promises of our Father, (who is the Father of spirits, Heb. 12:9), are spiritual blessings. They include the supernatural power of God to be a witness of the truth and to work ministry in the lives of His people. No, my brothers and sisters in the Lord, faith is not for the acquisition of things. Now that we have discussed what it is not, let us go on to discuss what faith for the Sons of God really is.