Dr. Annamma Abraham and (late) Dr. Abraham were veteran doctors in Malaysia (originally from Kerela, India) and also serving the Lord in many capacities. Those early years were very busy with their working schedule and taking care of their very energetic and lively three sons. In that very busy schedule of work along with parenthood, they grew stronger in their faith and walk with God. Today, as Dr. Annamma Abraham delves into the Word in deep study, she shares jewels of wisdom from the Word!
Faith - Dr. Annamma Abraham
Faith is the assurance of
things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11: 1)
Faith sees things that are
out of sight. There is a realm of reality, just as actual, just as factual,
just as substantial as anything we see, hear, touch, taste or smell in this
world. It exists all around us. There are legions of angels helping us, for
which the world has no counter measures.
Hebrews 1:14
Are
they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those
who will inherit salvation?
The
psalmist David referred to them as thousands and thousands of chariots.
Psalm 68:17
The
chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands. The Lord is among them as
at Sinai, in holiness.
We cannot
see God or His angels with our natural eyes. But they are there, whether we see
them or not. The world is filled with them. By faith we recognize the existence
of the spiritual world and learn to depend on the Lord for His help in our
daily life. Believing is seeing what our eyes cannot see.
We walk by
faith and not by sight (2Corinthians5: 7)
Honest
questions can lead to faith-building answers. A skeptic is one who is inclined
to doubt. If such a person is honestly seeking to know the truth, his doubting
may be the first step toward finding the truth.
When Paul
came to Berea, he found Jews who were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica.
They received the word “with readiness” but also searched the scripture daily
to find out whether these things were so (Acts17: 11). Although they believed
in Old Testament, they had a healthy skepticism about the subject of Paul’s
teaching. When they found it supported by scripture, they became strong
believers in Christ. The Bereans were commended for their readiness to listen
to Paul and for their diligence to evaluate carefully what he said in the light
of scripture. An honest skeptic will
give the gospel a fair hearing. He will be willing to consider the evidence for
the faithfulness and unique authority of the Bible.
Faith shines brightest in a childlike heart.
Matthew 21: 16
And
Jesus said to them “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and
nursing babies Thou hast prepared praise for Thyself”.
We can be
encouraged by the faith of the children. After He rode on a colt into Jerusalem
and entered the temple the children shouted “Hosanna to the son of David (Mathew 21: 15).”When the religious
leaders heard them, they were indignant. The arrogant religious leaders put the
blame on Jesus. But Jesus heard the children and He was encouraged. Their young
voice ministered to Him during a crucial time. Their cries of praise countered
the slanderous attacks of His enemies.
Faith can
break the stranglehold of fear
Isaiah 51: 12
I,
even I, am He who comforts you.
Who
are you that you are afraid of man who dies,
And
of the son of man who is made like grass.
The prophet
Isaiah told us, that fearing the reproach of people is foolish because they are
dying creatures who, like grass, are here today and gone tomorrow. People can
do great harm, but the Lord has the last word. Our future and everlasting
well-being depend on Him and Him alone.
Let us see some aspects of
faith
Faith is the fruit of spirit
Galatians 5: 22, 23
22.
But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithful ness,
23.
Gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law.
Faith is the work of God
John 6: 29
Jesus
answered and said to them, “This is the work of God that you believe in Him,
whom He has sent.”
Faith is God’s gift
Ephesians 2: 8
For
by grace, you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is
the gift of God.
Faith comes from heart
Romans 10: 9, 10
9.
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that
God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.
10.
For with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth
he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Faith is the assurance of unseen things.
Hebrews 11: 1
Now
faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith results from
Scripture
John
20: 30, 31
30.
Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the
disciples, which are not written in this book.
31.
But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
son of God; and that believing you may have life in his name.
Preaching
John 17: 20
“I
do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me
through their word.”
Gospel
Acts 15: 7
And
after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren,
you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by mouth the
gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.”
Objects
of faith
Faith in God
John 14: 1
Let
not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
Faith in Moses writings
John 5: 46
For
if you believed in Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote of Me.
Faith in writings of the prophet
Acts 26:27
“King Agrippa, do you believe the
prophets? I know that you do.”
Faith in gospel
Mark 1: 15
“The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the
gospel.
Faith in God’s promises
Romans 4: 21
And
being fully assured that what He had promised, he was able also to perform.
Different
kinds of faith
Saving Faith
Romans10: 9, 10
9.
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that
God raised Him the dead, you shall be saved;
10.
For with the heart, man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the
mouth he confesses resulting in salvation.
Temporary Faith
Luke 8: 13
“And
those on rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy;
and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of
temptation fall away.
Intellectual faith
James 2: 19
You
believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
Dead faith
James 2: 17, 20
17.
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
20.
But are you willing to recognise, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is
useless?
Boundless faith
John 11: 21 – 27
21.
Martha therefore said to Jesus, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would
not have died.
22.
“Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.
23.
Jesus said to her, “Your brother shall rise again.
24.
Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the
last day.”
25.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me
shall live even if he dies,
26.
And everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?
27.
She said to Him, “Yes Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the son of
God, even He who comes into the world.”
Common faith
Titus 1: 4
to
Titus my true child in a common faith; grace and peace from God the Father and
Christ Jesus our Saviour.
Great faith
Matthew 8: 10
Now
when Jesus heard this, He marvelled and said to those who were following,
“Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
Holy faith
Jude 20
but
you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the
Holy Spirit.
Humble faith
Luke 7: 6, 7
6
Now Jesus started on his way with them; and when He was already not far from
the house the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself
further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof;
7.
For this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just
say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Little faith
Matthew 8: 26
And
he said to them, Why are you timid you men of little faith?” Then He arose, and
rebuked the winds and sea; and it became perfectly calm.
Mutual faith
Romans 1:12
I
may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the others
faith, both yours and mine.
Perfect faith
James2: 22
But
prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude
themselves.
Precious faith
2peter1: 1
Simon
Peter a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a
faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and saviour,
Jesus Christ.
Rootless faith
Luke 8: 13
And
these on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear receives the word with
joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of
temptation fall away.
Small faith
Matthew 17:20
And
he said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to
you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, move
from here to there, and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you.
Unfeigned faith
1Timothy 1: 5
But
the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and
a sincere faith.
United faith
Mark 2:5
And
Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “My son your sins are forgiven”
Vain faith
1Corinthians 15: 14, 17
14.
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also
in vain.
17.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in
your sin.
Venturing faith
Matthew 14:
28, 29
28. And Peter answered him and said,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to You on the water.”
29 And He said, “come!” And Peter got
out of the boat, and walked on water and came toward Jesus.
The
fruits of faith
Remission of sins
Acts 10: 43
“Of Him all the prophets bear witness
that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of
sins.”
Justification
Acts 13: 39
And through Him everyone who believes
is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of
Moses.
Freed from Condemnation
John 3:18
“He who believes in Him is
not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not
believed in the name of the only begotten son of God.
Freedom from spiritual death
John 11: 25,
26
25. Jesus said to her, “I am the
resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies,
26. And everyone who lives and
believe in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?
Salvation
Mark 16:16
“He who has believed and has been
baptised shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
Sanctification
Acts 15:9
And he made no distinction between us
and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Spiritual light
John 12: 36,
46
36. While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that
you may become sons of light.
46. I have come as light into this
world, that everyone who believes in Me, may not remain in darkness.
Spiritual life
John 20: 31
But these have been written that you
may believe that Jesus Christ, the son of God; and that believing you may have
life in His name.
Eternal life
John 3: 15,
16
15. That whoever believes may in him have
eternal life.
16. For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish,
but have eternal life.
Adoption
John1:12
But as many as believed Him, to them
he gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in
His name.
Access to God
Ephesians 3:
12
In whom we have boldness and
confident access through faith in Him.
Edification
1Timothy 1:4
Nor to pay attention to myths and
endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering
the administration of God which is by faith.
Preservation
John 10: 26
– 29
26. But you do not believe, because
you are not My sheep.
27. My sheep hear My voice, and I
know them, and they follow Me;
28. And I give eternal life to them,
and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.
29. My father, who has given them to
Me is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them, out of the Father’s
hand.
Inheritance
Acts 26:18
To open their eyes so that they may
turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order
that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who
have been sanctified by faith in Me.
Romans 5:1
Therefore having been justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Place
of faith in Christian life.
Live by faith
Romans 1:17
For in it the righteousness of God is
revealed from faith to faith; as it is written “The righteous man shall live by
faith.”
Walk by faith
Romans 4:12
and the father of circumcision to
those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of
faith of our father of Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
Pray by faith
Matthew
21:22
“And all things you ask in prayer,
believing, you shall receive.”
Resist evil by faith
Ephesians 6:
16
in addition to all, taking up the
shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming
missiles of the evil one.
Overcome world by faith
1John 2: 13
– 17
13. I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you young
men because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you children,
because you know the Father.
14. I have written to you, fathers,
because you know Him who has been from the beginning, I have written to you
young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you
have overcome the evil one.
15. Do not love the world, nor the
things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not
in him.
16. For that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is
not from the Father, but is from the world.
17. And the world is passing away,
and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.
Die in faith
Hebrews11:
13
All these died in faith, without
receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a
distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the
earth.
Growth
of faith in Christian life
Stand fast in faith
1corinthians
16:13
Be on alert, stand firm in faith, act
like men, be strong.
Continue in faith
Acts 14:22
Strengthening the souls of the
disciples, encouraging them to continue in faith, and saying, “Through many
tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God”
Be strong in faith
Romans 4:20 –
24
20. Yet, with respect to the promise
of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to
God;
21. And being fully assured that what
He has promised, He was able also to perform.
22. Therefore also it was reckoned to
him as righteousness.
23. Now not for his sake only was it
written, that it was reckoned to him,
24. but for our sake also, to whom it
will be reckoned, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from
the dead.
Abound in faith
2Corinthians
8: 7
But just as you abound in everything,
in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we
inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.
Be grounded in faith
Colossians
1: 23
If indeed you continue in the faith
firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the
gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven,
and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
Hold fast
1 Timothy1:
19
Keeping faith and a good conscience,
which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
Pray for increase of faith
Luke 17: 5
And the apostles said to the Lord,
“increase our faith!”
Have assurance of faith
2 timothy1:
12
For this reason I also suffer these
things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am
convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
Examples
of faith in Old Testament
Abel
Hebrews 11:
4
By faith Abel offered to God a better
sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was
righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is
dead, he still speaks.
Enoch
Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was taken up so that
he should not see death; and he was not found, because God took him up; for he
obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
Noah
Hebrews 11:
7
By faith Noah, being warned by God
about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for salvation of his
household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the
righteousness which is according to faith
Abraham
Romans 4: 16
– 21
16.For this reason it is by faith
that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be
certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law but also
to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
17. (As it is written “A father of
many nations have I made you”) in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God,
who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
18. In hope against hope he believed,
in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which
had been spoken, “so shall your descendants be”.
19. And without becoming weak in
faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a
hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
20. Yet with respect to the promise
of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to
God.
21. And being fully assured that what
He had promised, He was able also to perform.
Sarah
Hebrews 11: 11
By faith even Sarah herself received
ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered
Him faithful who had promised.
Jacob
Hebrews 11:
21
By faith Jacob, as he was dying,
blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his
staff.
Joseph
Hebrews 11:
22
by faith Joseph, when he was dying
made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning
his sons.
Moses
Hebrews 11:
23 -29
23. By faith Moses, when he was born,
was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful
child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24. By faith Moses, when he had grown
up, refused to be called the son of pharaoh’s daughter.
25. Choosing rather to endure ill-treatment
with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.
26. considering the reproach of
Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the
reward.
27. By faith he left Egypt not
fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
28. By faith he kept the Passover and
the sprinkling of blood, so that he who destroyed the first-born might not
touch them.
29. By faith they passed through the
Red sea as though they were passing through the dry land; and the Egyptians,
when they attempted it were drowned.
Caleb
Joshua 14:
6, 12
6. Then sons of Judah drew near to
Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him,
“You know the word which the Lord spoke to Moses the man of God concerning you
and me in Kadeshbarnea,
12. “Now then, give me this hill
country about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that
Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the Lord will be with
me and I shall drive them out as the Lord has spoken.”
Rahab
Hebrews 11:
31
By faith Rahab the harlot did not
perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies
in peace.
Jonathan
1Samuel 14:
6
Then Jonathan said to the young man
who was carrying his armour, “come and let us cross over to the garrison of
these uncircumcised; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not
restrained to save by many or by few.
David
1 Samuel
17:37
And David said, “The Lord who
delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will
deliver me from the hand of this Philistine”. And Saul said to David “Go and
may the Lord be with you”.
Jehoshaphat
2chronicles
20: 5, 12
5. Then Jehoshaphat stood in the
assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court,
12. “O our God, wilt Thou not judge
them? For we are powerless before this great multitude that are coming against
us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on Thee”.
Three Hebrew captives
Daniel 3:
16, 17
16. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego
answered and said to the King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an
answer concerning this matter.
17. “If it be so, our God whom we
serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and he will
deliver us out of your hand, O King.”
Job
Job19: 25
“And as for me, I know that my
Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His
stand on the earth.
Others
Hebrews 11:
32 – 39
32. And what more shall I say? For
time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtha, of David and
Samuel and the prophets,
33. who by faith conquered kingdoms,
performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouth of lions
34. quenched the power of fire, escaped
the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, and became mighty in
war, put foreign armies to flight.
35. Women received back their dead by
resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release in order
that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36. and others experienced mocking
and scourging, yes also chains and imprisonment.
37. They were stoned, they were sawn
in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went
about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, and ill- treated.
38. (men of whom the world was not
worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and holes in the ground.
39. And all these, having gained
approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised
Examples
of faith in New Testament
Centurion
Mathew 8: 5
– 10
5. And when he had entered Capernaum,
a centurion came to Him, entreating Him,
6. and saying, “Lord my servant is
lying paralysed at home, suffering great
Pain,”
7. And he said to Him, I will come
and heal him.”
8. But the centurion answered and
said, “Lord I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the
word, and my servant will be healed.
9. For I, too am a man under
authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, “Go!” and he goes,
and to another, “Come!” and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this! and he does
it,”
10. Now when Jesus heard this, He marvelled
and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found
such great faith with anyone in Israel.”
Jarius
Mark5: 22,
23
22. And one of the synagogue
officials named Jarius came up, and upon seeing Him, fell at His feet,
23. And entreated Him earnestly,
saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your
hands on her that she may get well and live.”
Sick woman
Mark 5: 25 –
34
25. And a woman who had had a
haemorrhage for twelve years,
26. and had endured much at the hands
of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all,
but rather had grown worse,
27. after hearing about Jesus, came
up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.
28. For she thought, “If I just touch
His garments I shall get well”.
29. And immediately the flow of the
blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her
affliction.
30. And immediately Jesus perceiving
in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in
the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?”
31. And disciples said to Him, “You
see the multitude pressing in on You, and You say, “who touched Me?”
32. And He looked around to see the
woman who had done this.
33. But the woman fearing and
trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him,
and told Him the whole truth.
34. And He said to her, “Daughter,
your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Syro-phoenician woman
Mark 7: 24 –
30
24. And from there He arose and went
away to the region of Tyre. And when he had entered a house, He wanted no one
to know of it, yet could not escape notice.
25. But after hearing of Him, a woman
whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, immediately came and fell at His
feet.
26. Now the woman was a gentile, of the
Syro-phoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her
daughter.
27. And He was saying to her, “Let
the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s
bread and throw it to dogs.”
28. But she answered and said to Him,
“Yes Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.”
29. And He said to her, “Because of
this answer go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”
30. And going back to her home, she
found the child lying on the bed, the demon having departed.
Bartimaeus
Mark 10:46 –
52
Bartimaeus receives sight
46. And they came to Jericho. And as
He was out from Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, a blind
beggar named Bartemaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.
47. And when he heard that it was
Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say “Jesus, son of David, have
mercy on me!”
48. And many were sternly telling him
to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on
me!”
49. And Jesus stopped and said “Call
him here”. And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, arise!
He is calling you.”
50. And casting aside his cloak, he
jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51. And answering him, Jesus said,
‘What do you want Me to do for You?” And the blind man Said to Him, “Rabboni, I
want to regain my sight!”
52. And Jesus said to him, “Go your
way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he regained his sight and
began following Him on the road.
Sinful woman
Luke7: 36 –
50 (Read)
Ten lepers
Luke 17: 11
– 19
11. And it came about while He was on
the way to Jerusalem that he was passing between Samaria and Galilee.
12. And as He entered a certain
village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him;
13. And they raised voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14. And when He saw them, He said to
them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests. “And it came about that as they
were going, they were cleansed.
15. Now one of them, when he saw that
he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.
16. And he fell on his face at His
feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.
17. Jesus answered and said, “Were
there not ten cleansed? But the nine –where are they?”
18. “Was no one found who turned back
to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”
19. And He said to him, “Rise, and go
your way; your faith has made you well.”
Certain Noble man
John 4: 46 –
54.
Healing a noble man’s son
46. He came therefore again to Cana
of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain royal
official whose son was sick at Capernaum.
47. When he heard that Jesus had come
out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him, and was requesting Him to come down
and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.
48. Jesus therefore said to him,
“Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe”.
49. The royal official said to Him,
“Sir, come down before my child dies”.
50. Jesus said to him, “Go your way;
your son lives”. The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he
started off.
51. And as he was going down, his
slaves met him, saying that his son was living.
52. So he inquired of them the hour
when he began to get better. They said therefore to him, “Yesterday at the
seventh hour the fever left him”.
53. So the father knew that it was at
the hour in which Jesus said to him, “your son lives” and he himself believed,
and his whole household.
54. This is again a second sign that
Jesus performed, when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
Mary and Martha
John 11: 1 –
32 (read)
Thomas
John 20: 24
– 29
24. But Thomas, one of the twelve,
called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25. The other disciples were
therefore saying to him, “we have seen the Lord!” But he said to them “Unless I
see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of
the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
26. And after eight days again His
disciples were inside, and Thomas with them, Jesus came, the doors having been
shut, and stood in their midst and said “peace be with you”.
27. Then He said to Thomas “Reach
here your finger, and see My hands and reach here your hand, and put it into My
side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.
28. Thomas answered and said to Him
“My Lord and my God!”
29. Jesus said to him, “Because you
have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet
believed.
Multitudes
Acts 5:14
And all the more believers in the
Lord, multitudes of men and women were constantly added to their number.
Stephen
Acts 6: 8
And Stephen, full of grace and power,
was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Samaritans
Acts 8: 5 –
12
5. And Philip went down to the city
of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
6. And the multitudes with one accord
were giving attention to what was said by Philip as they heard and saw the
signs which he was performing.
7. For in the case of many who had
unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and
many who had been paralysed and lame were healed.
8. And there was much rejoicing in
that city.
9. Now there was a certain man named
Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city, and astonishing the
people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.
10. And they all, from smallest to
greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the
Great power of God.
11. And they were giving him
attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.
12. But when they believed Philip
preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ,
they were being baptised, men and women alike.
Ethiopian eunuch
Acts 8: 26 –
39 (Read)
Barnabas
Acts 11: 22
-24
22. And the news about them reached
the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.
23. Then when he had come and
witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with
resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;
24. For he was a good man, and full
of Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.
Lydia
Acts 16: 14,
15
14. And a certain woman named Lydia,
from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was
listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to things spoken by Paul.
15. And when she and her household had
been baptised, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to
the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
Philippian jailer
Acts 16: 25 – 34 (read)
Paul
Acts 27: 23 – 25
23. For this very night, an angel of
the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me,
24. saying, Do not be afraid, Paul;
you must stand before Caesar; and behold God has granted you all those who are
sailing with you.
25. “Therefore, keep up your courage,
men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.”
The
infinite God cannot be measured by finite man.
Hebrews 11:
6
He who comes to God must believe that
He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Those
who desire to please God and are willing to obey Him will find that their faith
is based in reality, for God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Assurance
always follows faith.
Hebrews 6:
12
Imitate those who through faith and
patience inherit the promises.
The
writer of Hebrews encouraged Christians to be spiritually diligent throughout
their lives. He urged them not to become sluggish but to “imitate those who
through faith and patience inherit the promises”
Our
efforts do not make God’s promises come true. But like Abraham, who patiently
endured, we focus on the power and integrity of the living God, whose promises
give us hope. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul.
Hebrews 11:
19
The hope we have as an anchor of the
soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.
Since
there are no instant results, let us keep practicing the Lord’s instruction as
we walk patiently by faith toward the fulfilment of all that he has promised.
Let
us run with patience day by day by drawing strength from Christ our Lord. If we
lose strength by the way, He will renew us through His word. We conquer by
continuing.
Let
us never forget that others have died so that we might live. As we remember
those who have gone before, and think about the sacrifice they made, we cannot
help but think about our Lord, who gave His life our ransom fully paid.
Hebrews 11 list a number of heroes who
lived and died courageously by faith. Individually and collectively they remind
us that the spiritual battle is over. One paraphrase of Hebrews 12:1 says “Do
you see what this means – all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these
veterans cheering us on? It means we would better get on with it.”
John
touched Jesus. And today so we can .As surely as John held him in the flesh, we
can grasp the son of God through faith. We too can experience the joy of having
a close relationship with the Father and Son. In faith, in fellowship, in times
of greatest need, we can say, “Our hands have touched you”.
Today
we see much that discourage us. The forces of evil often seem to be in control.
But if by faith we look beyond the present and focus on the final scene in
God’s plan, we can find reason to rejoice. The hopes of Christ’s coming can
keep us going.
