What is Faith? Part 3

Now we are going to look at what it says about Faith in Habbakuk 2:4

“the just shall LIVE by FAITH”

The Hebrew word used here for faith is אֱמוּנָ֑ה (em-oo-narh) which means firmness and stability. The person with אֱמוּנָ֑ה acts with firmness towards God’s will. Being firm means that you are fixed on something.

The original Hebrew was shown in picturegraphs – each letter was a picture. The two root letters of אֱמוּנָ֑ה (em-oo-narh) is “aman” – a picture of water or blodd and a picture of a seed sprouting which represents continuance. These two pictures combined mean “blood continues”. Each spices continues by passing its blood to the following generation. It’s the idea of strength through the blood. There is a firmness to a species when it can continue and not die out.

As an aside , from the same root we get the word “Amen” which is an affirmation of firmness – so be it!

The statement in Habbakkuk that the just shall live by faith must be important because it was repeated not once, not twice but three times in the New Testament!

Romans 1:17

Galatians 3:11

Hebrews 10:38

Knowing the meaning of the Hebrew word אֱמוּנָ֑ה (em-oo-narh) or faith in English- we can understand a bit more of what it means to live by faith.

We can say that the just shall live by her firmness towards God’s will , towards what God wants, towards God’s plan.

What does it mean to be firm about something?

Firm – not soft or yielding when pressed; comparatively solid, hard and stiff. When you have faith and are acting firmly towards God’s will , you are securely fixed in place, not shaking or trembling but steady, fixed, not changin from what God’s will is.

Look up Hebrews 11:1 for tomorrow.

Rachel

What is Faith? Part 2

Did you look up Ephesians 2:8?

“For by grace are you SAVED through FAITH; and this is not of yourselves it is the gift of God”

For by grace you are saved through your faith!

It has nothing to do with you and your abilities or what you do but the grace that has saved you is a gift of God. You received this gift of grace through your faith.

Faith is the way we receive from God

God’s grace is available to all. As soon as it is received through someone using faith then something supernatural happens, their old inner selves dies and God gives them a new inner man and also places His Spirit with it.

Our salvation has nothing to do with what we can see, feel or even fully understand. I don’t understand how God’s Spirit entered my body and how He lives there, but He does. That’s why Paul wrote (under the inspiration of the God’s Spirit) “For we walk by faith, and not by sight” 2 Cor 5. I am going to talk more about that later.

So, Saving faith is more than just assent of the mind. If you relied only on your mind and what you understand then it is just superficial faith and doesn’t include your heart, your inner man. It doesn’t include a total reliance on God and His Word even when you don’t completely understand His ways. When the inner man has locked onto God and joined in covenant with Him by faith- it affects everything, nothing will be the same. His actions, words, attitudes, lifestyle, relationships, plans and dreams and desires all change and line up with God’s plans  and His Words.

Look up Habakkuk 2:4 and we will talk about it tomorrow

Rachel

What is Faith? Part 1

This was the question asked at church – What is Faith? If someone asked you what is biblical faith? what would you say?

First, I looked up the dictionary -

Faith: belief, the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another.

I don’t think this dictionary meaning is true biblical faith.

Some people approach Christianity and the Bible solely with their mind. They attempt to understand everything logically and they overlook the faith aspect.

Lets think about when you became a Christian- saved,born again. What happened? You heard about Jesus and the plan of God- yes, your mind was renewed but something happened on the inside of you, through your faith you received a new spirit. What happened to your old spirit?  did you see your spirit leave and the new one enter? no, what also happened at your salvation? God’s Spirit entered your body and took up residence. Did you see Him enter? You probably didn’t feel Him enter- but it did happen How do we know that? because God told us through His Word and we placed our faith in that.

Check out Ephesians 2:8 – we will look at it tomorrow

Rachel

 

 

The Holy Spirit , my Strengthener

What does it mean to be strengthened?

1. to be securely placed or fastened or settled. To be founded in a place – set up
2. to be braced, just like a building. The Spirit of God holds you in place. It means to hold your position.
3. to be supported by a frame, just like your body is supported by your skeleton, it acts like a frame. The Spirit of God is your frame.
4. to have backing – God’s Spirit has your back! Praise God!
5. when something is concentrated , or stronger. Cordial drink is a concentrate- all the useless liquid is distilled and you are left with a strong concentrate. The Spirit of God works in you to get rid off all the useless stuff, things that dilute your effectiveness so that you become pure concentrate – which is MORE of Him.
6. to have force, power to accomplish, equipped, furnished, having the means, resources , skills and capabilities to complete a task. Just like strengthening an army is making sure that they have all the neccesary supplies.
7. taking a tonic – the Holy Spirit is like taking a tonic, He gives you inner strength to carry on.

Wow isn’t it awesome to meditate on what the Word means when it talks about the Holy Spirit being your strengthener.

Here is a great quote:

To be strengthened by God’s Spirit means that you are enabled to encounter danger with coolness and courage and to bear pain or hard times without mumuring or depression.

It is good to check out the opposite – what does it mean to be NOT strengthened?

-weak, deprived of resources, decay, gradual failutre of health, deficient, inadequate, incomplete, lacking, exhausted, faint, feeble, all used up, coming to an end, helpless, low and wasting away.

Okay  – no one wants to be all those things! They are not the plan of God for His children. He has given us the wonderful gift of His Spirit whose assignment it is to strengthen us. If you don’t feel strengthen then you need to spend some time with God and His Word and build your faith – discover who God really is and what His plans are for you!

part two coming tomorrow on the Holy Spirit , my Strengthener.

 

The Holy Spirit – parakletos

I am currently studying the wonderful person of the Spirit of God most commonly known as the Holy Spirit. But I like to call Him the Spirit of God, it reminds me that He is a person and that He is God.

John 14 v 26 says in the Amplified Bible

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

Apparently the word Comforter is the Greek word parakletos and it is very hard to translate this into one English word. Some versions have “Advocate” or “Helper”.

It literally means “called to one’s side” It is a person who is called in to help in a situation where a person by himself cannot cope. Wow! how amazing to think that we as belivers in Jesus Christ have a person like that 24/7!

The Amplified Bible has given 7 English words to try and convey what parakletos means.

I wanted to know more about the Spirit living inside me so I spent a bit of time meditating on each of these English words.

The next post will be about the Holy Spirit , my Stregthener

Power Thoughts by Joyce Meyer

My women’s Bible Study has been going through Joyce Meyer’s book “Power Thoughts”.

It has been a life changing experience for everyone. Joyce really brings the Word alive and makes it very practical to our daily lives. The subtitle of the book is “12 Strategies to win the battle of the mind” and it certainly gives that.

I looked everywhere on the internet for a guide on how to study this book in a home group situation and I couldn’t find anything. So I had to work it out myself.

How I tackled this book:

I required everyone to buy their own copy from The Book Depository (the cheapest by far).
Then the group was to read up to page 71 (the introduction) themselves and then we came together for the first night and discussed what we read. We then had 12 weeks looking at one Power Thought each week. We would all read the Power Thought during the week then come together on the Tuesday night and discuss it. As the leader I would briefly review the next week Power Thought with the group before they read it. I did this by choosing Scripture that went with the Power Thought and wrote the references on little pieces of paper and then gave these out to the women to look up and read out to the group.

I also created some Power Thoughts Cards that go with each of the 12 strategies. I gave out the next weeks Power Thought to each group member and they would stick these cards on their bathroom mirror or any place that they would see frequently. This helped to keep the Power Thought in their minds while they study the chapter for the week.

I am happy to share the Power Thought Cards with you. I printed them onto A5 paper with page 2 on the back and then laminated them. Or you could print them onto cardstock.

Power Thought 1 “I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ”

Power Thought 2 “God loves me unconditionally”

Power Thought 3 “I will not live in fear”

Power Thought 4 “I am difficult to offend”

Power Thought 5 “I enjoy people and I love helping them”

Power Thought 6 “I trust God completely; there is no need to worry”

Power Thought 7 “I am content and emotionally stable”

Power thought 8 “God meets all my needs abundantly”

Power thought 9 “I pursue peace with God, myself and others”

Power thought 10 “I live in the present and enjoy each moment”

Power thought 11 “I am disciplined and selfcontrolled”

Power thought 12 “I put God first in my life”

Enjoy!

Rachel Larkin

Apologia Science – Zoology 1 free notebooking pages

I have some free notebooking pages for Zoology 1 click here to go to the download page

Enjoy
Rachel

Freebie — Bird Watching Journal—Apologia Zoology 1

We are going to be studying Apologia Zoology 1 next term and I have made up a Bird Watching Journal for my boys. I would love to share it with you!!

There is only 4 pages on this PDF file – I have left it up to you to make as many copies of pages 3 & 4 (the actal journal pages) as you like. I made one up with 15 journal entires. Once printed I took it down to the local printing shop and got it bound. It looks very professional. Please note that I have made it for A5 paper so that it is an easy thing to carry around while bird watching.

 

Please note  – this is no longer available but you can purchase it on Currclick – an improved version!

I also have notebooking pages for sale on Currclick based on the zoology books

Rachel

4GB Digital MP3 Player Giveaway – Christmas on The Lounge

I have just entered into The Homeschool Lounge’s Christmas Giveaway!

It is for a 4gb MP3 player!!!!!!!

You can too – here is the link The Homeschool Lounge Giveaway

Things To Do Before You Die!

We all need to have a list of things we need to do before we die! I have only just realised this recently.

Time is just so short and it is so easy to spend it on absolutely nothing worthwhile.

Well, yesterday I totally surprised myself – I managed to cross off a couple of “Things to do before you die”

1. I watched my younger sister’s netball game – wow I have a new respect for her fitness level – I became so tired just watching those girls run around the court. It is a good thing to spend a bit of time encouraging someone doing their thing.

2. At this same netball game , the referees asked me to score the last two quarters of the day. I was so apprehensive , I was worried that I wouldn’t score correctly.After I had done it, I felt so good – for the rest of the day I kept saying – “I scored a netball game!”

3. I was due to go to a 30th birthday party last night – we all had to wear a flash dress. Well, I thought – why not get my nails done? So my sister and I went (after the netball game) to the mall. The nail technician suggested that we get nail art as something special. I just giggled all through the nail art session – it was so wild. I have never had my nails half painted black with gold sparkles and diamonds before!

These three “things before you die” may seem to you to be so insignificant but to me this was a very different way to spend my Saturday – chuck the TV away and start doing something new today! It just changes your attitude towards what you can do. Confidence Building 101!

Until Next Time
Keep Connecting with God!