THE ABCs of FAITH 1 "Sense Knowledge"

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5: 7

Today I want to start a new series of studies on the ABCs of faith. I personally believe that Jesus is coming soon and when He comes He expects to find faith on the earth (Luke 18: 8). I know that soon is a relative term and no man knows the day or the hour, but I believe that we will sense the season. I have personally had the Holy Spirit leading me to think anout and study The New Jerusalem and the catching away of the Church like never before. I am really looking forward to His return because the best is yet to come! Anyhow, whenever He comes He wants to find Bible faith on this planet. I think we need a surge of "real Bible faith" in the times we live in. In these lessons we will deal with the beginning of the faith life and teach you by principle and precept how to live by faith. My objective is to make faith simple so that you will be able to live victoriously now and be prepared for His eminent return for a people of faith.


STOP THE CONFUSION

Have you noticed how much confusion there is around the faith message and faith teachers? I know for a fact that the enemy has brought confusion to muddy the waters so to speak. To gain the knowlegde of how faith works you must be committed to getting understanding. What you don't understand will be taken from you by Satan.

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Matthew 13: 18-19


We as ministers, have built a barbwire entanglement in our faith teaching in the Church which has led to much confusion. The Bible clearly says that God is not the author of confusion. Anything that comes from the Father God will be simple and concisem not confusing. Faith is really so simple that a child can understand it. In fact they (children) often operate in more faith than their parents. The problem has come from ministers without the anointing trying to teach the Word. The Bible is revelation knowledge and men must be anointed by the Holy Spirit to teach it, or they will cause confusion. It is the anointing that teaches us.


33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33


THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH


The Bible says the just shall live by faith. That does not just mean faith to be saved and go to heaven, but it means to have one's life sustained. In fact, God thought that this was such an important statement that it was made four times in the Bible. The Word says that in the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses every word is established. Faith is such a priority message that the Bible makes this statement FOUR times!


Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4


For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:17


But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. Galatians 3:11


Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38


The amazing thing is that is that what God emphasized most, so many of His people understand least! (Don't tell me there is not a devil...)


GOD DEMANDS FAITH OF US!


But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11: 6


Notice that the verse says without faith IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to please Him. God demands that we have faith. God is a just God. He would not demand something of us that we could not do. You can understand and live by faith! Remember, without faith it is impossible to please Him. Do you want to please God more? You can do it by understanding the ABCs or the simplicity of faith. Stop saying "I am all confused about this whole faith thing" and start saying; "Faith is so simple that a little child can understand it!" Now, take a child like posture and allow God to teach you faith. Faith is as simple as ABC!


SENSE KNOWLEDGE IS THE PROBLEM

If faith is so simple Bernard, why do I struggle so much with it? Great question! If you really open your heart and mind you will see why right now. "Sense knowledge is the problem!" Sense knowledge is knowledge derived from the 5 physical senses; Seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling and smelling. All of the knowledge that you have obtained has been gained in the University of the 5 Senses! You could say that sense knowledge (the 5 senses) is the laboratory where you have experimented and developed your knowledge base.
Note that the first sense I listed in the list of the 5 senses above is SEEING. Let's just think about how the world has trained us about seeing. We have all heard the old saying; Seeing is believing! That statement has been a part of your laboratory of the senses training. You have heard it so much that you have subconsciously accepted it. (Sub-conscious means; below the level of consciousness).

We have accepted many sense knowledge facts subconsciously. Often we don't even consciously know that we hold these facts until they are exposed by the light of the Word of God. Let me illustrate; sense knowledge says, seeing is believing, the Bible says believing is seeing! Faith goes contrary to your sense knowledge training. The problem is that we have had so much sense knowledge training and so little faith training. It will take time to develop your faith because of this fact, so be patient with yourself.

SENSE KNOWLEDGE IS IMPERFECT
When you believe it you see it, not when you see it you believe it. We have been trained in the lab of the senses by the world system that seeing is believing, so we often have a mental struggle with believing something that we have not seen. The interesting thing is that it is a fact that sense knowledge is imperfect. Do you have a perfect sense of sight? Well, if you don't why do you put so much faith in seeing is believing? The real truth about the matter is that things are seldom what they seem or appear to be. You know that. Five people can see the same accident and come up with five different versions of what happened when the police report is being done because sense knowledge is imperfect. We have been trained by the devil to operate in a faulty sense knowledge system (the Bible calls it the world). For example people argue all the time about what they have seen happen in family, business, sports and everywhere. Faith demands that you now live by an absolute, no fail system and BELIEVE in the invisible more that what you see or what the senses relay to you. Faith is the "evidence of things not seen," not of things that are seen. We are to walk by faith and not by sight (the senses). I want to end with a simple question; "Is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life?"

Have you ever seen the book? How do you know your name is in it? You got it...


For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5: 7


Live Well, Live Blessed!
Bernard