SPIRITUAL EQUATION

Faith = Confidence + Action + Loyalty + Maturity

In Luke 18:1-8 Yahshua tells a parable about an unrighteous judge. The purpose of this parable was to show that we should pray and not lose heart or become discouraged if the answer didn't come immediately. He finishes the story with a question that we will investigate in this study. Verse 8 last part, “Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Its sad that our great and awesome Savior would have to ask such a question. Since He did it is imperative that we come to the condition that we can answer Him, “Yes Master you will.”

To begin we must first understand what faith is. Hebrews 11:1 “ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”(RSV throughout) Examine this scripture closely. There are two things contained within it that remove all basis for doubt. Assurance and evidence. Lets examine these things closely. They both come from the same source. Isaiah 55:11 “ so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Numbers 23:19 Elohim is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it? Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our Elohim will stand for ever. Malachi 3:6 "For I Yahweh do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed

Yahweh is telling us that His word is sure and nothing can change it. His Son is no different. He tells us the very same thing. Matthew 24:35 “ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Hebrews 13:8 “ Yahshua Our Master is the same yesterday and today and for ever.” We have just received Yahweh and Yahshua's assurance that what they say is sure and unchangeable. His word should also be our evidence, but being weak humans, who are not always true to our word, it is not. How then do we get this evidence that is one of the ingredients of faith?

The assurance we have constantly with us in the scriptures. The evidence comes to us in a more personal way. This component of faith we can block so that we will not receive it. If we obstruct the source of the evidence we negate the assurance so that it means nothing and thus our faith does not exist. This facet of faith comes through what we see Yahweh doing in our lives everyday. We can prevent Him presenting this evidence.

Lets look at an example of how we can prevent Yahweh from producing evidence that His

word is true and unchangeable. Since the Sabbath is the most noticeable sign of this way of life and the one that most of us encounter at the beginning of our life changing call, let us use that as an example. Most reading this will be able to identify with this situation because we have encountered it.

We discover in the scriptures that we must not work on the Sabbath but are to set it apart as a day of worship. Our jobs demand that we work on this day as most of the world does.

We have a decision to make. It is a difficult choice. We have a family to feed, rent or mortgage

to pay, and bills to pay. We are told that if we don't work on the Sabbath we will be fired.

The economy is bad and jobs are scarce. What are we to do? Yahshua gives us some excellent advice to help us make the choice. Matt.6: 24-34 When you read this scripture take special note of verse 33 “ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” The One who said this is the same One that promised us eternal life in Yahweh's kingdom. John 3:16 For Elohim so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 10:28 “ and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.” We are all willing to stake our lives on the fact that these scriptures concerning eternal life are true. Should we not feel the same about the promise to provide the physical things we need?

If we give in and decide to work on the Sabbath, we will never know if Yahweh would lead us to another job or perhaps cause our employer to change his mind and allow us to have Sabbath

off. If we don't step out and take Yahweh at His word we prevent Him from producing the evidence that He will definitely intervene for us according to His word. If He will not honour the promise to provide for us in this life He will not honour the promise to provide for us in the next

life. I use this example because most of us have had to make this decision.

There are many other instances where we can prevent Yahweh from providing us with evidence that He is faithful to His word. Some may not be as prominent as the Sabbath and the Festival times but will be just as evident to each individual that is watching.

Since we have His assurance and if we allow Him to provide the evidence something wonderful happens. Each time we take Him at His word and see Him act on our behalf, we gain confidence. Eph.3:11 This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Our Master Yahshua our Messiah, 12 in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him. 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

When we see the evidence of Yahweh's faithfulness and loyalty to us, our loyalty to Him grows as well. Lets look at a human example of how this would work. One is married to a spouse who has proven to be faithful to the marriage vows. This one is suddenly faced with an opportunity to have an affair and be unfaithful to their spouse. Would one immediately take advantage of the situation and jeopardize the love, loyalty and trust that their spouse feels for them or would one be more apt to weigh the consequences of such an act and make the correct decision and remain loyal to their spouse?

We are called the bride of Messiah. Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; Revelation 21:9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." Since our Groom has given us irrefutable evidence of His loyalty to us we will think twice before we are disloyal to Him and jeopardize our loving, trusting relationship.

Just as in an marriage between a man and a woman, the all engulfing glow of first love wears off so the glow of first love that comes with conversion wears off. But does it really wear off or does it change and grow into something else? As the everyday reality of marriage hits us when children come along and our responsibility increases to care for them and provide for them a marriage union matures and grows into something very special. The love is still there stronger than ever but the impetuosity of young love has grown into mature love that includes more than our immediate selves. Our love becomes larger as it grows to include children that are the result of this love. Our love matures.

It is the same with our spiritual conversion. In the beginning it also includes only ourselves and Yahweh. As we mature we realize that we are not called for just personal salvation, but to grow in grace and knowledge and allow our love to grow larger. 2 Peter 3:18 “ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Master and Savior Yahshua Our Messiah. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.” We are to strive to become like our Messiah Yahshua. Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Messiah; As we come to this maturity we discover that we are to be growing and learning how to share what we have been given by Yahweh. Not all are evangelists or preachers but all can share with those they come in contact with.

This is the final ingredient in the spiritual equation. Action. James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is ill_clad and in lack of daily food,16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 18 But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.19 You believe that Elohim is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?

22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works,

Yahshua told us that we are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.” Yahshua goes on to tell us how to let this light shine to the world. verse 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.”

We do this by our attitude and our actions. This light is the soft warm glow of Yahweh's Spirit shining from us. We represent Him and His Son to those we encounter in our everyday lives. This light is a beacon in the darkness that can illuminate the path of those that see it.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify Yahweh Elohim in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Sometimes our light will draw others to ask questions concerning our way of life. To come to this state of maturity we are given very crucial advice because Yahweh could be using you to aid

a babe in Messiah. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto Elohim, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Your action or works must be governed by true knowledge. True knowledge comes from deep study of the scriptures.

At this point lets add all this up and come to the final result of faith. Faith which is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, (Heb.11:1) will result in

Confidence, Action, Loyalty, Maturity, calm. This calm is what we need to face the trials and tests that we encounter as followers of Yahweh. As Yahweh has provided everything else we need to succeed, He provides this as well through Yahshua. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The word “peace” in this scripture means quietness of spirit, peace of mind or calmness. Yahshua had this calm and He gives it to us through His mind that is within us through the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:16 "For who has known the mind of Yahweh so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Messiah.

We must always remain calm in the face of trial and our mind will be clear to act and not react. When we act we think first. Reaction comes without thought. To act wisely we must think calmly. Yahweh's Spirit and faith will give us this calm. Let us work diligently on this calm and we will be able to answer question that Yahshua asks; Luke 18:8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?" Yes Master you will. He can then say to us; Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’

HalleluYah May Yahweh bless your studies. Elder Dave Ganton.