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Declaring good news of real change out of, through and into the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Rom. 12:2 Rom. 11:36
Faith
(part 2)
The Scientific Method
If we are honest, we will be drawn to the conclusion that human faith is in fact a subjective experience. Come on now, we ask people to believe as fact things which we believe, but cannot begin to prove. And truth be told, the scientific method of research, after all the test results and experiment findings, leads or provokes the scientist into an intuitive leap of understanding about the subject of those tests and experiments. Now, scientists are extremely careful as they endeavor to control each step of the testing process; they are very methodic in their approach to any question, hence the name, The Scientific Method of Research. But, there is that one final tiny bit of understanding about which he or she is not quite sure. So, tests are devised and cautiously executed to seek to either prove or disprove that which the scientist believes. This leap of understanding is then debated amongst the scientific community; the experiments are duplicated and confirmed in a positive, neutral or negative way. Even the most objective scientist, if he or she is honest, will agree that that one moment, when a decision is made to pursue a particular course of action, is a moment of faith. Scientific faith is focused and pointed to a specific end; the testing process leads from one question answered to the next question asked. But before that next question can be answered, there is that one moment of faith. So then science is a journey from the known into the unknown, with faith as the bridge between each step forward. Is scientific faith then different from the faith of a believer walking in the Spirit of Jesus Christ? Again, we shall as workmen needing not to be ashamed, rightly divide the word of truth in the Light of His Spirit which leads us into all truth in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 2:15 & Jn. 16:13 (paraphrase)
Been there-done that
On the surface, faith appears in both situations to serve a similar function. Faith is the step between what is known, and what has yet to be determined. But dearly beloved, I tell you without hesitation, there is a difference. If I may be cliché, science claims to “boldly go where no man has gone before.” –Star Trek- We, however, have a Captain greater than Captain Kirk. We have an Author greater than Gene Roddenberry. Our Captain was bruised for our iniquities; He was crucified and buried for/as sinful Adam man. But then, oh Joy of all Joy, our Captain rose again the third day, leading captivity captive with the keys of death and hell, and was seen, physically, on numerous occasions. And if that were all, dear friends, that would be enough to inspire me to worship Him as the true Son of the Living God. But that was not the end of the matter, oh no. For then, the Author of all faith was caught up into the heavens; where He sits in the right hand of our Loving Heavenly Father God as an intercessor and advocate for us through the shed blood of His perfect sacrifice. Hallelujah!!!
We may not always know the way the Lord leads in His dealing with us, but we do indeed see Jesus. He has “been there-done that;” and His Spirit bears witness with our Spirit that we are in truth the children of God. Rom. 8:16 (paraphrase) So, let us run with patience the race that is set before us, laying aside every weight of sin that so easily besets, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith. Heb. 12:1-2 (paraphrase)
Heaven in the midst
Let’s look a little closer at the ascension of our Author and Savior, Jesus, Who is the Christ, The Anointed One of God. Dr. Luke records his accounting in Luke’s Gospel, in the following manner: “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. 51. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” Luke 24:50-51 KJV The Gospel of Mark has this to say, “So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God.” Mark 16:19 The Amplified Bible This sitting down at the right hand of God is a reference to Psalm 110:1. “The Lord said unto my Lord: ‘Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.’” KJV But the most telling account of His ascension comes from the book of Acts where Dr. Luke writes, “ ‘But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. ‘ 9. And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up: and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Acts 1:8-9 KJV
I have shown you these different accounts of the same event to point out and thoroughly establish that Jesus was indeed caught up into the heavens. If you are a believer, this truth is at the very core of your belief. But let’s look at what Paul says, shall we. Remember, we are to use diligence to show ourselves approved as workmen. So in humility, reverence and all diligence, we note Ephesians 1:17-20 & 22-23, and Ephesians 2:1 & 4-8. “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the All-Glorious Father, may confer on you the spiritual gifts of wisdom and vision, with the knowledge of Him that they bring. 18. I pray that your inward eyes may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope to which He calls you, how rich and glorious is the share He offers you among His people in their inheritance, 19. and how vast are the resources of His power open to us who have faith. His mighty strength was seen at work 20. when He raised Christ from the dead, and enthroned Him at His right hand (Ps. 110:1) in the heavenly realms,…22. He put all things in subjection beneath His feet, and gave Him (Christ Jesus) as head over all things to the church 23. which is His body, the fullness of Him Who is filling the universe in all it’s parts. The Revised English Bible
Are you convinced yet? Christ Jesus resides in the heavens. So notice Eph. 2:4-8. “But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, 5. Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses. He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). 6. And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 7. He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus. 8. For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God:” Wow! did you see that? Let me run it by you again. If any be in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is passed away, behold! all things are become as new. 2 Cor. 5:17 (paraphrase) This is good news! ! ! Jesus was raised and seated in heavenly realms, Hallelujah, praise God! He has raised us up to sit there too. This is what I mean by heaven in the midst.
Obviously, to write this, my feet must be somewhere in the vicinity of the floor; but as we are brought into that unity and oneness found in the Spirit of Christ within us, we begin to see and understand that God reveals (unveils-manifests-appears) Himself and His victory over all things unto us by His Spirit: For the Spirit searches all things, especially the deep things of God.
1 Cor. 2:10 (paraphrase) For he that is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no man. 16. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But, we have the mind of Christ. 1Cor. 2:15-16 (paraphrase) This, is what I mean by heaven in the midst. He is our head; we are His body, and in His Spirit, we can operate out of the Christ mind that abides within us. Hallelujah! We are raised and seated with Him in heavenly realms. Do you see? This is good news!
Seeing Eye-Hearing Ear
Take heart beloved brother, dear sister, be of good cheer; for He has overcome the world. If you say you do not see this as a reality in your life, take heart anyway. Proverbs 20:12 says: “The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.” KJV If you say you do not see, and cannot hear, our heavenly Father knows how to give good gifts to those who ask; but we have not because we ask not. Many times, and I can attest to this in my own life, we don’t know what to ask for. The scripture says, in Mat. 6:33 that the best answer to that longing in our heart comes from the words of Jesus where He tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you; (paraphrase) along with this is what He told us in Mat. 7:7-8 and what the Apostle Paul wrote in Rom. 14:17; but, I will let you look these up for yourself.
Paul tells us that eyes have not seen and ears have not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man (Adam man) the things which God has prepared for them that love Him, but Paul also tells us that in His Spirit, we have the mind of Christ. It is the mind of Christ in the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ which gives us Spiritual eyes to see and Spiritual ears to hear.
But suppose, we do not yet see all things in our lives put under His feet. If I am honest, I as yet do not. But I see Jesus! Do you see Jesus? Do you see the Captain or Pioneer of your salvation? Do you see Jesus the Author of faith? Do you know Him by the Spirit that dwells within you? Then, you do see the difference between human faith, and the faith that comes by hearing by the utterance and spoken word of God. (Rom. 10:17) The difference is this. Human faith goes from the known to the unknown. Our faith is the gift of God, known by and in the mind of Christ; and we are brought into union with the one who has “been there-done that,” even Christ Jesus, the Author of faith. If we see Him, if we hear His truth sounding like a trumpet that heralds our union in Him, which we seek; then beloved, I tell you in all joy and peace that we do indeed have eyes to see and ears to hear.
Joy and peace be to all who read, in Christ Jesus…Larry.
References: The Companion Bible with the King James translation,
The Amplified Bible and The Revised English Bible.
Larry Hakala