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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 7)
“Faith Unlimited”
“…God has placed a link between Himself and those He has apprehended.” (The link of faith) The above quote comes from a paper written by Bro. Travis Ogletree entitled Faith Unlimited. It is a short article which asks some very serious questions concerning our ideas of faith. Have we been apprehended in Christ Jesus? Yes we have, for in Him, we live and move and have our being.
As we look into the link of faith that we have been given, we see; it truly is a gift, for Dear Brother and Sister this faith, tiny as it may seem is still too great for any Adamic creature to muster. Real faith, the size of a grain of mustard, can move mountains; but be honest, without the hearing of the voice of God in your heavens, creating this faith would be like trying to stop the wind from blowing; “it ain’t happening.” Ephesians 2:8 tells us: “for by grace ye are having been saved, through faith, and this not of you—of God the gift.” Young’s Literal Translation This faith of ours is ours because it was given to us. Do you hear it? Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20 “…that life which I now live in the flesh, I am living by that faith of the Son of God…” Emphatic Diaglott.
Bro. Ogletree continues with…”I dare pose the question, ’Has this link been mistaken as a vehicle for things that perish, and resemble the goals of those who do not even know God?’ (Excellent question!—Author’s note) There are several accounts of the miracle working power all through the Bible. Many flocked to the Son of God while he performed the Father’s will. But who flocked to Gethsemane to see Him perform the very essence of the Father’s will.” –End Quote- Jesus in the garden poured out His heart and soul in an example of the prayer which is a “sweet smelling savor” unto God. “Not my will, but thine be done…if it be possible, let this cup pass, nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.” This is to us a rare and precious example of someone loving not their soul (psuche) life to the death. This is overcoming in its finest hour.
“Sheer determination drives mortal man to obtain many things, (that perish) but they can all be obtained in this realm of limitation, yet this realm of limitation does not have the final say so on the outcome of time itself…Yet, there is something far exceeding the realm of the natural, the confines of time, the visible results of this current age, and all the things that perish with it! There is that of God which is beyond limitation in or out of time.
There is something produced in the vessel that holds dear to its only treasure that surely shall not see corruption! This treasure is not produced by man, but by his Maker!” Travis Ogletree—Faith Unlimited Bro. Ogletree enlightens this thought with the following: “This faith I speak of is the one that clamps down in the pit of pain knowing that the very Spirit of God is well able to lift us into a realm that cannot be hindered by what is happening in the grips of corruption! (WOW!) A faith that would have a man move in reverence to prepare himself for the end of an age (Noah-Abraham-Moses-Jesus) and the beginning of yet another age, another world!” Is this what our faith looks like? If not, why not? Is our faith the unlimited kind, or do we limit God with goals that perish in time according to the nature of corruption?
Rhema-faith
Would you like to see a real example of this faith? I quote now from the latest writing by J. Preston Eby, where he says, “I see no possibility of any long delay until the manifestation of the sons of God becomes a reality. I know not the day or the hour, but it is my deep conviction in the spirit that we are now in the generation that shall witness this marvelous unveiling. I live daily in the expectation of the glory of God! Should my eyes grow dim and my gait unsteady with the passing of the years, I shall still rest in hope of the glory that shall be revealed!” J. Preston Eby From the Candlestick to the Throne
Does this remind you of anyone? “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon…just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, 28. Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29. ‘Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy (Rhema) word:’” Luke 2:25-29. KJV
God had spoken to Simeon through the Holy Spirit a word. This word went into Simeon, and created faith to allow him to believe that he would not die until he had seen the Christ, the consolation of Israel. I asked him, and Bro. Eby expressed something very similar. “Simeon was witnessing to something already accomplished whereas I am witnessing to ‘my deep conviction’ of something that is yet to happen.”-J. Preston Eby- What I like is this, this faith, created in us, will allow us to say: “should my eyes grow dim and my gait unsteady…I shall still rest in hope.”-End Quote- J. Preston Eby, From the Candlestick to the Throne, Part 30
This is real life; Bro. Eby is a real person with a real address. You can contact him and ask him of these things. I say this, because so many of the examples we writers use come from people who cannot be contacted. There are quotes from Jesus, and quotes from Paul, Peter, James, many others, but without the Spirit leading and teaching us, we cannot verify the veracity of these things being said. Not so with Bro. Eby. In fact, if you are hearing what I am saying here, I would just bet that he would love to hear from you. J. Preston Eby—P.O. Box 371240—El Paso, Tx. 79937-1240
The other side of that coin though is this, if you do not have ears to hear, even if you ask of Bro. Eby, and get an answer that you can comprehend, it will not produce faith or understanding. These truths are spiritually discerned. However, faith has created within this dear brother a “reverence to prepare himself for the end of an age and the beginning of yet another age…There is something produced in the (his) vessel that holds dear to its only treasure that surely shall not see corruption!” Travis Ogletree Faith Unlimited
I too have been given a similar word (rhema) of faith. It was just over two years ago at the date of this writing 20 June, 2004, and I was praying and worshipping in the Spirit when I heard the voice of the Lord begin to speak to me. You should know that I have lived a troubled life, so my prayer to that point was to see some change. The Father began to speak to me and He told me that I was a new creation. From that moment, He took me through several examples of real change that I had missed, that He had already done. In my focus on the creature, (myself) I had missed what the Creator had already accomplished. Typical, huh! Anyway, from that experience which I can still recall like it just happened; I have had in me the faith that I am a new creation. I do not as yet see the totality of this, but I believe as does Bro. Eby, that I shall see this. But should my eyes grow dim and my gate unsteady with the passing of years, I will still believe, because I believe the I AM, Who spoke it into existence within me. Since then, my focus is increasingly on the Creator rather than the creature. I see Jesus the finisher of faith. I wrote of it in an earlier article; but it is this rhema faith which comes to an end in the complete salvation of our souls, (1 Pet. 1:9) “In union and oneness with Him.”
LOGOS FAITH
The faith that God gives us for our-selves comes to an end, as we come into the completeness of that for which faith was given. The faith which abides is a LOGOS faith, and is a faith to and for those around us. Plainly stated, logos (living expression) faith is that kind of faith which serves as a living testimony to those around you, a living faith which will not allow you to believe anything other than that which God has spoken to you, of those around you.
Have you ever had a friend who had done something wrong, but totally out of character? What do you do? Most caring people will go to that friend and say something equal to “I know this isn’t you, this is not who you are.” The belief and support will come from a natural concern and an informed knowing of the character of your friend. The more we come into unity with our heavenly Father, we will know and see those around us as He knows and sees them. As we begin to come into unity and identification with the character of our heavenly Father in Christ, we will show forth this logos faith to those around us, friends and enemies alike. We, like Paul, will begin to say “the life I now live in the flesh, I live by that faith of the Son of God.”
“Now the word LOGOS also carries with it a corporate sense of collection. It will collect together all things. (Look into Romans 11:36.) This is expressed clearly by John in his gospel where he states that all things came out of the WORD (John 1:3). (In) 1 Corinthians 15:28, Paul states that God will be all in all, which shows the consummate collection of all back to God.” -End Quote- Charles Weller The Logos, The Light, The Life Logos faith believes that God is all in all, and lives and acts out this belief in an abiding faith for all. This understanding, of God all in all, while not widely taught, is an important key to understanding the heart and nature of our heavenly Father. “Let us make man in our image.” Isn’t that what He said? Isn’t God omnipotent? Can He do this, or not? Isn’t God omniscient? Did He know what He was saying when He said this, or not? In faith, God is to all, and in all yea, and amen.
The doctrine of men which makes of no effect the LOGOS of God produces only confusion, only Babylon. But thank God it does not negate THE LOGOS, THE LIGHT OR THE LIFE. God was in Christ reconciling the world (not part of it, but the whole world) unto (or just, to) Himself, and He has committed unto us (properly translated—placed in us) this LOGOS (word) of reconciliation. There you have it; we are the living expression of the reconciliation of God to those around us. Do you see? It is in us, because God, our heavenly Father has put it in us. I pray to God that we see this. Logos faith is for those around us.
Now abides faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor. 13:13 (paraphrase) Quoting Bro. Weller again; “The ministry of reconciliation is not a doctrine. It is a revelation of Christ Jesus, the Logos in you. Reconciliation is God moving in your being to such a degree of fullness that He is manifested in you which causes the people you encounter to react to Him. Some will be released to life in but a moment, and others will have to be judged first and then released to life in God.” –End Quote- Charles Weller The Logos, The Light, The Life
A quick note, judgment is always for the purpose of correction, and begins at the house of God. While we like to think vengeful thoughts of eternal torment on those who persecute us, the heart and nature of our heavenly Father is to correct and forgive. Beware of vengeful thinking, God said: “vengeance is mine, I will repay.” So while Bro. Weller stated, they may have to be judged, in fact all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and so we all need judgment unto correction; but God will be all in all. Check out 1 Cor. 15: 21-28. “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
What to do
Let’s look at Isaiah 58:6-12, I want to try to show you something here about a living expression of the nature of a son of God. “Is not this the fast that I chose—to loose the bands of wickedness, To shake off the burdens of the yoke, And to send out the oppressed free, And every yoke ye draw off? 7. Is it not to deal to the hungry thy bread, And the mourning poor bring home, That thou seest the naked and cover him, And from thine own flesh hide not thyself? 8. Then broken up as the dawn is thy light, And thy health in haste springeth up, Gone before thee hath thy righteousness, The honour of Jehovah doth gather thee. 9. Then thou callest, and Jehovah answereth, Thou criest, and He saith, ‘Behold me.’ If thou turn aside from thy midst the yoke, the sending forth of the finger, and the speaking of vanity, 10. And dost bring out to the hungry thy soul, And the afflicted soul dost satisfy, Then risen in the darkness hath thy light, and thy thick darkness is as noon. 11. And Jehovah doth lead thee continually, And hath satisfied in drought thy soul, And thy bones He armeth, And thou hast been as a watered garden, And as an outlet of waters, Whose waters lie not. 12. And they have built out of thee the wastes of old, The foundations of many generations thou raisest up, And one calleth thee, ‘Repairer of the breach, Restorer of paths to rest in.’” Young’s Literal Translation
What to do? Try loosing the bands of wickedness, shaking off the burden of the heavy yoke, give to those who are hungry—naturally and spiritually—your own bread, let the oppressed go free, clothe the naked and bringing the poor, sad ones in mourning into your own home or place of spiritual rest. Oh, and don’t forget to not hide from your own shortcomings while fulfilling your obligations to your family. Simple yes, without Logos faith, this is impossible. And yet this passage clearly states that the one able to do this is lead and blessed by God.
Please understand, these are spiritual realities and necessities which can only be understood and then accomplished in and by the Spirit of Christ within you. I urge you to consider well the warning given by Bro. Robert Torango in an article entitled Deceptions of the Mind, Part Four-The Woman, The Dragon, The Manchild. Bro. Torango writes, “It is an inherent condition of man, to bring the things of the spirit into a manageable, logical, religious mindset that can be structured into precepts and concepts that are relatable to our finite mind.” –End Quote- All things pertaining to God are automatically going to be, far and above, way beyond the ability of the natural mind to comprehend. “But as it is written, ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.’ But God hath revealed (unveiled-manifested-given revelation of) them unto us by (dia-through) His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God (even the depths of God).” 1 Cor. 2:9-10 KJV
So as we look at this passage in Isaiah 58, we must understand that without a revelation or unveiling of the truth in God’s Spirit, we can never grasp even the simplest part of the wisdom of God set down there. That said, I encourage all to ask your heavenly Father for this good gift. This passage is talking about the attributes of the life of a son of God in his relation to those around him. Let’s look at it again, and I will use the Amplified Bible to quote from this time. 6. “[Rather] is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every [enslaving] yoke? [Acts 8:23] 7. Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house—when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood? 8. Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you [conducting you to peace and prosperity], and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. [Exod. 14:19-20; Isa. 52:12] 9. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away from your midst yokes of oppression [wherever you find them], the finger pointed in scorn [toward the oppressed or the godly], and every form of false, harsh, unjust, and wicked speaking, [Exod. 3:14] 10. And if you pour out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in darkness, and your obscurity and gloom become like the noonday. 11. And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not. 12. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.”
We know this applied to and was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The question is, “Does this apply to us as believers, to us as sons, today, in this hour?” I fully believe that it does. Time and time again, scripture points out to us that God desired of us mercy rather than sacrificial religious service. We are told to do the one, (be merciful) and to not leave the other (service, devotion and spiritual sacrifice) undone. This passage in Isaiah refers to attributes which will show forth in a son of God. This is the fruit of the Spirit for all those around us. “But the harvest of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness, and self-control…” Gal. 5:22-23 The Revised English Bible If we can hear, here is a list of what to do’s.
Again, can we do any of this in our own strength? No, no, no!! But, “I can do all things through Christ Which strengtheneth me.” (Ph’p 4:13 KJV) Young’s Literal Translation says this: “For all things I have strength in Christ’s strengthening me;” The point here is to be in Christ. The word Christ is from the Greek word Christos which means anointed. Most commonly associated, and rightly so, with our Lord Jesus, the anointing however is not limited to Jesus. We can be anointed in the Spirit of God as well. So in the anointing of God, I can do anything, because I will only do that which I see my Father do, and say only that which I hear my Father say. This is a bold statement; but I am confident of this: If I am truly in the anointing of God and not just under some imagination of my own carnality, I will be able to do anything God asks me, because it is He asking and empowering me to do so. What to do? Get in Christ! Get in the anointing. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
The example of logos faith I quoted in the beginning of this article as Jesus in the garden cried “…if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done…” is the pattern, perfect example of our devotion and sacrifice that we are to not leave undone. God desires mercy; then, we overcome by the blood of the Lamb, by the Logos of our (testimony—martyrdom), and we love not our soul (psuche) lives to the death. Just like the pattern. This is faith unlimited. This is holding dear to our “only treasure that surely shall not see corruption…unwavering faith that stands solid while the world around it crumbles…The very faith that drives us to lay our soul down…only to bring forth a greater expression of Christ…Now let us have communion with Him who is able to perform this in us! His faith is unlimited!” Travis Ogletree Faith Unlimited
Joy and peace to all who read in Christ Jesus…Larry.
References: Travis Ogletree Faith Unlimited; J. Preston Eby From the Candlestick to the Throne, Part 30; Charles Weller The Logos, The Light, The Life; Robert Torango Deceptions of the Mind Part 4-The Woman, The Dragon, The Manchild; Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible; The Emphatic Diaglott; The Amplified Bible; The Companion Bible with the King James Version; and Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible