God of all Comfort
by Pastor Marie Esposito
The Language of the Spirit(pt 3):
The Faith Factor
by Pastor Roy Esposito
— Jesus IS the Word of God. it is reasonable to assume He Has something to say!
— To hear His prompts, encouragement, and direction takes a new level of Faith: “Upgraded” Faith
— Upgraded faith — is a gift from God to those who diligently and passionately seek Him.
— Upgraded faith is the FRUIT of action taken in obedience to Him.
— Hebrews 11:6 –-”– He rewards the faith of those who passionately and diligently seek Him.”
— Passionate/Diligent seeking is the result that comes from LISTENING with OPEN Hearts — by- passing the mind.
— Listening exclusively with our minds subjects what we hear to agreement or disagreement.
— Agreement/Disagreement have to do with words, concepts, perceptions and theories which have little to do with the TRUTH.
— TRUTH is always a matter of the HEART and is never expressed in words.
— TRUTH can be sighted when the attitude of my heart is one of readiness,openness, and a willingness to discover something NEW — something BEYOND what my mind already understands.
— It is only discovered by those who are seeking God with all their heart.
— TRUTH is illuminated only by revelation given as a gift through the Holy Spirit: The Spirit Of Truth.
— John 16:12-16 (Passion)
— Prophetic Illumination causes us to “Wake Up” to the Truth.
— Prophetic Illumination — Points out obstacles to finding the TRUTH.
— When received, the falsehoods we live become illuminated so we are free to choose to DROP THEM.
— “Dropping” our present Belief Systems” or UNLEARNING all that we’ve been taught.
— A willingness to”unlearn” is a willingness to LISTEN.
— Observe your present reaction to what I’ve just said:
- Are you listening only to confirm what you already believe?
- Are you feeling confused by it? Startled? Frustrated? Offended?
- Or are you curious? Interested and wondering what the heck I’m talking about?
- Are you willing to chance discovery of something NEW?
— Jesus was rejected when speaking the “Good News” not because it was Good but because it was something NEW.
— Generally, people HATE NEW!
— New means something might change.
— I believe God has released a “New Sound” from heaven that will be mis-interpeted if we refuse to “Wake Up”
— Faith — is an openness to hear the voice of Truth:
- No matter what the consequences to our comfort may be.
- Having a willingness to follow it even when it’s not yet clear where you’ll end up.
- Faith is about hearing and following the Holy Spirit promptings
.
— Belief — you get Security
— Faith– can embrace the insecurity of the mind because it’s secure in its TRUST in God.
— Faith is about openness to God — a willingness to follow Him, and a readiness to “WAKE UP”
— Don’t be gullible though! Challenge everything from an attitude of openness but never an attitude of stubbornness or contention.
— ‘Listen’ to learn afresh– “Listen” to discover the “new”.
—The present pandemic — a time
1. for reappraisal of who we think we are.
2 to reset who we want to become.
— Ephesians 5:13-21 (Passion)