The validity of faith that appears only when challenged by death, sickness or suffering is the topic, today. Also, there is more on whether one may receive a new or “replacement” measure of the Holy Spirit. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “little prince” (Level 1 with 24 points, a member since May 30, 2013) posted the following:
Going to God because of tragedy?
I’ve been an agnostic, if I ever got close to God, I wanted it to be because of conviction rather than because I was pushed by tragedy.
But now that my mom has cancer, I’ve been just desperately seeking him.
Is this type of faith valid? One pushed by tragedy, hopelessness, and need?
THE BATTLE AXE: Need for A New Holy Spirit? (06/03/2013)—(5) While the spiritual death of a believer occurs in an instance, and rebirth from divine DNA is completed in the same moment, receiving the Holy Spirit is not a “one-time” event that is completed in one hour, one day, one decade, or one millennium. Finite and temporal behaviors may be completed such as church attendance, fasting, missionary service, and Scripture studies. However, Christian believers must make a continuing, uninterrupted commitment to accept a lifetime of change, growth, and transformation through operations performed by GOD. For this reason, language associated with marriage often is used to clarify Christian dedication (e.g., duty, faithfulness, intimacy, and trust). Believers become life companions to Christ, and through his Spirit, achieve fellowship, right standing, and unity with the Divine. See Galatians 4: 1-9, 1st John 1: 1-10 and 1st John 3: 1-10, King James Version. (6) Believers should not look for change in their physical appearance and social circumstances as the evidence of their new birth. The truth of rebirth must be accepted through an act of self-will (we say choice) dictated and influenced by faith. Faith appears within awareness as certainty, confidence, conviction, and trust based upon the word of GOD (i.e., divine proclamation, promise, and prophecy); and this is called “knowing by faith, rather than by sight.” A believer’s economic, employment, or marital status may continue to be undesirable for a very long period. Where indicators that are not generated by sacred content are relied upon, new believers may appear completely unaltered, unrepentant, and the same as before their embrace by GOD through Christ. Included are addictions, arbitrary differences (e.g., eye color, gender, height, weight), attitudes, behavior, character, conduct, habits, illnesses, and ones personal style. The changes that GOD will perform as a person’s salvation are to be within the believer, not others, not ones surroundings, not the church, not the world. (7) The behaviors that most indicate spiritual growth for Christian believers include actions and conduct that display increased generosity and giving, humility, impartiality, love, practice and understanding of the sacraments, willingness to forgive, unselfish service, and focus upon the person of Christ in place of introspection, self-examination and self-promotion. Believers learn to see, attend to, and serve Christ revealed within the sufferings of others. The “holy spirit” a person may have gotten “a few years ago” is proven to be alive and well by unselfish ministry to others. See Matthew 25: 31-46, Romans 8: 1-18, Romans 8: 24-31, Philippians 3: 7-14 and 2nd Corinthians 3: 17-18, KJV.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2nd Corinthians 12: 6-10, King James Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Struggles? (05/11/2013); Through Much Tribulation (05/12/2013); Death Has Been Transformed (05/09/2013); Loving the Enemy? (05/10/2013); Experience Is Not Evidence? (05/05/2013); Church Mandatory? (05/06/2013); GOD Knows Tomorrow? (04/12/2013); Expect Healing (02/11/2012); Childhood Cancers? (01/17/2011); Denominations? (01/18/2011)
“little prince,” here are some points I have considered since my mother died of cancer, and that most Christian believers also encounter as they are perfected by GOD:
(1) The faith you begin with should not be the faith you end with. Believers enter into a continuing process of existence that is directed by divine influences, and so there must be change, growth, learning, and sanctification. Saying this another way: A person’s awareness of divinity must increase and include recognition of divine substance that is the make-up of GOD (e.g., faith, holiness, righteousness, wisdom, wrath against sin); the active operation of GOD within the human frameworks of time and space (e.g., covenant, divine law, forgiveness, judgment, salvation); and such aspects of divine focus as authority, fulfillment, intent, and purpose.
(2) Often believers must accept that the comfort and consolation provided by GOD for meeting life challenges and experience within the natural and social worlds of mankind ARE NOT carnal, emotional, material and physical. Intended for something higher, GOD may bestow spirit content and demonstrations of divine presence through expectations (i.e., what we are commanded to hope), miracles, proclamations, promises, prophesies, testimonies in judgment, visitations, and witness.
(3) Where one relies on human faith, rather than the faith that is given through the imparted Spirit of GOD, confusion, disappointment, and a sense of having been betrayed are usually experienced. Such persons fail to grasp that the ministry of Jesus Christ must acknowledge aspects of divine order and obligation that do not permit an instant elimination of death, all disease, sickness and sin. There is an unseen universe of active forces, conditions, and demands that must be maintained in peculiar balance.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4) While GOD did not eliminate death from human experience by appearing in the earth as Jesus Christ, GOD did transform the meaning and understanding of death. Death is revealed as temporal, not eternal; death is shown to not be a god; like aging, death is not always a punishment; and fear that death may operate contrary to GOD has been broken off among believers. As a divine tool death permits resurrection, and it is a further mechanism and tool needed to establish eternal life.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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