6=24-15 Applied Faith
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
2 Corinthians 1:24
This verse has, for many years, been both a joy and a reproof to me in the matter of intensive discipleship. It is so broad, and yet so simple to understand. When I review it and meditate on it, I find precious nuggets that declare the heart of God to me.
In 1 Corinthians 11:1, when Paul instructed new or immature believers, he said "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ", and laid out the process for instruction in matters of faith and practice. It was simply that disciple-making is a matter of 'show and tell' . There is the foundational of personal belief in doctrine, and then there is the application of that belief in applied faith, implementing in practical ways what has been learned in doctrinal issues. The teacher is never able to pass on what he does not know. Therefore, biblical principles of faith such as obedience, self-control, discipline, study, and structure must be fleshed out in such a way that the put-off/put on principle of Ephesians 4:22-24 is actualized.
James, in chapter 1 verse 22 teaches But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves; chapter 2 verse 17, Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Thus it is clear that real faith will be evident in personal habit pattern changes.
When I teach another how to study, do I offer a format to assist a new believer in that Christian discipline? When I teach structure and priorities, do I live out what I teach? When I deal with submission to authorities and dealing with temptation, is there clarity in exactly "how-to-do-so""?
No, we are not to dominate the faith of others, but simply help them to joy in assisting them to apply their faith, thus finding joy, peace, and blessing.
(C) 2015 N.A.Collins
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