CHAPTER SEVEN

1 Timothy 4:4-6: "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the Word of God and by prayer. If you put the brehtren in remembrance of these things you shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto you have attained."

And Luke 11:41: "But rather give alms of such things as you have; and behold, all things are clean unto you."

The Bible has a surprising number of things to say about food and human relationship to it. The Bible has both positive and negative statements about food, as can be noted by such Scriptures as Romans 14:1-6, 14-17; 1 Timothy 4:5; Luke 9:16; Luke 11:41; 1 Corinthians 10:16, etc. It would be a good study for the reader to read these passages from your Bible.

Some people have a problem of conscience about food. They may be either uninformed or misinformed about what the Bible teaches about it. The way to freedom is through the knowledge and belief of the truth in Christ. It is the REDEMPTIVE TRUTH in Jesus Christ that makes people free. If we renew our minds according to the Scriptures, we need be neither victimized nor foolish in our eating habits.

Some people feel that it is not wise for them to eat certain foods. In their case that may be so. But if they wish to escape mere scruples of conscience, they can build up their faith, through the knowledge of God's Word. Then they can gain freedom from those limitations. Nowhere in the New Testament does God's Word limit our diet, except to abstain from blood and from things strangled. According to Jesus Christ and according to apostle Paul, all things are clean to believers. Luke 11:41; Romans 14:14.

Please understand. One is not greater before God, because he can eat anything he desires, than one who only eats from a limited menu.

Paul very clearly discusses this in Romans 14:1-5. According to verses 20-23, if one has scruples of conscience about certain foods, he wouldn't exercise faith in eating them, and so he might incur condemnation if he did eat them. As was previously said, one is not more saved, because he has ability to eat anything he wishes, than the one who limits himself. "For the kingdom of God is not meat (food) and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17).

The purpose of extending our faith is a worthwhile pursuit. The reason is that when one learns to exercise a principle of faith and believing in one area of life, that principle often works in other areas. The Lord often teaches us secrets of faith that we can use in more than one area. The more areas that we are able to reign over through faith in Christ, the closer we can come to completely reigning in life by Christ Jesus. It is a premise of God's grace that we can do that according to Romans 5:17.

Jesus said: "...behold, all things are clean unto you" (Luke 11:41). He was speaking about foods and hygiene. Why should we as believers, tolerate needless impositions on our liberties?

Note however, that it is impossible to exercise Biblical faith to indulge in sin, whether it be in food, drink or anything else. There is no wisdom, might nor counsel against the Lord, and His counsel shall stand. Romans 6:13-16 teaches us to yield ourselves to God, and not to sin. Galatians 6:7-8 teaches us that God is not mocked, that whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.

There can be great joy and true Biblical liberty in knowing and believing the truth. Romans 15:13: "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing...". The Bible also speaks of the liberty wherewith Christ makes us free. By understanding the truth, and by faith and believing, that freedom in Christ becomes available to us. It is His will for us to enter into it. We can become able to reign over more and greater areas of life.

Therefore, we should see that the only liberated life is the life of Bible faith. Jesus came to set the captives free, including all areas that people get snared in. Praise God, praise God. That liberated life is gained through faith, and by believing God. Jesus taught that nothing is impossible with God, and that all things are possible to him that believes. (Matthew 19:26 and Mark 9:23).

In the Scripture, it appears that there is POINT of ACTION at which faith can cause God's promises to come to us. I.e., a point at which one consciously begins to ACTIVATE his faith. We need to study and to understand that "point". What IS that point and how does one recognize it? What does one do to activate it?

In Mark 11:24, Jesus said: "...when you pray, BELIEVE that you receive them, and you SHALL have them". During the previous chapters of this book, we have kept stating that "faith is a FACT, and that BELIEVING is the ACTION part of faith". Therefore, we can say that Jesus is telling us to initiate an ACTION of faith WHEN we pray. Therefore, when YOU pray is the "POINT"! BELIEVING is what ACTIVATES your faith.

We are ready for ACTION WHEN what God has said or done for us in Christ Jesus becomes to us an assured FACT in our heart. That solid fact in our heart SUGGESTS, NUDGES, and MOVES us to ACT!

E.g., 1 Corinthians 15:3-5: "...how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He arose again the third day, according to the Scriptures: and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve;...". That being the case, ACT on it! How do we ACT on the resurrection of Christ? "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved" (Romans 10:9). Notice verse 10: "For with the heart man BELIEVES unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

In Mark 11:24, Jesus told us WHAT the point is, and WHAT to do to activate our faith. He also told us WHEN to do it. To ACT on the foregoing Scriptures would be as follows. By hearing the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3), faith COMES. When it "arrives" in the heart, the POINT of decision to ACT on it has arrived. The faith that came by hearing the Word of God assures us that the Gospel of Christ is true. It then prompts us to OBEY the Gospel. I.e., to DO WHAT IT REQUIRES. Until that ACTION takes place, the faith that was received by hearing the Gospel cannot produce anything. It is very much present and real, and it is READY to produce. But if there is no RESPONSE to it, it is held inactive. Notice James 2:26: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works (ACTIONS) is dead also."

No, salvation is not BY our action or works. But our action is NECESSARY to obtain what ONLY Jesus Christ has provided for us. If we don't ACT on the Gospel (believe it) we will NOT RECEIVE God's gift of salvation, and we are LOST! Even in the new birth, we have an ACTION part to perform. We must BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 16:31. That means that we also commit ourselves to follow Him daily. Such commitment distinguishes between BELIEVERS and professors. For anyone to assume that they can ask for salvation and keep on living in their former sins is not Biblical faith or belief.

Please note that our new birth, being forgiven our sins, and receiving eternal life is the GIFT of God. Our ACTS, WORKS, EFFORTS; even our faith -- did not CAUSE God's gift. Faith and believing only makes it possible for us to RECEIVE God's gifts by His grace. Our acts, works, efforts do not even cause God to DECIDE to give them to us. He decided that long before we existed. John 3:16 tells us what He did.

The same thing is true of Divine Healing. Jesus endured stripes for our healing even BEFORE He was crucified. Isaiah 53:4-6 and 1 Peter 2:24 provides us with information about the FACTS of forgiveness of sins, and of physical healing for our bodies. These, among other FACTS of redemption, are irrevocalbly in existence RIGHT NOW! ACT on these FACTS. You will receive forgiveness of your sins, and eternal life, and you will receive Divine healing for your sicknesses.

Now for the question of HOW TO ACTIVATE our faith. 1 John 5:6: "...the Spirit (the Holy Spirit of God) bears witness, because the Spirit is TRUTH." The Holy Spirit will witness to your human spirit the TRUTH of God's promises for you. That WITNESS is a very deep seated "KNOWING" and ASSURANCE, OFTEN accompanied by joy and/or peace. Now just ACT like the promise of God is TRUE. ACT like it is a reality to you. Even if all you can do is to INWARDLY PRAISE GOD, find a way to EXPRESS (which would be an act) the ASSURANCE which the Holy Spirit's witness causes you.

Defend that assurance against doubt which satan, conditions and "APPARENT WORLDLY FACTS" suggest. This is the struggle that seems so difficult for us. But the FACTS of God's provisions do not erode or become non-existent because of opposition. God does not become less willing to help us because of adversity. He CANNOT LIE, and if we meet the conditions He has said, we will overcome. Yes, defend that assurance against UNBELIEF. It is at this critical point in the process that people are so likely to fail. But we don't have to fail. Let us hold fast to our confidence and confession of the facts of God's Word.

People ask, "but what if the condition doesn't seem to change?" Answer: "Does the Holy Spirit continue to bear witness to your spirit about it?" If He does, since He will NEVER lie, the FACTS of God's provision for you in response to your request, are STILL TRUE! "For all the promises God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, ..." (2 Corinthians 1:20). So REFUSE to let go of your assurance or to cast away your confidence. (Hebrews 10:35; Mark 11:22-24). Of course, if God is dealing with you about something in your life, respond to Him, so that it won't hinder the use of your faith.

It seems strange that believers do not seem to realize that EXERCISING their faith by USING it is important. They know that exercise is important in other areas of life. But when it comes to spiritual things, they seem to feel that it is not "depending on a sovereign act of God", if they exercise or practice the use of their faith. Though all believers have a measure of faith, it may be difficult to use it in a crisis, if we are UNACCUSTOMED to USING it!

Asking God's blessing EVERY TIME you eat anything is good exercise for your faith. Do it even if you are SURE the food you are about to eat is "o.k." In that way you can become strong and adept at using your faith and the principles of fatih for other things in life. "But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even to them who by reason of USE have their senses EXERCISED to discern good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14).