Many like me do not know the meaning of the word "enjoined," so here is what Webster's 1828 Dictionary has to say about it: "To order or direct with urgency; to admonish or instruct with authority; to command. It has the force of pressing admonition with authority; it has also the sense of command; as the duties enjoined by God." So today's blog deals with Faith being Enjoined by GOD. The following are reasons for this action.
Faith Enjoined:
Assures Success,
2Chronicles 20:20 of 20-23 with Mark 11:22, Luke 8:50 "And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe His prophets, and you will succeed." And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise Him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, "Give thanks to the LORD, for His steadfast love endures forever." And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another."
Mark 11:22 of 20-26, Luke 8:50 "As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that You cursed has withered." And Jesus answered them, 'Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also Who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.'"
Luke 8:50 of 49-56 "While Jesus was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." But Jesus on hearing this answered him, 'Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.' And when He came to the house, He allowed no one to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but He said, 'Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.' And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand He called, saying, 'Child, arise.' And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And He directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened."
A Fundamental Duty,
John 6:28-29 of 26-40; 20:27 "Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on Him GOD the Father has set His (Spirit without measure as a) seal.' Then they said to Him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe Him Whom HE has sent.' (Deuteronomy 18:18-20 of 15-22) So they said to Him, "Then what sign do You do, that we may see and believe You? What work do You perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written (in Psalm 78:24; Exodus 16:4, 15; Nehemiah 9:15; and Psalm 105:40), 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus then said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of GOD is He Who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.' They said to Him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes Me shall never thirst. For I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him Who sent Me. And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I should lose nothing of all that HE has given Me, but raise [it] them up on the last day. (of this administration or dispensation, as seen in Matthew 27:51-54 as it proof) For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks (signifying a break in administrations or dispensations) on the Son and believes Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.'"
John 20:27 of 24-25, 26-29 "Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." (this was my own experience in the fall of 1971 when the LORD appeared to me as He did Paul, when His brilliance filled my bedroom, He showed me what I thought about testing the spirit)
Eight days later, His disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.' Thomas answered Him, "My LORD and my GOD!" Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"
A Defensive Weapon,
Ephesians 6:16 of 10-17 with 1Thessaloinas 5:8; 1Timothy 1:19, 6:12 and Hebrews 10:22 "Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day (today is that day, until the day of the LORD), and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
1Thessalonians 5:8 of 1-11; 1Timothy 1:19, 6:12 and Hebrews 10:22 "Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the LORD will come like a thief in the night (to each one of us). While (those left behind at our passing) people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in 9of their) darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For GOD has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
1Timothy 1:19 of 18-20, 6:12 and Hebrews 10:22 "This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme."
1Timothy 6:12 of 11-16 and Hebrews 10:22 "But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of GOD, Who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, Who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which HE will display at the proper time—HE Who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and LORD of lords, Who alone has immortality, Who dwells in unapproachable light, Whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen."
Hebrews 10:22 of 19-25 "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that HE opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of GOD, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for HE Who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
An Indispensable Element in our Witness,
Hebrews 11:6 of 3-7 "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of GOD, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to GOD a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, GOD commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because GOD had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased GOD. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to GOD must believe that HE exists and that HE rewards those who seek Him. By faith Noah, being warned by GOD concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."
Essential in Prayer,
James 1:5-6 of 5-8 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask GOD, Who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the LORD; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Should be United to Love,
1John 3:23 of 18-22, 23-24 "Little children, let us not love in word only nor talk (vainly) but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, GOD is greater than our heart, and HE knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before GOD; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do (this is) what pleases Him.
And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us. Whoever keeps His commandments abides in GOD, and GOD in him. And by this we know that HE abides in us, by the Spirit Whom HE has given us." (the prayer of John 17)
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