Where does your faith come from?

1 Corinthians 2:5
so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.

Growing up in the church I have seen lots of changes over the years. From the Hell, fire, and brimstone messages as a kid, to the polished sermons of recent days. No place has this transition been more evident than in the Pentecostal movement. I notice less emphasis on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and His power and more reliance on the speaker's ability to move the congregation. This is a broad statement, and I realize that there are preachers, and churches we can still categorize as "Old time Pentecostal", but for the most part there aren't many. Why?? As I was reading and praying this morning I was reminded of the scripture above, that my faith should not be based on the sand of human wisdom, but on the power of a living God. This gave me three distinct thoughts I want to share with you.

1. Where does our faith come from? Does it come from fancy, well crafted sermons, meant to make us feel good about life and where we are right now? Does it come from well-reasoned theological discussions about God, or Bible Prophecy? Or does it come from men and women, preaching under the anointing of God, allowing Him to give them the word and then allowing the Spirit to confirm the Word. Hebrews tells us that "At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will." Notice the testimony! The early church saw these miracles, the early Pentecostal movement in the early 20th century saw these miracles. Where is the Lord God of Elijah???

2. What feeds our faith? Do we have a deep hunger for the word, or are we content with "fast food" sermons, that lack real content? Do we as believers remind ourselves daily that "God is who He says He is, and can do what He says He can do? Are we like Abraham are are fully convinced that God is able to keep His promises?

3. Who guides us in this walk?John 14:14-17 declares 2 things about the Holy Spirit. 1. He abides with us, and 2. He abides in us, why the distinction. He abides with us as our burden bearer, our advocate, or the one called along side. We can follow Him as Israel followed the cloud in the wilderness. He is also in us to help us walk and feed our faith. Jesus asked the Father to "Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.". The Holy Spirit makes the word come alive in our hearts, it brings it to our remembrance when it is needed, it allows the word to go forth with power and bring about the miracles, and demonstration of God's power to give us a real basis for our faith. 

I don't know about you, but I long to see God moving in our land again, as he has before. This may mean a shake up in the house of God, and more of our ministers being in the ministry of Ezekiel, or Paul, and not __________. I'll let you decide who goes there. 

Grace and peace be multiplied to you. 

Eric