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wintan @wintan · 3 months ago

A very strong word I heard today is that Faith does not negate nature. To further say that faith is not always spectacular, faith instructs us on how to use nature to our advantage , the moment we neglect the instructions and wisdom of faith with nature, we abuse faith...for example ,faith instructs us on how to be in health by keeping a lifestyle,it is not always needed that faith should be used to heal us when we neglected the initial wisdom of faith to live healthy.... FAITH is the wisdom for Life at every level of LIFE.

2 reposts

wintan @wintan · 4 days ago

★ Featured Thread

Faith: The Substance of Hopes and the Utmost Intent of God's Elect

In Christian thought, faith is often introduced through the landmark declaration of Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." While this verse is frequently cited, its depth is often truncated. We readily understand faith as an engine that brings the unseen into physical reality, but we rarely interrogate the nature of the hopes that faith is called to substantiate.

Faith operates across a spectrum of hopes. There is a measure of faith that substantiates bodily healing, a faith that provides material supply, and a faith that commands mountains to move into the sea. Yet, none of these represent the ultimate purpose of faith.

The ultimate intent of faith is defined in Titus 1:1–2: the faith of God's elect, which is specifically designed to lay hold of eternal life.

The Spectrum of Hopes: From Temporal Deliverance to Eternal Substance

To understand the utmost intent of faith, we must first recognize that hope exists in distinct layers, and faith adapts its substance to the dimension of hope set before it.

In Mark 5, the woman with the issue of blood had a hope centered on bodily restoration. Jesus affirmed her, saying, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole." Faith acted as the substance for her physical healing. Similarly, in Matthew 17:20, Jesus spoke of faith as a grain of mustard seed capable of moving mountains. This dimension of faith alters physical terrain, removes earthly obstacles, and commands temporal resources.

These manifestations of faith are real, scriptural, and valid. God in His mercy provides for the physical needs of man. However, if a believer's faith never matures beyond the realm of physical bodies and earthly circumstances, they miss the primary reason faith was given.

Physical healing will eventually succumb to mortal death, material abundance will fade, and moved mountains belong to a creation that will one day be dissolved. If faith only secures what is temporary, it leaves the human spirit unfulfilled. Lower hopes serve our earthly pilgrimage, but they are not the final destination.

The Faith of God's Elect: Titus 1 and the Ultimate Promise

The Apostle Paul opens his epistle to Titus with an extraordinary outline of apostolic purpose:

"Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began..." — Titus 1:1–2

Notice the direct connection: the faith of God's elect is intrinsically bound to the hope of eternal life.

This hope is not a vague wish to go to heaven when one dies; it is the realization of a promise made before the world began. Before creation existed, the Father purposed to share His own uncreated, indestructible life with man. The elect are those who have been called out to participate in this eternal program. Therefore, the highest form of faith is not the faith that receives things from God, but the faith that receives the very Life of God.

The Economy of Eternal Life in 1 Timothy 6

Paul echoes this exact doctrine when writing to his spiritual son Timothy. In 1 Timothy 6:12, he gives a direct command:

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called..."

This reveals two vital truths: first, eternal life must be laid hold of, meaning it is not automatically possessed in its fullness merely by an initial confession, but requires an active, spiritual laying hold. Second, the true fight of faith is for eternal life. The fight of faith is not battling for earthly possessions or temporal status; it is contending against the distractions, lusts, and illusions of the world to ensure the soul lays hold of the divine nature.

Later in the same chapter, Paul instructs the rich not to trust in uncertain riches, but to be rich in good works, "Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6:19). The ultimate yield of a consecrated walk is the securing of eternal life within the soul.

From Milk to Meat: Maturing the Target of Our Faith

In Hebrews 6:1–2, the writer warns against remaining forever at the foundational stages of the Christian walk:

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God..."

Foundational faith often focuses on immediate survival, protection, and temporal answers. But as the believer grows, the Holy Spirit redirects the sight of the heart. The target of faith shifts from "What can God give me on earth?" to "Who can I become in Christ?" It shifts from "How do I change my circumstances?" to "How is this trial conforming me to His Image?"

When faith matures into the Faith of the Elect, the believer begins to use faith to mortify the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13), to put on the armor of light, and to yield to the transforming work of the Word. Faith becomes the divine instrument by which the soul drinks of the Spirit and grows into the full stature of Christ.

The End of Your Faith

The Apostle Peter summarizes the ultimate destination of this spiritual journey in 1 Peter 1:8–9:

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."

The "end" or ultimate purpose of faith is the complete salvation and transformation of the soul.

While we give thanks for the miracles of healing, the provision in times of need, and the mountains moved along the way, we must never mistake the signs along the road for the destination itself. To walk in the faith of God's elect is to set your sight on the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It is to allow faith to work beyond the surface of mortal existence, fashioning within you an eternal weight of glory that will stand unshaken when all temporal things pass away.

Faith: The Substance of Hopes and the Utmost Intent of God's Elect

4 comments

wintan @wintan · 17 days ago

★ Featured

💬 A word from @wintan that deserves its own breath:

Who Is the Man Christ Jesus? Many people today dismiss Jesus as a myth, reduce Him to a respected prophet, or assume He was God walking around in full, visible divine power. But the reality of the Gospel is far more profound. The story of Jesus is the story of absolute humility, intentional self-emptying, and the fulfillment of ancient prophecy. The Mystery of the Manger: God in Total Helplessness When the Creator stepped into human history, He did not arrive in visible splendor or angelic majesty. He arrived as a fragile, vulnerable baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. Think about the depth of that humility. The One who holds the universe together relied on an earthly mother to feed Him, clean Him, and carry Him in her arms. When King Herod ordered the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem, Jesus did not call down fire from heaven. Instead, His earthly parents had to wrap Him up in the dead of night and flee to Egypt to save His life. This was not a defeat; it was the exact fulfillment of the prophecy in Hosea 11:1, "Out of Egypt I called my son." The Almighty God willingly subjected Himself to human vulnerability, experiencing our exact fears, limitations, and weaknesses from His very first breath. The Ancient Promises: What the Prophets Foretold Jesus’ entry into human history was not a sudden afterthought or a divine backup plan. Hundreds of years before His birth, the Hebrew prophets mapped out His arrival with breathtaking detail. Isaiah prophesied the supernatural nature of His birth when he wrote, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). The same prophet clearly foresaw the dual nature of this child: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). Centuries later, Micah pinpointed the exact, humble village where this ruler would be born: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times" (Micah 5:2). Every detail of His life was anchored in eternal promise. Rewriting Human History: From Cain to the Present Day Jesus came into our corrupt world to reset the human story. From the moment Cain killed Abel, humanity became trapped in a cycle of strife, pride, unforgiveness, and death. Human efforts, political systems, and religious traditions could point out the problem, but they could never heal the human heart. Jesus stepped into that brokenness to correct every human error. He lived a life of radical love, complete obedience, and absolute purity. Where Adam failed and humanity stumbled, Jesus succeeded. He became the exact human being God had in mind in Genesis 1:26 when He said, "Let us make man in our image." Because He walked in our shoes and overcame every temptation, Jesus became the ultimate Author and Finisher of our faith. He serves as our High Priest who truly understands our struggles because He lived through them Himself. The Sovereign Choice: A Life Laid Down and Raised Up Jesus was never a victim of circumstance, Roman authority, or religious jealousy. He was not trapped by the cross. He made a conscious, intentional choice to lay down His life. As Isaiah 53 predicted, "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." He allowed Himself to be led like a lamb to the slaughter because He knew the cross was the only way to break the power of sin and death over humanity. Jesus explicitly said in John 10:18 that no one took His life from Him; He laid it down willingly, and He had the power to pick it back up again. He emptied Himself, stepped into the dark reality of human death, and then broke through the grave on the third day. God and Man Forever Jesus is not a distant myth or a legendary teacher. He is fully God and fully Man. As Man, He felt the cold in a humble manger, needed protection from an earthly king, wept over lost friends, and bled on a cross. As God, He forgave sins, commanded the wind and waves, conquered the grave, and took His seat at the right hand of the Father. By laying down His glory and picking it up again in resurrection, Jesus opened a brand-new way for us. He lived to show us how to live, died to pay the debt we could not pay, and rose to guarantee that everyone who trusts in Him will share in His eternal life.

wintan @wintan · 2 months ago

Prayer Requests Thread

We pray for the families of the victims to the ongoing onslaught,we ask that the lord would send his comfort to them (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), and heal them... Every one soul that has fallen to the hands of the fulani jihadist would be a token of revival and nothing of Jesuses in the nation.

1 comment

wintan @wintan · 17 days ago

★ Featured Thread

The Present Continuous Ministry of Jesus: How Purchased Salvation Is Administered Today

Salvation was fully purchased at the cross, but purchase is only the foundation. A remedy sitting in a medicine cabinet cannot heal until it is taken. In the exact same way, a purchased salvation is of no practical effect in our daily lives unless it is continually received, applied, and walked out.

Purchased at Calvary, Administered from the Throne

On the cross, Jesus declared, "It is finished" (John 19:30). The total price for human redemption was paid once and for all. However, His work did not end when He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. Today, Jesus sits at the right hand of God, actively carrying out His present continuous ministry as our High Priest, Mediator, and the Living Teacher of the New Covenant.

While the legal work of salvation was finished at the cross, the active administration of that salvation continues daily. Jesus did not leave us to figure out the Christian life on our own. He is alive right now, continually ministering His life, His Spirit, and His Word into our hearts so that what He bought for us on Calvary becomes our real, daily experience.

Beyond the New Birth: Salvation as a Living Curriculum

Many believers treat salvation as a one-time event—a prayer prayed, a decision made, or an altar call attended. The new birth is indeed the essential gateway where our dead human spirit is quickened to life by God. But the new birth is just the beginning of the journey.

Salvation is also a living curriculum of doctrine, divine commandments, and daily instructions for life.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 5:10, "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." Notice the phrasing: we were reconciled by His death, but we shall be saved by His life. That is an ongoing, continuous process.

Jesus gave us specific teachings, light, and wisdom to guide our steps. When we hear His Word, yield to His Spirit, and obey His instructions, His salvation moves from being a theological concept outside of us to an internal reality within us. Obedience is how divine truth is woven into the very fabric of our souls.

The Diligent Process: Building Upon Faith

Because salvation is a daily administration, it requires our active cooperation and spiritual diligence. The Apostle Peter explicitly describes this deliberate process in 2 Peter 1:5–10:

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Peter does not say, "You have faith, so sit back and wait for heaven." He says to give all diligence to add virtue, knowledge, self-control, and love to that faith. Salvation is a progressive development. As we obey the daily promptings and instructions of the Holy Spirit, these virtues are internalized, accounted unto us, and built into our character.

A Perpetual Reception Into Fullness

Scripture reveals that salvation operates in three continuous dimensions:

We have been saved from the penalty of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus at the new birth.

We are being saved from the power and influence of sin as we yield to His daily doctrine, word, and discipline.

We will be saved from the very presence of sin into the final, glorious redemption of our bodies when He returns.

If we stop receiving His daily instruction, we stall in the curriculum. Jesus is actively standing as the Great Shepherd and High Priest of our souls, continually purifying us, correcting our alignment, and revealing the Father's heart. Receiving salvation is not a single gesture made years ago; it is a daily, perpetual surrender to the living voice and authority of Jesus Christ until we come into the full measure of His stature.

2 comments · 1 repost

wintan @wintan · 16 days ago

★ Featured

The Divine Trap: How Meekness Conquered Death and Disarmed the Enemy

When humanity fell in the Garden, the kingdom of darkness established a reign of terror that seemed unbreakable. From the moment Adam yielded to sin, death stepped in as an absolute monarch. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:14, death reigned from Adam to Moses, captivating every single soul under its law. The devil had watched the greatest, most righteous men arise throughout history: patriarchs, prophets, kings, and judges. Yet, no matter how holy or powerful they appeared, the grave eventually claimed them all. Darkness had developed a smug confidence that human flesh was its domain, and the power of death was its ultimate, unbeatable weapon. Then came the promise of the Messiah.

#The Expectation versus The Mystery

When the Jewish nation anticipated the arrival of the Messiah, they envisioned a military titan, a supreme warrior who would ride in on a warhorse, shatter the Roman yoke, and establish an earthly empire through sheer force. Darkness expected the exact same thing. Satan braced himself for a grand, earthly spectacle of dominance. Instead, God sprung the greatest divine trap in the history of the universe.

Rather than descending in unshielded divine splendor or surrounding Himself with armies, the Eternal God wrapped Himself in the fragile, weak flesh of a helpless babe. As Luke 2:7 records, He was laid in a trough. He was carried in the arms of a young virgin and forced to flee in the dark of night to Egypt to escape the blade of Herod, fulfilling Hosea 11:1. To the arrogant eyes of the enemy, this looked like weakness. Satan looked at the human flesh of Jesus and assumed it was just another meal, another man made of the same Adamic clay that he had chewed up and swallowed for centuries.

The devil did not realize that God had disguised His infinite power inside absolute humility.

#Unraveling the Knots: The Life of Perfect Obedience

As Jesus grew from childhood into manhood, Luke 2:52 records that He increased in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man, devoting every single breath to a life of complete yielding to the Father.

Jesus walked the earth as the True Template of Man, the exact representation of what God had in mind in Genesis 1:26 when He said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness".

Every step Jesus took was a strategic undoing of the enemy's web. Where Adam rebelled in a lush garden, Jesus obeyed in a barren wilderness during His temptations in Luke 4. Where Cain allowed anger and envy to rule his heart, Jesus met hatred with radical forgiveness. From the errors of the early fathers down to the rigid, heavy burdens imposed by religious traditionalists under the Law of Moses, Jesus unraveled every knot of human perversity.

As recorded in Acts 10:38, He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, correcting every wrong understanding of God, and unveiling the true blueprint for human life.

#Conquering Through Meekness: The Trap Springs

The most mind-boggling aspect of Jesus' ministry was His weapon of choice: meekness and humility.

In Matthew 11:29, Jesus invited all to learn of Him, declaring, "for I am meek and lowly in heart". In a world driven by self-preservation, political power, and retaliation, Jesus introduced a kingdom operating on inverse principles:

In Matthew 20:26-27, He taught that to be great, one must be a servant.
In Matthew 16:25, He revealed that whoever loses his life for His sake shall find it.
In Matthew 5:44, He commanded His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.

Satan could not process this intelligence. The enemy understands force, pride, ambition, and malice, because those are the foundations of his realm. But he is completely blind to the power of sacrificial love and sinless meekness.

Driven by envy and desperate to extinguish this spotless Light, the prince of darkness orchestrated the betrayal, false trial, and brutal execution of Jesus. Yet, as 1 Corinthians 2:8 declares, had the princes of this world known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Satan believed that by driving nails through the hands of the Son of God and burying Him in the earth, he had secured his ultimate victory.

He did not know he was walking straight into the divine snare.

#The Defeat of Death and the Path to Dominion

By provoking the execution of a completely sinless, perfectly obedient Man, the devil overreached his authority. Death only had legal rights over the fallen, sin-tainted lineage of Adam. But when death attempted to swallow the Holy One of God, the law of sin and death met its absolute boundary.

Jesus was not trapped by the cross; He used the cross to trap the adversary. He willingly laid down His life, as He declared in John 10:18. As Colossians 2:15 describes, He spoiled principalities and powers, making a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Because He had no sin, it was impossible for death to hold Him, as Peter proclaimed in Acts 2:24. On the third day, by the power of the Father, He picked His life up again, breaking the ancient doors of the grave forever.

Through His meekness, Jesus showed humanity how to defeat the enemy: not by taking up physical swords or relying on human arrogance, but by total surrender to the Father's will.

Today, as Hebrews 7:25-26 asserts, the Messiah stands as our risen Lord, High Priest, and Forerunner who ever lives to make intercession for us. He has blazed a trail through fallen flesh, conquered death, and provided the continuous administration of His Spirit and Word. As we learn His doctrine, yield to His instructions, and take on His meekness, we step into the very same divine dominion, subduing the power of darkness and walking in the fullness of God's original intent for man.

The Divine Trap: How Meekness Conquered Death and Disarmed the Enemy

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