THE BIBLE SPEAKS DAILY (OCTOBER 15th, 2024)

TODAY'S TOPIC: What Kind Is Your Faith: An Emotional Experience?

TODAY'S VERSE: II Corinthians 5:7.

"...For we walk by faith, not by sight..."

Many teach that you must have some kind of experience in order to believe. Our Pentecostal friends affirm that faith is based on some kind of physical sensation or feeling, an emotional experience, something that you see or hear. They look for a vision; they listen for a still small voice' some even claim to have seen Jesus. These experiences constitute the basis of their faith.

Yet when we examine the description of faith, we find that "faith is assurance of things hoped for, and a conviction of things not seen." The concept that you must have an emotional experience in order to believe is a denial of the basic nature of Christian faith. That's not faith at all: it is knowledge or experience. If you see Jesus, you have knowledge instead of faith. One day faith will become sight and hope will be realized (1 Cor. 13:13), but for now, "we walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7).

Consider the man who is in a charismatic assembly where emotions run high and everybody is praying, singing, chanting and "speaking in tongues." This man wants to be saved. He's been told that if he doesn't have an experience, he will be lost. Getting down on his knees in prayer, he works himself up to a fever pitch. What eventually happens? He sees. The man has an experience that may be very real to him. Did God do it? I think not. The highly emotional setting can lead to a real experience. This is not the power of God.

The rational process that God has ordained for the production of faith is no longer recognized by men of today. 
The New Testament faith was based on a careful consideration of the evidence. For example, the disciples at Berea were praised because "they received the word with great eagerness examining the Scriptures to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11, NASV). 
However, you cannot reason with a person who has "seen." something. You can talk to him all day long and not get anywhere. Quoting passages to refute his erroneous stance will not change him. His faith will not be affected by any sort of contrary evidence, no matter how strong. He believes that faith is based on some emotional experience. He's had that, therefore the reasons don't matter. He is intransigent and closed-minded. He is going to believe, regardless! 
This is not Bible faith: this is blind faith!

The issue is a misconception concerning the nature of faith and how it is attained. 
The thing to do is to go back and study the New Testament and see how the early Christians came to believe in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Is your motivation based on natural experience, and wild emotional beliefs? Examine yourself.

TODAY'S PRAYER:

Precious Father of all flesh. Kindly renew my faith and trust in you and in your Word.
Please, help my unbelief and correct my mistakes as I walk with you by Faith, daily.
Make me an instrument of Faith to others, help me to show the path of Faith to all those who have missed the way of Faith.
Father, please heal the sick and provide for the needy, 
Amen!

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Or
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This work is under the oversight of the Church of Christ Ekute Quarters Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State Nigeria.

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