Since each community has its own way of life based on beliefs, experiences, and practices, we should note that Christianity is also a community of believers. Christianity has a way of life that is based on beliefs of what the Bible teaches. The way of life promotes the core beliefs.
Apostle Paul is sure that since the church is praying and since God has power, nothing is impossible. All the pain and difficulties that he has gone through and are now in the past, can still change and be a blessing that will bring him deliverance. Paul is so sure that God can change what is happening now and even what happened and got settled in the past. What has already happened can still change!
Whether your prayers are answered or not. Whether your dreams come true or not. Whether issues are resolved or not. Whether you experience a happy life or not. Whether lonely, single, and desperate or not. Whether in need or not. Whichever way it goes don’t lose focus!
Would you exchange this God-given power for any other limited ordinary powers on earth? Would you risk losing this God-given power just to gain the highly limited financial power or whatever else power? Power to raise the dead and place them in eternal life in heaven. Power to place someone at the right hand of God. If you had this power, would you need more?
Who sent you into that profession? Did you pray for God’s guidance or it was an arrangement and wish of your relatives? Who sent you to that relationship? Your desires? Convenience? Desperation? Or did you pray about it? Who sent you into that marriage? Unexpected pregnancy? Unemployment? Advancing age? Or did you pray for God’s will to be clear on that marriage? Be very clear on who sent you!
The troubles were so great that none of them even saw which miracle would get them out of it. The troubles were so great that praying for salvation seemed like a waste of prayer. It seemed too late to be saved. It seemed like one was tempting God if they prayed for salvation from that situation. It was so bad, that faith required accepting death. They were overwhelmed!
The Bible in our key text today tells us that believers have totally changed. What they were before conversion and what they are now is no longer the same. Because of the gospel and conversion, believers who were previously low rated are now highly rated. The gospel improves your ratings in society!
Intelligence is not a result of only wide reading or genetic advantage from parents. Intelligence is also a result of conversion and faithfulness to Jesus. If you are faithful to God and are hardworking, God will give you mental abilities you never thought you ever possessed. If you abandon God you lose them. Faithfulness to God maintains your mental competence. The knowledge of God boosts our intelligence!
Why does Paul say obedience comes from faith? Do Christians need obedience? Obedience to what? Isn’t faith enough for a believer? Why should faith give birth to obedience? If faith doesn’t give birth to obedience it seems it may be fake faith. What does Paul mean when he tells us that obedience comes from faith?