Encouragement

---

WHERE IS THE FAITH
"I tell you that HE will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall HE find faith on the earth?"

Yesterday morning I awoke to pain. . .both of my arms felt as though they were being broken. I felt very off kilter to say the lease. But the physical pain itself did not wake me. What woke me was a nightmare that I had. In this nightmare I was being rejected by someone very close to me. So as I got out of bed yesterday morning the pain of my arms and the pain of my heart was to much. I text message two dear friends and asked them to pray for me. Then I called my husband at work. I told him to be praying for me cause of the nightmare I had was troubling me badly. . .He gave me sound advice to let it go and go on. But the mere thought of this individual who was in my dream rejecting me really crushed me terribly. . .as I was talking to my dear husband I suddenly started getting sick on my stomach. I let him go and went into my kitchen and took two tylenol and went back to bed. By the time my head hit the pillow I felt as though I was going to absolutely die. I was so sick and in so much pain all I could do was close my eyes. I drifted off and a few hours later I got up. By this time it was in the afternoon. I wasn't sick anymore and my arms were not hurting. . .but the memory of the dream came back I immediately recognized what was going on. . .I was being attacked by the enemy of my heart. I rebuked him in the name of JESUS and quoted 2 Timothy 1:7. . .the rest of the day was much better than the beginning to say the lease. . .

Tonight as I was thinking and praying about what devotion to share with you I came across a question in the bible that really stood out to me.

Luke 18:8
"I tell you that HE will avenge them speedily, Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall HE find faith on the earth?"

In the verses before this JESUS had shared a parable about a woman who asked a judge to avenge her of her enemy. This judge neither feared GOD nor really respected men. So he was slack in doing anything about this woman's plea. But finally after so long of this woman bothering him the judge answered her plea. Jesus goes on and says in Luke 18:7 "And shall not GOD avenge HIS own elect, which cry day and night unto HIM, though HE bear long with them?"

The title of this devotion ask a question "Where is the Faith?" This question is not all aimed at you but at me as well. We can not please GOD if we have no faith. . .Faith is indeed putting our full trust in HIM. . .believing what HE says. . .and going forward in the truth. This is how come JESUS said in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. . ." We will never go forward in life if we lack faith. We can never grow into maturity as a child of GOD if we lack faith.

The nightmare had caused me to fear. . .fear in itself often times leads to a selfish resolution and it lacks faith. I was afraid of loosing this person but I was more afraid of being hurt by their rejection even though none of this really happened cause it all stemmed from a bad dream. The enemy of our souls will try anything to sway our faith in JESUS. . .Tonight these doubts starting rolling around in my head. . .actually it was persistant questions. . .about the character of GOD. Needless to say I had to call myself down. I kept asking GOD why were these questions floating around in my mind. But I made up my mind that I need not question anything that GOD is GOD. In truth that is the answer we all need to understand. Even as I write this it has been revealed to me the reason for these questions were due to the lack of Faith on my part.

Let's break down this verse:

I want to share this commentary I found on Luke 18:8


Luke 18:8


This sobering scripture aims directly at anyone who is left standing, so to speak, at His coming. Christ looked down through the millennia, and saw us—looked into our hearts—and wondered, "Where is the faith?"
What faith is Jesus talking about? It cannot be in His existence because even the demons believe that (James 2:19). Demons also have a great deal of respect for God's power and sovereignty. What the demons do not believe in is God's love and all that springs from it. For instance, how could Satan have rebelled if he really believed in God's love for him? Perhaps the original iniquity found in Satan, the start of all trouble, was his lack of faith in God's love for him—"for whatever is not from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). That faithlessness led to pride and vanity and ultimately to rebellion.
When Christ returns, will He find a people who believe how much God loves them and therefore will trust in Him no matter what the physical evidence looks like? That is the faith Christ is talking about in verse 8.
In the preceding verses, Christ contrasts the unjust judge, who could not care less, to the true God, who could not care or love more. The underlying subject of the parable is God's faithfulness and love, and Jesus gave it to encourage our faith in the Father's love.
Then, in verse 8, Christ says, "I tell you that [the Father] will avenge [the elect] speedily," followed immediately by, "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" A definition for nevertheless is "in spite of that." God will act speedily in His great love for us, yet in spite of that fact, people in the end time will still have difficulty believing in the depth of His love.
Our salvation depends on believing how special we are to God—how much He loves us. Jesus says in verse 1, "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart." Along with prayer, this parable teaches us about not losing heart—enduring to the end. Knowing how much God loves us can give us the courage and hope we need to face and endure what is ahead.
Lamentations 3:21-23 (RSV) tells us what we have to remember and believe if we are to have the right kind of hope: "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness."
(to read more go to http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/25697/eVerseID/25697 )

It is kind of odd how you will think about something and later that very thing will pop up. Early today the book of Lamentations was brought to my mind. I made a mental note that I needed to study this book and I went on. But as I read this commentary there is a reference to Lamentations. So I went to Lamentations chapter 3 to read it for myself. So I would like to share these scriptures with you.

In Lamentations 3 Jeremiah starts off with a cry of despair:

Lamentations 3:1-18

1I AM the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
2He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
3Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.
4My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.
5He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
6He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
7He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
8Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
9He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
10He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
11He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.
12He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
14I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.
15He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
16He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.
17And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.
18And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:

Jeremiah the prophet of GOD wrote the book of Lamentations after the fall of Jerusalem which took place when Babylonian invaded. In fact Lamentations describes the funeral of a city. After 9/11 many Americans felt the fear and felt as though GOD had disappeared or handed us over for destruction at the hand of our enemies.

In chapter 1 of Lamentations in verse 1 Jeremiah writes: "How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!"

Many of us today boast that America is the greatest country in the world but sadly we have all forgotten how quickly and very easily we could loose all that we have just ask a person who survived the attacks of 9/11 in New York City. In Jeremiah's time Jerusalem was a great city but he watched it fall under the invasion of the babylonians. You see folks we are not much different from those who lived and walked this earth in times past.

You may wonder if GOD is love then why would HE allow such things to go on? In my past I viewed GOD as a mean oppression but this was a lie straight from the enemy. . .GOD is a just GOD. He requires of us to reverance HIM, walk in HIS ways and love HIM with all our heart and soul (Deuteronomy 10:12) We as America boast loudly that we are one nation under GOD. . .REALLY? GOD brings us to attention and often times it is not a pleasant experience to say the lease. . .why does HE such measures to get our attention. . .because of the hardeness of our hearts. . .our stubborness and rebellion against HIM! Let us look further into chapter 3 of Lamentations. . .

Verses 1-18 was Jeremiah's cry of despair but starting with verse 19 we see that Jeremiah starts to renew his mind. . .another words he brought to rememberance the HOPE he has in GOD. Let us read. . .

Lamentations 3:19-39

19Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
20My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
28He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
29He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
30He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
31For the LORD will not cast off for ever:
32But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
34To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.
35To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
36To subvert a man in his cause, the LORD approveth not.
37Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
38Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
39Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

Jeremiah renewed his hope in the LORD. . .need we go to Romans 12:2 Be ye not conformed to this world but be ye transformed renewing the mind daily. . . It is often easy when we are in the midst of the trails and tribulations of this life that we forget the promises of GOD. . . This best way to remember something is to write it down. . .GOD knew this about us so what did HE do for us. . .HE gave us HIS WORD. . .the BIBLE. . .often times we plunder different avenues to find answers to the situations in our lives and come back empty handed but GOD's word never fails. . .and trust me there is an answer for everything in the word of GOD. . .
Let us continue to go deeper in Lamentations chapter 3

Lamentations 3:40-54

40Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
41Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.
42We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.
43Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
44Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.
45Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.
46All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.
47Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
48Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
49Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission.
50Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.
51Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.
52Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
53They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.
54Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.

Instead of running around like a chicken with his head cut off (like I often to do) Jeremiah made his plea before the LORD. . .I mean he pours his whole heart out to the LORD the condition of his need. Sure God already new Jeremiah and Jerusalem's need but GOD is looking for those who are faithful to HIM. .. If a child was in need and you were their parent and you knew what they needed but seeing how that child is an adult you wouldn't want to butt in to their lives to sort of speak (another words you would not force yourself upon them) instead you would wait for them to ask of you. . .if your child never had faith in you to help them would you be able to help them? Could you help them? You see GOD can jump in at any given time to do whatever HE wants to. . let us not limit HIS power in our feeble minds. . .but the fact remains would we accept HIS help? Without faith it is truly impossible to please the ALMIGHTY GOD. . .again I do tell you to GOD all things are possible there is no limit to HIM. . .but by having Faith in HIM is truly our putting the word LOVE into action. . .and that is what GOD is looking for. . .not lip service!

Now in the last part of Lamentations chapter 3 we see Jeremiah has truly gained confidence in GOD. . .the chapter started off with Jeremiah crying in despair then he reminded himself of who GOD was another words HE made a confession of Faith, then Jeremiah took his need before the LORD and now we see that Jeremiah has placed his full confindence in the LORD. . .

Lamentations 3:55-66

I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.
56Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
57Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
58O LORD, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.
59O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.
60Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.
61Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;
62The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
63Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.
64Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
65Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.
66Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.

It is only by faith do we receive salvation. . .should we just have faith for salvation and that be all? NO. . .faith is what opens the doors of your heart to GOD. . .nothing else. . .HE desires our full trust in HIM. . .HE wants us to have confidence in HIM. . .notice in verse 57 that Jeremiah said. . .That GOD drew near to him when he called upon GOD and GOD told Jeremiah "FEAR NOT!"

The same GOD who spoke to Jeremiah speaks to us as well. . .GOD's word does not change. . .Heaven and earth shall pass away but HIS word shall not. . .

Life as we know it changes from day to day. . .we each struggle and we each go through suffering. . .we are not alone we do have someone GREATER than us. . .HE IS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA. . .HE IS GOD. . .the FATHER. . .

At the beginning of this devotion I related the question that JESUS asked. . ."When the SON of man comes shall HE find faith on the earth?" What about you? Can JESUS look at you and find faith in HIM. . .I ask the same question of myself. . .

IF GOD IS FOR US THEN WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?

Let not our hearts be troubled when the waves of troubles wash over us Let not our souls stumble though we walk through the fires of life for as long as we have faith in JESUS neither will destroy us. . .

I encourage each of you to really dig into the word of GOD as I say this I speak to myself to do the same. . .doubt gives place to the enemy we need to always keep on the guard for that liar and destroyer. . .for by faith in the LORD we have a shield and HIS NAME IS JESUS!

GOD SAYS IT AND IT IS SO. . .GOD IS GOD. . .WE CAN RELY ON HIM . . .HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS. . .LET US NOT GROW STALE IN DOUBT. . .BUT LET US PRESS FORWARD IN TRUTH. . .AND JESUS IS THE TRUTH!

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE