Remote Control Faith

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 7003 Location: USA

Have you ever used a remote control? Maybe while watching television you've flicked between channels, or while crossing the road you have remotely locked your car. We now have remote-control air-conditioning, remote-control garage door openers, and even remote-control lawnmowers. And the sole attraction of
using a remote control is so that you can avoid having to go anywhere near an appliance in order to operate it.

And sadly, all too often in the Christian Church we have a remote-control faith. We believe that if we learn the right verses and the right formulas, we can operate God by remote control. We press the button and, beep! God does it! Beep! God heals us! Beep! God provides for us! We are a Church enamored with the next formula. We attend the seminars. We read the books. Like the disciples, we search for the one missing formula that will at last make everything work for us.

But faith is not a remote-control experience. In fact, it is just the opposite. Faith is not about getting God to do things for you; it is about God getting you to do things for him. Faith is not about getting God to participate in your purposes; it is about you actively participating in the purposes of God.
Copyright © 1999, The Online Bible College.
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JP's Mind - my blog

lone-traveler · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:44 am Post subject:

Hey Rev!!!

My day is shining cause of you!! Very Happy

Lots of wisdom in those words.

Amen

Lone
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Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

FFT · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 12:05 pm Post subject:

Matthew 17:20
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When Science was in its crib, Religion tried to strangle it. When Science was in its infancy, Religion tried to abuse it. Now that Science is grown up, Religion wants to be in its good graces.

Theology is philosophy/ethics for people who already know what conclusion they want to come to.

lone-traveler · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:48 pm Post subject:

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

JP Wrote:
Faith is not about getting God to do things for you; it is about God getting you to do things for him. Faith is not about getting God to participate in your purposes; it is about you actively participating in the purposes of God.

I see this Rev..

It is actively using our faith for the purposes of God.

So if God says to me not to Judge someone, then I have to actively use my faith in God to accomplish this purpose of not judging.
To me judging is a mountain and daily I need to excercise my faith in God not to judge another.
Even if I have faith the size of a mustard seed, I am still able to overcome my desire (this mountain) to judge another.

God teaches us something everyday. And sometimes we fall down, but God gives us grace to stand up again.
We don't have God remove these mountains for us. God supplies us with the faith and power to remove them ourselves.

Thats how I see it..
Peace
Lone
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Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.