God's Gift

GOD'S GIFT

Here is a very simple sentence: ALL REVELATION IS GIVEN BY GOD! Anybody disagree? How could they? But here's another: FAITH IS REVELATION! Everybody still with me? Okay, let's backup a little.

II Tim 3:(16) "All scripture is given by inspiration (Revelation!) of God, ..." Jn 4:10 "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is (the Gift WHO Gives Is Jesus - Given by God to Give Himself!) that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." Ro 12:(3) "... God hath dealt (given) to every man the measure of faith." [We ALL have faith-to-live, etc]

Mt 16:15-17 "He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (What does YOUR Faith say ["see"]?) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed (Given) it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

Ro 10:16,17 "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, ("Hearing" IS Revelation!) and hearing by the word of God." Ro 1:17 "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed (Given By God) -->from faith to faith<--: as it is written, "The just shall live by faith (Revelation!)."

It might well be said that any "faith" which has not been Given by God cannot be Faith!

Eph 2:8,9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that (Faith!) not of yourselves (is not YOUR faith, but Christ's!): it (the Faith!) is the gift (Grace!) of God: Not of (your) works (but HIS!), lest any man (of you) should boast (except in Christ!)."

Now if you think all this is a bit simplistic, and obvious, just consider: Jesus said (over & over again, as) in Mt 9:22 "But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, "Daughter, be of good comfort; -->thy<-- faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour." And He spoke of "little faith" and "great faith" ..... So many folks lay claim to faith as something they POSSESS, rather than Faith as a Gift from the Father in Heaven! [Our carnal "grip" is DEATH!]

Here's another very simple statement: BELIEVING IS RECEIVING (FROM GOD)! Jesus said the whole Work of the Kingdom was Believing (Jn 6:29). It's for sure God is Giving! - what remains-to-be-seen (REVEALED!) is whether we will RECEIVE [& Become!] what He has REVEALED in Jesus Christ!

Let me illustrate from this section of Scripture: Jn 12:35-41 "Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon (seize & claim) you: [AFTER YOU ARE IN THE LIGHT!] for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light (the Word-Revealed!, God's Gift of Obedience to, & Faith-in-Him), believe in (Me!) the light, [DO it; PROVE it!] (so) that ye may *BE* the children of light (the Father's Word!)."

(NOTE: Believing [Receiving the Light, or Faith] Produces Sons of Faith or Revelation!) "These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself (their Messiah!) from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: (NOTE: Facts; actual demonstrations of SuperNatural Power; prove nothing to an unbelieving (closed, unWILLing) heart!)

It is never for lack of evidence a stubborn, unrepentant, proud heart refuses to accept & receive (Believe!) God's Evidence, which IS Faith! ["Evidence" {God's Testimony} is PROOF!]

"That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed (Received by Faith) our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they -- >could not<-- believe, because that Esaias said again, He (God!) hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him."

NOTE THIS: Judicial blindness & hardness of heart ALWAYS follow, result-from & are the-consequences-of unbelief! Reject God's Word and you CANNOT have God. That is, refuse the Son, and loose the Father! Messiah IS God's Gift of Himself (Who Faithfully Promised) to man! If man refuses Messiah, God says, "So Be it!".

As man has chosen, so it shall be with him! But let every man hear this; at SOME point, there comes a time [because of unbelief] when... "THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE!"

God's Gift? God Offers - but man has the choice! What "gift" is ever forced? And let us remember, as Christ is our Gift of the Giver Himself, so He is ALSO our "WAY" of Receiving - Faith!

He 11:1 "Now faith (CHRIST!) is the substance [Fact] of things hoped for, the evidence [Proof] of things not seen." He Is Provided! Christ Is Given! (Past tense!) The Table is set - "Come and Dine!".