RAPTURING FAITH
Rom 1:116 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. AMP
People question their faith. If you have been saved, you have faith. Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
You have been given a measure of faith – a measure that can be increased. So there is some with little faith and great faith.
WHY WORRY
Luke 12:28 “If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?”
Others have more faith than they realize. The Centurion and his servant - Luke 7:9 “When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, I’ say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!’”
Some have bulldog faith and may not even be saved. Others have common faith. The hyssop in Egypt which they applied the blood with, was a type of common faith, it was common and could be found anywhere.
So then, it is possible to have more faith. Every age had its measure of faith, but in this age it will take more faith – faith to rapture! How will we have it or how do we get it? Or do we already have it?
As Christians our faith increases, from faith, to faith. Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed…
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Note: Some hear and do not have faith – Israel is an example.
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
WILLIAM BRANHAM
The prophet (William Branham) knew that more faith was needed and stored up food – “Spiritual Food in do Season.”
We are looking for a rapture and resurrection. It is our faith, that will bring them out of the grave. Yes, they went into the ground having the same spirit of Christ, faith in Christ that will bring them up. But they are waiting on us – Heb 11:40.
There is a waiting time for the conditions of the day and our faith to meet. The conditions, modern events, must catch up to the prophecy.
Rev 13, the beast (Rome), the antichrist, the lamb (United States) speaking as the dragon (the beast Satan). Those conditions become evident. The resurrections and Rapture of the living bride takes place. The tribulation sets in – the condition gets caught up. They are getting caught up now.
People are waiting on something or someone to give them rapturing faith. Remember the 3rd pull, and the revelation of those thunders (Rev 10) are tied in with having rapturing faith.
I believe it is here, that was the purpose of the Seventh Angel (Rev 10:7), the conditions must be right for we, the living saints, to grow into it (rapturing faith).
We can’t make it happen. Many have waited for it, with great faith. Bro Branham said, if he lived, he wouldn’t be an old man when these things come. He also said, if I do not have the faith to see it happen, I do not want to stand in someone’s way that can have that faith.
So, what I am saying is this; Many have lived and died under expectations of the rapture.
The rapture is not an “escape hatch” from the responsibility we have in life. Luther, believed the doctrine of the rapture was heresy, because of that concept. We must live as believers on this earth, overcoming sin. Live and die – there is a balance in this.
Live – with joy, occupying while having an expectation of something better that is promised. If you don’t have the faith to bring it to pass, and go by the way of the grave, you are not going to stand in someone else’s way that will.
Like the song writer said, “If you don’t go, it won’t hinder me…”
We will always have, and we must have, while we live, trials and persecutions. It will get harder and harder, and it is, we could call it “the squeeze.” But I believe it will be a religious squeeze more than anything else – apostacy.
What does these things do? Does it give us more faith? I don’t think so. It is because of our faith we have these things in the degree we do, remember Job. It didn’t give him more faith but proved his faith. When we are able to rejoice in them, you glory in tribulation, knowing they work patience (perseverance), experience (character), and hope in you – poured out into our hearts (Rom 5:3-4).
SUFFERING
1. Makes us better people here.
2. Works patience or perseverance.
3. Builds Character.
4. Creates love in our hearts, and brings us closer together.
5. Gives a hope of a better life here and hereafter.
How can we have more faith in these difficult times (Rapturing Faith)?
We of ourselves cannot produce more faith. Faith is given by God. Christ is the organizer and the finisher (completer) of our faith (Heb 12:2).
He giveth more grace, so with it more faith (James 4:6). More faith is given when more faith is needed!
The thing that will increase our faith is recognizing the finished work at Calvary. There is no special anointed preacher or prophet can do that. Yes, the gift, that comes from God, can bring you God conscious, that you are in His presence. There is a voice behind any GIFT OF GOD, therefore, it is not the gift, but the Voice behind it, that produces it. Do what it says, it’s God speaking!
RAPTURING FAITH is rapturing grace – grace and faith are associated together. Faith is a revelation, and the faith for rapture is the same - Ps 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
How will it be and how is it done? You don’t need to know how it will be done. I don’t know how God can take a vile sinner and make a saint out of them. But I believe it! If you or I could explain it, it wouldn’t be faith!
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Pastor Bill Ivy, Living Word Tabernacle, Campbell Missouri USA – www.livingwordtabernacle.com