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FAITH vs. reasoning (Part Two)

Continuing on with our discussion about having faith as opposed to relying on reasoning, let’s look at an infamous example in the bible that illustrates the striking difference between the two, and draw some God-given wisdom from it that we can utilize for our own lives.

One evening, while Jesus was with His disciples, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side” (Mark 4:35).  Then the Lord, along with His disciples, embarked on a boat, and set sail, in order to reach the other side as Jesus promised. Not long afterward, a “great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling (Mark 4:36).  As frightening as waves beating against the boat, and the boat filling with water, may have seemed to Jesus’ disciples, it really was no trouble at all.  The reason being that, before the strong winds ever blew, the rain ever fell or any water filled the boat; Jesus gave His disciples a promise.  Jesus, who cannot lie, spoke an unfailing word to His disciples, and that word alone was more than enough to get them to the other side (Numbers 23:19).  You see, the word of God goes out of God’s mouth (Jesus is God in the flesh) and it doesn’t come back void or empty, but it must accomplish the purpose for which God sent the word (1 Timothy 3:16; John 1:1 & Isaiah 55:11). Therefore, no wind, rain or tempest could stop God’s word from coming to pass!  The good news for us is that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, and whatever He promises us, is likewise unstoppable (Hebrews 13:8).

The disciples thought the trouble was, the boat filling with water, but Jesus knew the real trouble was that their hearts were filling with fear instead of faith. Notably, Jesus, however, who was inside the same circumstance as the disciples, because Jesus was on the same boat as them, was sound asleep during the storm. Not heavy rain, strong wind, or accumulating water awakened Jesus, but the terrified cry of His own, woke Him up immediately.  So what was the drastic difference between Jesus and His disciples at that moment?  Jesus was operating in faith, and thus, He lay sound asleep while the devil gave it his best shot, while the disciples were operating in reasoning, and thus, they were filled with fear, deeply troubled, and falsely accusing Jesus of not caring about their well-being (Mark 4:38).  This happened because, the disciples relied on they’re reasoning, taking into full account everything their senses responded to, while counting the promise Jesus made them null and void.  The disciples saw the rain and felt the wind, therefore they reasoned, “We’re going down, regardless of what God-Himself just promised us.”  Jesus, however, using faith, while in the same windstorm, didn’t even so much as open an eye to see what was happening, but slept soundly in the midst of hell’s raging storm.  Jesus counted the devil’s attempt to terrify as nothing, and believed the word He spoke would stand.

It is obvious from what happened next that the real trouble was never what the devil was doing with the weather, it was the disciples lack of faith.  After Jesus shut down everything hell was doing with just one word, “Shalom,” He corrected His disciples asking them, “Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:39-40).  Jesus didn’t address at all the outside climate-conditions; He addressed the real issue, the trouble that got inside of them when they reasoned, instead of having faith.  That is still the real issue today for every believer, because we are not called to fight the devil…he is already defeated (Hebrews 2:14-15).  That is an outside issue.  We are, however, called to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). That is an inside issue.  The way to have our inner-man strong, and steadfast, is to operate in faith, and renounce to reasoning.

Remember, it was reasonable for the disciples to think; there is a raging storm, strong winds and a boat filling with water, therefore, there is but one reasonable conclusion: Both them, and that boat they are on, is surely sunken.  But that wasn’t faith.  And because the disciples were filled with reasoning, they filled with fear and were devoid of the power to shut hell’s mouth.  Jesus, who refused to even take into account whatever the devil was purporting to do; was filled with faith, devoid of fear, and thus, possessed the power to speak just one word and destroy everything hell set out to do!  I don’t know about you, but I prefer to renounce reason, rely on faith, and have the power to change everything around me for the better…with just one word!

Therefore, let us walk by faith, and not by sight (reasoning), and have the very power God has already put inside of us manifest whereby we simply speak, and everything we speak to; changes from evil to good…with a single word!

 

6 thoughts on “FAITH vs. reasoning (Part Two)”

  1. I definitely like and feel moved by the work that you are doing here. Looking forward to many people being blessed come as result of your sharing. So please, keep sharing! Blessings!

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