Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World, Uncategorized

Covenant Revisited: Part I

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God’s children are in a covenantal relationship with Him. It’s a committed, faithful bond in which God graciously promises to be with and for His people, and they respond with trust, obedience, and devotion. It’s not merely a contract but a living relationship marked by love, loyalty, and ongoing renewal. We’ll further unpack God’s relational nature and the covenant with Him in the next two articles, updated from the original 2021 publication.

God has sought partnership with His creation since the beginning of human time, when He charged the first man, Adam, with caring for what He had made. Adam cultivated the garden and named the animals (Genesis 1:26-30 and 2:15-20). From then on, a relational God who endowed humans with the ability to choose Him has regularly sought “I will if you will” engagements.

Probably the earliest example of a two-way covenant with God was the one He established with Abraham. In Genesis 15:1-21 and 17:1-14, we learn that God entered into a relationship with Abraham to fulfill a promise to provide a way back and to redeem creation after Adam and Eve’s rebellion. The covenant was based on an ancient Hittite suzerain-vassal framework that outlined the relationship between the lord of the land and its occupants. The lord demanded complete devotion and allegiance, along with a tithe (10%) of what the land produced. In return, subjects received protection and provision. This was the standard arrangement in Abraham’s time and included a preamble listing the parties involved and a historical prologue providing the “basis of obligation.”

Furthermore, the covenantal agreement included stipulations (terms and conditions), blessings for obedience, and curses for disobedience. Regular readings of the treaty were necessary to keep it foremost in participants’ minds. That God used it should come as no surprise, given that Father and Son have always employed human language, practices, and figures of speech in communicating with us. The lord-servant arrangement was what Abraham knew, and it would have made sense to him. God continued what He had started by reaffirming the agreement through Moses 500 years later.

God remembered His covenant with the people of Israel when they were captives in Egypt (Exodus 2:24). After their rescue by Moses, God confirmed the treaty using the same suzerain/vassal framework:

1.         Preamble/Title: “I am Yahweh your God . . .”          

2.         Prologue: “. . . who brought you up out of the land” (provides obligations and motive).

3.         Stipulations/Obligations: “You shall have no other gods before me. . . .”

4.         Periodic reading of the treaty.

5.         Witnesses.

6.         Curses and blessings.

Additional covenantal artifacts exist in scriptures such as Deuteronomy 4:32-40, 6:4-25, and chapter eight.

In summary, a God who exercises choice created humans with the same ability, and He sought reciprocal relationships with willing participants in the Old Covenant (Old Testament). Next time, we’ll see that this is still the case in the New Covenant.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley (MDiv; DMin)

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World, Uncategorized

Are You ‘Saved?’ – Part Two

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Someone told me this when I was 16: “All you have to do to be saved from hell is believe in Jesus and say this silent prayer.” It sounded too good to be true, and I thought, “Surely, there must be more to a relationship with God!” Now I can tell you that rescue from hell is possible only through an active, two-way relationship (covenant) with Him that we need to foster… do our part… until we die or the world ends. But this isn’t what many Protestants believe.

In Part One of this series, I defined salvation as both a rescue from God’s future wrath (will be saved) and the process of being made whole (being saved). I also noted that salvation involves two main parts: (1) entering a relationship with God and (2) remaining in that relationship. Here, I will expand on these points and explain their elements.

Enter a relationship (covenant) with God. Some believe that everyone is on the fast track to hell unless God occasionally rescues someone. Others teach that everyone will be saved. The truth: Anyone can choose salvation, but not everyone will … or stay if they do.

• Who. “… God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4).

• Why. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3:18—see also 1 John 2:2).

• How. Entry into the relationship, like a marriage, requires experience, decision, and devotion: “He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.” (John 1:7; 20:31) and “… confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved …” (Romans 10:9-10).

Stay in the relationship. Honor God, be charitable to people, and abide (stay).

• Honor God with all you are and have (e.g., Matthew 22:34-40).

• Be charitable (love others through a fruitful faith). “Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share …” (1 Timothy 6:18). Otherwise, “… faith, if it has no works, is dead.” (James 2:17)

• Persevere. “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. … If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away … and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (Matthew 24:13; John 15:6).

Summary. Partner with God for transformation, rescue, and eternal life by devoting yourself fully to Him and remaining in the relationship. What’s next? Many Christians view their connection to a heavenly Father (which should be a covenant) as a one-sided affair with a lovesick God. So we’ll work to better understand it. Meanwhile, honor God, be charitable, love justice and mercy, and focus on purity and spiritual growth.

Blessings and peace,
Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv; DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World, Uncategorized

Are You ‘Saved?’ – Part One

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“Are you saved, brother?” two guys asked me for several days about 40 years ago. I initially replied, “Yep!” Finally, I responded, “I was saved the first time you asked me, and I’m still saved!” What does salvation mean, and how do we attain it? We’ll explore this in a two-part series.

Salvation Defined. In Biblical Greek, it means to rescue, protect, or restore. The specific meaning varies based on the context, and the Bible often describes salvation as a future rescue from God’s end-of-the-world wrath: “… for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5) Meanwhile, we are “being” saved—being made whole (e.g., 1 Corinthians 1:18).

Salvation relies on choosing, engaging in, and maintaining a healthy relationship with God. Therefore, rescue from God’s wrath requires free-will decision and action, as the Bible teaches and the earliest Church affirmed.

What the Bible teaches and the earliest Church believed. Ancient Church fathers (and the Bible!) taught that salvation has two parts: (1) entering a relationship with God; (2) staying in that relationship. Entry requires a decision and dedication (e.g., John 1:7 and 20:31; Romans 10:9-10). Staying requires obeying God’s commands to honor Him and to love others charitably—doing good works (e.g., James 2:14-26; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:18; Hebrews 10:24; Revelation 20:13). As a result, apostles and early Church fathers emphasized that belief and action go hand in hand: “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. … You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:17 & 24).

Staying also requires perseverance: “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. … If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.” (Matthew 24:13; John 15:6). So, who is called by God to believe, devote, and persevere?

Who. God wants everyone to have a relationship with Him (1 Timothy 2:4). So Jesus died to pay the penalty for humanity’s rebellion (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:2). The reality is, though, that not everyone will follow the narrow path to salvation.

The path to salvation. Contrary to popular beliefs, faith alone, silent prayers or fruitless faith will not save you. Instead, the Bible teaches that the way to eternal life follows this basic approach: Experience and decide, devote yourself to God, honor Him, be charitable to people, and stay in the relationship. Dissecting and explaining these steps will be the focus of Part Two.

Summary. Salvation involves being rescued from God’s wrath and experiencing a present transformation. Building and maintaining a relationship with God is essential to navigating these life-changing events. Next time, I will discuss the elements of the pathway that lead to new life and rescue from God’s wrath.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Heavenly Armor: Part Two

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In part one, we learned that evil is everywhere and that we have protective armor and a spiritual sword. The armor consists of these elements:

  • Belt of Truth: Girds us with Christ’s foundational truth.
  • Breastplate of Righteousness: God’s standard that keeps us on the narrow path.
  • Shoes of the Gospel of Peace: The good news of God’s Kingdom being shared with humanity.
  • Shield of Faith: Guards us against fear, doubt, and anxiety.
  • Helmet of Salvation: Confidence in future rescue for those who seek God’s righteousness.
  • Sword of the Spirit: The Word of God that helps discern God’s truth from the lies of the Evil One.

Here, we’ll explore the Shield of Faith, which is built on belief—confidence. The apostle Paul explains that this enables us to hold firmly to the unseen aspects of our Christianity, whether through the Spirit or fulfilled prophecies (Hebrews 10:39 & 11:1). We trust in God and Christ because of what they’ve done, are doing, and will do. It’s like this: you strongly believe you’ll get a paycheck because you have received one consistently in the past. But why do we need a Shield of Faith?

A Shield of Faith helps us stay focused on what we know to be true. It enables us to persevere through trials as we pursue the ‘crown of life’ that awaits God’s children (James 1:12). Faith-driven perseverance also builds character and hope (Romans 5:3-4). Without a heavenly Shield of Faith, we would crumble in despair and doubt, unable to endure life’s struggles. Therefore, we need this shield to overcome difficulties and live spiritually. How do we attain this Shield of Faith?

Experience is essential for developing strong faith, and it can take various forms, such as biblical writings and the proclamation that God’s Kingdom is accessible. “But these [signs performed by Jesus] have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31) Additionally, a healthy fear of God and related knowledge are faith-builders: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

Additionally, we become stronger in everything through discipline; building faith is no different. Study the Bible. Don’t just read the words—study and seek understanding through prayer! Also, pray regularly to adore and thank God, intercede for yourself and others, and confess sinful behavior. Practice your faith through self-control and charity. And when you lack faith (perhaps due to discouragement, doubt, or spiritual immaturity), pray for faith-boosting wisdom (James 1:5-6).

In summary, a Shield of Faith is crucial for overcoming doubt and fear and for fueling our perseverance as we pursue the ‘crown of life.’ It is developed through experiencing God in various ways and through practice. Next time? Let’s explore the fears of a looming third world war from a biblical perspective.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World, Uncategorized

World War III?

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I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve heard or read that we’re on the verge of a third world war (WWIII)! Some even believe the war has already begun. Many, especially Evangelicals, think WWIII is tied to end-of-the-world prophecies. Is this true? Or are people just overreacting? I’ll discuss these questions here to help ease fears or anxiety.

Is World War III starting or about to happen? Probably not. Deep alliances, divisions, and failed diplomacy — like those that led to the first two world wars — aren’t at pre-war levels. And although Jesus showed several signs of the end times, current events don’t match anything more than ‘birth pains’ leading to the end. This has been true for 2,000 years, and it will be, with the frequency and intensity of events foretold by Jesus increasing significantly as the end approaches.

Unfortunately, people often believe that current conflicts and natural disasters indicate the end of the world, leading to fears of a looming global war like biblical Armageddon. However, these predictions have recurred throughout history. For example, the Crusades, the Black Plague, the Napoleonic Wars, both World Wars, the Cold War, and Y2K have caused Christians to think the world was ending. Adding to the confusion are Nostradamus’ cryptic prophecies, which some interpret as signs of imminent disaster or biblical prophetic fulfillment.

It’s true that close alliances and divisions among nations, or an event that triggers a major conflict involving them, can lead to a large-scale war. Territorial expansion, dominance, military buildup, and failed diplomacy might signal a global conflict, as seen with both World Wars. Still, we should focus on hope, not despair—on biblical and historical truths, not on distorted media hype, prophecies, or YouTube sensationalism.

What does the Bible reveal about World War III? Nothing. The Bible does suggest there will be at least two major conflicts: the Armageddon of Revelation 16:12-16 and 19:11-21, and the Gog-Magog war of Ezekiel 38-39 and Revelation 20:8-9. However, neither Armageddon nor the Gog-Magog wars qualify as world wars. Both involve or are against God, and at least the Gog-Magog war targets Israel during a time of peace. Currently, Israel is seen as an aggressor, not a peacetime victim. Also, God is not openly a combatant as He will be in both conflicts I mentioned. Nonetheless, how should we behave?

How should we respond? Paul teaches us to persevere through trials, which builds character and hope (Romans 5:3-4). Jesus also encourages us by saying that those who “endure to the end will be saved” (rescued from God’s wrath to come in the last days—Matthew 10:22 and 24:13). Meanwhile, spend more time honoring God and loving people than watching or reading media outlets!

In short, we’re unlikely to see WWIII or the end of the world anytime soon. Still, we must stay strong and faithful during difficult times. In the next column, I’ll try to unravel the mystery of ‘salvation.’

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Heavenly Armor: Part One

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Evil is everywhere! For example, wicked spiritual beings in an unseen realm influence people and governments: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) Thankfully, God has provided us with various defenses and an offensive weapon to counteract trouble: heavenly armor. Here, I’ll introduce what can keep you safe from ungodly spiritual forces. In Part Two, we’ll focus on its ‘Shield of Faith.’

Here’s an interesting fact: Paul’s description of heavenly armor is partly based on Isaiah 59:16-17, which mentions the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation (below). The context of the Isaiah reference is God arming Himself in wrath as He deals with the unfaithful. This is in direct contrast to Paul’s use of the Old Testament text, which presents heavenly armor—including salvation and righteousness—that humans can wear to repel unwanted spiritual forces. Was Paul being careless or dishonest? No, he was simply using a text that the Jews would have recognized to emphasize clothing ourselves with the same armor God used when fighting evil.

So, wear the six-piece spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6:11-13. There, Paul explains the protection God’s children automatically receive: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” I want to emphasize that ALL of God’s children have access to the heavenly armor. It can be helpful to remember what God has given by imagining ourselves putting them on regularly—maybe every morning? Here are the individual pieces:

Belt of truth. Jesus Christ’s truth secures our faith and provides the foundation of the universal Christian Church.

Breastplate of Righteousness. Just as the breastplate protects the physical heart, the righteousness of Christ protects our mind (spiritual heart.

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace. When we wear them, we share the good news of God’s Kingdom brought near to people through Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection (primarily through behaving as Kingdom citizens).

Shield of Faith. Faith protects us from fear, doubt, or anxiety. God provides more of this when we’re low.

Helmet of Salvation. With it, we can take every thought captive and avoid sinful pursuits, knowing we will be rescued (saved) from God’s wrath.

Sword of the Spirit. This ‘offensive’ weapon is “able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart,” according to Hebrews 4:12. With it, we can discern God’s truth from the lies of the Evil One.

In summary, God has given us the good news of His Kingdom (the gospel of peace), His standard (righteousness), and His ultimate rescue (salvation). We also have the truth Christ taught, protection from doubt (faith), and God’s truth (to combat falsehoods). Next time, we’ll explore faith and the ‘shield of faith’ more deeply before explaining righteousness further.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World, Uncategorized

Spiritual Donuts

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Muscle cars, parking lots, and hot chicks! Yep. You’ve gotta love the seventies and eighties (or not)! Reminiscing, I thought: “Ron! Remember punching the accelerator on your car in a parking lot to hear all the ‘squeaking’ and smell burnt rubber? Remember how you thought the girls would be impressed?” My response to myself: “Well, of course!” And my answer to my reply? “Ron! You were an idiot! You wasted gas, used up perfectly good clutches and tires, and ended up dateless anyway!” Sigh . . . It’s true. But the situation made me think: “Do we do something similar in our Christianity: spin around in circles, pointlessly wasting resources?” The simple answer is YES!

First, let’s look at the God-given resources we often waste or keep to ourselves. These are meant to empower us to be effective partners in introducing people to His Kingdom, and they include spiritual skills, superpowers, and assignments:

Skills. In Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul explains that the Spirit enables people to become Christian apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. You can also add helpers and administrators to the list (1 Corinthians 12:28). For what purpose? To equip others in the Body of Christ to be faithful, helpful, and complete.

Superpowers. Furthermore, the Spirit occasionally empowers us to do really cool stuff at a particular time and for a specific reason according to God’s desires. These ‘superpowers’ include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, spiritual discernment, and human and heavenly languages (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 & 28).

Assignments. We were made, and are equipped, for doing good works (Ephesians 2:10). We must honor God with all we are and have and be charitable (Matthew 22:34-40). And we must make the most of every moment by being righteous as He desires (Ephesians 5:13-21).

Second, spiritually doing donuts by not using our God-given resources and wasting what’s good and meant for others is genuinely robbing God! Sharing what He has given to build up His people is impossible, though, if we don’t hang out with them: “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together . . ..” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Stealing from God, forsaking others, and wasting God-given gifts and skills by ‘spinning spiritual wheels’ will have consequences! For instance, in the parable of the talents: “. . . . Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:14-30) And Jesus repeats this fate in Matthew 25:31-46.

In summary, God wishes to equip you for partnership in this age and the next. Don’t be wasteful or stingy! What about the following article? Let’s uncover how God seeks partners, not affirmation, zombies, or spiritual couch potatoes!

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Christmas, the Retold Story!

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Christmas is filled with traditions, including the story of Jesus’ birth. Some depictions show sheep, camels, and donkeys alongside people in costumes for effect. The event makes us feel happy and can be a fun, family-focused time. But is there more to the story—perhaps behind-the-scenes details that could make it more meaningful if known? Let’s find out.

First, the Son of God, born as a son of man, has existed since at least the creation of our universe (John 1:1-4). Nothing was created without Jesus’ presence and action!

Second, this Son of God had to live and die as a human for a reason: to restore the relationship between the Creator and creation by paying the penalty for the first humans’ rebellion and crushing evil (e.g., Genesis 3:15). Why? Paying the price could only be done by someone who had never rebelled against God. He began sending clues about this coming perfect Savior through various prophets like Isaiah: “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

This Prince was born around 4 BC and was eventually crucified, as the prophet Daniel predicted 500 years before Jesus came to earth (Daniel 9:25-26). His birth brings God’s peace to those He favors (Luke 2:14), but it also sparked Herod’s wrath (Matthew 2:1-12). To protect Jesus, an angel instructed Joseph and Mary to flee to Egypt until Herod died (Matthew 2:13-15). How was such a journey possible? After all, travel and daily life were costly, just as they are now. Let me introduce the wise men.

To truly appreciate their contribution, we need to go back to Persia, 500 years earlier, when Daniel gained great respect and wealth. He was also knowledgeable about Babylonian arts, including astronomy. He knew when Jesus would be born (Daniel 9:25-26) and where (Micah 5:2). 

So, Daniel, the Jew who spent his life in Persia, had treasure, knew how to chart the movements of the stars, and understood where Jesus would be born and the timeframe. Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised that Persian magi (wise men) knew that Jesus fulfilled prophecies and that the alignment of the stars at the time and place of His birth was significant. Daniel’s great wealth was likely the resource that funded Jesus’s trip to Egypt until Herod’s death. Our God is the master orchestrator who crafts everything according to His pleasure! “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

In summary, God and our Christian traditions can bring great blessings, peace, and joy! Where will we go next? Please allow me to encourage you who are “spiritual diamonds” in the making! Meanwhile, give what God desires: charity, justice, mercy, and a pure heart.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

The Tithe: Religion Over Love!

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Recently, I discussed the Old Covenant Law, pointing out that Christians aren’t required to follow its religious or civil rules. Most Christian leaders agree, yet they often push congregants to tithe. However, there is no obligation to do so. Yes, God desires giving — but for charity, not for church expenses under the pretense of an Old Covenant tithe.

The tithe, meaning ‘a one-tenth part,’ was part of the ancient pagan suzerain-vassal (king-servant) covenant system that God adopted to establish His salvation-focused relationship with people, starting with Abram. However, as far as we know, God did not command a tithe until He renewed the covenant through Moses. Then He instructed the eleven tribes who received land to tithe to support the priests, their families, and the temple. Eventually, they disobeyed, which led to starvation and disrepair, prompting a sharp rebuke (Malachi 3:6-15). Today, there are no physical temples or priests: we are the spiritual temple and a priesthood of believers (e.g., 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Peter 2:5), and therefore, do not need a tithe.

So, there was no New Covenant tithe until Constantine reinstituted it in the fourth century to fund religious leaders and buildings. Previously, money was collected only for charity. For example, Paul collected funds from regional churches to support the beleaguered saints in Jerusalem. Additionally, Tertullian wrote: “Though we have our treasure-chest, it is not made up of purchase-money, as of a religion that has its price. On the monthly day, if he likes, each puts in a small donation; but only if it be his pleasure, and only if he be able: for there is no compulsion; all is voluntary. These gifts are . . . to support and bury poor people …”. Today?

Many church leaders misuse Scripture to guilt or excite congregants into tithing for things God never asked for, ignoring charity and discipleship—things that God and Christ commanded. Beyond misinterpreting Malachi 3:6-15, Luke 6:38 is often distorted to promote a tithing pyramid scheme, where giving more money supposedly leads to receiving more. Read it along with verses 1-36, and you’ll see the context is about judging and the exchange of justice and mercy, not tithing. Still, little return is seen from today’s tithes. Fewer than 5% of American churches make disciples that make disciples. Fewer than 20% of church members engage in spiritual disciplines. Typically, less than 1% of church budgets go to missions, and there’s usually nothing allocated for charity or discipleship—the core things we’re called to do. The solution?

Leaders: don’t misuse the Scriptures! Be open about church business needs and teach your people to prioritize charity—starting at home, then within the Body, and finally to others. I could write much more about solving this issue, but I’ve run out of space! Maybe in a future article…

In summary, there’s no New Covenant tithe, but loving others is essential. Next, we’ll revisit “Christmas, the Retold Story!”

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley (MDiv, DMin)

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

The Power Button of Faith

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Last time, I introduced third-century Perpetua as a prime example of unwavering faith. This time, I’ll answer the question, “Ron! Where’s the power switch to activate great faith like she had?” The button’s name is ‘experience.’ Keep pressing it and enjoy an extraordinary life with God here and in the hereafter, just like Perpetua. Alright—let’s explore the experiential ‘power button of faith.’

Everything in the Christian faith revolves around personal encounters and experiences. This includes what we read in the Bible and what we experience throughout our faith journey. For example, people encountered God through dreams and prophecies, which they documented. Others met Jesus as He spoke and healed, and they recorded those moments. Even the historical events, genealogies, love letters, and lamentations in the Bible are documented accounts of real experiences. Engaging with these—by reading, hearing, and seeing—can help build faith after an introduction to God’s Kingdom and making a well-placed choice (Romans 10:9-10).

Experience is essential for strong faith, and it can take many forms, such as biblical writings and the proclamation of God’s Kingdom being near to people. “But these [signs performed by Jesus] have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31) And, according to the apostle Paul: “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14) One more: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

Another kind of experience that can ignite and build strong faith is personal evangelism. Not as you might think, though. I’m not talking about speaking to strangers about things they don’t understand or handing out pamphlets, but representing God’s Kingdom as ambassadors through your actions. What you do matters much more than what you say!

“Alright, Ron. I believe in God through Jesus and have dedicated all I am and have to them (Romans 10:9-10); my faith power button exists. Now what? How do I energize and strengthen it? We grow stronger in anything through discipline; building faith is no different. Study the Bible. Don’t just read the words—study and ask for understanding! Pray regularly to adore and thank God, intercede for yourself and others, and confess sinful behavior. Practice your faith through self-control and charity. And when you lack faith (perhaps due to discouragement and doubt or spiritual immaturity), pray for faith-boosting wisdom (James 1:5-6).

In summary, develop a faith power button through experience, then strengthen it by practicing spiritual disciplines like study, prayer, self-control, charity, and fellowship. For something entirely different, we’ll explore the Old Covenant Law (Instruction) and its role in setting standards, revealing darkness, and understanding God’s nature in the following article.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley