Acting in faith

Lord Jesus. I pray that my pursuit of a partnership with Saddleback Church on BoW is pleasing to you.

It is, Michael. You have much to do, but I will provide the means to do it.

What does that mean, specifically?

I want you to trust me Michael. Choose obedience and bring yourself more closely into my presence and will. Be there and my will provides for itself.

That’s an interesting distinction. You don’t provide for me, you provide for your will?

I bless you and provide for myself.

So if I donate my money to launch BoW, then is that your provision?

No, Michael. That is your obedience, which brings you into my will. I have blessed you and you are to obey by allowing that blessing to bless others. Once you are in my will, things will seem to ‘take off’.

So it’s like an act of faith.

No Michael. It’s an act of obedience. Faith is not what many think it is. Faith is not blind hope. Faith is putting your trust in something. When you obey me, you are acting in faith.. You are obedient because you trust me.

Are you distinguishing saying “act of faith” and “acting in faith”?

In a way, yes. Words carry great importance. The misplacement of a comma can mean the difference between truth and perversion.

So what’s the distinction? I’m not seeing it.

The distinction is in the intent. An “act of faith” implies that you are doing something because of some hope in something. “Acting in faith” means that what you are doing is done within the context of faith or trust.

I still don’t get it.

Read my words.

…

With an “act of faith” the intent is on a false hope? While “acting in faith” means that you’re operating within trust?

Yes, Michael.

That seems like such a minute difference in words.

Michael, false hope is not the same thing as trust. False hope is a path to destruction.

Is an “act of faith” necessarily based on a false hope?

Think about your own experience, Michael. If you were to do something as an “act of faith” what would that entail or signify to you?

It would signify that I am doing something in spite of what I think I should or in spite of what I think is ‘safe’ in trust that the result or consequence will be favorable, or of your will.

No Michael. You’re confusing yourself. Think about it again.

Performing an “act of faith” would be like tithing when I don’t really want to.

Yes Michael. Good example.

Ok, how so? I’m not really sure how I came up with that.

That’s because it was from me. When you tithe despite not really wanting to, is that an “act of faith” or is that “acting in faith”?

Um… isn’t it both?

Let me help. It’s not both. Tithing despite not wanting to means that you are doing something with the hope (a false hope) that you will be blessed in some way or even that other people will see your act and look favorably upon it. That is not the same as “acting in faith”. Being “in faith” means that you are in my will, and that you understand what I expect from you, or rather the laws of right living that I have established, and you know (not hope, but know) from prior experience in relationship with me that my will and guidance can always be trusted for your good. It’s the difference between a reluctant giver and a cheerful giver.

Ok, I suppose I see the point. I’ll act in faith and trust you.

Michael, don’t dilute what I’m teaching you here.

I wasn’t trying to.

You’re trying to make light of something that I want you to take seriously and understand. When you make light of something, you risk not learning from it and just passing by the lesson.

Ok. I’m sorry Lord.

Start by bringing yourself into intimate communion with me. Then trust and acting in faith will be the fruit.

Ok. Thank you Lord.

Good night Michael.