disciplehelovestoo

1Co 15:56 KJV (56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. Adam and Eve lived a perfect life, until God gave them a law to follow, and until that time that they became aware of the law, they were abiding by it; then shortly after the law came, they did the one thing He told them no to do. ever steal a cookie from the cookie jar after eating a few with permission? did you notice how much more desirable that cookie was than the one just like it that you were allowed to have? there's just something about our flesh that hates laws - the more our flesh becomes focused on the law, the more our flesh wants to violate the law. take a bunch of kids and put them in a playroom with toys for a while, and watch for a toy that they don't choose to play with. then tell them that they can play with any toy in the room except that one, and see what happens...they'l lust after the heretofore ignored but now forbidden toy - they'll focus on it even though they weren't interested in it at all before you laid down the law. and if they know that you're watching them closely to see if they violate your law, it will make them ever more tempted to violate your law - as long as you keep them focused on it. do you share racy pictures of yourself with your husband? what works for her will work for you - treat him in the ways that she does that keeps his focus on her, and it will shift his focus to you. stop keeping tabs on him - God will let you know what you need to know about his faithfulness, and all you're accomplishing is increasing his flesh desire to violate your law; after all, so far he has obviously resisted that temptation, although your confidence that he will slip up (as evidenced by your closely looking for that to happen) is driving his flesh in that direction. everybody has flesh to deal with - minister selfless love, as only this overcomes the law - it's goodness that causes repentance, not suspicion or judgment (even if justified by law) - only mercy and grace triumph over transgression

have you ever been distracted when someone was speaking to you? maybe you were having a serious conversation in the kitchen, and right in the middle of someone trying to tell you something, you hear a pot of pasta boil over and dash to correct it, only to realize afterward that you didn't hear what they said, even though they were speaking? God is never silent; but often i find that when He is trying to tell me something, i am so distracted that i don't hear Him even though He's speaking; and this is usually because He's telling me something that my flesh does not want to hear. maybe God wants you to learn how to hear Him tell you how to fix your marriage, and you're listening to the pastor and other people instead - like listening for the pot to boil over as a priority over listening to someone who's trying to tell you how to keep the pot from boiling over... God didn't reconcile your marriage; you did - and the way you did this was to strive to hear Him and follow His leading; now you must not get distracted from Him so that you will hear Him tell you how to restore the joy in your marriage as He speaks what does your husband blame you for when you try to talk to him about your marriage? that is likely what is distracting him from hearing you

you might calmly and without sarcasm or judgment ask him if he would be willing to give up one of your existing 4 children to adoption in order to have this miracle child that came naturally; if he's says no, ask him how he could choose to give up his 5th child instead - but ask calmly and without sarcasm or judgment this hasn't caught God by surprise; and to be frank, it shouldn't catch you by surprise either - you've no doubt prayed many times to have a child naturally, and you know how children come and have obviously taken the required step (even if you weren't in faith that it would be fruitful when you took that step); and now that your prayers have been answered, your tears are not of joy, but of sadness - change your focus to God's faithfulness in answering your prayers; trust Him to know exactly what needs to be done for your husband to embrace this blessing and receive spiritual rebirth; don't be moved by your feelings of fear - if God can strengthen you and your husband and provide for the two of you and 4 children, would a 5th child tax His ability to provide for you and strengthen you? turn your tears of sadness at what things look like at this moment to tears of joy of what this 5th child will be like years from now when the question of how you'll 'make it through' this blessing has been revealed. your fears infect your husband because of the spiritual authority you have as a reborn believer (authority that he does not have as a currently-lost man); your faith can have the opposite effect, and your joy can infect him as well - but you have to 'put on' joy sometimes like you would put on a winter coat; when you first put on a winter coat, it takes a while for your body's heat to warm the coat (you even feel more cold when you first put it on than you did before you made the decision to put it on), and then you become warm - put on joy; when you first put on joy, it takes a while for your reborn spirit to warm your emotions (you even feel more sadness when you first put on joy by faith than you did before you made the decision to 'put on joy'), and then you become 'full of joy unspeakable'; and the joy of the Lord IS your strength Neh 8:8-10 KJV (8) So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. (9) And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. (10) Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

if she's under pressure to act different from her nature at work, she will be prone to act different from her nature in the opposite way when she's not at work. maybe you just need to accept the fact that you aren't likely to get the behavior you want from her in this life; if you can adjust your expectations, you'll automatically adjust your reactions as well. Mat 5:43-48 BBE (43) You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you: (44) But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you; (45) So that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven; for his sun gives light to the evil and to the good, and he sends rain on the upright man and on the sinner. (46) For if you have love for those who have love for you, what credit is it to you? do not the tax-farmers the same? (47) And if you say, Good day, to your brothers only, what do you do more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same? (48) Be then complete in righteousness, even as your Father in heaven is complete.

Heb 3:7 KJV(7) Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

if you turn on your radio and get static; do you assume that the radio station is off the air, or do you assume that there might be something wrong with your radio? Heb 3:7 KJV (7) Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, God is always speaking to you - but you must 'incline your ear'; what have you been asking Him about?

1Sa 28:8 KJV (8) And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. '...divine unto me by the familiar spirit...' this to me is a key phrase; and interprets what follows in this account. Lev 20:27 KJV (27) A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. clearly, a familiar spirit is not one faithful to God, but to the devil Joh_8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Jesus makes it clear that the devil is a liar; therefore a familiar spirit is also a liar - the 'person' that the witch 'brought up' was not Samuel, but a demonic spirit familiar with Samuel who went by the same name and appearance to deceive - therefore nothing that the witch or the familiar spirit posing as Samuel said can be trusted as from the Lord; remember that satan quoted scripture to Jesus during His temptation - but he didn't quote it exactly - he changed it slightly to suit his own evil purpose; a lie has it's base in truth, but is not trustworthy...

you're looking for something in the physical world - a 'sign' - to tell you what God wants you to do; but if you get a sign, how will you know it's from God? think back to when you proposed to her - what were your motives? was it because of the way she makes you feel? because of what she does for you? if so, then you proposed out of love for self rather than love for God. take some time to work this out - don't look for outward, physical signs, because none can be certain - get quiet before God in your mind and seek the option that gives you the most peace Col 3:12-17 KJV (12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

as long as you expect her to change, you'll be a part of her cycle - you must change in order to break free of sharing this cycle with her. your hurt comes from unfulfilled expectations you have of her - first, you have to realize that God's forgiveness is not based on her performance; but right now, yours is - you've got to be mindful of His unconditional forgiveness as you deal with her in order to avoid receiving hurt; you have to learn to forgive her before she disappoints you. you're looking at her actions; try looking at her heart - she's 'looking for love in all the wrong places' as the song says, and therefore she isn't finding it - but she is looking for love, and God IS Love, so she's looking for God - if you can see it this way, it will help you minister to her more effectively. God wants someone to show her unconditional love through - and you're a good candidate for Him to use - remember that it's the goodness of God that causes lasting change, not the harshness of the law of performance. strive to treat her as you would if she was actually meeting your expectations now; look for opportunities to tell her about God's unconditional love, and focus on helping her to come into fellowship with Him - His intervention is the only thing that will cause her to change, and He needs someone in a flesh body to speak and act through. as you shift your focus from how she affects you and others, to how you can affect her through selfless love, you'll become less and less susceptible to receiving hurt from her, and more effective at showing God's goodness to her. God has faith in you; that's why He chose you - agree with Him!

you need to understand forgiveness in order to receive it. Jesus paid the price for the sins of the whole world, but not everyone in the world will receive that forgiveness. not only did God forgive you for all your sins some 2000 years before you were even born, He also forgave your Mom for all her sins. you carry deep hurt from your mother because you see yourself as a victim; this indicates that you have not forgiven her - or more importantly - you have not acknowledged that GOD has forgiven her - even if she rejects His forgiveness. in order to help her change for the better, you must forgive her first - you see, only victims can forgive; because once they do, they are no longer victims - they become victors as long as you see yourself as a victim, you will deal with her in judgment - there can be no victim without wrong, and wrong can only be determined through judgment. once you forgive, you can deal with her in mercy and grace - the way God deals with both you and her. receive your forgiveness, and forgive her - she will always be your mother, no matter what she does, and you owe her your very flesh.

the bible doesn't say much about marriage; but it does say a lot about selfless love. the world's love says 'i love you and i need you'; which really means 'i love you for what you do for me - and if you don't do things for me, i won't love you' - this is actually 'i love me' i'm saying this out of love (whenever i hear someone say that to me, i can be sure i won't like it when i first hear it...) what would your husband post here in response? would he say that you never listen to him because you're always expressing your own feelings; or would he say that you always give him a chance to speak his mind without ridiculing him? would he say that you always complain about him, or that you always speak well of him? would he say that you help him save to be able to give your future children a good home, or that you spend more than you make? go back and look at your post - how much of it is concerned with what's best for him? you can get a divorce and easily find another husband if you're outwardly attractive, but if you want to have a mate whose focus is on your good, you'll have to be that kind of mate to your husband rather than lament what he isn't doing for you

so what IS the 'prayer of faith' that saves the sick? well, what is faith if it's not belief in God's word in spite of all reports to the contrary? so before you can pray the prayer of faith that saves the sick, you need to know what God's word says about healing; and you have to set your heart to believe God's word on healing above all other reports - no matter what grandma's experience was, or what you heard a preacher say from the pulpit, or what the medical industry says, or what your own body is 'telling' you. God's word says that by the stripes of Jesus we are/were healed - so is the prayer of faith one in which we plead with God to do something more than taking those stripes as Jesus? God's word says that we are to speak to our mountains about God and that those mountains will obey us if we believe in our hearts and not doubt - so is the prayer of faith one in which we update God about our mountains and ask HIM to take further action? and for those who require 'scientific proof'; can your faith be in God's word if you require agreement from man? Father God, thank you for the great love You have for the sick! thank You that Your word clearly says that sickness is part of the curse of the law, and that as reborn believers, we are free of the curse of the law because Jesus took that curse for us! thank You that even if we don't understand how Jesus taking a brutal whipping in our place healed us, that we can Trust Your faithfulness that this is Truth! Lord, we yield to Your instructions and speak to our mountains of sickness; we speak to sickness directly and rebuke it as You did as Jesus, and we curse the sickness in our bodies and command sickness to die from the roots up as You did the fig tree. Lord, we yield to Your instructions and speak to our mountains of disability, and command our bodies to receive the wholeness that You as Jesus paid for so dearly! and we resolve to not be moved by any other report - whether it be experience (our own or others'), or reports from the medical industry, or even the report of our own bodies - and we know that if we continue in believing to see Your goodness in the land of the living by meditating on Your words rather than all the reports to the contrary, that we will NOT faint from faith in Your words of life and health and blessing, and we will eventually see the healing and restoration that You have promised come to pass! thank You Father God that this is the victory that overcomes our world - even our faith in YOU!

no, the scripture tells us that: Mat 10:8 KJV (8) Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. somehow i missed all the scripture that you provided in your posts, such as this one above... it's too late to convince me; i've seen it in the scripture and am living the wonderful results - i'm not going to try and force you to be well, so you'll get the last word in your next post

not sure what you're asking, or what you're driving at - i don't need to ask God to heal anyone any more than i need to ask God to save anyone - He's fully motivated to heal and save everyone, and has already made both healing and forgiveness available to everyone, and He's made that plain in His word - so plain that you have to have help to misunderstand that - but only those who believe and fight doubt receive. is Jesus getting crucified every time that someone receives spiritual rebirth today? or are they responding in faith to what He made available by grace at the cross over 2000 years ago? do all receive spiritual rebirth? or only those who believe and fight doubt? and yet healing is somehow different???

LOL - getting a bit offended aren't you? i never said anything even close to God being my 'djinni' to do my bidding - i said that we follow His instructions according to His leading, just like Jesus did, who was our example - there can ben no faith outside of God's leading. you have many opinions, but few scriptures to back them up - so be it; we disagree

1. then why did He put the emphasis on their faith? aren't you forgetting what HE said? what about the centurion with the sick servant? there's no record of Jesus healing by word or touch in this case, is there? Luke 7:9-11 2 and 3 - what about the ten lepers who were still lepers when they left Jesus, and were healed 'as they went' to show themselves to the priest? Luke 17:14. remember the blind man of Bethsaida? why did Jesus have to lay hands on the man twice? was it because Jesus lacked faith in this case, or was it the unbelief of the town the blind man lived in that hindered the blind man's faith? if it was not due to the blind man's unbelief that he got from Bethsaida, then why did Jesus lead him out of the town before laying hands on him? why did He tell the man to not go back into the town? Mark 8:25, 26; Mat 11:21 4. what about the rest of the 'great multitude of impotent folk' at the pool called Bethesda? why didn't Jesus heal them too? John 5:1-14 - notice verse 13 5. what is an organic disease? or a non-organic disease? where's the scripture you stand on for whatever your point is here? 6. remember, God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living - people have faith, not corpses; corpses aren't people, corpses are shells that people once lived in - how can you say about those whose bodies had died that their faith had no impact on their return to their bodies? God heals, not people - even Jesus said the 'the Father doeth the works' as Jesus spoke in faith - God has given people in flesh bodies unrestricted authority (dominion) over the earth, and He must have the cooperation - the FAITH - of someone in a flesh body to exercise authority in the earth through them - Gen 1:26; John 8:29, John 14:10 why could Jesus do no mighty works in His own country? was it not because of their unbelief? Mat 13:54-58? why couldn't the disciples heal (cast the devil out of) the lunatic son? did Jesus Himself not plainly say that it was because of their unbelief? Mat 17:20 don't be like the Pharisees, who would believe only when they saw a sign with their physical eyes; seeing does not lead to believing - believing leads to seeing - believe first, and then you will see Mat 12:38-42 KJV (38) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. (39) But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: (40) For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (41) The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. (42) The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Joh 12:37-38 KJV (37) But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: (38) That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? the arm of the Lord is revealed to those who believe Him - those who have faith

Heb 13:8 KJV (8) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

same reason God did not lead Jesus to the sick houses of that day - because of their unbelief Mat 13:54-58 KJV (54) And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? (55) Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? (56) And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? (57) And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. (58) And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. God isn't forcing anyone to receive eternal life out of respect for their free will that He gave them, so He's not going to force anyone to receive mortal life either - over and over again, Jesus put the emphasis on people's faith - belief in God and His word Mat 9:29 KJV (29) Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. Mat 9:22 KJV (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. Mat 15:28 KJV (28) Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Luk 18:42 KJV (42) And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. Luk 17:19 KJV (19) And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. but don't miss this - everyone that came to Jesus got healed

thank you Sister! but let me be quick to admit that i get all my good stuff from God

if you borrow to pay for basic necessities, you'll eventually run out of credit and have to make this decision about what to cut, won't you? wouldn't it be better to make it now, before your debt grows to that point of shutting off more credit? i don't know your circumstances, but i do know what the Master told us all: Mat 6:24-34 KJV (24) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (25) Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (26) Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? (27) Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? (28) And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: (29) And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (30) Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? (31) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. the first step is to set your heart to believe this: seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you God has placed His own credibility on the line here; surely He will make good on this promise. i've been through extended unemployment, and i've struggled under crushing debt - and i can tell you that i didn't get into those situations by seeking first the kingdom of God - i got into those situations by doing what was right in my own eyes. eventually i humbled myself before God, received His forgiveness for trying to do things my own way, and placed my trust in this promise - and although it didn't happen overnight, and i had to scrutinize what i really needed at the expense of my wants as a first step, the Lord led me out of debt and into my own house and land - and He wants to do this for you too.

if you owe more than you have, then all your income actually belongs to other people until you are out of debt, and you have nothing to tithe off of (10% of 0 = 0). get out of debt first, then you will have actual income (increase) to give off of; and the first step in getting out of debt is to stop borrowing to please the wants of your flesh - like my daddy used to say: 'if you can't eat it, and it doesn't help you stay warm and dry, then you do not need it - you merely want it' Gen 14:20 GNB (20) May the Most High God, who gave you victory over your enemies, be praised!" And Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the loot he had recovered. there's nothing here about Abraham tithing off his own increase (what he had produced himself beyond what he owed others), just off the spoils of the recent battle he won. Mal 3:8 GNB (8) I ask you, is it right for a person to cheat God? Of course not, yet you are cheating me. 'How?' you ask. In the matter of tithes and offerings. 'tithes and offerings' are estimated to be between 30% and 60% of increase (what you have produced beyond the debts that you owe others)...be smart - crawl out from under the weight of the OT law and follow the instruction for giving that was given to those under the NT law of faith in grace: 2Co 9:7 KJV (7) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. if the reason you tithe is to get God to 'rebuke the devourer', then your motive is necessity - and you are in opposition to the NT instruction above. Heb 7:1-12 GNB (1) This Melchizedek was king of Salem and a priest of the Most High God. As Abraham was coming back from the battle in which he defeated the four kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him, (2) and Abraham gave him one tenth of all he had taken. (The first meaning of Melchizedek's name is "King of Righteousness"; and because he was king of Salem, his name also means "King of Peace.") (3) There is no record of Melchizedek's father or mother or of any of his ancestors; no record of his birth or of his death. He is like the Son of God; he remains a priest forever. (4) You see, then, how great he was. Abraham, our famous ancestor, gave him one tenth of all he got in the battle. (5) And those descendants of Levi who are priests are commanded by the Law to collect one tenth from the people of Israel, that is, from their own people, even though they are also descendants of Abraham. (6) Melchizedek was not descended from Levi, but he collected one tenth from Abraham and blessed him, the man who received God's promises. (7) There is no doubt that the one who blesses is greater than the one who is blessed. (8) In the case of the priests the tenth is collected by men who die; but as for Melchizedek the tenth was collected by one who lives, as the scripture says. (9) And, so to speak, when Abraham paid the tenth, Levi (whose descendants collect the tenth) also paid it. (10) For Levi had not yet been born, but was, so to speak, in the body of his ancestor Abraham when Melchizedek met him. (11) It was on the basis of the levitical priesthood that the Law was given to the people of Israel. Now, if the work of the levitical priests had been perfect, there would have been no need for a different kind of priest to appear, one who is in the priestly order of Melchizedek, not of Aaron. (12) For when the priesthood is changed, there also has to be a change in the law. according to verse 10, when Abraham paid the tithe of the spoils he got from battle, he also paid the tithes of all his descendants; as a reborn believer, you are a descendant of Abraham: Rom 2:28-29 KJV (28) For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: (29) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Rom 4:4-17 KJV (4) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (6) Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (7) Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. (8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (9) Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. (10) How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. (11) And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: (12) And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (13) For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (14) For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: (15) Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. (16) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (17) (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. pay your debts as quickly as possible, as you are the servant or slave of those you owe (Prov 22:7, Mat 6:24, Luke 16:13); then when you have increase that doesn't belong to others, give as you purpose in your heart, not not grudgingly, or of necessity; and out of a cheerful heart, not a fearful heart, and you'll find that 10% is a low goal

Mat 17:14-20 KJV (14) And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, (15) Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. (16) And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. (17) Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. (18) And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. (19) Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? (20) And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. we know that the disciples had faith, that's why they were with Jesus - but they also had unbelief, according to the Master. we get more detail from the other account of this: Mar 9:14-29 KJV (14) And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. (15) And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. (16) And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? (17) And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; (18) And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. (19) He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. (20) And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. (21) And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. (22) And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. (23) Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (24) And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (25) When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. (26) And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. (27) But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. (28) And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? (29) And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. you have to consider both accounts to get the whole picture and understand Jesus' answer to the disciples' question "why could we not cast him out?" the boy's actions as recorded in verses 18 and 20 must have been a powerful display to see; inspiring natural fear-based unbelief, based on the input of the disciples' 5 senses; this kind of natural unbelief is brought under control through fasting - which disciplines one to not be moved by the 'reports' of one's 5 senses; and by prayer - prayer focuses one on God, instead of what is perceived in the natural realm - so 'this kind of unbelief comes out only by prayer and fasting' - referring to the disciples' unbelief, which bound their faith and rendered them ineffective at commanding the dumb and deaf spirit to come out of the boy

i see; i would say that while faith is a constant, the effectiveness of faith certainly varies inversely to unbelief - the more unbelief, the less effective faith is; the less unbelief, the more effective faith is. unbelief for me is a catch-all term to represent anything that counters belief in God's word ('faith'); whether it is belief on some false religion; symptoms of sickness 'reported' by our own bodies, negative reports from doctors, poverty, oppression, depression, etc.; wrong teaching about God's will for us to live lives that reflect His blessing on us as reborn believers; or simply ignorance of the magnitude of blessing that Jesus bought for us - as you put it, 'faith in something else, taking the place of Jesus. "instead of" Jesus'

not sure what you're saying; faith is a gift from God and everyone gets 'the measure', so faith neither increases or decreases - the variable is unbelief

the world's ways will not produce a change, and from management's standpoint your valid complaints can actually seem as much an undesirable distraction to them as this guy's behavior (that's not right, but it is real), so you simply need to minister to this guy - after all, you are the one walking around with Almighty God inside, not him; you are the one who's faith is the victory over this world, not him; you are the one who overcomes all with Love (as God IS Love), not him. you might try something bold when he acts up, like 'satan, in the name of Jesus i bind you and command you to stop trying to get my friend <his name> fired!!!' or if you're not at that place in your faith walk yet, try doing acts of kindness for him every chance you get - talk to him like you're both close friends, refuse to react to his antics (practice being dead to yourself). it's not this guy that's coming against you, it's the devil he's unknowingly yielded to - if they fire him, it will only be a matter of time before satan deceives someone else into harassing you - deal with the source, not the symptoms; overcome with love, or you will eventually be overcome