Faith is an amazing thing.  It is the main thing God looks for in
us.

Luke
18:8

8
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.
Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Mark 11:22

And Jesus answering saith unto
them, Have faith inGod.

The word "Faith is found only a couple times in the
O.T., But in the N.T. is found abundantly.

Two version, the least of which is the greek for Little
Faith.

It changed the world over and over again -- and it can change your
world.

Martin Luther,

Romans 1:17 ESV / 3

For in it
the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written,
“The righteous shall live by faith.”

you of little faith,
why didn't you believe.

Faith can heal

Mark 10:52 ESV /

And Jesus
said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And
immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Matthew 21:22 ESV /

And
whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

faith overcomes

1 John 5:4 ESV /

For
everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory
that has overcome the world—our faith.

1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV /

Though
you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe
in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The Hall of Faith.

Hebrews 11 King James Version

11 Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed
by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which
do appear.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice
than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying
of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see
death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his
translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as
yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which
he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a
place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went
out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a
strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with
him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose
builder and maker is God.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to
conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she
judged him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as
dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by
the sea shore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the
promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and
embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the
earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they
seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from
whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an
heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath
prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac:
and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be
called:

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from
the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things
to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the
sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the
departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of
his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid
of the king's commandment.

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be
called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of
God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the
king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of
blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land:
which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were
compassed about seven days.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that
believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to
tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also,
and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the
sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to
flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and
others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a
better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings,
yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted,
were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins;
being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in
deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through
faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they
without us should not be made perfect.

Christians grow in faith by holy walking.
Living with Jesus,-and to live with him we must be consistent in holiness,-we
get to know him better, and to trust him more. It is said of some men that
"the better they are known, the less they are trusted," but it is not
so with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb
11:6

6
But without faith it is impossible to please
him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded
of them that diligently seek him. KJV

Serves Him – Deut 11:13

Loves Him – Deuteronomy
30:6 , Matthew 22:37

Keeps His Word –
Deuteronomy 26:16

Follows Him – 1 Kings
14:8

Seeks Him – 2 Chronicles
15:12

Praises Him – Psalm 86:12

Trusts Him – Proverbs 3:5

Believes Him – Romans
10:9,10

Joel 2

11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is
very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting,
and with weeping, and with mourning:

13 And rend your heart, and not your
garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to
anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

1. God is looking for
faithful people.

God is physically, visibly,
actively taking the initiative to look for faithful people that he can bless.
Second

Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the Lord
search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully
committed to him” (NLT).

God is looking for faithful
people that he can use.

2. Faithful people are hard to find.

The Bible says in Proverbs 20:6, “Everyone
talks about how faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really
is!” (GNT).

A lot of people talk the talk, but
don’t really trust God.

They
trust in themselves, in money, in modern medicine. They say they believe in
God, but they don’t really trust him when it comes to their finances,
health, or job.

Psalm 53:2-3 says this: “God
looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is
truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become
corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!” (NLT).

3. Faithfulness is the key to blessing
and victory.

1 John 5:4-5

4 For whatsoever is born of God
overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even
our faith.

5 Who is he that overcometh the world,
but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Bible says in Proverbs 28:20, “A
faithful man will have many blessings” (HCSB).

What God is Looking For

9.       “The
eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose heart are
fully committed to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

The
Children of Israel were almost wiped out

Num 14:40-45

40 And
they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the
mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised: for we have sinned.

41 And
Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the Lord? but it shall not prosper.

42 Go
not up, for the Lord is not among
you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.

43 For
the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by
the sword: because ye are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord
will not be with you.

44 But
they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant
of the Lord, and Moses, departed
not out of the camp.

45 Then
the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and
smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah. KJV

10.  He’s looking for men
and women who resist their natural inclination towards self-reliance and choose
God-reliance instead.

11.  And when the Lord
finds these types of individuals, He is eager to shower them with His
strength and enable them to do His work in the world.

12.  What about you? Do you want
the eyes of the Lord to find you drifting towards self-reliance?

13.  I know I don’t.

14.  Let’s profess our
utter dependence on Him today and every day.

15.  In fact, let’s do it
right now:

16.  “Father, you know my
needs better than I know them myself. Please help me have a heart that is
totally surrendered and dependent on You every hour of every day. Help me to
seek Your face in everything I do. I ask this in the holy and powerful name of
Your Son, Jesus Christ.”

Isaiah 41:10 ESV / 4 helpful
votes Helpful Not Helpful

Fear not,
for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I
will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 3 helpful
votes Helpful Not Helpful

For by
grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is
the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not
Helpful

I have
been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in
me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave himself for me.

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV / 3 helpful
votes Helpful Not Helpful

For we
walk by faith, not by sight.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV / 2 helpful
votes Helpful Not Helpful

Looking
to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right
hand of the throne of God.

1 Timothy 6:12 ESV / 2 helpful
votes Helpful Not Helpful

Fight the
good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called
and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 ESV / 2 helpful
votes Helpful Not Helpful

Remembering
before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and
steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV / 2 helpful
votes Helpful Not Helpful

Be
watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

1 Corinthians 2:5 ESV / 2 helpful
votes Helpful Not Helpful

So that
your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

2 Timothy 4:7 ESV / 2 helpful
votes Helpful Not Helpful

I have
fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Israel and The End times

30 out of the 55 countries Christians are being persecuted
by Islam.

Country

Persecution Source

Region

Main Religion

1North Korea

Communist and post-Communist oppression

Asia

Agnosticism

2Somalia

Islamic oppression

Africa

Islam

3Yemen

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

4Eritrea

Dictatorial paranoia

Africa

Islam

5Libya

Islamic oppression

Africa

Islam

6Nigeria

Islamic oppression

Africa

Christianity

7Pakistan

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

8Iran

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

9Afghanistan

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

10Sudan

Islamic oppression

Africa

Islam

11India

Religious nationalism

Asia

Hinduism

12Syria

Dictatorial paranoia

Asia

Islam

13Saudi Arabia

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

14Myanmar

Religious nationalism

Asia

Buddhism

15Maldives

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

16China

Communist and post-Communist oppression

Asia

Agnosticism

17Mali

Islamic oppression

Africa

Islam

18Iraq

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

19Algeria

Islamic oppression

Africa

Islam

20Mauritania

Islamic oppression

Africa

Islam

21Uzbekistan

Dictatorial paranoia

Asia

Islam

22Colombia

Organized corruption and crime

Latin America

Christianity

23Burkina Faso

Islamic oppression

Africa

Islam

24Central African Republic

Islamic oppression

Africa

Christianity

25Vietnam

Communist and post - Communist
oppression

Asia

Buddhism

26Turkmenistan

Dictatorial paranoia

Asia

Islam

27Cuba

Dictatorial paranoia

Latin America

Christianity

28Niger

Islamic oppression

Africa

Islam

29Morocco

Islamic oppression

Africa

Islam

30Bangladesh

Dictatorial paranoia

Asia

Islam

31Laos

Communist and post-Communist oppression

Asia

Buddhism

32Mozambique

Islamic oppression

Africa

Christianity

33Indonesia

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

34Qatar

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

35Egypt

Islamic oppression

Africa

Islam

36Tunisia

Islamic oppression

Africa

Islam

37Congo DR (DRC)

Islamic Oppression

Africa

Christianity

38Mexico

Organized corruption and crime

Latin America

Christianity

39Ethiopia

Christian denominational protectionism

Africa

Christianity

40Bhutan

Religious nationalism

Asia

Buddhism

41Turkey

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

42Comoros

Islamic Oppression

Africa

Islam

43Malaysia

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

44Tajikistan

Dictatorial paranoia

Asia

Islam

45Cameroon

Islamic oppression

Africa

Christianity

46Brunei

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

47Oman

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

48Kazakhstan

Dictatorial paranoia

Asia

Islam

49Jordan

Islamic oppression

Asia

Islam

50Nicaragua

Dictatorial paranoia

Latin America

Christianity

According to Open doors.org.

More than 360m Christians suffer high levels of persecution and
discrimination for their faith.

5,621 Christian were killed for faith related reasons
last year

North Korea 1

North Korea has returned to no. 1 with
the highest levels of persecution ever seen. Its score of 98, an all-time high, reflects an increase in arrests
of Christians, and house-churches discovered and closed – under the new
‘anti-reactionary thought law’.

Afghanistan 9

Despite its drop in ranking,
persecution remains extreme in Afghanistan. Fewer Afghan Christians were
killed for their faith in 2022: many have fled or were killed when the Taliban
took over. Christian converts who remain are in deep hiding – and would
likely face death if discovered.

Nigeria 6

Christians continue to be
brutally attacked in Northern Nigeria. Boko Haram, ISWAP, Fulani militants
and other armed bandits have conducted devastating raids on Christian
communities. The government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so
violations of Christians' rights have been carried out with impunity.

5,621

Christians
murdered

2,110

Churches
attacked

4,542

Christians
detained

5,621 Christians were killed for their faith last
year. 90% of these were from Nigeria alone.

China 16

In China,
the use of digital surveillance technology is spreading, adding to persecution
and intimidation.

Nicaragua 50

Nicaragua has entered the top 50 for the
first time.

Solomon's Prayer

1 Kings 8:22-53

22 Then
Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence
of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven; 23 and he said:
“Lord God of
Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like
You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants
who walk before You with all their hearts. 24 You have kept
what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your
mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this
day. 25 Therefore, Lord God of Israel,
now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, ‘You
shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if
your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked
before Me.’ 26 And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your
word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father.

27 “But will
God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens
cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! 28 Yet regard the
prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and
listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You
today: 29 that
Your eyes may be open toward this [a]temple night and day,
toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall
be there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant
makes toward this place. 30 And may You hear the supplication of Your
servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in
heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.

31 “When anyone sins
against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes
an oath before Your altar in this temple, 32 then hear in heaven, and act,
and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his
head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

33 “When Your people
Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and when
they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to
You in this temple, 34 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of
Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to
their fathers.

35 “When the heavens
are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when
they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin
because You afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of
Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good
way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given
to Your people as an inheritance.

37 “When there is
famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew,
locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the
land of their [b]cities; whatever plague
or whatever sickness there is; 38 whatever
prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all
Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and
spreads out his hands toward this temple: 39 then hear in heaven Your
dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his
ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons
of men), 40 that
they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our
fathers.

41 “Moreover,
concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but
has come from a far country for Your name’s sake 42 (for they will
hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm),
when he comes and prays toward this temple, 43 hear in heaven
Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to
You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You,
as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this
temple which I have built is called by Your name.

44 “When Your people
go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You send them, and when they
pray to the Lord toward
the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, 45 then hear in
heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their [c]cause.

46 “When they sin
against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and
You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them
captive to the land of the enemy, far or near; 47 yet when
they [d]come to themselves in
the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to
You in the land of those who took them captive, saying, ‘We have
sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness’; 48 and when they return
to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their
enemies who led them away captive, and pray to You toward their land which
You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the temple which
I have built for Your name: 49 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place their
prayer and their supplication, and maintain their [e]cause, 50 and forgive
Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions which
they have transgressed against You; and grant them compassion before those
who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51 (for they are Your
people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, out of the
iron furnace), 52 that Your eyes may be open to the
supplication of Your servant and the supplication of Your people Israel, to
listen to them whenever they call to You. 53 For You separated them from
among all the peoples of the earth to be Your
inheritance, as You spoke by Your servant Moses, when You brought our
fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.”