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- Herausgeber: Unipro
- Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
- Sprache: Englisch
Contrary to what many people think, using intelligent faith isn't just a way to attain your dreams and goals. It's a tool to protect and nurture those dreams, especially when it comes to eternal salvation. People who listen to the voice of faith walk in the light, but those who ignore it end up confused and full of doubt, not knowing where they're headed or which path to take. In The Voice of Faith, Edir Macedo explains this divine idea of faith in a clear and straightforward manner, and the importance of recognising how it guides us amid all the other voices out there, so that we can receive all the good that it has to give.
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Copyright © 2020 by Unipro Editora
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Editorial coordination: Sandra Gouvea
Art direction: Paulo Junior
Layout design: Duda Steola
Cover design: Willian Souza
Editorial assistance: Talita Valentin
eBook version: Ricardo Rodrigues
M141v
Macedo, Edir
The Voice of Faith: The Secret to a Successful Life / Edir Macedo; translated by Sandra Gouvea. – 2. Ed. – São Paulo: Unipro Editora, 2023.
Original title: A voz da fé: O segredo para uma vida bem-sucedida
ISBN 978-65-5445-008-9
1. Intelligent faith. 2. Christian life. I. Title.
DDC 230
Rua João Boemer, 296 – São Paulo / SP
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This book is dedicated to all those who desire to enjoy the fullness of life that God has carefully prepared for each of us.
Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. Deuteronomy 28:1
INTRODUCTION
When we turn on the radio to listen to our favourite programme, we hear snatches of voices as we try to tune in to the right station. They might be singing or announcing products or events; they might be reporting on current affairs or informing us about what’s happening around us. These voices communicate. They express emotions, joy, or sadness over the airwaves. They come from all kinds of people everywhere, near and far.
In this whirlwind of voices, one voice can silence fear, dissipate evil thoughts, and cause even the most afflicted to find trust and peace. This voice has the power to restore lives, and it comes from only one Person.
Some voices have the power to make us feel beaten down, sad, discouraged, and weak if we allow them to enter our hearts, yet this voice enables us to do more than we can imagine. The Word of God is His priceless voice. It prompts us to look ahead and move onwards with determination towards our goals. And whenever our goals are based on this voice, they gradually are reached over time.
This is a book about supernatural faith, which is revealed to whoever comes to God in humility with a determination to see change in their lives. This happened to the woman with a 12-year haemorrhage. It happened to the man paralysed from birth whose friends carried him to the house where Jesus was preaching and lowered him through the roof. It happened to Zacchaeus, who climbed a tree because he wanted so eagerly to see Jesus, and it happened to so many others who laboured and sacrificed because they were certain that He was Lord.
Those who nourish their spirits on the Word of God keep their doubts in check and overcome their fears. They can do this because they possess the power of the Light, the power of the thoughts of God.
CHAPTER 1
DIVINE REVELATION
How revelation occurs
The process of revelation is straightforward. God does not need to tell a story, give examples, or even utter a complete sentence. His will can be perfectly transmitted and immediately understood by His servants with a single word, without the slightest chance of doubt. When God acts, no one dares interfere!
Whenever a servant receives a revelation, he or she must put it into practice immediately, since a divine revelation is impossible to just hold on to, put aside or hide. That’s how it is with supernatural faith: a personal revelation from God to whoever believes.
Nothing is more important than supernatural faith, revealed by the Spirit of God to humanity. Its importance stems from the fact that faith not only leads to the eternal salvation of the soul but also to an abundant life here on earth, as promised by the Lord Jesus.
Breathing in and breathing out
Each revelation is a new inspiration, a discovery, a new map to a new gold mine waiting to be explored.
The size and depth of divine revelation can be seen in the development of life on Earth. Human survival depends on breathing in and breathing out. Without this natural process, there can be no life.
The same holds true for divine revelations. His servants need inspiration from the Spirit of God. Divine revelations are communicated to His followers through the “breathing in” of His Word.
In obedience to the Lord’s commands, His disciples passed on these revelations to the world through preaching the Gospel. This is the “breathing out” (exhaling) of the body of Christ. Those who believe and are baptised receive eternal life. Those who don’t...
Divine revelation broadens our understanding of God’s perspective on various issues. Under the Old Covenant, revelation was given only to prophets, priests, and leaders of Israel. Under the New Covenant, anyone who is sealed with the Holy Spirit has this privilege. No one needs to be a church official to receive a revelation from God. All we need is to keep our communion with God alive.
First fruits
Jesus Christ was God’s First Fruit for the salvation of those who believe. First fruits are the first part of a harvest.
From the beginnings of civilisation, families always highly regarded and celebrated the birth of their first male child. He was the firstborn or the first fruit of that couple.
The Mosaic Law required that the firstborn, whether human or animal, be dedicated to the Lord since they were symbols of God’s Firstborn—Jesus Christ.
Tithes, as our first fruits, also represent Jesus. As God’s Tithe, He brought about the salvation of humanity, and our tithes do the same through the preaching of the Kingdom of God.
Each person has their own list of firsts: their first steps, their first words, their first day in school, their first teacher, their first love, their first sexual experience, their first child, their first job. Every first experience makes its mark and is difficult to forget.
Our list of firsts is not limited to life experiences—it also includes relationships. We normally hold our biological mothers or the ones who raised us in high regard. They are the first to develop a relationship with us after our birth. Mothers begin this relationship long before anyone else, during pregnancy. Mothers are also the first to care for their babies, that’s why other family members come after her in importance in the mind of a child.
There are times in life when you must choose who you love the most, who is most important, and held in the highest regard. An example of this is the Brazilian tradition of cutting your birthday cake and giving the first slice to the person you love the most. Who gets the first piece, your mother or father?
A child may love them both, but the first slice can only be given to one person. At that moment, they choose who they love the most. That first piece of cake identifies who the birthday child considers most important in their life. This simple analogy is a perfect description of the tithe.
Tithes are the dividing line between those who put the Lord Jesus Christ first and those who do not. This is why God promises to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings without measure on those who are tithers.
Is this promise real or a fantasy? Would it be an exaggeration on the part of the Most High to promise blessings without measure and make His people a delightful land?
The Word of God says,
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” […] “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3:10,12
The fact is, when you put God first, He is obligated to respond in the same manner because you have rights. He puts those who are faithful first too.
Supernatural faith
Supernatural faith does not “grow on trees”, nor does it appear out of thin air. It is a gift from God for those who have been called and chosen—the humble in heart.
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.”
Luke 10:21
Supernatural faith is a revelation that aims at the salvation of the soul for all eternity.
Like any other tool, faith must be used and practised to produce results; otherwise, it’s useless.
When faith is not put into practice, it’s like a dead body; it has no spirit. Even worse than this inertia is the dysfunctional religious baggage piled on top.
Faith that isn’t exercised causes harm to the very nature of faith. Aside from the fact that it’s unproductive, it generates the same religious blindness found in the scribes and the Pharisees of Jesus’ day.
Obeying the Word of God demands sacrifice, which is the essence of supernatural faith. Sacrifices are made for God, for others, and for us.
Job was an example of sacrifice. He was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
Those characteristics had nothing to do with religious beliefs and traditions, but with how he treated God in faith, his integrity towards others, and his desire to keep a clear conscience.
Job’s blamelessness and upright character were directly related to how he treated others. He was always fair to others, whether they were servants or business contacts.
His fear of God was directly related to his obedience to the Lord—he stood up for his faith even though he was financially powerful, making him the richest man in the East.
Job shunned evil. This statement says it all about his conduct. He protected his faith and kept a clear conscience. Job’s life characterised true acts of righteousness, mercy, and faith.
Traditions and religiosity tend to distract people from living in true faith, giving room to the greatest plague among religious groups—hypocrisy.
The Lord Jesus’ greatest enemies were the scribes and the Pharisees, specifically because they discarded living by true faith by replacing the principles of Moses and the prophets with their own religious customs and feasts. Because of this, they turned into the greatest enemies of the cross.
