FAITH
(Belief and Trust)
It is first important to understand what is meant by the word ‘Faith.’ For our purpose here, we are using the word ‘faith’ as belief and trust. This means that the faith we are talking about is an action word, but the power for it is somewhere else. Faith is both neutral and natural. It is neutral, until applied. The word itself does not have power of its own; it must have a source by which action takes place. The power of faith, belief and trust is in the source that it is placed.
We can have faith in ourselves and achieve what man in his natural mental and physical powers can perform. However, here we wish to focus on God as the source of our faith, as He releases His supernatural power into our circumstances, thus bringing about supernatural achievements beyond human capacity. Anything that man can do through his own self-discipline is not supernatural.
Faith is natural in that we all have it.
“…God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3) NKJV.
“…looking unto Jesus, the author (originator) and finisher (perfecter) of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) NKJV
It is imperative that we remember that our faith is His faith given to us, not our faith attained on our own.
If we do not have a correct understanding of grace, perfect faith is not attainable to us. It is by grace that we receive everything God gives to us. If there is anything we can do to get something, then it cannot be by grace that we get it. Therefore, let us look at a few ways of defining grace. Grace is unearned or unmerited favor. Grace is what God does for us; independent of us. Grace is getting what we do not deserve (compare to mercy which is not getting what we do deserve). Grace is a gift. While grace can be defined as a gift, we must be careful that we recognize it as a gift in the same order as a birthday gift which we did nothing to earn. We had no choice in being born. We did nothing to get born. To think of grace as a gift in the same order as a wedding gift which we get because we got married is the wrong application to apply to define grace.
Therefore, grace is what God has already done. Faith is our response to what God has already done.
F.A.I.T.H. = “For All, I Trust Him.”
Faith is the capacity to see what is anticipated as if it were already completed. Dr. Charles Stanley.
“Now faith is the substance (realization) (substantiation) of things hoped for, the evidence (confidence) of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) NKJV.
Faith is a key theme throughout the Scriptures. The entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews is an account of the achievements of faith. Here we see God responding in supernatural power to those who had faith.
Faith is the starting point of all our achievements in life. Though we all have faith (see Romans 12:3), we do not all exercise it to the same degree. The Scriptures speak of varied degrees of faith. Someone might have faith to believe God can do something. Another might believe that God will do something. Yet another might believe that God has done something. Furthermore, you could believe that He could do it for someone else, but not for me or that He used to do it, but does not any more. Also you may be able to have faith that God has done something you can see, but not faith too believe he has done something you can’t see. It will take even more faith to believe God has done something if in the natural we still see evidence that contradicts what God says He has done.
Faith is the muscle of the Body of Christ. While we have small, medium or large size bodies, there are many degrees in each group. While we do not have zero faith, as a child we are not able to possess as much faith as when we are an adult. This does not mean that you will automatically possess more faith as natural time passes, but only as you mature as a Christian. Likewise, as we must exercise to increase physical muscle, we must exercise to increase faith (spiritual muscle).
“6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourselves toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.” 1 Timothy 4:6-11
And also in James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Our growth in faith is a process of spiritual maturing. This is the law of faith: faith must act in order to develop and produce results. The more you exercise, the greater faith. Our past success in building faith is depleted if not used. The biggest difference between physical and spiritual muscle is that spiritual muscle is not subject to natural decay. In other words, our prime condition is not subject to a physical age requirement. While our physical muscles peak capacity may occur at age 25 or 30, our faith can peak at any time. We can reach the highest place of faith at our last breath of physical life or as a young child.
How can we increase our faith?
“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
(Romans 10:17)
And also by Hebrews 3:7–4:11:
7 ‘Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
“Today, if you will hear His voice. 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” (Psalms 95:7-11)
12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort (encourage) one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the
Rebellion.” (Psalms 95:6, 7)
16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
4 Therefore, since a promise remains to enter His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it (since they were not united by faith with those who heeded it). 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
“So I swore in My wrath,
“They shall not enter My rest,’” (Psalm 95:7, 8)
although the works were finished from the foundations of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way:
“And God rested on the seventh day from all His works; 5 And again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.” (Psalm 95:7, 8)
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”
Another way to increase our faith is found in Matthew 17:14-21;
14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.”
16 “so I brought him to Your disciples, but 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 bear with you? Bring him here to me.”
18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief (little faith); for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
21 “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
This kind of what does not come out by prayer and fasting? This kind of unbelief. Some people think that Jesus was saying that this kind of demon will only come out by prayer and fasting. This can not be the case, look again at verse 17. Jesus starts by saying “O faithless and perverse generation.” He at once calls their lack of faith to the forefront. Then again in verse 20 Jesus tells the disciples that they could not cast out the demon because of their little faith or unbelief. If Jesus was saying that this kind of demon does not come out except by prayer and fasting, then he would have told them that they could not cast it out because they did not pray and fast, not because of unbelief. Therefore, prayer and fasting is to remove unbelief and build up our faith.
At this point it is imperative that we pause to look at something very closely. While we may have faith, belief and trust; we also can have unbelief and\or doubt at the same time.
“Jesus said to him ‘if you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord I believe; help my unbelief.’ Mark 9:23, 24 NKJV
When this occurs, then you’re Faith, belief and trust will then war or work opposed to or against your unbelief and\or doubt. In other words they will be like two mule teams or trucks tied together back to back working against each other. So if they are equal in strength the net gain will be nothing. Though they expend energy you will not see either of them gain ground, move or notice a change in their position. Likewise, if one is stronger than the other it will start to move. The greater the difference in strength the faster or more results you will see. Also if one side gives up, and the other does not, then the one still working will see gains as long as the struggle continues regardless of which was stronger. Therefore, we must also work to decrease our unbelief and\or doubt as well as increase our faith. How do we do that? By not experiencing things that are contrary to Gods work. For example: If God says “by whose stripes you were healed” 1 Peter 2:24 and you see evidence or get a report that says “you are not healed” then you must choose which report you are going to believe.
Another way to increase our faith is to read the Word of God. As we see how God has worked in the lives of those in Scripture, we are encouraged to believe that He can and will work in our lives in similar ways. Communicate with God. Develop your personal relationship with God through prayer, taking time to listen for His input. Ask Him to show you His provision. Remember to communicate with Him at all times, including prosperity, trial or persecution. As we acknowledge His overcoming provision in our lives, or the lives of others, we grow more encouraged and our faith increases. The greater amount of faith we exercise the greater the provision. Obey God. When God challenges us and we obey Him, that obedience is always accompanied by blessing and we see His faithfulness.
The power of strong desire backed by faith is incredible. Whatever we focus on grows. It can take us from the bottom to the top in any area we use it. Faith can greatly enhance our relationships with others. Our outlook on life can drastically improve. Faith effects positive change in every area of our life.
When we exercise faith, we are able to see things from His viewpoint. Faith is our third eye. We are able to see beyond the range of the physical eye into the spiritual realm.
Throughout the ministry of Christ we hear of Him requiring faith from those making requests. “According to your faith let it be unto you” (Matthew 2:29), “If you have faith and do not doubt” (Matthew 21:21), “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22), “Do not be afraid; only believe.” (Mark 5:36), “Where is your faith” (Luke 8:25), “Your faith has made you well, Go in peace” (Luke 8:48), “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life” (John 3:36), “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). We walk by faith. We pray in faith. We conquer fear by faith. Faith turns all our hopes into realities.
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23) NKJV.
What are some of the obstacles to our faith? They are fear, feelings, sight, reason, the opinions of others, experience, guilt, to name a few. Relying on any one of these when our faith is being tried will result in doubt or unbelief. Remember, faith enables us to see things as God sees them and to act accordingly. The greater our faith, the greater our achievements.
Our encourager (faith builder) must be activated against our obstacle (or doubt builder). If fear is our obstacle to faith, we must change our focus to what God says we should be focusing on. For every obstacle to faith that rears its ugly head, we must bombard it with a focus that builds faith.
Think of it this way, if ungodly fear is a stronghold in our life, we must defeat it. This means war. Assume we are in a boxing rink and our opponent is weaker than us, it does not guarantee we will win the fight. If we just sit there and let him hit us time after time and do not strike back, the results may be that we get mad, frustrated, hurt, and lose! However, as we strike back we will cause our opponent to at least consider our threat. As we become more confident in our assets, we begin to become more effective in our results. But even if our opponent curls up in a ball and lets us just wail away at him, we still are not guaranteed victory. As long as the fight is still going on, we must continue to fight until someone gives up or the referee says it is over. Furthermore, if we do win, the opponent may come back for a rematch. Likewise, Satan, to this day, has never given up on trying to destroy Jesus or His plans. Therefore, he will not give up on trying to destroy you.
In Ephesians 6:17. We are instructed to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” Whenever or wherever fear shows up, we can take the word of God and attack it. Cutting it from its source of power, binding it, and command it not only to go, but where to go. How, you ask? By properly quoting God’s word. It might do some good to quote Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;”, I would suggest maybe using Scriptures like 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast out fear, because fear involves torment, But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” This loosens (releases) the Spirit known as the Fear of the Lord or the Spirit of the Lord according to Isaiah 11:2. We could also quote Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive a spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of Adoption by whom we cry out ‘Abba, Father’.” There by releasing the Spirit of Adoption.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
The absence of faith is a guarantee of failure and eventually death.
“for whatever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23) and “the wages (fruit) of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)
Note: We must have a correct understanding of sin before we can ever hope to attain high levels of supernatural faith in our life. If our view of sin is incorrect, we will lack the knowledge to be empowered with supernatural faith.
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Love (acceptance) requires the presence of faith and hope. A relationship without faith (trust and belief) and/or hope (desire) [if not already destroyed] is on a crash course to be. In the same way, if we want to dwell in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ which He already has for us, we must have a relationship with Him dominated by faith and hope. If we do not have faith and/or hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, we do not love (accept) Him. His love for us is everlasting and will never change but if we do not receive, accept, partake of or believe it because of our unbelief we cause the reality or blessing of it to not manifest or exist in our lives. If our faith and/or hope are in anything other than the Lord Jesus Christ, we value it more than Him. Our relationship with Him is then damaged.
Think of this as a marriage relationship. Can we have a healthy relationship with our spouse and not have trust and hope? If our marriage is perfect, we still must have hope that it will be the same perfect marriage in the future or our doubt will damage our relationship. We know ‘that God so loved the world’ so the only variable to the relationship is our returning, or laying at His feet, the love He gave to us. How do we do this? By glorifying Him! By having complete faith, trust, believe, hope, desire in Him. We are His bride. What would we withhold from the one we are completely and truly in love with? What would we not do? He laid down His life for you! To draw us, His bride, unto Himself. All He asks of us is to rest in the provision He has for us. Don’t live on your own. We have no dowry to bring to the union. We are bankrupt! We need to be completely poured out and joined to Him. Cease work. Rest in Him. Trust Him that He has already provided for your every need. Believe in His resources. Hope in a secure future with Him. A bride tends to her husband. A husband tends to his bride. We must cease our work, and tend to Him. How? By glorifying Him, and allowing Him to do His work through us.
He is Jesus (Savior) Christ (Anointed). We are His bride. In marriage, the two become one. All He is; we are also (1 John 4:17)! Everything that He has, we have. If one spouse has a full bank account, does not the other also? If one spouse has authority, does the other not have equally? If the bridegroom tells one under his authority to go, does not the same power rest upon the bride? If the one under authority ignores commands of the bride, will the bridegroom not punish him for disobedience? The bride’s commands are equal to the bridegrooms. Because they are united as one! If one of the spouses signs a check or signs to withdraw cash, are they not honored the same, regardless of whether it bears his signature or hers?
Think of love as the storehouse (bank). Faith and hope are the checks and cash withdraw slips. Which storehouse are we going to get your needs met from today?
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
The heart is the universal and biblical symbol for love. Where is our love? God’s is in us!!!
For further insights, read the following passages:
Hebrews Chapter 11
Mark 16:16
Romans 1:17
Romans 4:13-21
Romans 5:1-5
Galatians 5:6
Ephesians 6:16
James 1:3
1 John 4:20-5:5