Recognizing faith

Real faith leads to real obedience. Faith is not given all at once but slowly increases as we are found faithful to follow where God leads us. We all want to do something “big” for God but all God is asking is that we simply trust Him and obey and until we can do that we will never get beyond the foundation. Forget tall towers or sanctuaries or places of refuge built in Jesus’ name without baby steps taken first we simply do not move forward on the journey He has planned for us and what He has purposed for us to do never is accomplished! Sure others will go on to do great things in Jesus’ name but if we believe He has made each of us unique then we must also believe the plan He has for each of us is unique as well and because of this some question goes unanswered but be assured God’s purpose will succeed, what we must understand is that we are required to give an account for what we did and did not do.

James 2:14 MKJV  My brothers, what profit is it if a man says he has faith and does not have works? Can faith save him?

What is faith? It is knowing that which cannot be seen, which cannot be explained. Faith starts out because God’s Holy Spirit gives it to us. Until we have real relationship with God we do not know Him and trust requires knowing someone, therefore faith starts when the Holy Spirit reveals truth to our spirit. While the world requires evidence before believing God requires faith and therefore faith bridges the gap between our understanding and that which God says is true.

Hebrews 11:1 MKJV  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Matthew 16:17 MKJV  Jesus answered and said to him, You are blessed, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father in Heaven.

1 Corinthians 2:10 MKJV  (10)  But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.

John 20:29 MKJV  Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me you have believed. Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed.

Therefore if we say we have faith we will step out of the boat and onto the water because we believe Jesus is who He says He is. You see real faith requires action, for without action we have not yet believed what God has said to be true and like Peter often we want to believe and then are stopped quickly by doubt.

Matthew 14:30-31 NIV  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"  (31)  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

Mark 9:23-24 NIV  "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." (24)  Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Sometimes our faith needs to be spoken. The centurion knew Jesus was the Son of God and therefore healing was under His command; furthermore he knew Jesus’ desire to heal and show mercy (undeserved favor) to people so that they might know of God’s great love. Still it was not good enough to just know this but he had to come to Jesus and humbly ask and that is when we see Jesus bless him, not only that but honored his great faith! In this story the asking was the action faith required.

Luke 7:6-10 NIV  So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.  (7)  That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.  (8)  For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."  (9)  When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." (10)  Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

In my bloodline there are worriers and if I am not careful sometimes I find myself there but I am quickly reminded worry is the opposite of real faith. If I believe God loves me and I am the center of His attention then what have I to worry about? Worry comes most often because of disobedience and the following consequences and though we know God loves us we do not know what God will allow so that we might learn the lesson of listening and obeying. If I speed down the highway and the patrolman pulls me over I should not expect God to keep me from getting a ticket and in the same way if I am not faithful to handle my finances according to God’s plan I should not expect to experience freedom in that area but none of these consequences means God does not love me, instead it tells me He does!

Matthew 6:27-33 NIV  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (28)  "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. (29)  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. (30)  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (31)  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (32)  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (33)  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Hebrews 12:6-7 MKJV  for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives."  (7)  If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father does not chasten?

Often circumstance come about because of our own choices but there are times when we face something not because of bad choices but because Father God is leading us to grow, but even then we must have faith that He loves us, knows what is best for us, and trust He will lead us through so that when we come out the other side we have become who He wants us to be, for this is real faith and if we want to be pleasing to God it is required.

James 1:2-8 MKJV  My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations,  (3)  knowing that the trying of your faith works patience.  (4)  But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.  (5)  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him.  (6)  But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.  (7)  For do not let that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord;  (8)  he is a double-minded man, not dependable in all his ways.