Faith partners with patience.
"Imitate those who through faith and patience
inherit the promises."
Hebrews 6:12
Faith and patience go together.
That is part of the nature of faith.
Faith is not about what we can see right now,
it is about what we can't yet see.
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for
[expected], the evidence of things not seen"
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is expecting that which we don't see
which means that there is often a period of
time between the believing and the seeing.
Faith is a seed.
Seeds don't bring an immediate harvest.
We plant the seed, then go about our work,
letting the seed do its work in the ground.
The seed germinates,
then it sprouts,
then it comes up on a stem,
then it puts on its leaves,
then it flowers,
then it come into fruit,
and when the fruit ripens and matures,
it is ready for the harvest.
This process varies from seed to seed, but
every seed goes through this process.
That takes time and patience.
Unforgiveness
When we are unwilling to forgive, we are
actually unwilling to love and unwilling to
give to others that which God has so freely
given to us.
Forgiveness is an opportunity to draw closer
to the Father and clear away things that keep
us from moving forward in faith.
We can forgive, because He forgives us and
He helps us to forgive.
Failure to forgive is a major hinderance to
faith.
Faith requires forgiveness and forgiveness
requires faith.
We can't let offenses, snares and stumbling
blocks keep us from moving ahead in faith.
Instead, we need to let our faith help us to
forgive.
When we encounter the mountains of
offenses, we are to cast them into the sea
with the words: "I forgive."
Do this as often as the need arises!
Then move into the wonderful destiny God
has prepared for us.
actually unwilling to love and unwilling to
give to others that which God has so freely
given to us.
Forgiveness is an opportunity to draw closer
to the Father and clear away things that keep
us from moving forward in faith.
We can forgive, because He forgives us and
He helps us to forgive.
Failure to forgive is a major hinderance to
faith.
Faith requires forgiveness and forgiveness
requires faith.
We can't let offenses, snares and stumbling
blocks keep us from moving ahead in faith.
Instead, we need to let our faith help us to
forgive.
When we encounter the mountains of
offenses, we are to cast them into the sea
with the words: "I forgive."
Do this as often as the need arises!
Then move into the wonderful destiny God
has prepared for us.
Forgiveness Requires Faith
"And whenever you stand praying, if you
have anything against anyone, forgive him,
that your Father in heaven may also forgive
you your trespasses."
Mark 11:25
The word 'and' in this verse is related to
what has gone on before.
It connects to the powerful things Jesus said
about mountain-moving faith and prayer
that gets results.
But what does forgiveness have to do with
faith?
Remember when Jesus talked about faith as
a mustard seed, in Luke ?
The disciples had just asked Him to increase
their faith.
The sudden desire for more faith was because
of what Jesus had just said to them about
forgiveness.
"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother
sins against you, rebuke him; and if he
repents, forgive him. And if he sins against
you seven times in a day and seven times
in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,"
you shall forgive him.."
Luke 17:3-4
Forgiveness is an act of faith.
The disciples knew immediately that this
kind of forgiveness would require a great
need of faith that they hadn't experienced
or learned yet.
When people are offended, they are slowed
down or even stopped from moving forward.
The Greek word for 'offense' refers to a snare
or stumblingblock.
When we are caught in a snare or trip over a
stumblingblock we have immediately stopped
moving.
We are no longer making progress.
We need to decide how long we are willing to
stay in that hindered state.
The choice is ours.
The answer is to forgive and that takes faith,
faith to believe that God is going to take care
of the situation and heal whatever we have
lost by the offense.
Forgiveness allows us to get up, get out and
move forward again.
That snare is no longer a snare, and the
stumblingblock is no longer a stumbling-
block.
They have been removed, like mountains.
have anything against anyone, forgive him,
that your Father in heaven may also forgive
you your trespasses."
Mark 11:25
The word 'and' in this verse is related to
what has gone on before.
It connects to the powerful things Jesus said
about mountain-moving faith and prayer
that gets results.
But what does forgiveness have to do with
faith?
Remember when Jesus talked about faith as
a mustard seed, in Luke ?
The disciples had just asked Him to increase
their faith.
The sudden desire for more faith was because
of what Jesus had just said to them about
forgiveness.
"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother
sins against you, rebuke him; and if he
repents, forgive him. And if he sins against
you seven times in a day and seven times
in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,"
you shall forgive him.."
Luke 17:3-4
Forgiveness is an act of faith.
The disciples knew immediately that this
kind of forgiveness would require a great
need of faith that they hadn't experienced
or learned yet.
When people are offended, they are slowed
down or even stopped from moving forward.
The Greek word for 'offense' refers to a snare
or stumblingblock.
When we are caught in a snare or trip over a
stumblingblock we have immediately stopped
moving.
We are no longer making progress.
We need to decide how long we are willing to
stay in that hindered state.
The choice is ours.
The answer is to forgive and that takes faith,
faith to believe that God is going to take care
of the situation and heal whatever we have
lost by the offense.
Forgiveness allows us to get up, get out and
move forward again.
That snare is no longer a snare, and the
stumblingblock is no longer a stumbling-
block.
They have been removed, like mountains.
God Is Love
Love gives and serves and that is what it's
all about.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son."
John 3:16
Since God is love and faith comes by hearing
the Word of God, then faith must be all about
expressing the love of God.
Love casts out fear, which is the opposite of
faith.
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love
casts out fear, because fear has torment"
1 John 4:18
When God's love has done its work in us,
there is no more room in us for fear; it is
cast out because fear has torment.
The Greek word for 'torment' means penalty
or punishment.
When we receive the love of God and let it
do its perfect work in us, we are no longer in
any torment that God will punish us.
We are free to live and act out of His love.
It is His love that makes our faith meaningful
and effective.
Faith works through love.
If our faith is weak, we must check how our
love is doing.
We need to yield to the love of God and let
it heal us and set us free from all fear; letting
it change us into vessels that God can use to
pour out His love to others.
Then our faith will be great!
all about.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son."
John 3:16
Since God is love and faith comes by hearing
the Word of God, then faith must be all about
expressing the love of God.
Love casts out fear, which is the opposite of
faith.
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love
casts out fear, because fear has torment"
1 John 4:18
When God's love has done its work in us,
there is no more room in us for fear; it is
cast out because fear has torment.
The Greek word for 'torment' means penalty
or punishment.
When we receive the love of God and let it
do its perfect work in us, we are no longer in
any torment that God will punish us.
We are free to live and act out of His love.
It is His love that makes our faith meaningful
and effective.
Faith works through love.
If our faith is weak, we must check how our
love is doing.
We need to yield to the love of God and let
it heal us and set us free from all fear; letting
it change us into vessels that God can use to
pour out His love to others.
Then our faith will be great!
Faith Works By Love
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision;
but faith which worketh by love.."
Galatians 5:6
Paul was speaking concerning righteousness
that is given by God.
It's not a matter of being circumcised or being
uncircumcised.
These accomplished nothing.
Only faith, working by love, means anything.
The Greek for "working" is where we get our
word "energy".
The Amplified Bible translates it as "faith
activated and energized and expressed and
working through love."
This love is the love of God working in us
and through us to reveal His righteousness.
Only faith working through love is able to
bring it about.
Faith without love is meaningless.
Paul said, "Though I have all faith, so that
I could move mountains, but have not love,
I am nothing"
1 Corinthians 13:2
Faith can move mountains, but if we don't
have love at work in us, then it doesn't make
any difference.
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision;
but faith which worketh by love.."
Galatians 5:6
Paul was speaking concerning righteousness
that is given by God.
It's not a matter of being circumcised or being
uncircumcised.
These accomplished nothing.
Only faith, working by love, means anything.
The Greek for "working" is where we get our
word "energy".
The Amplified Bible translates it as "faith
activated and energized and expressed and
working through love."
This love is the love of God working in us
and through us to reveal His righteousness.
Only faith working through love is able to
bring it about.
Faith without love is meaningless.
Paul said, "Though I have all faith, so that
I could move mountains, but have not love,
I am nothing"
1 Corinthians 13:2
Faith can move mountains, but if we don't
have love at work in us, then it doesn't make
any difference.
Choices
Jesus was by the Sea of Galilee when Jairus,
a ruler of the synagogue, came and asked
Him to come and heal his daughter.
This man had faith and Jesus started off to
the house with him.
Along the way, a woman came to touch
Jesus to receive healing in her body.
This caused a commotion. Mark 5:21-34.
If that wasn't enough to shake Jairus, at that
time his servants came from his house and
told him that his daughter was dead and not
to trouble the master any longer.
But when Jesus heard their words He turned
immediately to Jairus and said, "Do not be
afraid, only believe" Mark 5:36.
Jairus was suddenly faced with a choice, one
that meant the difference between life and
death: he could listen to the words of his
servants and enter into fear; or he could
continue listening to the words of Jesus and
stay in faith.
If he had listened to the words of fear, his
daughter would have died.
But Jesus didn't want that to happen,
because He had already agreed to go with
Jairus and heal his daughter. He wasn't
going to go back on His word, He intended
on making her well.
Jairus chose faith.
He wouldn't let the words of others contra-
dict the Word of God and get him over into
fear. He wasn't going to weaken his faith.
Faith and fear can't be mixed.
We always have a choice.
Listen to the Word of God.
Let it fill our hearts then meditate on it
contantly.
Rebuke the voices of fear, when the
enemy whispers the lies of the devil.
Don't let fear steal faith and rob the
miracle that belongs to us.
Only believe!
a ruler of the synagogue, came and asked
Him to come and heal his daughter.
This man had faith and Jesus started off to
the house with him.
Along the way, a woman came to touch
Jesus to receive healing in her body.
This caused a commotion. Mark 5:21-34.
If that wasn't enough to shake Jairus, at that
time his servants came from his house and
told him that his daughter was dead and not
to trouble the master any longer.
But when Jesus heard their words He turned
immediately to Jairus and said, "Do not be
afraid, only believe" Mark 5:36.
Jairus was suddenly faced with a choice, one
that meant the difference between life and
death: he could listen to the words of his
servants and enter into fear; or he could
continue listening to the words of Jesus and
stay in faith.
If he had listened to the words of fear, his
daughter would have died.
But Jesus didn't want that to happen,
because He had already agreed to go with
Jairus and heal his daughter. He wasn't
going to go back on His word, He intended
on making her well.
Jairus chose faith.
He wouldn't let the words of others contra-
dict the Word of God and get him over into
fear. He wasn't going to weaken his faith.
Faith and fear can't be mixed.
We always have a choice.
Listen to the Word of God.
Let it fill our hearts then meditate on it
contantly.
Rebuke the voices of fear, when the
enemy whispers the lies of the devil.
Don't let fear steal faith and rob the
miracle that belongs to us.
Only believe!
Faith Opposes Fear
"Why are you so fearful?
How is it that you have no faith?"
Mark 4:40
Jesus said to the disciples, "Let us cross over
to the other side,"
So they got into the boat to go across the sea.
A great storm arose and the waves began to
fill the boat.
All the while, Jesus was asleep in the back.
The disciples came to Him and said,
"Teacher, do You not care that we are
perishing?"
Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and said
to the sea, "Peace, be still!"
There was a great calm.
Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said,
"Why are you so fearful? How is it that you
have no faith."
Matthew 8:23 says, O you of little faith!
Faith is the opposite of fear.
The disciples were full of fear and had no
faith.
Jesus was full of faith and had no fear.
We see the faith of Jesus when He told them
to go over to the other side of the sea.
He had every expectation that what He said
would happen and that they would make it
safely to the other side.
He remained asleep and the storm didn't
move Him one bit.
He had no fear, only faith and so He was at
peace even in the middle of it.
But not the disciples. Even after being with
Jesus for a long time, listening to Him teach
and preach, watching Him heal people and
cast out demons.
They had just spent the whole day with Him
as He taught parables of the Kingdom of God.
So how was it that their faith was so small at
this moment? Fear!
The disciples hadn't dealt with their fear and
fear is the enemy of faith.
How is it that you have no faith?"
Mark 4:40
Jesus said to the disciples, "Let us cross over
to the other side,"
So they got into the boat to go across the sea.
A great storm arose and the waves began to
fill the boat.
All the while, Jesus was asleep in the back.
The disciples came to Him and said,
"Teacher, do You not care that we are
perishing?"
Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and said
to the sea, "Peace, be still!"
There was a great calm.
Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said,
"Why are you so fearful? How is it that you
have no faith."
Matthew 8:23 says, O you of little faith!
Faith is the opposite of fear.
The disciples were full of fear and had no
faith.
Jesus was full of faith and had no fear.
We see the faith of Jesus when He told them
to go over to the other side of the sea.
He had every expectation that what He said
would happen and that they would make it
safely to the other side.
He remained asleep and the storm didn't
move Him one bit.
He had no fear, only faith and so He was at
peace even in the middle of it.
But not the disciples. Even after being with
Jesus for a long time, listening to Him teach
and preach, watching Him heal people and
cast out demons.
They had just spent the whole day with Him
as He taught parables of the Kingdom of God.
So how was it that their faith was so small at
this moment? Fear!
The disciples hadn't dealt with their fear and
fear is the enemy of faith.
Breath of God
The breath of God is one, not many.
The same breath God breathed into Adam's
nostrils is the same breath He breathes out
His Word and causes things to be.
After God created Adam, He set Adam to work.
He brought the animals to him to see what he
would call them. Genesis 2:19.
With the breath of God, Adam was to breathe
words and name the animals.
By naming them he was calling what they
were to be and do.
God didn't tell Adam what to call the animals.
He only gave Adam the breath and the
authority to name them.
Then He stepped back to watch what Adam
would call them.
God operates in the world by the Word of His
breath and that is what He created man to do.
He expects man to come into agreement with
His Word.
God has created us to call thing which do not
exist as though they did.
We must explore the Word of God to discover
the promises of God and what His will is.
Then we are to open our mouths and start
calling them in agreement with Him.
It doesn't matter whether we can see them,
feel them or experience them.
We are to just keep calling them as if they
already exist and they will eventually
appear, because everything must eventually
line up with the Word of God.
The same breath God breathed into Adam's
nostrils is the same breath He breathes out
His Word and causes things to be.
After God created Adam, He set Adam to work.
He brought the animals to him to see what he
would call them. Genesis 2:19.
With the breath of God, Adam was to breathe
words and name the animals.
By naming them he was calling what they
were to be and do.
God didn't tell Adam what to call the animals.
He only gave Adam the breath and the
authority to name them.
Then He stepped back to watch what Adam
would call them.
God operates in the world by the Word of His
breath and that is what He created man to do.
He expects man to come into agreement with
His Word.
God has created us to call thing which do not
exist as though they did.
We must explore the Word of God to discover
the promises of God and what His will is.
Then we are to open our mouths and start
calling them in agreement with Him.
It doesn't matter whether we can see them,
feel them or experience them.
We are to just keep calling them as if they
already exist and they will eventually
appear, because everything must eventually
line up with the Word of God.
Faith Calls Things
Faith is calling things that are not as though
they were.
"Therefore it is of faith that it might be
according to grace, so that the promise
might be sure to all the seed, not only to
those who are of the law, but also those
who are of the faith of Abraham, who is
the father of us all [as it is written, "I
have made you a father of many nations"]
in the presence of Him whom he believed
God, who gives life to the dead and calls
those things which do not exist as though
they did."
Romans 4:16-17
God calls those things that are not as though
they were.
That's how the heavens and earth got here in
the first place.
Once they were not, now they are.....because
God called them as though they were.
"The worlds were framed by the Word of God."
Hebrews 11:3
That's how God works. He speaks and expects
His Words to be fulfilled.
When God made man, He made him in the
image of Himself.
He formed him from the earth, then puffed
into him the breath of life and Adam became
a living being.
God is Spirit, a speaking spirit.
The Bible says that "All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God" 2 Timothy 3:16.
Inspiration means 'God-breathed'.
God breathes out His Word.
At creation, when darkness was upon the face
of the deep, God called for light.
Light came into being and solved the problem.
they were.
"Therefore it is of faith that it might be
according to grace, so that the promise
might be sure to all the seed, not only to
those who are of the law, but also those
who are of the faith of Abraham, who is
the father of us all [as it is written, "I
have made you a father of many nations"]
in the presence of Him whom he believed
God, who gives life to the dead and calls
those things which do not exist as though
they did."
Romans 4:16-17
God calls those things that are not as though
they were.
That's how the heavens and earth got here in
the first place.
Once they were not, now they are.....because
God called them as though they were.
"The worlds were framed by the Word of God."
Hebrews 11:3
That's how God works. He speaks and expects
His Words to be fulfilled.
When God made man, He made him in the
image of Himself.
He formed him from the earth, then puffed
into him the breath of life and Adam became
a living being.
God is Spirit, a speaking spirit.
The Bible says that "All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God" 2 Timothy 3:16.
Inspiration means 'God-breathed'.
God breathes out His Word.
At creation, when darkness was upon the face
of the deep, God called for light.
Light came into being and solved the problem.
Being in Agreement
We must be in agreement with the Word of
God, because Bible faith is expecting to see
the Word of God fulfilled.
That is how we have the faith of God.
Then, we must speak those things with our
mouths.
Our faith is released by what we say.
Three times Jesus referred to what we say,
three times in one sentence of one verse in
Mark 11:23.
In that same verse He refers to what we
believe only once.
With three to one it looks like Jesus is telling
us something very important about what we
say and what we believe.
He is giving us a very powerful key to
activating and releasing our faith.
Here is how it works:
We're to believe in our heart,
then we speak it out,
then we see it happen.
Faith is activated and released by what we
say.
So, we ought to be very careful about every
thing we say.
Does it line up with the truth of God's Word?
Are we speaking in agreement with His
promises?
Or, are our words just idle, full of nothing?
Or worse yet, are we saying things contrary
to what God has said?
We have to meditate on the Word of God
until we have full expectation that it will be
fulfilled.
Then speak, letting the promises of God
direct everything we say.
Then continue in faith as we wait and watch
for them to come to pass.
God, because Bible faith is expecting to see
the Word of God fulfilled.
That is how we have the faith of God.
Then, we must speak those things with our
mouths.
Our faith is released by what we say.
Three times Jesus referred to what we say,
three times in one sentence of one verse in
Mark 11:23.
In that same verse He refers to what we
believe only once.
With three to one it looks like Jesus is telling
us something very important about what we
say and what we believe.
He is giving us a very powerful key to
activating and releasing our faith.
Here is how it works:
We're to believe in our heart,
then we speak it out,
then we see it happen.
Faith is activated and released by what we
say.
So, we ought to be very careful about every
thing we say.
Does it line up with the truth of God's Word?
Are we speaking in agreement with His
promises?
Or, are our words just idle, full of nothing?
Or worse yet, are we saying things contrary
to what God has said?
We have to meditate on the Word of God
until we have full expectation that it will be
fulfilled.
Then speak, letting the promises of God
direct everything we say.
Then continue in faith as we wait and watch
for them to come to pass.
Framework of the Universe
"By faith we understand that the worlds were
framed by the Word of God, so that the things
which are seen were not made of things which
are visible"
Hebrews 11:3
Spend time meditating on this because it is
the framework of the whole universe.
It should not come as a surprise that when
Jesus being fully God as well as fully human,
that when He speaks to anything natural, it
obeys Him.
Jesus extends His authority to the disciples.
He said, "Have faith of God."
That is, have the same kind of expectation as
God does that His Word will be fulfilled.
Then Jesus says something so outstanding
that most Christians back away from its full
force.
He says that we can whatsoever we say if we
do not doubt.
Does He really mean that we can have an
expectation that when we believe the Word of
God in our hearts and speak it with our
mouths that things will obey us?.... YES!
framed by the Word of God, so that the things
which are seen were not made of things which
are visible"
Hebrews 11:3
Spend time meditating on this because it is
the framework of the whole universe.
It should not come as a surprise that when
Jesus being fully God as well as fully human,
that when He speaks to anything natural, it
obeys Him.
Jesus extends His authority to the disciples.
He said, "Have faith of God."
That is, have the same kind of expectation as
God does that His Word will be fulfilled.
Then Jesus says something so outstanding
that most Christians back away from its full
force.
He says that we can whatsoever we say if we
do not doubt.
Does He really mean that we can have an
expectation that when we believe the Word of
God in our hearts and speak it with our
mouths that things will obey us?.... YES!
Releasing Faith
Faith is released by words.
"Jesus answered and said, 'Have faith in God.
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to
this mountain, Be removed and be cast into
the sea' and does not doubt in his heart, but
believes that those things he says will be
done, he will have whatever he says."
Mark 11:22-23
The disciples heard Jesus speak to the fig
tree just the day before and now on the
way back by the same tree, Peter noticed
it was withered.
"He said, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree which
you cursed has withered away"
Mark 11:21
Imagine speaking to a fig tree. Now imagine
that it obeys you.
That is what happened here.
But how can this be?
Jesus gave the answer "HAVE FAITH IN GOD"
Whatever this faith is, it is of God.
It is a gift of God, a gift we receive by hearing
the Word of God.
That is what faith is; it's believing the Word
of God, having an expectation that whatever
God says will be fulfilled.
When God spoke, He expected that it would
be fulfilled and that His Word would be fully
obeyed.
God said, "So shall my Word be that goes
forth from my mouth; it shall not return to
Me void, but it shall accomplish what I
please and it shall prosper in the thing for
which I sent it" Isaiah 55:11
When God spoke, thing happened!
"Jesus answered and said, 'Have faith in God.
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to
this mountain, Be removed and be cast into
the sea' and does not doubt in his heart, but
believes that those things he says will be
done, he will have whatever he says."
Mark 11:22-23
The disciples heard Jesus speak to the fig
tree just the day before and now on the
way back by the same tree, Peter noticed
it was withered.
"He said, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree which
you cursed has withered away"
Mark 11:21
Imagine speaking to a fig tree. Now imagine
that it obeys you.
That is what happened here.
But how can this be?
Jesus gave the answer "HAVE FAITH IN GOD"
Whatever this faith is, it is of God.
It is a gift of God, a gift we receive by hearing
the Word of God.
That is what faith is; it's believing the Word
of God, having an expectation that whatever
God says will be fulfilled.
When God spoke, He expected that it would
be fulfilled and that His Word would be fully
obeyed.
God said, "So shall my Word be that goes
forth from my mouth; it shall not return to
Me void, but it shall accomplish what I
please and it shall prosper in the thing for
which I sent it" Isaiah 55:11
When God spoke, thing happened!
Size Doesn't Matter
The really important thing about faith is not
how big it is, but what we do with it.
Many people have faith and it does them no
good.
What is needed is to plant their faith; sow it,
release it, activate it.
Then it can accomplish anything and every
thing they need.
So it is not the size of our faith that matters.
It is whether or not we have released it.
When we plant our faith, though it is small,
amazing things happen.
We can say to a mulberry tree "Be uprooted
and be planted in the sea," and it will obey
us.
That is an impossible thing by man
standards, but that is what Jesus said we
can do with our mustard size faith.
We can perform miracles.
In another place Jesus said that we can
move mountains Matthew 17:20.
This too was by planting faith as a mustard
seed.
It's not the size, but what we do with it.
It's how we sow and activate it.
how big it is, but what we do with it.
Many people have faith and it does them no
good.
What is needed is to plant their faith; sow it,
release it, activate it.
Then it can accomplish anything and every
thing they need.
So it is not the size of our faith that matters.
It is whether or not we have released it.
When we plant our faith, though it is small,
amazing things happen.
We can say to a mulberry tree "Be uprooted
and be planted in the sea," and it will obey
us.
That is an impossible thing by man
standards, but that is what Jesus said we
can do with our mustard size faith.
We can perform miracles.
In another place Jesus said that we can
move mountains Matthew 17:20.
This too was by planting faith as a mustard
seed.
It's not the size, but what we do with it.
It's how we sow and activate it.
Faith is a Seed
"If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can
say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the
roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would
obey you."
Luke 17:6
Jesus talked about the responsibility of
forgiving those who offend us, even when
they repeatedly do us wrong (Luke 17:1-4).
This blew the minds of His disciples and they
pleaded, "Lord, increase our faith".
But the answer Jesus gave them was that it
was not an increase of faith that they needed;
no, what they really needed was to apply the
faith they already had.
Even if they had faith only the size of a
mustard seed, it would be more than enough
to do the job.
The thing about a mustard seed is that,
though it's very small, the tiniest seed in
the garden, it grows up to be a tree.
But the size of the seed doesn't matter.
The tiniest seed or the largest, it will not
make one bit of difference, that is, not as
long as it's held in the hand.
The really important thing about a seed is
what is done with it.
Holding it or planting it; which ever is
chosen makes all the difference.
SEEDS ARE MEANT TO BE PLANTED!
say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the
roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would
obey you."
Luke 17:6
Jesus talked about the responsibility of
forgiving those who offend us, even when
they repeatedly do us wrong (Luke 17:1-4).
This blew the minds of His disciples and they
pleaded, "Lord, increase our faith".
But the answer Jesus gave them was that it
was not an increase of faith that they needed;
no, what they really needed was to apply the
faith they already had.
Even if they had faith only the size of a
mustard seed, it would be more than enough
to do the job.
The thing about a mustard seed is that,
though it's very small, the tiniest seed in
the garden, it grows up to be a tree.
But the size of the seed doesn't matter.
The tiniest seed or the largest, it will not
make one bit of difference, that is, not as
long as it's held in the hand.
The really important thing about a seed is
what is done with it.
Holding it or planting it; which ever is
chosen makes all the difference.
SEEDS ARE MEANT TO BE PLANTED!
Believing God's Word
God is fully pleased with those who believe
His Word and greatly displeased with those
who don't.
God rewards those who diligently seek him,
that is, those who seek Him by faith.
That means that we focus our attention of
Him only..... His will, His ways, His Word
and not on ourselves.
The heart that diligently seeks God:
God's ways are higher than my ways,
God's thoughts are higher than my thoughts;
God's works are greater than my works.
This pleases God and lays hold of His
reward.
Taking God at His Word;
trusting completely in Him and not ourselves;
believing that He is who He says He is and
that He will do for us what He says He will do!
His Word and greatly displeased with those
who don't.
God rewards those who diligently seek him,
that is, those who seek Him by faith.
That means that we focus our attention of
Him only..... His will, His ways, His Word
and not on ourselves.
The heart that diligently seeks God:
God's ways are higher than my ways,
God's thoughts are higher than my thoughts;
God's works are greater than my works.
This pleases God and lays hold of His
reward.
Taking God at His Word;
trusting completely in Him and not ourselves;
believing that He is who He says He is and
that He will do for us what He says He will do!
Faith is about God
"He does not delight in the strength of the
horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
The Lord takes pleasure in those who hear
Him,
In those who hope in His mercy."
Psalm 147:10-11
The Bible says that those who call on the
name of the Lord shall be saved.
Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21
We call on His name, with faith that He
really is there and that He is who He says
He is.
We call on His name, trusting that He will
do what He says He will do.
Faith is not about us and our works,
but about God and His Word.
Faith is believing the Word of God, for that
is how it comes to us in the first place, by
our hearing His Word.
horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
The Lord takes pleasure in those who hear
Him,
In those who hope in His mercy."
Psalm 147:10-11
The Bible says that those who call on the
name of the Lord shall be saved.
Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21
We call on His name, with faith that He
really is there and that He is who He says
He is.
We call on His name, trusting that He will
do what He says He will do.
Faith is not about us and our works,
but about God and His Word.
Faith is believing the Word of God, for that
is how it comes to us in the first place, by
our hearing His Word.
Please
The Greek word 'please' is emphatic.
It is not being merely pleased, but being
well-pleased, fully and entirely gratified.
God takes the greatest pleasure when we
believe Him.
Biblical faith arouses God's pleasure and
fully satisfies Him.
Not only is faith necessary to approach
God, it is the only way.
We do not come on the strength of who we
are and what we have done.
We come because of who He is and what He
has done.
We have to come trusting in Him.
It is not being merely pleased, but being
well-pleased, fully and entirely gratified.
God takes the greatest pleasure when we
believe Him.
Biblical faith arouses God's pleasure and
fully satisfies Him.
Not only is faith necessary to approach
God, it is the only way.
We do not come on the strength of who we
are and what we have done.
We come because of who He is and what He
has done.
We have to come trusting in Him.
Faith Pleases God
"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 rewarders of
those who diligently seek Him."
Hebrews 11:6
Faith pleases God.
In fact, without faith, it is impossible to
please Him.
But the Bible says that, by faith "the elders"
obtained a good testimony" Hebrews 11:2
God was well-pleased because they believed
Him.
That is what happened with Enoch, "By faith
Enoch was translated so that he did not see
death. . .for before his translation he had this
testimony, that he pleased God"
This was the evidence that Enoch was full of
faith: He pleased God.
Him, for he who comes to God must believe
that He is, and that He is a rewarders of
those who diligently seek Him."
Hebrews 11:6
Faith pleases God.
In fact, without faith, it is impossible to
please Him.
But the Bible says that, by faith "the elders"
obtained a good testimony" Hebrews 11:2
God was well-pleased because they believed
Him.
That is what happened with Enoch, "By faith
Enoch was translated so that he did not see
death. . .for before his translation he had this
testimony, that he pleased God"
This was the evidence that Enoch was full of
faith: He pleased God.
Faith not Sight
Faith lays hold of the Word of God and makes
it obvious to us that what God has promised
is being accomplished spiritually, even though
we do no yet see it naturally.
Paul instructed the Corinthian believers, "We
walk by faith, not by sight."
Faith is first, then sight.
Jesus taught the disciples, "Therefore, I say
unto you, whatever things you ask when you
pray, believe that you receive them and you
will have them"
Mark 11:24
Jesus didn't say,
"believe that you will receive" [future tense]
but rather
"believe that you receive" [present tense].
NASB "believe that you have received.
This is a powerful truth!
it obvious to us that what God has promised
is being accomplished spiritually, even though
we do no yet see it naturally.
Paul instructed the Corinthian believers, "We
walk by faith, not by sight."
Faith is first, then sight.
Jesus taught the disciples, "Therefore, I say
unto you, whatever things you ask when you
pray, believe that you receive them and you
will have them"
Mark 11:24
Jesus didn't say,
"believe that you will receive" [future tense]
but rather
"believe that you receive" [present tense].
NASB "believe that you have received.
This is a powerful truth!
Spiritual begets Natural
Many things are accomplished on the spiritual
level even though they are not visible on the
natural level.
The true order of things is:
first comes the spiritual,
then comes the natural.
The natural comes forth from the spiritual,
because the natural realm was created by
God, who is Spirit.
"By faith we understand that the worlds
were framed by the Word of God, so that the
things which are seen were not made of
things which are visible."
Hebrews 11:3
That means everything that is now seen
comes from that which is invisible, namely
the Word of God.
level even though they are not visible on the
natural level.
The true order of things is:
first comes the spiritual,
then comes the natural.
The natural comes forth from the spiritual,
because the natural realm was created by
God, who is Spirit.
"By faith we understand that the worlds
were framed by the Word of God, so that the
things which are seen were not made of
things which are visible."
Hebrews 11:3
That means everything that is now seen
comes from that which is invisible, namely
the Word of God.
Faith is Evidence
"Faith is . . the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is evidence.
The Greek word for 'evidence' means proof or
conviction.
The English word 'evidence' refers to that
which is obvious or can be seen.
This might seem to be a funny way for the
author of Hebrews to talk about things which
are not seen.
He is making a point about things which can
be seen with the natural eye and things which
are seen apart from the natural eye.
He is talking about seeing things in the Spirit.
Faith is able to make it obvious to us on the
spiritual level, because faith itself is a
spiritual matter.
The Greek word used here for 'things' [the
evidence of things not seen] refers to things
which are under consideration, things which
have been, or are in the process of being
accomplished.
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is evidence.
The Greek word for 'evidence' means proof or
conviction.
The English word 'evidence' refers to that
which is obvious or can be seen.
This might seem to be a funny way for the
author of Hebrews to talk about things which
are not seen.
He is making a point about things which can
be seen with the natural eye and things which
are seen apart from the natural eye.
He is talking about seeing things in the Spirit.
Faith is able to make it obvious to us on the
spiritual level, because faith itself is a
spiritual matter.
The Greek word used here for 'things' [the
evidence of things not seen] refers to things
which are under consideration, things which
have been, or are in the process of being
accomplished.
Hope
Today we often use the word "hope" in a
wavering or doubtful sort of way.
But not in the Bible.
The Greek word for "hope" in the New
Testament refers to an anticipation, a
positive expectation.
The same is true of the Hebrew word for
"hope" in the Old Testament.
In the Bible, "hope" is not a word of doubt,
but of confidence and that is how it is used
in Hebrew 11:1
So putting it all together; faith is the sub-
stance, the underlying reality, the title-deed
of things we are anticipating or expecting to
see.
This is Biblical faith, that is, the kind of faith
the Bible talks about.
It is the faith that comes by hearing the
Word of God, the faith that believes the
promises of God.
wavering or doubtful sort of way.
But not in the Bible.
The Greek word for "hope" in the New
Testament refers to an anticipation, a
positive expectation.
The same is true of the Hebrew word for
"hope" in the Old Testament.
In the Bible, "hope" is not a word of doubt,
but of confidence and that is how it is used
in Hebrew 11:1
So putting it all together; faith is the sub-
stance, the underlying reality, the title-deed
of things we are anticipating or expecting to
see.
This is Biblical faith, that is, the kind of faith
the Bible talks about.
It is the faith that comes by hearing the
Word of God, the faith that believes the
promises of God.
Faith is Substance
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for."
Hebrews 11:1
The Greek word for substance refers to the
underlying state of a thing.
Similar to when we break down the English
word "substance", we find sub [under] and
stance [stand].
Substance is that which stands under a thing.
In Bible times, the Greek word had a legal
meaning which signified a foundational
document, such as a title-deed.
That is why some Greek scholars render
this translation, "Faith is the title-deed of
things hoped for."
A title-deed is an important document
because it shows ownership.
If we have the title-deed to a piece of
property, we do not even have to see the
property to know that it belongs to us.
We know it is ours because of the deed.
As long as we possess that deed, there is no
question that we are the owners.
Hebrews 11:1
The Greek word for substance refers to the
underlying state of a thing.
Similar to when we break down the English
word "substance", we find sub [under] and
stance [stand].
Substance is that which stands under a thing.
In Bible times, the Greek word had a legal
meaning which signified a foundational
document, such as a title-deed.
That is why some Greek scholars render
this translation, "Faith is the title-deed of
things hoped for."
A title-deed is an important document
because it shows ownership.
If we have the title-deed to a piece of
property, we do not even have to see the
property to know that it belongs to us.
We know it is ours because of the deed.
As long as we possess that deed, there is no
question that we are the owners.
Faith Comes By Hearing 2
Hearing is receiving what has been spoken
and what we receive by hearing settles into
our spirits.
Biblical faith does not come by hearing in
general, receiving anything and everything
that enters into our ears, for we might hear
the wrong thing and our faith will be in error.
Faith comes by hearing is a very important
truth, but only half of it.
We need the whole thing, so the second half
of Paul's statement is equally important:
"Hearing by the Word of God."
It is only when we hear and receive the Word
of God that true faith comes and takes root
in us.
The Word of God comes by inspiration of the
Holy Spirit and He has a very important role
to play in our faith.
When we hear the Word, the Holy Spirit takes
and plants it deep in our spirit and then faith
begins to arise within us.
The Word of God is our starting point for faith.
We need to get into our Bibles and ask the
Holy Spirit to reveal it to us.
Then receive the Word and meditate on it.
Let it settle into the heart and instruct our
emotions.
Let it transform us by renewing our minds.
Let it direct our wills and every choice we make.
and what we receive by hearing settles into
our spirits.
Biblical faith does not come by hearing in
general, receiving anything and everything
that enters into our ears, for we might hear
the wrong thing and our faith will be in error.
Faith comes by hearing is a very important
truth, but only half of it.
We need the whole thing, so the second half
of Paul's statement is equally important:
"Hearing by the Word of God."
It is only when we hear and receive the Word
of God that true faith comes and takes root
in us.
The Word of God comes by inspiration of the
Holy Spirit and He has a very important role
to play in our faith.
When we hear the Word, the Holy Spirit takes
and plants it deep in our spirit and then faith
begins to arise within us.
The Word of God is our starting point for faith.
We need to get into our Bibles and ask the
Holy Spirit to reveal it to us.
Then receive the Word and meditate on it.
Let it settle into the heart and instruct our
emotions.
Let it transform us by renewing our minds.
Let it direct our wills and every choice we make.
Faith Comes By Hearing 1
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the
Word of God."
Romans 10:17
Biblical faith is believing what God has said.
This means that faith is built into the Word
of God.
If it is not related to the Word, then by
definition it is not faith.
According to Paul's statement above, which
he addressed to the Christians at Rome,
there is a particular way which faith comes
to a person.
There are also particular ways in which faith
does not come.
Faith does not come by seeing.
Paul said, "We walk by faith, not by sight."
2 Corinthians 5:7
Some say, they will believe it when they see
it.
But the eyes can easily deceive us.
So faith must come first, then the seeing.
We do not see in order to believe, we believe
in order to see.
Faith does not come by feeling.
Faith is not an emotion.
Real faith endures even when the emotions
fade.
Emotions do not lead us into faith, but faith
leads us into healthy emotions.
Faith does not come by thinking.
Faith is not a matter of the mind, but of the
spirit.
Faith is not different to thinking, logic or
reasoning, but it does transcend them.
Faith goes beyond where our limited thoughts
can take us.
We do not understand in order to believe, we
believe in order to understand.
Faith does not come by will-power.
Faith is not a matter of choice. It is not a
choice we make, although it may involve a
choice.
It is not about believing whatever one wants
to believe.
Faith driven by will-power may be very
sincere and yet be sincerely wrong.
Faith must have a proper basis.
We do not make something true by choosing
to believe it, we discover the correct choice
by believing the Word of God.
Word of God."
Romans 10:17
Biblical faith is believing what God has said.
This means that faith is built into the Word
of God.
If it is not related to the Word, then by
definition it is not faith.
According to Paul's statement above, which
he addressed to the Christians at Rome,
there is a particular way which faith comes
to a person.
There are also particular ways in which faith
does not come.
Faith does not come by seeing.
Paul said, "We walk by faith, not by sight."
2 Corinthians 5:7
Some say, they will believe it when they see
it.
But the eyes can easily deceive us.
So faith must come first, then the seeing.
We do not see in order to believe, we believe
in order to see.
Faith does not come by feeling.
Faith is not an emotion.
Real faith endures even when the emotions
fade.
Emotions do not lead us into faith, but faith
leads us into healthy emotions.
Faith does not come by thinking.
Faith is not a matter of the mind, but of the
spirit.
Faith is not different to thinking, logic or
reasoning, but it does transcend them.
Faith goes beyond where our limited thoughts
can take us.
We do not understand in order to believe, we
believe in order to understand.
Faith does not come by will-power.
Faith is not a matter of choice. It is not a
choice we make, although it may involve a
choice.
It is not about believing whatever one wants
to believe.
Faith driven by will-power may be very
sincere and yet be sincerely wrong.
Faith must have a proper basis.
We do not make something true by choosing
to believe it, we discover the correct choice
by believing the Word of God.
Faith is a Spiritual Law
The Bible says that "Abraham believed in the
Lord and He accounted it to him for righteous
ness"
Genesis 15:6
Just as faith made Abraham right with God,
it will do the same for you and me when we
believe God, because faith is a spiritual law.
Hebrews 11 is often called the "Hall of Fame
for Faith."
That is because it features many Old
Testament heroes who accomplished mighty
feats by faith.
If we want to see how faith will work for us,
we can study this chapter to see how faith
worked for them.
Faith will work for us in the same way it
worked for them.
The principles of faith will work exactly the
same for us as it did for them.
Sometimes we may fail to use faith properly,
or to remain firm in our faith, but faith itself
will never fail us.
We must grab the principle of Faith, believe
God's promises and see how they will change
our world.
Faith is a spiritual law that will work for
anyone, every time.
Lord and He accounted it to him for righteous
ness"
Genesis 15:6
Just as faith made Abraham right with God,
it will do the same for you and me when we
believe God, because faith is a spiritual law.
Hebrews 11 is often called the "Hall of Fame
for Faith."
That is because it features many Old
Testament heroes who accomplished mighty
feats by faith.
If we want to see how faith will work for us,
we can study this chapter to see how faith
worked for them.
Faith will work for us in the same way it
worked for them.
The principles of faith will work exactly the
same for us as it did for them.
Sometimes we may fail to use faith properly,
or to remain firm in our faith, but faith itself
will never fail us.
We must grab the principle of Faith, believe
God's promises and see how they will change
our world.
Faith is a spiritual law that will work for
anyone, every time.
Faith is a Law and a Gift
Faith excludes boasting.
Faith is a law.
Have you ever heard anybody bragging about
gravity, as if it were some personal accomplish
ment?
Why?
Because gravity is a physical law which always
works for everybody in the same way every
time.
It is the same with the law of faith.
Faith is a gift.
The Bible says, "For by grace you have been
saved through faith and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone
should boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
God's gift of faith is available to everyone who
wants it and it will work for anyone who uses
it.
Faith is a law.
Have you ever heard anybody bragging about
gravity, as if it were some personal accomplish
ment?
Why?
Because gravity is a physical law which always
works for everybody in the same way every
time.
It is the same with the law of faith.
Faith is a gift.
The Bible says, "For by grace you have been
saved through faith and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone
should boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
God's gift of faith is available to everyone who
wants it and it will work for anyone who uses
it.
Faith Works
"Where is boasting then? It is excluded.
By what law? Of works?
No, but by the law of faith."
Romans 3:27
Everything in the world is governed by
spiritual laws.
It all works by spiritual principles.
A law or principle is something that will work
every time for every person and in the same
way.
Faith is a spiritual law.
This means that it will work for any and every
one who uses it.
It will perform exactly the same way every
time it is put to work.
By what law? Of works?
No, but by the law of faith."
Romans 3:27
Everything in the world is governed by
spiritual laws.
It all works by spiritual principles.
A law or principle is something that will work
every time for every person and in the same
way.
Faith is a spiritual law.
This means that it will work for any and every
one who uses it.
It will perform exactly the same way every
time it is put to work.
Having What We Say
"Assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this
mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the
sea,' and does not doubt in is heart, but
believes that those things he says will be
done, he will have whatever he says."
Mark 11:23
The word "assuredly" in the Greek means
'amen', a bold and powerful expression of faith.
God is full of faith and we can have the kind of
faith that God has.
Therefore, we can operate in the same way
God operates, speaking His Word and expect-
ing it to come to pass.
mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the
sea,' and does not doubt in is heart, but
believes that those things he says will be
done, he will have whatever he says."
Mark 11:23
The word "assuredly" in the Greek means
'amen', a bold and powerful expression of faith.
God is full of faith and we can have the kind of
faith that God has.
Therefore, we can operate in the same way
God operates, speaking His Word and expect-
ing it to come to pass.
God Operates by Faith
If God is full of faith in His own Word, then
shouldn't we also be full of faith in His Word,
believing Him to bring to pass everything He
says?
God operates by faith in everything He does
and we must also.
Hebrews 11:6 says that, without faith, it is
impossible to please God.
That is because faith is what God is all about.
When Jesus said, "Have faith in God," He was
teaching the disciples to line up with the way
God does everything.
shouldn't we also be full of faith in His Word,
believing Him to bring to pass everything He
says?
God operates by faith in everything He does
and we must also.
Hebrews 11:6 says that, without faith, it is
impossible to please God.
That is because faith is what God is all about.
When Jesus said, "Have faith in God," He was
teaching the disciples to line up with the way
God does everything.
Faith Is
The Bible says that "Faith is the substance of
things hoped for" Hebrews 11:1
That is, faith is the underlying reality of what
we expect to see manifested.
Wasn't that what God did when He spoke His
Word?
He had every expectation of see it happen.
"By faith we understand that the worlds
were framed by the Word of God, so that
the things which are seen were not made
of things which are visible."
Hebrews 11:3
When darkness was on the face of the deep
in Genesis 1, God simply said, "Let there
be light."
He believed what He said and expected the
light to appear. "And there was light"
That is how it always was with God.
When He speaks His Word, He expects it
to be fulfilled.
"So shall My word be that goes forth from
My mouth; it shall not return to me void,
but it shall accomplish what I please, and
it shall prosper in the thing for which I
sent it."
Isaiah 55:11
things hoped for" Hebrews 11:1
That is, faith is the underlying reality of what
we expect to see manifested.
Wasn't that what God did when He spoke His
Word?
He had every expectation of see it happen.
"By faith we understand that the worlds
were framed by the Word of God, so that
the things which are seen were not made
of things which are visible."
Hebrews 11:3
When darkness was on the face of the deep
in Genesis 1, God simply said, "Let there
be light."
He believed what He said and expected the
light to appear. "And there was light"
That is how it always was with God.
When He speaks His Word, He expects it
to be fulfilled.
"So shall My word be that goes forth from
My mouth; it shall not return to me void,
but it shall accomplish what I please, and
it shall prosper in the thing for which I
sent it."
Isaiah 55:11
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
