“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the Word about Christ.”
Romans 10:17
The word faith is an encouraging word to study. It is also an incredibly powerful word. The more you understand how it works, the more you will receive the promises associated with it.
God led me to an understanding about faith as being a part of His Nature, not just a substance of things hoped for, and evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Since our faith comes from Him it is a gift and it is part of His Being. To understand this deeper, He instructed me to interchange the word faith with His Name and make it personal.
Faith comes from the Greek word pístis which means to be persuaded to come to trust and believe. Scripture is a tool God uses to persuade us to trust Him as He reveals Himself to us through Holy Spirit when we hear the message about Christ.
These are two highlights from my word study on faith:
- Faith is always a gift from God and never something that can be produced by people. In short, faith for the Believer is God's divine persuasion. It is distinct from our human belief, yet at the same time, involves our human trust and confidence. The Lord continuously births faith in the Believer who has yielded to Him so they can be persuaded to know His will when trusting in Him (1 John 5:4).
- Faith involves belief, but it goes beyond human believing because it includes the personal revelation (in-working) of God. Faith is always God's work. Our believing has eternal meaning when it becomes faith-believing by the transforming Grace of God.
The faith that comes from God will also bear fruit in your life. If you say you have faith but are not spurred on to use it to further God’s Kingdom with good deeds and giving ― then you need to go to God with this and ask Him to show you where you are falling short. 2 Timothy 2:15 warns us to do our best to present our self to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth. I urge you to take this very seriously because we cannot do this correctly without a proper understanding of faith and how it works. Faith without works is dead but you my dear friend are very much alive!
As we celebrate the birth of Christ this season, we see the best example of how to live out a life of faith through His example.
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Jesus is the connection to our Heavenly Father and all His supply for our spirits, souls, and bodies. We must live beyond our five senses to live a victorious life by faith in Christ. Ephesians 3:17 shows us that He lives inside us by our faith, “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Faith is a substance that can be measured and weighed. It has been implanted in our spirits by measure from the Father. It comes from Him, but it is up to us to allow Him to grow it! Faith and knowledge are equal in measure and the more you know, the more you grow. Allow God to send workers to water and cultivate your faith through the knowledge of His Word. Practice weekly church fellowship, weekday Bible studies, quiet prayer, meditation of His Word, worship, serving and giving to others and His Kingdom purposes.
These are the tools and fertilizer that God will use to grow your faith as it is impossible to please Him without it. That is why He gives it to you, by Grace, as a Gift. You receive it by reading and hearing His Word. Faith gives substance to the things that you hope for and brings them into your life. Faith can move mountains of impossibilities out of your way. Faith shows you how to pray the Will of Father for your life so you can receive all He desires for you. Knowing this, faith also brings patience as you wait for your needs to be met while giving you the wisdom needed on how to seek after them. Faith can heal your sicknesses and bring you the Peace of Christ. Through faith, you can understand how our world was created and how to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Soon, your harvest will be ready, and you can enjoy all the benefits thereof, all while blessing others with what God has blessed you!
As we move into a new year, I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.
Tis’ the season to believe, indeed!
Merry Christmas friends.
"You are God’s girl and He loves you! You sprinkle His seeds of love wherever you go!” Those words were spoken to me by my husband Joe many years ago. They came at a time when I was questioning my self-worth in God’s Kingdom, purposes, and plans. The Father made sure that in my darkest spiritual hour, I heard His Truth about my identity and self-worth. It has been my passion ever since to deliver that same message to any who may need to hear it. It is not about who we are, but Whose we are, and I am God’s girl!
