Good morning Everyone and Happy 4th of July!
In Luke 17:3-6, Jesus told His followers if someone sinned against them, rebuke and forgive that person if he or she repented. If the individual sinned repeatedly, forgive repeatedly (verses 3-4). Then in verse 5, the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
Their statement reflects the attitude most Christians have today concerning FAITH. Jesus tried to explain to them that they didn’t need more FAITH; they simply needed to learn to use the FAITH they already had.
Romans 10:17 says,
- So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
God’s Word carries FAITH. The Scripture declares in John 6:63 that His Words are spirit and life. Words are spiritual containers carrying the substance to either destroy or bless us! Deuteronomy 30:19 says,
- “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”
When we are born-again, we are born of incorruptible seed, which is the Word of God that lives forever. We are regenerated from an immortal origin (see 1 Peter 1:23, AMP). At that point, the FAITH from the Word that we heard was deposited into our spirits as a gift. Right away, we had the FAITH we needed.
Many people think they don’t have enough FAITH, but the real issue is whether or not they are using the FAITH they have. Because the Holy Spirit lives within us, we live by FAITH in the Son of God. Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20,
- I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Just like the constant drip of water eventually drills through solid rock, using our FAITH on a regular basis can drill through any issue to bring about change.
Jesus said in John 14:12,
- “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”
We have enough FAITH right now to do what Jesus did! When God promised Abraham a son, Abraham did not weaken in FAITH when he considered his advanced age or that Sarah was barren. Romans 4:19-24 says,
- And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in FAITH (by) giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He (God) had promised, He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him…
His FAITH was strong not because he had more FAITH than we have, but because he believed the Word of God and acted upon it.
Developing my faith today,
Lisa Gordon
Assistant Pastor
Jesus City Church