Good morning faith-filled ones!
Let us read Hebrews 11:1. It says,
Now FAITH IS the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
I believe that there is only one way into all of God’s valuable wealth and abundant riches and that is the way of FAITH. It is only by FAITH that we can be partakers of all the glories of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says,
For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God by us (who believe).
The only way to God the Father is through the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.”
God has prescribed that the just shall live by FAITH. He has given each of us “the measure of faith” but our FAITH needs to be developed. The way we can develop our FAITH is by keeping it in front of our eyes, going into our ears, and coming out of our mouths. This is what I do everyday!
As I was reading the twelfth chapter of Acts, I read in verse 5 that “constant prayer was offered to God for Peter by the church.” They all had zeal, but lacked somewhat in FAITH. Rhoda had more faith than the rest of them because the moment she heard Peter’s voice, she did not even open the gate because of her excitement, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. They said to her in verse 15, “You are beside yourself!” See, they had zeal by offering constant prayer for Peter, but lacked in FAITH because they did not believe that it was Peter knocking on the gate.
Here is another example: Zacharias and Elisabeth wanted to have a baby, but Elizabeth was barren and was well advanced in years (Luke 1:7). When Zacharias was burning incense in the temple of the Lord, and angel appeared to him and said, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer in heard; and your wife Elisabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John (verse 13). Verses 18-20 lets us know that Zacharias was full of unbelief and because of this the angel said, “…You will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place because you did not believe…”
But look at Mary ~ when the angel came to her, she said, “…Be it unto me according to your Word…” (Luke 1:38). That was her “Amen” to the will of God. God wants us to always have an “Amen” to His Word. If God has said it, that should settle it once and for all. It is, because God has spoken it. It’s impossible for it to be otherwise.
See, Hebrews 11:6 says,
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.
We can take from this verse that it is impossible to please God on any other lines except by FAITH, because everything that is not of FAITH is sin (Romans 14:23).
Every day I love to remind myself of Hebrews 12:2! It says,
…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our FAITH…
He is the author of FAITH. John 1:3 says,
All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made.
God formed the world through Him, and because of the exceedingly abundant joy of providing us with so great a salvation, He became the author of a living FAITH. When we look unto Him Who is the author and finisher of our FAITH, we are being changed into His image and are going from glory to glory.
God has amazing things for you, far better than you could ever imagine. I exhort you to come into the fullness of FAITH, power, life, and victory that He is so willing to give you, and forget the things of the past. Press right on for the prize of His calling in Christ Jesus.
Walking by faith and not by sight,
Lisa Gordon
Jesus City Church
Celebration, FL