Walking in Genuine Faith

Lately I’ve been learning so many valuable things about fully trusting God.  I am striving to make every effort to rely on Him completely, resisting doubt and fear. I was raised in a home where the word “faith” was a regular part of our vocabulary. My dad was a man of faith. He taught me so much with his words, yet more importantly he taught me the most by his example. Although he went home to be with the Lord twenty seven years ago this month, many things I learned from him are still making an impact in my life today. He drilled Scripture into my heart within the confines of a very healthy father/son relationship. Dad taught me that faith is a gift from God and that as we exercise our faith, we grow in maturity and gain understanding. One of dad’s favorite verses is found in Hebrews 11:6, “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 rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” NKJV To this very day I can still hear him quoting this verse over and over again.

In Romans 12:3b Paul writes that “God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” When something is allotted to us, it generally means that that something is available for our use, yet it is up to us to take action and use it. When we read of how God has allotted to each a measure of faith, we are convinced that He has made faith available to us; however, we must exercise our faith through a life of prayer and obedience. There are no short-cuts. The great news is: Christ gives us the strength and understanding to do so. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” NKJV What a reassuring promise!

 In Matthew 17 we read an account of The Transfiguration of Jesus. Following this magnificent event, as Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John descend from the high mountaintop, they encounter a situation with the other disciples at the bottom of the mountain. A concerned dad brings his son to the other disciples earnestly desiring healing, deliverance, and restoration on his behalf. Evidently this dad assumed that those who truly follow Jesus should be people of genuine and effective faith that bring supernatural results. How disappointing it must have been for him to realize the other disciples were not spiritually equipped to confront the dilemma he and his son were facing. In Matthew 17:17 we see directly into the heart of Jesus and how displeasing it is  to Him when we do not exercise the faith He has allotted to us, “Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” NKJV After Jesus delivers, heals, and restores the son, the other disciples ask Him why they couldn’t. Jesus’ reply is found in verses 20-21, “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” NKJV

Jesus gives us direction on properly exercising our faith in these verses. He teaches us the magnitude of faith. If you have the faith as a grain of mustard seed, you can move mountains! He totally diminishes and demolishes the activity of the devil. Even in light of all the ways the enemy was torturing this son, Jesus tells us that faith in Him, the size of a tiny mustard seed is more powerful than anything the devil could ever attempt to throw at us! Jesus says, “Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Emphasis added)

My earnest and humble prayer is to be spiritually ready for every encounter; not to promote myself, but to genuinely reach the lost and hurting through Christ Jesus and bring glory to His holy name! Today’s post began with the valuable things I am learning in terms of fully trusting God. The most important thing I have learned from the passage in Matthew 17 is that I must be a person of prayer. I’m not talking about rehearsed lifeless prayer that I repeat like an auctioneer. I’m talking about devoted, diligent, faith-filled prayers, where prayer has become the oxygen of my Christian life to the degree that I cannot live, move, or exist without it!

The text includes one last thing; it says, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Fasting demonstrates that I am concerned more for the rescue, deliverance, and salvation of others above my personal desires. Fasting helps me to empty myself of selfish thoughts and attitudes that I may be filled with the Spirit. I must present myself before God as a yielded vessel knowing He performs His supernatural work through a life of faith and obedience.

I conclude with a question: Are you facing a mountain in your life today? Have you been un-equipped spiritually in the place where the other disciples were at the bottom of the mountain? Hebrews 11:1 says, “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.” TLB

Let me place a challenge before you: Today, purpose within your heart to be a devoted person of prayer. Make prayer your spiritual oxygen causing you to breathe in all you need to live a life of true obedience before the Lord. Finally, exercise your faith! Begin naming the impossible situations in your life in your prayers with an unshakable trust in God to respond according to His faithful promise!

Be blessed and encouraged! We serve the only True and Living God!