Where is your faith?
Faith is a very important part of the believers life. Without it, we cannot please God. (Hebrews 11:6) There are many verses that inform us that the God kind of faith is what we possess. Faith has been given to us for us to use.
Mark 11:22 (KJV)
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Notice the first thing Jesus addresses His disciples with regarding the fig tree withering away, which was in a matter of a day, this giving us the understanding that words are very powerful, but that is another subject.
Jesus told the Disciples, “…have faith…” the word “have” means to own or possess. This specifically states to us that we are to “have faith” or “own or possess faith”. I would like to state that “I am possessed with faith”. Faith is a part of our spiritual D.N.A.
On a side not, the Lord gave me a word regarding our spiritual D.N.A., which is the acronym for Divine Nature Acquired.
Once we are born again, we immediately receive this Divine Nature, which gives us the authority to walk in faith. We are naturally wired to operate in faith. Faith has been, and will always be Gods method of operation.
I believe that if we were to be able to see faith traveling through our spirit, past our physical body, you would see masses amounts of electrical firing points throughout your whole body. What I am saying is that we are FAITHWIRED! We are naturally wired to operate and live by faith.
Now, let’s look at a scenario Jesus deals with regarding the Disciples “not” using the faith He gave them.
Luke 8:22-25 (KJV)
22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
Jesus asked the disciples where their faith was.
How did Jesus determine this?
Look at verse 24, notice the first phrase, “they came to Him and awoke Him, SAYING…”
Here is a perfect example of Faith and Fear having nothing to do with each other.
They came to Jesus from a position of fear, and Jesus stopped the fear by speaking to the source of the fear; then questioned them regarding the use of their faith.
Remember, your faith comes from the hidden man; who is called the spirit man, the real you.
Fear is a choice that enters from the outside in.
Faith is a source that rises or comes from within, and deals with the outside.
Faith never questions God or His ability or willingness.
Question: Do you believe?
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Faith begins from the point of believing. Faith and belief work hand in hand.
Remember, you HAVE faith; you are not trying or attempting to get faith.
The faith you possess is only measured by the development of your faith, not the quantity of it.
Every believer receives the same measure or quantity of faith.
Romans 12:3 (KJV)
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath (or HAS) dealt to every man the measure of faith.
What must be understood is that you are a possessor of the God kind of faith.
If you “HATH OR HAS” then you “HAVE”; thus, making you a possessor of faith.
Mark 11:22-24 (KJV)
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Notice what Jesus states in verse 22, “HAVE FAITH in God…” He said to have faith, which means that we are possessors of faith.
You cannot have unless you receive. According to Romans 12:3, every man that is born of the Spirit of God, HAS received THEE measure of faith.
One more thing to point out: in comparing the NKJV of Romans 12:3 to the original KJV; NKJV states that we have received “A” measure as opposed to “THEE” measure, implying that we could receive more faith.
Faith is equally measured out to every believer. They have received the same degree, quantity or measure of faith.
If one person receives more than another person, then this would classify God as a respecter of persons; in other words, favoritism.
But, this is not true. God is no respecter of persons.
The question is, why does it appear that some have greater faith than others?
The development of your faith is a choice.
How many of us have muscles? All of us! Why does it appear that some have more muscles than others? Because they CHOOSE to develop them.
Could you develop your muscles? Yes. How? By exercise and diet.
Is there any difference with the development of your faith? No! Every believer has the ability to develop their faith.
The development of your faith requires exercise and diet, spiritually.
Exercise and diet requires a decision to act on what you know. If we are to grow our muscle of faith, we must exercise and eat the word of God.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV)
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.
The word groweth means to increase above ordinary degree.
Are you at an ordinary level of faith? God did not give us faith just to be ordinary. He gave us faith to be extraordinary.