Our father knows everything about us. He knows our past, present and future. He desires us to live fully in the blessings he has given to us. He knows what is best for us because he created us. He knows that doing everything in our own strength will not get us very far. He knows that your labour will not make you enjoy the abundant life. If it were possible, then Christ coming would not have been needed. God wants us to receive his best and that is why he commanded us to live by faith.
Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV)
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: BUT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH.
Romans 1:17 (KJV)
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: AS IT IS WRITTEN, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.
Galatians 3:11 (KJV)
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, IT IS EVIDENT: FOR, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.
This faith is not about believing in the best outcome. The best outcome could be a negative one. Faith is not positive thinking. Positive thinking is a mental exercise that focuses on your strength. Faith is to believe that all that Christ’s have, I have and all he can do, I can do because of His sacrifice on the cross. That is why faith is a person. The person of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
The faith we have is his own. The life we have is his own. He is living his life through us. We need to understand that we do not just represent Christ here on earth. It is more than that. We are literally his body here on earth. Remember, we are the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). If the faith we have is Christ own then to live his life, it must be by his faith. Paul emphasized that the life he now lives which is Christ life, he does it not by his faith by Christ’s. That is why it is pertinent to know our identity is in Christ. Anything outside of Christ is not who we are and should not be accepted. Joblessness is not in Christ therefore reject it. In Christ there is no sin in him. So whatever represents sin, does not represent you (1 John 3:5). Kick it out of your life
Look at it from this angle, if in Christ there is peace, anything contrary and outside of this peace is not ours. It is by faith you take hold of the peace and kick out confusion. The peace is in grace. Grace is all that Jesus blood purchased for us.
Romans 5:2 (KJV)
2 By whom also WE HAVE ACCESS BY FAITH INTO THIS GRACE WHEREIN WE STAND, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
A man once asked me to pray for his wife who had a medical issue and was asking if it is God’s will for his wife to get healed? I told him “It is not an “If”. God wants her well.” Health has already been provided for. By faith we take hold of it.
Do you know that this faith has already been given?
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 DEALT TO EVERY MAN THE MEASURE OF FAITH.
It does not say that God has dealt to every man a measure of faith but it says “the measure of faith.” God does not look at people and give some large amount of faith and then give others low amount of faith. If God did so then he is violating his word in Romans 2:11.The measure of faith is the same for all. This is the faith that Paul said we live by (Galatians 2:20). There is nowhere in the new covenant where it says faith itself grows. You have faith but how much of it you use will be determined by you. Someone can exercise more of his faith than another person. You can give two people each one million dollars and one can decide to use only ten dollars while the other will use five hundred thousand dollars. You cannot expect the results to be the same. The second person is exercising his millionaire status better than the other. The only thing that grows is our consciousness of who we are, what we have and what we can do which in turn makes our faith effective.
You may be remembering scriptures where Jesus said you have little faith and wondering how can we have the same amount of faith based on that? In every scriptures where Jesus used the word little faith or no faith, he was not talking about not having enough faith. In the context of scriptures he was talking about doubt or fear or unbelief.
Matthew 8:26 (KJV)
26 And he saith unto them, WHY ARE YE FEARFUL, O YE OF LITTLE FAITH? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Luke 8:25 (KJV)
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.
Matthew 14:31 (KJV)
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O THOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHEREFORE DIDST THOU DOUBT?
Faith is not the issue. Stop looking for more faith. It is your doubt and unbelief that is the problem. Jesus marveled at the centurion for his great faith not because he had more faith than any other person but being a foreigner from the covenant trusted in him (Matthew 8:10). After all Jesus also marveled at the Jews for their unbelief expecting his own people to trust him. (Mark 6:6)
The faith that is in Kenneth Copeland, Smith Wigglesworth, Paul the Apostle or any believer you know is the same that is in you. You are a person of faith from the household of faith.
Great read. As Christians, it’s important we realize that we have the same faith as the Apostles and as such, we can do same exploits. Praise God!