James 3:1-4 NKJV
(1) My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
(2) For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
(3) Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
(4) Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
We can change the course of our lives simply by changing what we are saying and begin to speak what God says about us.
A simple understanding of how faith works is necessary for us to begin to walk in this principle.
We must start with a basic assumption that the Word of God is true and if I can find that the Bible says it, then I am going to believe it.
Faith always begins where the will of God is known.
You cannot have faith for something that you are not sure is the will of God for your life.
Your faith will never rise above that question mark in your thinking.
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.
We are created to be believers. All of us believe something, even if it is the wrong thing. Doubt and unbelief is not making the decision to believe nothing, but rather making the choice to believe the wrong things.
Don’t let the enemy try and convince you that you do not have the faith for that. You do have the faith but it may not be developed in that area.
Romans 10:17 NKJV
(17) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hearing the Word of God is what drives out those question marks in our thinking that can hinder our faith.
Let’s look at an example of this from Jesus’ ministry:
Mark 5:21-42 NKJV
(21) Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.
(22) And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet
(23) and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”
(24) So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
(25) Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,
(26) and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.
(27) When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.
(28) For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
(29) Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.
(30) And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
(31) But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
(32) And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.
(33) But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.
(34) And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
(35) While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
(36) As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”(37) And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
(38) Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.
(39) When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”
(40) And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.
(41) Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”(42) Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.
We see the contrast here of faith coming by hearing about Jesus and fear potential coming when hearing about death.
So our faith is increased by hearing and understanding the Word of God. Hearing what? What God has said about your situation.
Let’s take a look at how faith is built:
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV
(1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 AMP
(1) NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
We must start with the foundation of hope. When we say that faith comes by hearing the Word, it is implied that hope also comes and actually comes first.
The Word of God first produces hope in the heart of a person.
Hope = Expectation (Greek Dictionary)
So we start with an expectation that God is going to do something good for us.
In the Amplified, notice it says that faith is the confirmation or the title deed of the things that we hope for. Faith becomes the proof that what we are expecting is already ours, whether we see it or not.
So our faith takes those things that we are expecting to happen and creates ownership of those things now, not in the future.
With faith having arisen in our hearts to take ownership we are ready to pray or simply receive that which has already been provided by the Lord such as healing.
Faith is not just inspiration that comes as a result of inspired preaching of the Word of God. It is a spiritual thing that unlocks the supernatural power of God that is contained in His Word.
But faith always takes ownership of that which is expected.
Please understand that you do not have to understand how God is going to perform His Word, you just simply need to believe it and allow it to work in and for you.
Remember, the story of Mary, the Mother of Jesus when the angel appeared unto her. She did not understand how all of what the angel said was going to happen to her was going to happen but she simply believed and received it.
How do you build your capacity for great faith?
Joshua 1:8 NKJV
(8) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Four Keys to building strong faith in God’s Word:
- Find what the Word says about your situation.
- Meditate in the scriptures from God’s Word.
- Speak God’s Word.
- Act on God’s Word.