(Matthew 17:20 NKJV) So Jesus said to them, …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.
(Luke 1:37 NKJV) “…For with God nothing will be impossible.”
(Luke 18:27 NKJV) But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
(Matthew 9:27-30 NKJV) When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” (28) And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” (29) Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” (30) And their eyes were opened…
(Matthew 9:28-29 MSG) When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him. Jesus said to them, “Do you really believe I can do this?” They said, “Why, yes, Master!” (29) He touched their eyes and said, “Become what you believe.”
Faith is actually very, very simple. We tend to complicate it.
What faith is not:
- Faith IS NOT simply wishing for good things in our lives.
Some people have a “lottery” mindset where faith in God is concerned. It says, “If I’m lucky, God might move and do something for me.”
- Faith IS NOT simply hoping that good things will happen or that bad things will not happen in our lives.
- Faith IS NOT the absence of difficulties.
(John 16:33 AMP) I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
Characteristics of Faith:
- All of us start with the same potential for great faith.
(Romans 12:3 KJV) 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.
- Faith in God must be personal.
(Philippians 4:19 NLT) And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
All of us must have faith in Who our Heavenly Father is. You cannot have faith in your momma’s God or grandma’s God; He must become YOUR God.
- Faith comes by hearing God’s Word.
(Romans 10:17 NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The capacity for faith comes as we hear and understand God’s Word.
This is hearing in a continuous sense. Not just “having heard…”
- Faith grows as it is fed and exercised.
Faith only gets used in times of adversity.
(James 1:2-3 MSG) Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. (3) You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.
- Faith is simply believing that what God says in His Word is true.
(Hebrews 11:1 NIV) Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
(Hebrews 11:1 TLB) 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.
Hope = Expectation
Faith in God is the assurance of the things we expect from God’s Word.
There is no hope or expectation in God without His Word. You must always make God’s Word the basis for our faith.
Bible faith is believing that what God has promised in His Word is mine even when I cannot yet see it with my natural eyes.
(Mark 11:24 NIV) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.