You cannot conduct business with Heaven without faith.
The God-kind of faith (Mark 11:22) always gets results.
We have to not be OK with not receiving.
Faith works the same in every arena but it must be developed in every arena.
It is not the size of the faith but rather the size of the unbelief that causes the faith not to work. Remember, He said that faith the size of a grain of mustard seed is enough to get the job done.
Jude 1:3 NKJV Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Earnestly – shows an interest and commitment level to maintaining our faith foundation
Stay away from anything that is a detriment or has a negative impact on your faith. Negative thinking, negative preaching… Stay with what the Word says!
We are to inspect our faith foundation.
2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV (5) Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
2 Corinthians 13:5 AMPC Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you–unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?
Abraham’s Faith – Our Example
Romans 4:12 NKJV and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.
Romans 4:16 NKJV Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
Abraham is the father of our faith.
The faith Abraham ended up with is not the same faith he started with. We are going to see how his faith grew.
Romans 4:17 NKJV (as it is written, “I HAVE MADE YOU A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS“) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
God made Abraham something before Abraham saw anything.
In God’s plan, He authored something before this realm revealed what He authored.
Take hold of what God has authored in you even though it may not be revealed in this seen realm.
Romans 4:18 NKJV who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”
God had already made Abraham the father of many nations, but it was going to take Abraham’s faith for him to become what God had made him.
By faith we enter into what God’s plan has authored for us.
Romans 4:18 NKJV who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”
You can become what God has already spoken over you both generally and specifically.
There are general terms of the covenant that belong to all of God’s people, but there are also specifics which only apply to you!
We must get with God and find out the plan the He authored for us specifically.
Romans 4:17 NKJV (as it is written, “I HAVE MADE YOU A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
Saying what God has said is giving Him permission to bring it to pass in your life.
Calls – (Kaleo) – To call to someone in order that he may come or go somewhere; generally to call in some way, send for, direct to come; To call authoritatively, to call forth, summon, e.g., before a judge
Romans 4:17 AMPC As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed. [Gen_17:5]
It can come to pass in this realm because it already exists in God’s realm.
Faith is calling those things that have no shown up in this realm as though they are already completed in that realm.
The plan of God is completed in His realm. What Jesus has already paid for is already completed in that realm.
Your words transfer things from one realm over to another realm. Your calling takes what is over in God’s realm and gives it entrance into this seen realm.
God’s power does the work but our words give it entrance into this realm.
Abraham did not work it; he gave words for God’s power to fill.
Faith is released by your words and by your actions.
Hebrews 4:3 AMPC For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest, in accordance with His declaration that those [who did not believe] should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest; and this He said although [His] works had been completed and prepared [and waiting for all who would believe] from the foundation of the world. [Psa_95:11]
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NKJV (9) But as it is written: “EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” (10) But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
God has prepared these things, but they are not automatic; they must be received and transferred by faith.
Ephesians 2:10 AMPC For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
These things are prepared and waiting for your CALL.
When you pray about your situation is not the moment when God begins to work a plan. He has already done it and it is complete and prepared.
If we don’t call it, what He has prepared goes unclaimed.