Review of some points from last week:
- We are not called to be reporters; we are called to be forecasters.
- Our world is framed by the words that we speak.
- The Word of God does not become the sword of the Spirit for you until it is spoken from your mouth.
- We must begin to declare what God has already said. That is when the power is released.
- If you want the Word spoken into your problems here on the earth, then you and I are going to have to speak it.
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.
Bumper sticker should read, “the Bible says it, that settles it and I 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 5:25-36 NKJV (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.”
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 TPT Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.
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)
Hebrews 11:1 GW Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see.
So we start with an expectation that God is going to heal us.
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.
Remember our illustration form last week about electricity and our need to make a connection with it. Faith is that connection, the plug, if you will, that connects you to the power source of God’s Word.
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.
We cannot slip over into needing to analyze everything before we allow God to do what He has promised.
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.
We need to understand there is a difference between speaking God’s Word out of faith like God does and speaking God’s Word unto faith where we are speaking and getting the Word into our hearts.
Sometimes we need to speak the Word of God as mentioned in Joshua 1:8 so that we get the Word into our hearts. This is a confession UNTO faith.
God created us to be able to hear our own words and build a capacity to believe them in our hearts.
Here is why this is so important:
If you do not understand the importance of speaking God’s Word, you will never be able to overcome the incredible power of doubt.
Anytime you begin to trust God, the enemy will come at your mind to manipulate your imagination to see your life going different from what God has said.
The best way to get a handle on your thoughts and imagination is through the power of speaking God’s word.
But then there are times when you speak forth your faith and you know that faith is in your heart and that which you have spoken is done in the Name of Jesus!
Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. (29) He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. (30) Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, (31) But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Joel 3:10 AMPC Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, I am strong [a warrior]! [Isa 2:4; Mic 4:3]