In the lesson, Remedy For Weak Faith, we learned how we could recognize
if our faith was weak. Today I want us to look at five different ways
we can know if our faith is strong, if our faith is effective and active.
We have looked at what weak faith doesn't do, but let's look today at
what strong faith DOES do. How strong would you say your faith is today,
dear lady? In order to honestly answer that question, you will have to
look at what your faith is DOING…
1) Strong faith depends upon God in hopeful anticipation.
Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen."
Faith clearly is a total dependence upon God and a willingness to do His
will. Faith is not something we use to put on a show for others. It is
complete and humble obedience to God's will, a readiness to do whatever
He calls us to do. Does your faith fit that description? If so, it is
strong and it is looking ahead in hopeful anticipation of what God can
and will do in and through you. If not, why don't you join the disciples
in their plea to the Lord found in Luke 17:5 which says:
"And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith."
Why did they ask God to increase their faith? In this portion of scripture
they were discussing forgiveness of offences, and faith - growing faith,
is what the disciples realized was necessary in order to face everyday
issues while living in this world. We all need living faith, amen ladies?
Faith that is alive unto God and how He says we should live...
2) Strong faith is more concerned with its life than its size.
How do we know this to be true? Because Jesus answered the disciples plea
for more faith in verse 6 of Luke 17 in this manner:
"And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might
say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou
planted in the sea; and it should obey you."
We all know a mustard seed is small, amen? Yet, it is alive and growing!
Like a tiny seed, a small amount of genuine faith in God will take root
and grow. Almost invisible at first, it will begin to spread, first under
the ground and then visibly.... Although each change will be gradual and
may not be perceived right away, soon this faith will have produced major
results that will uproot and destroy those doubts that have freely grown
and taken over in our lives. Ladies, we don't need more faith; a tiny
seed of faith is enough to begin with - IF it is alive and growing!
3) Strong faith rests upon what Christ has done.
Romans 5:1, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ."
As the apostle Paul states clearly in 1 Corinthians 13:13, faith, hope,
and love are at the heart of the Christian life. Our relationship with
God begins with faith, which helps us realize we are delivered from our
past by Christ's death. Amen for that! Faith is the conviction based on
past experience that God's new and fresh surprises will surely be ours.
Hope then grows as we learn all that God has in mind for us; it gives
us the promise of the future! It is then that God's love fills our lives
and gives us the ability to reach out to others confidently and sincerely.
Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith
the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected
end."
4) Strong faith grows under pressure.
Hebrews 10:38, "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw
back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."
Are you under any pressure today, Christian lady? The book of Hebrews
is certainly an encouragement for believers to persevere in their Christian
faith and conduct when facing persecution and pressure. We don't usually
think of suffering of any kind as good for us, do we? Nevertheless, suffering
can build our character and our patience, amen? Those of you who have
endured trials know what I mean... During times of great stress, we may
feel God's presence more clearly and find help from Christians we never
before thought would care! Knowing that Jesus is with us in our sufferings
and that He will return one day to put an end to all pain helps us grow
in our faith and our relationship with Him. Ladies, don't draw back from
Him in your sufferings - it displeases God, and you'll lose out on so
much!! Those strong in their faith wisely place their confidence in the
invisible realities of God and go on to perfection....
Romans 5:3-5, "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing
that tribulation worketh patience, And patience, experience, and experience,
hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad
in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
5) Strong faith is quiet certainty.
Isaiah 30:15, "...in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength..."
Two words perfectly describe strong faith: sure and certain. These two
qualities though, need a secure beginning and ending point, don't they?
The secure beginning point of faith believes in God's character - He IS
who He says He is! The secure ending point of faith believes in God's
promises - He WILL do what He says He will do! Now, when we believe in
our hearts that God will fulfill His promises even though we don't SEE
those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith and find peace
and rest for our souls. We prove that our faith is strong! What has your
faith demonstrated so far? Is it found resting upon God alone, or have
you needed to SEE something before you would believe Him?? Have you been
guilty of laying down conditions for the Lord to meet before you would
place your faith in Him completely as Thomas did in this passage below?
John 24:24-25, "But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not
with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him,
We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his
hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the
nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe."
Take this little test for yourself as you fill in the blanks below and
see if there is something you are requiring of the Lord before you will
trust Him....
Except I see __________________ I will not believe.
Except I put my finger into__________________I will not believe.
Except I thrust my hand into_____________________I will not believe.
Do you see the downward progression of walking by sight here? First we
want to see a little, then more, and then even more before we will believe
God! Faith and sight are in opposition to one another in scripture...
We really place quite a bit of pressure on our loving heavenly Father
to perform and prove Himself for us, don't we? But what about His most
perfect performance for us at Calvary?? Is not the fact that He died for
us so that we could spend eternity with Him in Heaven enough proof that
we can trust Him?? Why do we always insist upon more proof from God before
we will place our future trust in Him when He gave His all on the cross??
I wonder how it must make the Lord feel when we stubbornly say, "I will
NOT believe!" Unbelief asks for more evidence, while strong faith rests
satisfied in Jesus, sure and certain - and pleases God!
Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him."
Ladies, the unsaved world doesn't understand true Bible faith - probably
because it sees so little of it in action in the lives of Christian's
today, so little diligence on our part in seeking after God! Is faith
really alive in your life, dear lady, is there really evidence of it?
Is it growing?? Can others see your faith in action? Have they seen God
reward your faith in Him?? Strong faith cannot be hidden, it must be exemplified,
or it is wasted! I hope that your heart's desire today is to first please
God with your faith in Him, and then prove by your life to others that
He IS worthy for them to place their faith in!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Related Devotional - Remedy for Weak Faith
