Faith In God: The Power Of Unwavering Trust

In Mark 11:22-24, Jesus says, Have faith in God. He goes on to explain that if a person has faith in God and does not doubt, they can achieve the seemingly impossible. He uses the analogy of telling a mountain to throw itself into the sea, saying that if one believes without doubting, it will happen. This is a powerful message about the importance of faith and the potential for miracles when one has faith in God.

Faith comes from the heart, not the head

Faith is stored in the spirit of a person. God is a spirit and operates in the spiritual realm. The things of God are spiritual, not of the flesh or soul (mind, will, or emotions).

The woman with the issue of blood described in Matthew 9:22 tells us that she "said within herself". Jesus said to her, "THY faith hath made thee whole." Jesus didn't say, "MY faith". This is important.

True faith (biblical faith or belief) comes from the heart. The word "believeth" in Romans 10:10 talks about moving past your thoughts and believing with your heart, not your head.

You're alive by Jesus' faith. You walk by yours. We are alive today in Christ as Christians because of the faith of Jesus. But the race has to be run by you. Your faith is required.

Jesus has delegated His authority on this earth to you and me. We are to be His hands and feet. We must do what Jesus has done and walk by faith. He is our example.

It's not about getting "more faith". It's about using what you have. People confuse "belief" and "faith". "Belief" is an acceptance that something is true or exists, often based on physical facts, logic, and reason. Faith reaches past logic and reasoning in the mental realm.

The fact is, I cannot reason my way into believing what God's Word says is true. And if I think faith in God comes from my mind, then I will always think I'm doubting.

Belief in God's unlimited power

In Mark 11:22-24, Jesus exhorts his disciples to have faith in God and embrace the God-life. He assures them that if they have faith in God's unlimited power and do not doubt in their hearts, they can achieve the seemingly impossible. Jesus uses the analogy of speaking to a mountain and commanding it to be thrown into the sea. He states that if one believes without doubting, what they say will come true, and they will receive what they desire.

This passage emphasizes the importance of faith and belief in God's power. It is not enough to simply ask or pray for something; one must truly believe and have faith that God can make it happen. This faith comes from the heart, not just the head. It is about having confidence in God's ability to bring about what one desires.

Jesus further emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, urging his disciples to forgive others when they pray. By doing so, their heavenly Father will also be inclined to forgive their sins.

The passage also highlights the idea that God has already provided for our needs, but it is up to us to walk and act on what He has provided. We must access God's power through our faith in Him. It is not about getting more faith but using the faith we already have. True faith comes from the heart, moving beyond thoughts and believing with our whole being.

Jesus' words in this passage provide encouragement and guidance to his followers, assuring them that with faith, nothing will be too much for them.

God's will and the power of prayer

Gods will and the power of prayer

God's will is often referred to as either His sovereign will or His prescriptive will. God's sovereign will is something that will always happen no matter what. An example of this is Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of the world. This was God's will, and it was always going to happen. God's prescriptive will, on the other hand, is what He asks His people to do. He gives His people commands but also allows them the choice of whether or not to obey.

The Holy Spirit as a Guide

The Holy Spirit is the ultimate guide to God's will. It is vital to remember that God the Holy Spirit lives within you and that He wants you to obey Him. The Holy Spirit tells you what He hears from God and makes it known to you. It takes time to learn how to listen to the Holy Spirit, but He will guide your emotions and your mind, helping you to understand God's word and follow Him.

Six Principles for Seeking God's Will

• Surrender your personal desires: Be fully open to whatever God wants. Acknowledge if you are biased towards a certain decision or outcome and think through why. Don't ignore your emotions and desires, but don't let them cloud your vision either.
• Meditate on God's Word: The Bible can light the way as you choose your next steps. When you make a decision, it should line up with what God has said in the Bible. As you read Scripture, you will understand more about God’s character and be better able to know what He wants.
• Spend focused time in prayer: Ask God what He wants you to do. Go to Him with your fears and uncertainties and ask Him for guidance. Write down the sense of direction you get from Him over time to avoid being overly influenced by your most recent thought.
• Seek other people's advice: Find mature, dedicated Christians and ask them what they think you should do. Talk to your mentors, parents, friends, pastors, or church leaders. Ask people you trust to pray about your decision and follow up with them to see if they sense God’s leading in a certain way.
• Consider your circumstances: God can open and close the doors of opportunity in your life. He may use events in your life to point you in a certain direction. Sometimes, your decision is made for you, for example, when a job application is rejected.
• Think through your decision logically: God’s Spirit can direct your mind and reasoning. Using reason or a pros and cons list is not unspiritual. God gave us minds so we could use them. Apply your reason with God’s values rather than the values of our culture.

Taking Action and Responding to God

Once you discern God’s will, the next step is to actually do what He says. God will give you the strength and courage to do whatever He calls you to do. Remember, Proverbs 16:9 says, "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps."

Faith in God brings healing

The Bible teaches that healing is no problem for the Lord, but the challenge is getting people to believe what He has said about it so they can receive their healing. God has given each of us the choice: "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live".

Jesus said, "Whatever things you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them". This means that faith believes it takes what is needed when it prays. When we pray for healing, we must take healing like a dog takes a bone. It clamps down hard on that bone and refuses to let go!

The fact is, you really haven't prayed in faith if you pray about something, but don't take it. If you get up from prayer saying, "I don't have it. I'm still sick, I still feel bad," then you didn't take it... and you certainly don't have it.

You simply cannot look at the circumstances to determine whether or not you are healed. Second Corinthians 4:18 explains that you must "look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal".

See yourself taking your healing when you pray. See yourself in perfect health. Take it by faith and hold on to it. When you take it, you have it. And if you have it, you say you have it. You call "things which be not as though they were".

The Bible tells us that the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. Jesus said to a man, "Go, your faith has made you well". Immediately, the man regained his sight and followed Him. Jesus also said to a woman, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish". And her daughter was healed at once.

God is present where faith is present. Faith causes the supernatural healing power of God to come on the scene and override natural diseases and circumstances.

Faith and forgiveness

Jesus uses the example of a mountain being cast into the sea to illustrate the power of faith. He says that if we have faith and do not doubt in our hearts, what we say will come true. This is not about having a fleeting belief but a deep-rooted faith that moves mountains and accomplishes the impossible.

Forgiveness is also a vital aspect of our spiritual journey. In Mark 11:25, Jesus teaches that when we stand praying, we must forgive others if we want our heavenly Father to forgive us. This act of forgiveness is not just an option but a requirement for receiving God's forgiveness.

Our faith in God is what gives us the strength to forgive. It is through faith that we understand God's love and grace, which compels us to extend forgiveness to others. As we embrace the God-life, we recognize the importance of both faith and forgiveness in our daily walk with Him.

Having faith in God means believing in His promises and trusting that He will accomplish what He has said. It is about stepping out in confidence, knowing that God is with us and for us. This faith allows us to pray boldly, ask for anything, and believe that we have received it.

Forgiveness, on the other hand, is an act of obedience and a reflection of God's love in our lives. It is not always easy to forgive, but when we do, we experience freedom and restoration in our relationship with God and others.

In conclusion, faith and forgiveness are intertwined in our spiritual journey. Our faith in God gives us the strength to forgive, and as we forgive, our faith deepens. As we embrace the God-life, let us remember to have faith in God and to extend forgiveness to others, just as He has forgiven us.

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