What does my faith means?

The Lord has been teaching me about Faith. It’s like back to the basics. Our belief and faith in God, led us to accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour. We have not seen God, but we believe in Him and put our faith in Him.

Faith can be such an overused word that we often read, see or hear.

As we go through life, there are challenges and breakthroughs we want to see, and prayers yet to be answered.

As I hold on to Him, as I cling on Him, as I chose to believe and have faith, I do not see it as a great deal. In fact, I see it because I don't really have another choice, I choose to have the faith to believe.

But, the Lord teaches and shows me otherwise. When I choose to have faith and believe in Him,  it is more than just “no choice.”

From the passages below, we see how Jesus perceives faith?

1. The Centurion Luke 7:7

The centurion sent the elders of the Jew to ask Jesus to heal his servant who was dear to him. But when he heard that Jesus was coming to his house, he counted himself unworthy that Jesus should enter under his roof. He said “But say the word, and my servant will be healed”

And Jesus said, “ I have not found such great faith…”

2. The woman with the issue of blood Luke 8:48

In the multitudes, there was this woman who had been bleeding for 12 yrs. She heard of Jesus, and the healing which Jesus has brought. She risked it all, went out to the crowd and came through the multitude just to touch Jesus. She thought, that if only I touch Him, I shall be made well.

And because of her faith, with the multitudes thronging Jesus, only her touch draws power from Jesus. Even though there are so many people there, pushing and pulling against Him, even His disciples said, the multitudes throng and press you, and you said who touched me? 

She touched him with faith and Jesus said to her, “Your faith has made you well.”

3. Jairus Luke 8:49

Jairus's daughter was 12 yrs old, and she was dying. He begged Jesus to come and heal his daughter. And on his way there, a multitude thronged him. While meeting the woman with the issue of blood, somebody came and told Jairus, his daughter is dead.

Jesus said to him “ Do not be afraid, only believe, and she will be made well”

Jesus knew that upon hearing the news, fear would have overtaken Jairus, even the people around him said, there’s no hope already, no need to trouble Jesus anymore. But look at what Jesus said to him, only believe.

Even in a dead situation, it can be turned around.

4. The sinful woman Luke 7:50

A woman who anoints Jesus with an alabaster flask of fragrant oil. It was said that the oil was worth a year’s wages. While others are discussing and judging her as a sinner. Jesus said to her, "Your faith has saved you.”

He did not say your great sacrifice has saved you..

5. The disciples Luke 8:22

Jesus was with disciples in the boat. And then Jesus fell asleep, amongst the windstorm. Until His disciples got afraid and woke Him up. He rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. Then He asked his disciples, not why are they afraid,or why didn't you pray enough.. But “Where is your faith?”

From all these situations above, we see that Jesus really values faith.

Your faith has made you well, go in peace.

Your faith has saved you, go in peace.

Where I thought my little faith meant so little, it's like nothing I can do, but trust Him and believe in Him. God open my eyes to see that He values and counts my faith as important.

Every time we choose to have faith and believe His word, rather than the lies of the enemy or the thoughts which the enemy throws at us, God sees it and records it.

Malachi 3:16 

Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another

And the Lord listened and heard them

So a book of remembrance was written before Him

For those who fear the Lord

And who meditate on His Name

When we choose to speak what God has put in our heart with faith, when we speak not of the current situation but the picture that God has put in our heart through His promises, God values it and He records it in His book.

Faith is very important to God, it is the currency of heaven.

Heb 11:1

Faith is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is a substance in heaven. 

Definition of substance : the real physical matter of which a person / thing consists and which has a tangible presence

Faith is as real as it is in Heaven. It is something tangible in Heaven, unlike here in the natural realm where it cannot be “seen”.

Faith made a loud noise in Heaven, even though it is a quiet restful heart.  It is a surrendered heart ; which sometimes felt so little, so opposite to us humans,  of not “doing” anything.

Faith is  violent and impactful in Heaven.

Jesus said in Matt 17: 20

If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will tell the mountain to move and they will move.

Mustard seed is very very small, one of the smallest seeds.

Even when we have such a small amount of faith, even so small in our own eyes, but once we have that ounce of faith, even if that is only what we can muster, Heaven will be attracted to it and do what it's supposed to.

What situations are you facing today that require you to have faith? Know that our Abba’s heart is like ever so ready to just add on to it..

John 1:50

Jesus was talking to Natahnael

As Nathanael believes what Jesus said to Him, 

“You will see greater things than these” 

See - optanomai - see/gaze with open eyes at something remarkable

Greater things: He will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. I believe this refers to  supernatural occurrences and miracles.

As Nathanael believes what Jesus said to Him, it positions him to see greater things with God.

How do we cultivate faith , and how to maintain the faith? As we go through our daily lives, there are good days and bad days.

1. Read the Word

The Word is alive, active and operative. He will speak to us through His Word.

The Word renews our mind daily ; change the way we think, 

Journal down the promises that God gave you regarding the situation

To read and re-read, so that our soul man hears also. 

Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God

2. Relationship with God. 

 Our faith, does not come from sheer perseverance, will-power, or positive thinking as how the world teach.

It comes from a firm foundation. It comes from a relationship with a living God. Whose words will not fade away.

Listen to Him, ask Him, what is he saying about this? The situation may overwhelm us, but as we listen in to Him, He gave us His perspective, that will enable us to guard our heart and change our perspective, and even uproot the lies of the enemy which may be a stronghold in our lives.

Sometimes I felt, did I really hear God right? Then God will open up verses when I read the Word, or when I talk to somebody, they will say things that felt like its God talking to me, or through the sermons I hear. I call that like the breadcrumbs in the story of Hansel & Gretel. 

He will lead and guide me and just drop those much-needed breadcrumbs in times when I need to assure me that I’m on the right path. 

3. Faith as a child

Have this assurance and know that my Father in Heaven will do all that He can to protect and cover me. He goes before and behind me. And our hope in the Lord is alive as we have a living God. How blessed are we!

The Holy Spirit overshadow Peter, that his shadow heals many. In the same way, God overshadows us. The Holy spirit is in us and we abide in Him. God will give us the strategies, what to do and what to say, which will align us with His will on earth as it is in Heaven.

Heb 11: 3

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things we are seen were not made of the things which are visible.

Framed - katartizo - repair, adjust, fit, adjust, prepare, restore

When we say what God says, that which happens in the Spirit and the impact in Heaven is powerful. When we declare God’s Word over our lives/situations it has the power to bring life, repair, and restore.

Isaiah 51:15-16

But I am the Lord your God,

Who divided the sea whose waves roared—

The Lord of hosts is His name.

And I have put My words in your mouth;

I have covered you with the shadow of My hand,

That I may plant the heavens,

Lay the foundations of the earth,

And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’ 

As we are led by the Holy Spirit, it  will bring about such a result that no flesh can achieve.

Faith is about stewarding God’s promise.

When we pray about something, and ask the Lord about it

When we receive His promise , what do we do?

Its either we fully trust in what He promise, that He will fulfill or let fear take over and doubt if God will fulfill His promise

When we come into an agreement with God’s promise in our life, our agreement will spur it to come to pass.

Faith believes. Fear doubts.

How often do we read in the bible, “ Do not fear”.

"To the extent that we trust in God, to that extent He will trust us to experience Him".

Luke1:50

Blessed is she who believed, for there would be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord

Fulfillment - performance

God will perform His Word.

Luke 1:37

For with God, nothing is impossible. 

Nothing - rhema (word of God)

No word of God is impossible.  

All of God’s word has the power to accomplish itself, like a seed, the seed of an apple tree has the ability in itself to reproduce an apple tree.

God Himself will carry out His word and fulfill His promise, our part, is to guard our heart  and keep on believing & trusting

In Gen 13, we read about how Abraham moved his tent.

Where we pitch our tent is important. Move your tent when you need to. What you see form your tent will affect you. We shift our mindset, and shift our thinking.

Think from where the Lord has spoken to you

And from that position, upon those promises, think, declare and act

As the Lord has spoken, therefore I speak.

Eph 3:20 TPT

Never doubt God's mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable