Faith - Family -Freedom - Devotional Pt1

Faith

Prayer Opening

As I begin our lesson let me clarify some things about Faith.

First, faith is a “gift of God” given to each one of us, a degree of faith designed for His purpose and service. In Romans 12:3, we are exhorted not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to, but to think soberly according to the “measure of faith” we are given. Therefore, what we see is that Faith is a gift to each one of us to “accomplish our purpose”. However, we cannot be high-minded because we have nothing that He has not given us and we do not “compare ourselves amongst ourselves” but rather learn from and build up each other in Faith.

Second, How do we receive Faith? Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God, (consistent hearing and understanding), Romans 10:17. When we hear the Anointed Word of God, faith is coming into our hearts and our minds by the leading of the Holy Spirit. God’s word is God-Breathed according to 2 Timothy 3:16, all scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, training, reproof, correction of error, and teaching in righteousness; that the man of God may be “proficient and completely equipped for every good work”. The word of God has power, (Colossians 1:6) which has come to you indeed, and is in the whole world and is still bearing fruit and still growing by “its own inherent Power”. Luke 1:37, for with God “nothing” is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without “power” or “impossible of fulfillment”. Hebrews 4:11, the word of God speaks; and is active, alive, and full of Power; making it operative, energizing, and effective; sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the soul and spirit, joints and marrow; exposing, sifting, analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Lastly, How does Faith work? What we hear from God is worked outward by obedience or in other words it is practiced by application. Proverbs 4:21, “Do not let the word depart from your eyes, keep them in your heart for they are life to those who find them”. Joshua 1:8, “Do not let this book of the Law depart from your mouth, but meditate in it day and night, you may observe and do according to all that is written, for then you make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success”. Psalm 1:1, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the path with sinners, nor sit in the seat of mockers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and he habitually meditates day and night; and he is like a tree planted by living water whose leaf does not whither but bears fruit in season and whatever he does it prospers and comes to maturity”. 1Peter 2:2, ”Desire the milk of the word, be thirsty for spiritual milk”. James 2:20-24, “So, if we say we have faith in God but do not obey or practice the truth, we are ‘deceiving ourselves’. Another way to say it, is we say one thing and yet we do another, and this is working in contrary or opposition to the truth. Increasing Faith comes by Repentance of disobedience, unbelief, and lack of prayer. Mark 9:23, “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord I Believe, help my unbelief”. Luke 17:5-10, “The apostles prayed Lord increase our Faith. The Lord said if you had faith as a grain of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted and plant it in the sea and it would obey you”. Romans 10:9-10, “For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and ‘with the mouth confession is made unto salvation’, ‘whoever believes with all their heart’ and will not be ashamed, whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved”. Matthew 12:34-40, Faith confession can be heard! Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Mark 16:20, “And they went out and God went with them ‘confirming the word”. Jeremiah 1:12, The Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am alert and active watching over My word to perform it”. Isaiah 55:11, “My word will not return void, ‘but it will accomplish that which I sent it”. Psalm 147:15, “He sends out His commands to the earth and ‘His word runs swiftly”. Most people have more faith in feelings and circumstances than in God’s ability to keep His word. The root of all fear is unbelief, all unbelief is sin, and all sin leads to rebellion and all rebellion leads to loss. I say this with love; and at the same time laying a foundation, because without this understanding you cannot protect your family fully and you cannot discern the truth from deception. This truth makes us free from every excuse or blame, from a lack of growth or wisdom, because we are encouraged to come into His presence and sit with Him as the teacher and Lord. Faith is believing what God says ‘even when you cannot see it or feel it’ by circumstance. Faith believes, because God said it!! Faith is not reasoning, planning, or doing; it is believing. Believing then leads to working and planning with God’s knowledge, not from our own understanding. Therefore, Faith is taking action in confidence, whether apparent or not. With the heart man believes and with his mouth he confesses, and confirms his belief. Faith hears what the word says, the heart believes what the word says, the mouth agrees by confession what the word says, and then the eye sees what the word says. Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of what is hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. (Blindfold a person and give them instructions to follow, show by example how they can hear while in the dark, and if they follow the voice of God they will make it to their destination).

Therefore brothers and sisters, I pray that you have made the choice to have Faith, one hundred percent confidence, in the favor, in the blessings, in the promises, and in the love that our Father God has for us; in the future and in the hope that He has for our lives. May God bless you and keep!