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Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Mountain Moving Faith....

We are back to the promises of God beginning last week and today I want to talk a little about faith.  Have you ever been praying about something and you share your prayers with a friend and they say, "You just need to have a little faith."  Or something similar?  But that's the thing, isn't it?  We all have "a little faith."  God has given us each a measure of faith for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).  

In Matthew chapter 17, a man brought his son to the disciples for some deliverance.  The disciples were unable to cast the demon out.  So the man then brought his son to Jesus. 


Matthew 17:17  Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me."

The disciples asked Jesus later and in private why they could not cast the demon out.  

Matthew 17:20  So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.


Jesus was pretty clear about what we could do with our faith, if we believed and did not doubt in our hearts. 

Mark 11:22-25  So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.  (23)  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  (24)  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.  (25)  "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 16:17-18  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  (18)  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

We have already seen Jesus tell the disciples that they could not cast out the demon from the child because of their unbelief.  We see in Mark above where Jesus said that there would be signs that follow those who believe.  Where is our level of faith as the Body of Christ?  Are we seeing these signs within our churches or home groups?  Are mountains moving?  Are we speaking with new tongues? 

There is a gift of the Holy Spirit found in 1 Corinthians;


1 Corinthians 12:7-10  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  (8)  for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,  (9)  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,  (10)  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

This gift of faith doesn't have a lot of explanation of what it could be, but it is evident that it is not a personal faith given only for us individually and is different from our salvation faith.  Verse 7 says the gifts are given for the profit of all, which means these gifts are given to edify, or build up, the body of Christ.  The faith talked about here, I believe, is a faith that has so much confidence in God, His promises, and His word that the one who has it just knows that they know that they know something.  For example, we know that 2+2 =4.  We have so much faith that 2+2 equals 4 that we do not argue about what the answer to the simple math problem is.  It is one of the first things we learn when we begin to attend primary school. We know there can be no other answer to the problem, other than 4.  

We also see in the scriptures in 1 Corinthians 12 that not everyone receives the gift of faith.  The gift of faith that edifies the body is given to some, but not all.  Jesus said that if we have faith without doubt in our hearts, that we can move mountains.  He didn't qualify that statement and say only a few of us could.  While there is faith for the collective whole to encourage, exhort, and build up the body, there is also a personal faith that can be just as strong in each of us.  We know that the one (the gift) is to encourage the faith of others.  BUT...The same faith that saved us (individually) can move mountains for us if we have the same level of confidence in Him as we had the day of our salvation.  We know there is no other answer to Salvation than Jesus Christ.  He is The Way, The Truth, The Life.  But why do we forget it?  Why do we attempt to look for a different answer to 2+2 when the storm around us is raging?  Why do we go from knowing that Jesus is the source of our salvation and everlasting life to, "well if God wills it..."  Yes, He has His plan and His will.  But what did Jesus say?

Mark 11:24 (24)  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 

There can be no doubt in our hearts.  We either know that our God is capable, just as we know the answer to 2+2, or we don't and walk in doubt, instead of faith.  We also have to remember that James said we are not receiving because we ask amiss.  


James 4:3  You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

How are we praying and what are we believing for?  Are we asking with the intent of furthering the kingdom and being used by God?  or are we asking so that we can fulfill our fleshly lusts and pleasures that are a part of our old nature?  

My faith has always been strong, but I am not certain I have always prayed without doubt in my heart.  Are we walking in faith and praying according to that faith? Are we moving mountains? Are we saying in our hearts we know our God is capable and faithful to us?  OR in our hearts are we quietly wondering if He is hearing us?  I think most of us probably fall into the latter category.  We know God is good.  We know what the word says, but do we believe He fulfills and accomplishes what His word says He will?   

As we go through this week, check your thoughts.  Combat negativity with the Word.  Let the enemy know your mind is no longer in his grip.  Exercise your faith.  Let it get stronger and stronger.  

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