Reference: Romans 12:3
If you were to ask the average person asto what faith is, they will tell you that it is a belief in God. This is not anaccurate definition of what true faith is. The apostle Paul tells us in hiswritings that many has made shipwreck concerning the faith as to what itactually is. We are told that God gives to every man a measure of faith. Thisfaith that God gives is pure in substance and has a certain state of strength.Perfect faith is a faith that is strengthened to a point where fear and doubtis not present. Faith is more than a belief in God. Faith is believing thatsomething will happen without seeing it take place to make you believe it willhappen. Anybody can believe if they see it happen before their eyes, butbelieving that something is going to happen before it actually takes place isentirely a different thing altogether. According to God's word we can receivewhatever we ask for if we believe we will receive it before we see what we mayhave asked for. This type of belief is very rare, because this is the kind offaith that God gives, that has been strengthened to a point where it can obtainthings from God. Jesus said that what things soever we ask for will be given usif we believe that we receive it without doubting it will be given. To doubtmeans to think maybe you won't receive what you asked for. Many people hasdoubt and so therefore they cannot receive things from God through faith. Doubtin the heart can be removed only by perfect obedience to God's holy word oftruth. Many people who think they have faith has only a hope.
To ask God forsomething and hoping you will receive it is not exercising faith that Godgives. Many people will confront God on the fact that his word says to ask inorder to receive, but you are not exercising faith in this manner either. Youcan't force God to prove his word to you if you do not believe he will throughfaith. You must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that seekdiligently for him. Many people will make you stand true to your word byputting you to the test. If I made a public statement that I would give anyonea thousand dollars if they would prove a certain thing to me, many would try itjust to see if I was true to my word. You cannot put God to the test in thismanner and expect him to prove his word to you, because this is tempting him.To tempt God, as his word tells us not to, is to try and make him prove hisword and give you what you asked for without exercising faith and believingthat he will give you what you asked for. One of the Ten Commandments says thatwe shall not tempt the Lord God. To do so is to transgress his law, which issin. Many people can read the Bible where it says to ask and you shall receiveand so they ask God for something thinking they can receive what they asked forbased on the fact that they tell God that his word says they can receive ifthey just ask. This is not faith in action. Faith is believing that you willreceive without seeing it beforehand or before you actually see what you askedfor. If you pray in a manner telling God that his word says this or that andwant what you ask for because of what his word states, then you will notreceive anything from him. This is exactly what many people think today, butthis is being void of truth as to what faith is. Most people has this type offaith today because they are not truly born again having come to the knowledgeof the truth revealed in the gospel of Christ. Most people are still carnalminded and thinking they are of God, because they believe on him and hasaccepted him as Lord and Saviour. If you have not been truly born of the waterand the Spirit, which is accomplished by being revealed the truth by the Spiritthrough the word, then you are in a deceived state thinking you are of God andcan ask of him and receive things from him when actually you cannot. You canonly have true faith by hearing and obeying the truth of the word of God. Whatchurches are teaching their converts today only gives them a knowledge of thewritten word and cannot increase their faith and make it perfect in strength.The Bible says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.Please notice that God's word says that faith comes by hearing, and notknowledge of hearing. God's word received in the heart builds faith and causesit to grow in strength. Only God's word can strengthen your faith and make itstronger. Faith in your heart is a strong confidence that you will receive whatyou asked for without having to see what you asked for first. Some people saythey will believe when they see it, but this is not faith in action. HearingGod's word and obeying it will remove all doubt and fear. Fear and doubt isexactly what cause people to fail to believe they will receive what they askedfor. If you hear and obey God's word then you know that the truth of the matteris that you become a born again child of God as you walk in and obey it.Obedience to God's word will transform your life into the image of Christ. Thechurches today do not teach the truth and so therefore their converts cannotpossibly come to the knowledge and the stature of the fulness of Christ. Thechurch today will only give you a mental knowledge of the written word whichwill not cause you to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God's word willtransform your life making you a child of God. When Paul said that the gospelis the power of God unto salvation, he meant that it will transform you intoChrist's image and not just give you a mental knowledge of what the Bible says.Many today can quote many many scriptures having them memorized in their mind,but this only proves they know the letter of the word and not Christ. God'sword revealed in the gospel will have a transforming effect on them thatreceive and believes it. Believing the gospel will conform you to the veryimage of the Lord Jesus just like his word says it will. You must have the mindrenewed and crucify the deeds of the flesh. This is done by obedience to God'sword and abstaining from sin. Fear and doubt is caused by failing to obey Godand keep his word. Perfect obedience to God's word will transform your mindlike unto the mind of Christ. Christ had a mind that circumstances could notshake causing him to live a life unlike any other ordinary man. The things thatJesus did caused many to marvel, because they saw him do things that only Godcan do. Jesus said that we could do the works that he did and even greaterworks if we believe on him and obey him. These things can be done only throughand by faith. True faith can only come by hearing and obeying God's word thatthe gospel reveals. God's word reveals that we must lose our life to become hisdisciple. To lose your life means to crucify the flesh with it's affections andlusts. Most people today are not willing to walk in truth because it is toomuch of a sacrifice to make. Patience is the key that opens the door to God'streasure house of knowledge. You must present yourself to God as a livingsacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto him. This can only be done by obeying hisword and growing in the grace of the knowledge of Christ. This requires timeand patience. The Bible says that all things are possible to them thatbelieve......