Given June 18, 2014
I had a message from a man recently who talked about his desire to stop believing for things that were too big for his faith. He wanted to concentrate on smaller things that his faith was suited for. I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Jesus said, “All things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23). So how should we use our faith? How much do we have? How much do we need?
As Christians, we all have a “measure of faith”. (Romans 12:3). When we are born, we also have a set of muscles. Those muscles don’t stay the size and strength they were when we were babies; they grow and increase in strength as we use them. Some people go the extra mile and overwork their muscles to build them up to extraordinary proportions and are able to accomplish great things. So it is with our faith. To build up our faith, we have to use it; exercise it, so it will grow from baby portions to great faith. Jude 1:20 mentions, “building yourselves up in your most holy faith”. So maybe we have to believe for smaller things first to build our faith.
Then we hear Jesus tell his followers, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” (Luke 17:6). That seems like small faith used to do a great thing. Let’s remember, “All things are possible to him who believes.” Believing is the key. And “saying” is very important too. How did God create the earth? “God said…”. Look back at Luke 17:6, “you can say” to the tree. Mark 11:23 says, “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” Believing and saying is faith-building exercise. Now, you have to believe and say what God has already said. We can’t use our faith to do something that is against God’s will. And how do you know what God has said? READ YOUR BIBLE AND PRAY! Then believe and speak it and keep on speaking it until it comes to pass. Good workout!
