The Power of Faith
By Christy Wimber
The Vineyard Churches
CBN.com– How important is faith? It takes faith to even
believe in Christ; it takes faith to believe that what
God says is always right and true; and it takes faith to
trust and walk in that each and every day. However, if
you’re faith doesn’t continue to grow in your
relationship with Christ, you won’t have the faith to
see God’s Kingdom come not only in your life, but in the
lives of those around you.
Whatever faith you have inside of you will determine the
outcome of the faith level you’ll have for God at work
around you. If you don’t have faith for God to move,
there’s a good chance you won’t be looking for anything
to take place.
Do you realize that the message of your life; what you
spend your time, money and energy on will scream how
much faith [belief] you have put in Christ?
When we read all through the Gospels we see how Jesus
loved and always responded to anyone that had faith. He
loved it. He loved it when those placed their full trust
in Him. (Matthew 8:5-13; Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 5:21-24;
Luke 19:1-10).
Also, what’s so amazing is that Jesus said you don’t
even need a lot of faith. Jesus in fact said that just a
little amount can move mountains. In other words just a
little faith can do amazing things in your life and in
the lives of those around you. (Matthew 17:20; 1
Corinthians 13:2).
Jesus said our faith could be compared to a mustard
seed. What’s interesting is that a mustard seed is the
smallest of all seeds. But it also is a seed. A seed is
worth more when it continues to grow. You water and feed
the seed of your faith by giving it nourishment. We get
nourishment by reading Gods Word; worshipping; praying.
All those things feed the seed of faith in your life.
(Matthew 17:20).
Hebrews 4:16 speaks that we should have confidence;
which actually means faith—to approach God’s throne of
grace. Saying you believe is one thing.. Walking that
out, day in & day out is another… Lets break it
down…what faith is and why faith is so important.
Why Faith is Important
Without faith it’s impossible to please God because
anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and
that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews
11:6)
Jesus is the object of our faith, reliance and hope.
■ John 14:6
Where does our faith come from?
■ Romans 10:17
Q: If the Bible says our faith comes from God; what does
that say about us when we place faith in other things?
Faith is a gift, and gifts are imparted.
■ Ephesians 2:8
Since faith is a gift; just like all the other gifts -
that means you cannot earn it. It’s a gift. It’s given
to you; all you have to do is ask, and after you ask
believe that it’s yours. It’s now time to walk in it.
We can also ask God for more faith.
■ Luke 17:5
Believing what God says to us is true; even if we don’t
see it happen right away.
■ Look at the lives of those that lived lives marked by
faith in Hebrews 11.
The interesting theme in Hebrews 11 is found in the
great stories of the amazing people that have gone
before us is that these people believed in what God
spoke to them, even though some didn’t see things come
to pass in their lifetime. I’m sure they were
disappointed or confused at times not seeing things come
as they had thought; yet they had confidence in their
God.
Q: When you don’t see things happen for you when you
think they should, what response do you usually have? Do
you still continue to go forward or do you start to
question God?
Faith is a Verb
Being full of faith is one thing; However, It’s not
just about saying you believe—its actually doing
something to show how much you believe.
Most people don’t share Christ with others or step out
to pray for them because they’re afraid to be
embarrassed, afraid to be rejected. However if you want
to see God move in the lives of the people around you;
taking risks is a part of stepping out.
It’s important to remember; “What if no one shared
Christ with you?”
■ Read James 1:22; 2:14; and 2:21-22; and see how faith
and deeds work together.
Faith is spelled R.I.S.K. (John Wimber)
Having a strong faith in what Christ has done for you
should be enough to compel you to share God with others.
If you don’t share your faith in Christ, something isn’t
right.
Think about the things you talk about. You usually talk
about things that are most important to you. Who a
person is eventually makes its way out of their mouth.
You talk about what you truly believe in. If you’re
relationship with God is so important to you, and you
understand that Christ himself has rescued you from
hell, then of course you would want others around you to
not only be saved, but to also experience and know Him
as well.
Don’t think about the risk so much as the great
opportunity you have too be a bridge for others to
experience God almighty. Don’t think so much about what
could go wrong; instead ask God to fill you with faith
to share.
Don’t be one that wishes they had stepped out more.
Theodore
Roosevelt...“It’s not the critic who counts; or the man
who points how the strong man stumbles, or where the
doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs
to the man who is actually in the arena --who at best,
knows in the end the triumph of great achievements, and
who at the worst, if he fails at least while daring
greatly. His place will never be with those cold, timid
souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Q. How
important do you think it is that we share our faith
with others.
Jesus said: Matthew 10:32-33
Application:
■ The Apostles said: 1 Peter 3:15 |
Application:
■ Read Acts 1:8 and write how you think this passage
talks about how we share our faith.
Application:
Q. In what ways do we share our faith with others?
■ The only Bible many people around you will read will
be YOUR life.
■ Your life story is the most powerful message you
carry. What God has and is doing in your life.
■ Matthew 5:16
Application:
■ Serving others: Matthew 25:34-40
■ Forgiving others: Matthew 5:23-24; Luke 17:3-4
■ Loving your enemies: Matthew 5:44
■ Bearing the fruits of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22
How to
Share Your Faith with Others
1.First, explain God’s purpose & peace (Romans 5:1;
John 3:16; John 10:10).
2.Most people choose to be separate from God. They don’t
have the peace & abundant life God’s planned for them.
God created us in His own image to have abundant life,
but He also gave us a free will- with freedom of choice.
(Romans 3:23; 6:23).
3.That means our attempts (good works, religion,
philosophy, and morality) to reach God fail (Isaiah
59:2).
4.The bridge to God is the cross (1 Tim. 2:5; 1 Peter
3:18; Romans 5:8).
5.Therefore, God has provided the only way. However each
person still must make the decision themselves if they
desire to receive Christ. Its each persons own
individual responsibility as to whether or not the will
say yes to Christ.
6.We must trust Christ ourselves as our Lord and Savior
and receive Him by personal invitation (Revelation 3:20;
John 1:12; Romans 10:9).
7.Remember to talk with the person on a personal level.
Again your story and what God has done in your life is
very powerful. Also, it’s not about how ‘together’ you
are now; it’s about how you know that in spite of your
weakness’ you have met the One that can make all things
new!
Learn more at CBN.com's Share Your Faith Feature
Personal Reflection
When was it that you first found faith in God?
What was your experience like? Was it a physical
reaction when you first felt like you experienced or saw
God for the first time? What did it feel like to you?
What was it that made you first believe?
Do you feel like your faith is often challenged?
If so, what emotions do you go through? Do you feel
guilty for questioning what you believe?
What is the best way you have found to fight unbelief?
When you feel a lot of faith, why is that? Is it
something you did, or something you prayed or did you
just feel at times that you have a lot of faith for God
to show up?
What did that feel like personally to you?
If faith is walked out means risk taking is a normal
part of the Christian life do you find that you’re a
person that loves to take risks in life? Why or why not?
from Christy
Wimber of The Vineyard Churches
God has a
Mission for YOU!
By Jon Cash
CBN.com– God had a mission for Jeremiah. Would it be
fun? No! Would he become famous? Yes, but not for the
reasons most people want to become famous. God commanded
Jeremiah to go to his brothers and sisters in his home
country in Israel and demand they repent and return to
God.
Jeremiah knew it would make a lot of people angry. He
figured that he might be executed for treason.
Therefore, he made many excuses to God for why he wasn’t
the right man for the job. “I do not know how to speak;
I am too young.”
“Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to
speak; I am too young.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not
say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send
you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid
of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,”
declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out his hand
and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my
words in your mouth.” Jeremiah 1:6-9
Even though Jeremiah was making excuses why he couldn’t
serve the Lord, God didn’t give up on Him. He encouraged
him by saying, “I am with you and will rescue you.”
It’s natural for the Christian today to do the same
thing. We come up with clever excuses why we shouldn’t
follow the mission the Lord has given us “to go unto the
ends of the earth and spread the gospel.” We say to
ourselves and God, “I don’t know enough about the Bible.
What will they think of me? I don’t want them talking
behind my back. I might lose my job! Let somebody else
do it."
Fear is a great motivator and a greater inhibitor. God
immediately saw the fear in Jeremiah’s heart and said,
“Do not be afraid of them.” The Bible teaches that “the
fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and the fear of
man is a stumbling block.” (See Proverbs 9:10 and
29:25.) Allow faith to overcome your fears and be
obedient to God. He will not let you down if you are
obedient to His calling. He has your back!
Has the “Lord reached out His hand and touched your
mouth?” Has he “put His words in your mouth?” Without
Him doing this, you are powerless to accomplish the
mission set before you. It would be like a general
assigning a private in the Army on a special ops mission
for the elite Navy seals. How can we realistically have
Him put His words in our mouth? Read your Bible! Study
your Bible! Hide His Word in your heart! Take time to
have Him talk to you through Bible study and prayer. As
His Spirit richly indwells your heart, His Words will
reach your mouth and fear will fade.
God never calls us to do something for Him that He
doesn’t empower us to do if we are willing to do the
work and time. Please, take the time to get to know God
in an intimate way. As your relationship with Him grows,
you move up in rank and are assigned harder missions.
Your purpose on earth is to shine God’s love to a lost,
dying world. Your mission, if you should choose to
accept it, is waiting for you! Open your ears and your
heart to the Lord and be excited about your new future
serving Him in truth and spirit.
from Jon
Cash at joncashministries.com |
