Often the question arises, “How do I increase my faith?” Most believers do want great faith, and there is greater faith than they expect available.
For those who struggle with faith, know from the get-go, perfect faith is actually God’s intent for you.
In fact, if the Holy Spirit lives in you, you have the faith of Jesus, which is perfect faith. More on that in a moment. Here’s a question for every believer: why do you want great faith? This question is important because the answer is vital to walking by faith and one’s final destiny. If love is not somewhere in the answer, one may need to re-evaluate one’s motives. Here’s why: faith works by love (see Galatians 5:6). Without love, we cannot walk as Jesus did. Remember, we’re supposed to be conformed to His image. Furthermore, we are to be imitators of God (see Ephesians 5:1). That is not to say we become little gods; rather, we take on His character. How did Jesus model faith while on earth?
Acts 10:38 You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (NASB). Everything Jesus did was based upon His love for the Father, and yes, for us. He did what He saw the Father do and spoke what He heard the Father speak (see John 5:19-30; 8:28). That means everything Jesus did was from the standpoint of His relationship with our Father. Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God. In short, in order for us walk by the faith of Jesus, we must be in communion with God. 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building (NASB). How can we co-labor with Him without communing with Him? How can we obey without hearing the command or request? Jesus said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD’” (Matthew 4:4). If we aren’t listening to Him, we cannot walk by faith, pure and simple. To walk with perfect faith, we must love the Father enough to spend time with Him, and be in a state of communion.
Some feel they don’t or can’t hear God. If that’s you, take heart. First, it is the Father’s desire that you do hear His voice.
In fact, Jesus said His sheep hear His voice (see John 10:1-15), which means there’s a Voice to be heard. If you belong to Jesus, you’re supposed to hear His voice.
You may actually be hearing it without realizing it. He does speak to us in a variety of ways, whether we recognize it or not. Jesus also said that His sheep will not listen to the voice of a stranger, so don’t listen to the one that says, “Hearing God is not for today.” Please be careful to not limit God based upon your or someone else’s limited experience.
Briefly, we can listen to His voice as He speaks through (The) Holy Spirit who dwells in us. He may speak through others by the word of knowledge, word of wisdom or prophecy (see 1 Corinthians 12:7-11). The Holy Spirit also gives us the unction to act or discern (1 John 2:1-20). Hence, “I feel like I’m supposed to say this or do that.” It gives us those warnings, “This isn’t right,” or it confirms, “Yes, that’s right.”
Mark 11:22-23 And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. 23. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him” (NASB). Everyone was given the measure of faith, and that faith is designed to be placed in God alone. In turn, He placed His faith in us through the Holy Spirit Who empowers us to speak to the mountain (grace). When you look at 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and Galatians 5:22, you’ll find that faith is connected to the Holy Spirit. That means the faith of Jesus (perfect faith) is in us. If it’s our faith doing the work, the temptation would be to take credit for the results. However, if it’s His faith, then it’s also to His glory! How else do you suppose people get through circumstances in which they would normally be shaking in their boots? It’s His faith; not ours.
We know that signs, wonders and miracles require faith. These are acts of God that operate in Jesus’ Name.
Miracles operating through someone are not necessarily the Lord’s stamp of approval of that person. This is why faith apart from love absolutely does you no good (see 1 Corinthians 13:2).
It can be eternally detrimental. Understand that the Name, gifts and offices will operate regardless of the heart of the individual. When the Pharisees were conspiring to kill Jesus, Caiaphas the high priest prophesied “that it was expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish” (see John 11:49-53). The office gift Caiaphas had made room for him to prophesy, even though he would be amongst those who cried, “Crucify Him!” Do you remember Judas Iscariot? He was sent out with the other 11 Apostles, and did the miraculous alongside them. In fact, the others didn’t realize Judas would betray Jesus. He looked good. Obviously, the miraculous Judas did in the Name of Jesus were not God’s stamp of approval. In relation to us, God is more interested in our fruit unto Him than His acts working through us in the Name of Jesus. Yes, those acts are important to Him, since they do bless others and reveal His Kingdom. Nonetheless, He really wants to say to you, “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into My rest.” It would terribly grieve Him to have to say, “I never knew you; depart from Me you that work iniquity” (see Matthew 7:21-27). Iniquity is a failure, and those who fail to love God, fail in the worse possible way.
The first part of the Fruit of the Spirit is love, and with perfect love comes perfect faith!
The Perfect Faith Podcast
