On Faith

I was talking to a friend this weekend and she was admiring my faith and today I came into work and I stumbled onto Luke 17 in which Jesus is telling his disciples that they are to forgive their neighbor, the disciples ask Him to increase their faith. And He explains that if they had faith like unto a mustard seed they would say "sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you." And I think when we read this scripture we think, oh, I must not have faith like unto a mustard seed. But I don't think that's what Jesus is saying here. He's not telling them they don't have enough faith. He's telling them they don't have enough action. He's teaching that faith is a principle of action. The action is in the words they would speak if they had that amount of faith. When asked for more faith, He doesn't touch them and infuse more faith into them. Why not? Because they already have the faith! They just are not using it! He goes on to explain about the Dutiful Servant, which is us. He teaches that we are to go about doing everything that the Master commands, and that the master doesn't owe us anything. We are to be dutiful servants. Why does he put this story of the dutiful servant right after they ask for more faith? How is this story of the dutiful servant an answer to their request? He is saying that we can only gain more faith through action. We don't ask the Master for the goods first, we go about doing everything He asks of us. He doesn't owe us anything. We are to obey and to be dutiful. Are our prayers the prayers of commanding the Master or those of a dutiful servant?

Do we pray to get things and to be given more? or are we praying for opportunities to serve? Who may I serve today? Where do you need me most Lord? What words can I share with the world that will bring light and peace to another? What solutions does the world need for more light to come through to thy children? These are the prayers of a Dutiful Servant.

Faith only appropriates what God has already provided through grace. We receive the gifts of it through dutiful servitude.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

We have all been given the same measure of faith! Faith works through acknowledging what you already have, and using what you've got.

If you want wealth and health you must plant his seed in your hearts. If His seed, or His word is planted in your hearts you will be prospered. (see http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/gods_word)

Proverbs 18:20 death and life are in the power of your tongue. God created the worlds by faith, through His words. It was all created by Words. Words created this Universe! There is power in words and we speak words. You will have what you say- this is a law of faith and of the universe.

Mark 11- 12 ¶And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. 20 ¶And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

So we see that forgiveness is also another law of faith or of the universe. Notice that Jesus teaches us to speak to the mountain, to say "Be thou removed!". He didn't say talk to God about your mountain. He said to command your mountain. Tell it "Be thou removed!" Jesus already came and made that possible for us. We can just speak directly to our mountain with faith, no doubt that it will be removed. But instead many do not believe and keep praying to God as if he has forgotten them. Learn to praise God. Pray and rebuke the problem. "Thank you Father that you have healed me, that by your stripes I am healed." After you praise God, go talk to your problem about God! Your check book will talk to you. Your body will talk to you. "Debt, in the name of Jesus, I command you to leave." Words are important. If you speak disease, it will not work. Speak life out of your mouth. Thank God that He's already done His part, and then command the problem to straighten out. This is the law of faith, the law of the Universe.