Blog

FAITH

It is very important, therefore, that we understand what faith is and how it is to operate through our life.

The subject of faith is difficult for everyone. Faith is something we can't see (Hebrews 11:1). There are a lot of Bible texts explaining faith. We have to simplify our faith and learn to lean on God for understanding, knowledge and wisdom concerning faith.

The Bible says faith comes by hearing (reading) the Word of God
(Romans 10:17). Faith is developed as we walk hand in hand with God.

God Himself asks the question . . . “Will He find faith on the earth when He returns?” (Luke 18:8)

Faith comes when we diligently study the Scriptures (Romans10:17). It is our daily study that brings us closer to God. When we study and search the Scriptures for answers to our questions, we find ourselves craving more and more.

We actually get addicted to God, and our soul demands a constant incoming flow of His Holy Word. When we yearn for God's Word, we are growing in faith. We live by faith because we have the reassurance from God's Word in our hearts (Proverbs 3:5; Romans 1:17; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 10:38-

We know the sun, moon, stars and seasons come and go in a continual cycle (Genesis1:14). We see with our eyes the perfect timing of the seasons and days corresponding with the calendar. We have no doubt what day or month or season is next. We have to ask without doubting and God will give us wisdom (James 1:2-8).

Collins Dictionary describes Faith

1. As a strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence.
2. As having complete confidence and trust in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gift of Faith

It is an anointing given to some members of the Body of Christ at a specific time of need. It is the complete assurance that God is going to work in power and might and will do what He says He will do (1 Corinthians12:9, 28).

1. Faith is the supernatural ability to believe God without doubt.
2. Faith is the supernatural ability to combat unbelief.
3. Faith is the supernatural ability to meet adverse circumstances with trust in God’s messages and words.
4. Faith is the inner conviction impelled by an urgent and higher calling.

Faith in the Old Testament

Faith, in the Bible: is trust in; reliance on; God who is Himself trustworthy. God stands at the centre: It is His initiative and faithfulness as described by the OLD TESTAMENT writers in creation, in the Exodus event, in the covenants.

Since God’s promises are intended for His people, the emphasis of faith is not focused primarily on the individual, but on the relationship of the people of Israel to God.

Throughout the Old Testament, the focus of faith is exclusively on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As we come to Abraham on the plains of Canaan, we discover the beginning of God’s covenant people and the broad strokes of His salvation plan.

Salvation comes by faith: Abraham’s descendants will be God’s people. Abraham was asked to leave his country, wander in Canaan, wait years for a son, and then sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Through these periods of sharp testing, Abraham remained faithful to God.

His example teaches us what it means to live a life of faith.
His example teaches us what it means to live a life of faith.

As the “children” of Israel journeyed from the foot of Mount Sinai to the land of Canaan, they grumbled, whined, and complained at every turn. They focused on their present discomforts. Their faith had fled, thus adding an extra 40 years to their trip.
The book of Numbers ends as it begins, with preparation. This new generation of Israelites was numbered and sanctified. After defeating numerous armies, they settled on the east side of the Jordan River.
Then they faced their greatest test: to cross the river and possess the beautiful land God promised them.

The lesson is clear: God’s people must trust Him, by moving ahead in faith,
if they are to claim His promised land.

‘As a nation, Israel saw the great work which the Lord did against the Egyptians, and the people feared the Lord; and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses’ (Exodus 14:31).

What are we doing by Faith?
God knows and controls the future. We may never see more than a moment ahead, but we can be secure, if we trust in Him. As we read Zechariah we can strengthen our faith in God – He alone is our hope and security.

In 538BC God raised up a man by the name of Zerubbabel. His task was to lead 50,000 Jews from exile in Babylon back to the land of Judah. There they started the reconstruction of the Temple. For two years the people worked hard. They rebuilt the foundations of the Temple (Ezra 3:7-13). However in 536 BC the work ground to a halt – (two reasons).

1. External Antagonism
   The people living around Jerusalem set about discouraging those involved in the building project with the result that the builders became discouraged and afraid (Ezra 4:4). Still a tactic of the Devil – FEAR!

2. Internal Anxiety

A number of the older priests, “Levites”, and family heads could remember the “Former Temple…” good old days. So they started to moan that Zerubbabel’s temple would not be as glorious (Ezra 3:12).

The combined effects of internal and external antagonism caused anxiety and fear, which succeeded in postponing the work. For sixteen years there was no further building work carried out. The 50,000 who had come back from exile turned from building a beautiful house for God to building houses for themselves (Haggai 1:3-4). However, in 520 BC God anointed the Prophet Zechariah to go to Zerubbabel with a word of encouragement.

Zechariah – Prophetic Message

You, Zerubbabel and your fellow leader (Jeshua) are two men appointed by the Lord to serve His purposes. God promises that you will complete the work, which you have begun on the temple.

Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will flatten out before him! Then Zerubbabel will set the final stone of the Temple in place, and the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it’ (Grace, grace to it) (Zechariah 4:7).

Then another message came to me from the LORD: (Zechariah 4:8) “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me” (Zechariah 4:9 NLT).

In the meantime

Be encouraged, the obstacles before you may feel like a mountain of impossibilities but God is going to level the mountain (Zechariah 4:7). As you rely on His power of the Spirit rather than on your own resources, God will do the work and you will see the Temple rebuilt.

Today may be a day of small things but do not despise that day Zerubbabel responded to this word of encouragement. It is recorded in the Book of Haggai that in 520 BC the rebuilding started once again! In 516 BC the temple courts were completely rebuilt. The mountain of opposition had indeed been moved, leveled by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Key to the breakthrough in all this was Zerubbabel himself

1. Before the temple could be restored, Zerubbabel had to be restored!
2. He needed to be restored and this personal restoration was mostly to do with FAITH.
3. Zerubbabel needed to replace his own abilities with “Faith” that would move “a mountain” in the resources of God.
4. To trust in the Holy Spirit rather than in himself.
5. The Prophet Zechariah told him: Not by human might, or by human strength but by My Spirit (Ruach) says the Lord Almighty (Zechariah 4:6)

The Prophets deepen the meaning of faith in several ways

In Isaiah 7:1-9, security does not rest in political power but in their utter trust in God; in fact, the totality of life must be based on such trust in Him.

In Isaiah 7:9: ‘If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.’

Faith in the New Testament
Increase our Faith: The only time that Jesus really got angry with His disciples was when they disbelieved His promises, His power and His ability. When the Lord’s disciples said they could not cast out the demon from the epileptic after the Lord had told them exactly what to do, He got very upset with them.

I believe it makes the Lord as unhappy to see unbelief in His people as it does to see adultery, murder and theft or any other sin.

“Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me’” (Matthew 17:17).

Do not just speak your faith, but live it
Let it result in action. Trust God and you will see that He is good and faithful. In everything, in every aspect of your life, trust Him and your faith will grow and multiply, bearing a bountiful harvest.

Ask God to increase your Faith daily.
Ask God to increase your Faith daily.
Some Scriptural examples of Faith
In the Gospel of Mark, Faith has God as its object.

1. Mark 11:22: ‘And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God”’ or faith in Jesus as the manifestation of God’s power (Mark 5:36; 9:23-24).

2. A direct reference of Jesus to the faith of His audience.
   In Mark 2:5: “And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven.’”

3. In Mark 5:34: “And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease’”
4. In Mark 10:52: “And Jesus said to him [the blind man], ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’”
5. The lack of faith can be referred to in a similar way in Mark 4:40: “He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?’”

6. In the Gospel of Luke, faith is often used in the most general sense of faithfulness (Luke 16:10-12) – “Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s money, why should you be trusted with money of your own?”

7. In Luke 1:20, 45: “And blessed is she (Mary) who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

8. In Luke 7:50: “And He (Jesus) said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’”

The Gospel of Matthew further intensifies the theme of Faith

At the conclusion of the story about the healing of the centurion’s slave, Matthew’s Gospel: “And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; be it done for you as you have believed.’”

1. In Matthew 8:13 similarly, Matthew modifies the account of the healing of two blind men by inserting the question from Jesus in Matthew 9:28 ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’

2. In Matthew 15:28, when Matthew writes about the Canaanite woman, he alters the account precisely for this purpose: “Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.”

3. This same pattern can be found in Matthew 17:19-20, an account of the boy possessed by a spirit, only Matthew adds this statement of Jesus by way of response to the disciples’ question, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ ‘Because of your little faith.’

4. In Matthew 21:21 there is a clear intensification to Mark 11:22. In Mark Jesus answers, ‘Have faith in God’. In Matthew Jesus answers, ‘Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and never doubt . . .’

Paul’s Concept of Faith
The apostle Paul writes the profoundest articulation of the concept of faith. In 1 Thessalonians1:8: your faith towards God has spread abroad, so that we do not need to say anything.
Faith has as its object God, specifically God’s salvation and His manifestation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14).

This act of God in Christ is preached (Romans 10:17) – “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ’ . . And is received by faith (Romans 3:25), a faith that rests ‘in the power of God’ (1 Corinthians 2:5).

For Paul the concept of Faith is a dynamic one
The ‘activity of faith’ in (1 Thessalonians 1:3) is an activity that manifests
itself in love (Galatians 5:6): ‘faith working through love’.

Faith involves ‘Progress’
In Philippians 1:25 “. . . and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith.” It is not something static, captured once for all, but involves striving as in (Philippians 1:27): ‘with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel . . .’
And it increases as in (2 Corinthians10:15) “Not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere.”

Since Faith is not a static Possession
Paul urges that faith be established as in 1 Thessalonians 3:2 “ . . . to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith.” (made firm).
And in 1 Corinthians 16:13: “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”
In 2 Corinthians 1:24, “Not that we have dominion over faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand. For it is possible not only to have deficiencies in faith.” ??

Essential for Paul’s understanding of Faith
Is the conviction that God assigns to each the measure of faith he wishes (Romans 12:3, 6; 1 Corinthians 12:9)? Yet no matter what that measure of faith is, the obedience of faith is expected from all (Romans 1:5; 16:16).

Paul on several Occasions
He uses the triadic formulation ‘faith, love and hope’ (1 Thessalonians1:3; 5:8; 1 Corinthians13:13). On the one hand, as noted above, “faith must be active in love; without love faith is empty.”

On the other hand:
Faith must be grounded in hope so that it recognizes that the first-fruits of God’s promises manifested in the death and resurrection of Christ will be fulfilled on the last day (Galatians. 5:5; Romans 6:8; Romans15:13): “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

The specific hope of Faith is rooted in the resurrection of Christ as an anticipation of the fulfillment of the last day (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17; 2 Corinthians 4:14): “Knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence.”

The same dynamic of Faith is evident

Paul links faith with righteousness and justification as an example, in Romans 1:16-17: ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (faith), for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’

In Romans 5:17: he is referring to a gift that is both present and future already received and still expected. It is a gift that recognizes God’s sovereign power and the fact that the believer is placed under that power in obedient service.

For the person who is justified, who has received the gift in faith, salvation is not yet completed in the present; it has still to be consummated and fulfilled on the last day.

Faith is Pleasing to God

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. By faith Noah being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by

which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:6-7).

Believing that God exists is only the beginning: even the demons believe that much (James 2:19, 20). God will not settle for mere acknowledgment of His existence.
God wants a personal, dynamic relationship with you that will transform your life. Those who seek God will find that they are rewarded with His intimate presence.

Abraham was singled out
In Hebrews 11 Abraham began a journey in Faith not knowing where he was going. In Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterwards receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

Abraham’s life was filled with faith. At God’s command, he left home and went to another land – obeying without question (Genesis 12:1ff). He believed the covenant that God made with him (Genesis 12:2, 3; 13:14-16; 15:1-6).

The carnal mind is a natural mind and does not submit itself to the Spirit of God.

Faith is Obedience

1. Abraham, in obedience to God, was even willing to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19). As Abraham was called by God to sacrifice his one and only son Isaac, he did not understand but he obeyed.
2. Even though God promised Abraham that he would be a father of many nations, God tested him when He told him to sacrifice Isaac; he obeyed even though he could not understand.
3. Each one of us will be tested to exercise faith throughout our lifetime, even when the call seems incomprehensible.
4. Do not be surprised if God asks you to give up secure, familiar surroundings in order to carry out His will.
5. Your obedience makes you stand out. Remember, if God asks you to do something, He will give you the necessary strength to carry out that task.

The “Faith Chapter” in the Bible is Hebrews Chapter 11

This chapter tells us about what men and women did by faith; they ran their race. They did what they did because of a conviction God had spoken to them, and they were committed to obeying Him.

Faith is a prophetic word, an act of obedience, because it is activated by the voice of God – and our recognizing it is the voice of God!

Faith is born out of relationship – relationship with Jesus – “Whatever He tells you to do, do it!” (John 2:5).

It is no different for us Today

Whatever He (Jesus) tells us to do, we should do it! Today it is our turn. Today we are called to have faith and to fulfil the accomplishments Jesus has called us to do!

Notice the terminology of Hebrews 11

By faith Abel … (v.4); By faith Enoch … (v.5); By faith Noah … (v.7); By faith Abraham … (v.8-10); Through faith Sarah … (v.11); By faith Abraham … (v.17); By faith Isaac … (v.20); By faith Jacob … (v.21); By faith Joseph … (v.22); By faith Moses … (v.23-28); By faith they (the Israelites) … (v.29); By faith Rahab (v.31); By faith the walls of

Jericho fell down … (v.30); By faith Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel and the prophets (v.32, 40).

These Men and Women all did mighty miracles

The Bible clearly says it was people who did things by faith!
It did not say that God did those things, but men and women did those things
– BY FAITH!

“Then the LORD told Abram, ‘Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. I wi+ll cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you’”(Genesis12:1-3).

By Faith Abraham obeyed

“Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterwards receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).

Faith requires Courage and Risk
It is all about what we do with what we hear from Jesus. The key to releasing faith is listening to Jesus and doing whatever He asks us.

Faith produces Fruit
Let us be fruitful even when we are challenged in life. Joseph named his second son Ephraim (fruitful, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my affliction” (Genesis 41:52).

Faith is the Language of the Spirit
The Christian’s life is a journey of faith and it is essential to know:

1. The language of the spirit is the language of faith in God.
2. Every believer is required by God to walk in faith.
3. We are saved by faith, we believe by faith, we pray in faith.
4. We are to come to God without unbelief.

“And everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).

Faith is the Eyes of our Heart

1. Faith is the mirror of your heart.
2. Faith is the anchor (conviction) of the entire unseen realm.
3. We the Church must access the unseen world.
4. Jesus expects us to see from our hearts.
5. A heart that cannot see is a hardened heart.
6. By the Holy Spirit we see from the heart (our human spirit).
7. When we focus on the Lord we will see eternal things.
8. Worship in spirit and truth, this opens your hearts to the Holy Spirit.
9. Belief in God opens our hearts so that faith can come in.
10. Go beyond your intellect and worship the Lord, in faith, and open your heart to Him who is invisible.

Throughout Scripture Faith is emphasized as . . .

1. The necessary ingredient for man to deal with God and live successfully.
2. The vehicle to “see Him who is invisible.”
3. Being invisible to the natural eye, but not to the spiritual eye.
4. Seeing the impossible becoming a reality.
5. The ingredient that confesses it is a reality, it will happen.
6. Seeing it happening against all the odds.
7. That which we need for what we cannot see, not for what we can see.

   Faith deals with two areas:

   1. The invisible present.
   2. The invisible future.

We know the Holy Spirit joins with us to increase our faith. He gives us the Word of God, dreams, visions, revelations. He is getting us to push back the walls of human thinking, stretching us out into the dimension of the spirit.

The Unseen Realm

Because we are a mixture of spirit and flesh, we do not find it easy to believe that which we cannot see. But faith is the language of the Spirit and without faith it is impossible to please God, because God is a Spirit. The challenge for us is to develop in the dimension of the spirit:

1. The key of revelation is to go where God moves for you.
2. Live in revelation of what God did and is doing for you.

3. Faith is a substance or realization of things hoped for, faith is established conviction concerning things unseen and settled expectation of the future reward.
4. We send our body and soul to school; we feed it, train it, exercise it, and educate it. What are you doing to develop your spirit?
5. God is too big to be understood but He may be discerned.
6. Become a conduit for the power of God to work in us and through us.
7. Anchor yourself in the unseen world.

Paul’s statement about Faith is to “move mountains”
Is it an allusion or can we assume that mountain-moving faith is his reference to the “gift of faith”? The word FAITH (pistis) is used when referring to the Gift of Faith.

The gift of FAITH says with confidence that God can move any obstacle, however great or small.

Faith that moves mountains
When the apostles asked Jesus, “How did the fig tree wither?”

“Jesus answered: “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, go throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins” (Mark 11:22-25).

Faith is a supernatural substance of the Power of God
Faith is that which arises within a person in or for a particular situation to meet a need or challenge – the unmistakable confidence that God is about to act through a spoken word, an action to display His power.

The Spirit world should dominate the natural world

1. God wants a powerful church, not a fearful church.
2. Unbelief is an anchor of the natural world.
3. Stop asking God and start releasing God’s promises and His Word.
4. Faith in God and His power will release a greater authority in our life.

Faith is a supernatural confidence

Faith says and believes that Healing and Miracles are for today. The church will see sickness, oppression, depression go in Jesus’ name. The gift of Faith will strengthen the Body of Christ.

Faith is a supernatural confidence by the Holy Spirit that God is about to release a miracle into a situation for the strengthening and growth of the Church. The gift of Faith is stirred up with miraculous works as a powerful anointing is activated. (Share testimonies of God’s healing grace in people’s lives.)

Faith in God
For each believer at conversion it is: “Faith in God’s grace” that leads to our salvation. Faith justifies us before God. Paul writes: “By grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the Gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Salvation is when we, as a person, believe what the grace of God has accomplished, and which human effort could not. It is His Divine forgiveness and pardon from sin. God’s grace in our lives is unmerited favour and compassion.

Jesus’ death on the cross is the perfect demonstration of God’s love for us. His only begotten Son, on the cross, provided perfect atonement, therefore
faith is the pardon of Jesus – He has done everything necessary for our salvation.

Faith is the wholehearted belief in the person of Jesus

1. We believe Jesus of Nazareth was and is Christ (Christos), (Messiah).
2. Jesus is indeed God’s son (John 11:27).
3. Jesus came from God (John 16:27).
4. God sent Jesus into the world (John 8:24 – 13:19).
5. Jesus is the Saviour of the world (John 3:16).
6. Jesus has been raised from the dead (Romans 10:9).

Faithfulness
Paul refers to one of the Fruits of the Spirit which is translated as “faithfulness”, an ongoing and continuing faithfulness in the redeeming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22).

Faith is our ability to continue believing in Jesus. In John’s Gospel, he saw Faith as a dynamic continuing phenomenon as used in the present continuous tense referred to when he writes, “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

We have a destiny to walk faithfully until one day we meet with Jesus. “Well done good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21).

Faith is Perseverance
Abraham and Moses persevered to the very end of their lives even when they felt like giving up. Moses was a man who persevered “for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27).

Each one of us must go on persevering in the direction God has called us, even when we want to go our own way.

Faith is Trusting
Faith goes on believing, even though God’s promises may not be fulfilled in the person’s lifetime. Moses trusted in God’s promise concerning the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 31:2 “You shall not cross over this Jordan.”
We need to know that many men and women were commended for their faith and for their continuing trust in God, even though they never saw the complete fulfilment of all God’s promises.

Faith Pleases God

“Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).

God is looking for faith. It is a true sign of commitment to follow God as a disciple. For us to receive God’s favour, acceptance and blessing, we need an unwavering faith in God’s promises.

In 1 Peter 1:7 “That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Sincere Faith

“Now the purpose of the commandments is love from a pure heart from a good conscience and from sincere Faith” (1 Timothy1:5).

Sincere faith has a desire to do what is right; it is not based on falsehood, is not empty and is without hypocrisy and void of any pretensions.

Genuine Faith

“When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5).

Eunice and Lois were early Christian converts, possibly through Paul’s ministry in their home (Acts 16:1). They had communicated their strong Christian faith to Timothy, even though his father was probably not a believer.

Don’t hide your light at home. Our families are fertile fields for planting seeds of the Good News of our faith in Jesus, and be sure they see Christ’s love, helpfulness, and joy in us.

Faith in Action

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the Gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of hands. On account of your true faith and consecration, I

remind you to stir up the gift of God that is in you. Be faithful even in afflictions according to the Power of God in you” (2 Timothy 1:6 -7).

The Gift of Faith is referred to as a fire, which if not frequently stirred up and more fuel added to, will go out. We need to kindle up the Fire – to add fresh fuel to it. It is clear from this that Gifts can be neglected.

Paul says: “Do not neglect the Gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands by the Eldership” (1 Timothy 4:14).

That is why we need a consistent supply of the Holy Spirit – many fillings. We see in the book of Acts and in Jesus’ life that He lived in prayer and received a consistent anointing of the Holy Spirit.

“While He (Jesus) prayed the Heaven was opened” (Luke 3:21).

We see this in Paul and Timothy’s lives as they prayed

“For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:19).

Paul urges Timothy in 1Timothy 1:4: “Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is Faith.”

My prayer for us today is that our Lord Jesus will increase our faith (Luke 17:5). That was the prayer of the disciples too.

They said, “Lord, increase our faith.”

How does faith come?
It comes by hearing and reading the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Remember faith is a “doing word”.
The way you overcome disbelief is by putting your faith into action.