GOD’S GOAL FOR YOUR FAITH
GOD’S GOAL FOR YOUR FAITH
The Bible says that He has given every person a portion of faith. Portions of faith are first free gifts, and then are grown through graduating our lessons and testings of faith. Greater portions of faith are directly related to our gifts and talents and what we are called to do with them.
Romans 12:3 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 has dealt to every man the measure of faith.
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.
Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
God has a plan for your life, a reason and purpose for why He created you. As you get to know Him it is very important that your faith grow, Grow and GROW! Why? Because His Word tells us that it is impossible to please Him without faith. Outside of your getting to know His Word through the Bible, your faith is the next important foundation in your journey with Him.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Therefore it is important to guard your faith, protect it from being shipwrecked, so you don’t have to rebuild what fell apart. Jesus said, when I come will I find faith? He has called you to be His overcomer in faith!
Luke 18:7-8 And shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry day and night unto him, though he bears long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?
1 John 5:4 For whoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
Good, solid faith is built one stepping stone at a time. There are so many lessons to learn about your faith, like for instance presumption. Often we assume we understand what He means when we know He has spoken to us. But down the road we find out He had something totally different in mind! That can really affect your faith, depending upon the decisions you made based on presumptuous faith.
Another lesson of faith is God’s timing. Often when He speaks promises, it is in “now” language where we not only hear it, but He sends wonderful confirmations and circumstances line up in our life. Later we find out that a promise comes in a seed form for the future and it needs nourished with time to grow. A promise is something we grow into, we don’t just jump into it. We learn about mounting up in faith.
Along the way we will learn what the affects of wavering and hesitation do to our faith. We learn how God has called us to walk, not leap. We learn how important confirmations are in growing our faith. We learn that when we rebel against our conscience, it puts a wall between our faith and God. We learn about bold faith, how to contend for our faith, have tenacious faith, to keep our faith and how stand in faith.
We go through so many more faith lessons and then we are tested in them, just like school. But did you know that God has a goal for your faith? He suffered long over the Israelites when He gave them awesome signs and wonders, caring for them for 40 years while they wandered in the wilderness. Yet they did not come into their promises. Why? Because even though they heard and saw what God did for them, it was not mixed with faith.
Hebrews 4:1-9 Let us therefore fear, lest, although a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day in this way, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, They shall not enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter into it, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limits a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest to the people of God.
What is God’s goal for your faith? RESTING FAITH. He wants your faith to be so deeply settled in Him, that when you hear God speak to you personally or when you read His Word, you have total rest and assurance of one thing: God said it, that settles it! Are you there yet?
Hebrews 4:10-16 For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
When we believe God, we don’t stress, we don’t mess, we don’t guess. We don’t press, digress or obsess! When we believe His Word, we don’t depress, compress or even process. Get it? When we have the kind of faith that God wants for us, we just relax and say, Ahhhhhh. I rest in Your Word Lord. Amen.
Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.
