Faith, From The Air of Heaven

Christian faith is total confidence in God. We do not just think that He will do what He has promised. We know He will. By faith we submit all that we are into His care. We trust in the blessed assurance of His faithfulness.

Christian hope is not like ordinary hope. Ordinary hope expects without knowing. Christian hope is certain because of Whom we hope in. It is hope that enables us to sing even in the valley, putting wings to our souls.

Christian love is the love of God in us. By His love we are able to care for the unlovable, recognizing that we were once just as undeserving. In love He tells us to ask, seek, and knock. He knows that each time we ask and receive, or seek and find, or knock and have the door open before us, our faith grows. In the same way faith grows our love. The more we recognize His answers, the more we love Him for His efforts towards us.

So we expect confidently that He will redeem us from the dead, knowing that He loved us even while we were yet lost in our sins, and invite the lost among us to know the joy of belonging to the One in Whom true hope dwells. So that in love by faith through hope we please the Spirit of God in us, and serve our Father in Heaven as little children should.

. . . but the righteous will live by his faith . . . ‒ Hab 2:4

Belonging to Him means living by faith. Drawing near to Him is by nature a faith building experience. James tells us that faith without works is dead (Jas 2:17). That's because real faith moves us to action. If we truly believe that God is in control and a keeper of His promises, then we will live like we believe it.

Like Noah we will build a boat on dry land when no rain has ever fallen. Like Abraham we will offer up the only son we ever hope to have. Like Moses we will dare to stand before powerful leaders with nothing more than a walking stick by our side. Like David we will attack our Goliaths even when we have nothing but a bag of stones to throw at them. Real faith doesn't sit on the sidelines hoping someone will come along and move the mountain. Real faith tells the mountain to get up and move itself.

"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him." ‒ Mar 11:23

How many times have you actually expected God to lead you? Understand, if you did act like you expected Him to do so, you did not actually believe He would. Here's another one: How many times have you spoken to the mountain in your way? Most just don't. They don't because they don't really believe this promise. We should believe, though, because this is the Lord speaking. Some may discount His words, but I believe He choose them carefully.

Then the disciples came to Yeshua privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"

And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you." ‒ Mat 17:19-20

This promise would not be in the New Testament if it were not intended for us. If we can't live like we expect God to honor His promises, what can we do? Think about it. We are to be His light in this dark world. What kind of light are we really shedding if we do not live like His promises are real to us?

This is the danger of ignoring the supernatural effect of God on our lives. When we don't believe that God still speaks to us, that the gifts of the Spirit are still available to us, that we can ask and receive, etc.; we also do not believe that God can or will move our mountains. We have ruled out the supernatural, and mountain moving is supernatural. Then we look at the world around us and assure ourselves that things are the way they are because God wants it that way. No, the Lord expects us to believe Him

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in My name, and I will do it. – Joh 14:12-14

Where are our greater things? We are happy with mediocre. We don't have "greater", because we're not willing to have that kind of faith. Yet, even obedience comes from faith.

Through Him and for His name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. ‒ Rom 1:5

If you think about it, this actually fits, because we have tolerated disobedience like it was a calling; rather than, condemning it for the failing it is. If we don’t have the faith to obey, we certainly won’t have enough faith for greater things.

Too often we want to have just enough faith to squeak by. Yet, the Lord Himself urges us to greater things. He did supernatural things. The disciples did supernatural things. The Spirit does supernatural things through those who give themselves over to Him. All these things were and are done to the glory of God. Yet, today many are afraid of the supernatural! I believe some think this way because they have bought into the idea that acting in the supernatural is about the servant. It isn't. No, living as though we truly believe God is about His supernatural attributes and glorifying Him.

If I touch you and you are healed, I have not healed you. No, that healing would have had to come from God. If I speak blessings on you and you are blessed, I would not have blessed you. How would I do that? No, God would have to bless you through me. I am just a woman. I have no power to bless. Only He does. (Obviously, I'm talking about the kind of blessings we get from God; rather than, just making you feel better.) Again, if I were to speak to your mountain, and it were to remove itself; I would not have moved your mountain. No, God alone moves mountains.

So, if I were to do all these things, it would not be me that you should glorify. No, we both should glorify and credit Him. It is by His mercy that God gives gifts to men and women, and not because we deserve it; but rather, by His mercy. Therefore, whatever wonders He delights to do among us, we must make absolutely certain to credit Him with.


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