Faith that moves mountains- Is it okay to have faith?

It is safe to say that we are #living in a faithless generation, a generation that require proves before they can believe. A people that beliefs that if it cannot be tested by science then it is not real. And how can anyone blame them for this ‘see before one can believe’ when the media, our educational system and otherwise tells them that seeing and testing facts or opinions comes before #faith?

[tweetthis]Many people believe that faith is a myth. What is your views on this?[/tweetthis]

In fact they are many people that profess that faith is a myth; it’s baseless and foolish to have faith in something you haven’t seen or touch. However, there is another set of generation that knows that wisdom teaches them that it is okay to have faith in, and there is a #God; a God who can do all things. This is the generation that seeks the face of God and because of their faith is doing exploits (or great things) as prophesied in the Bible in the book of Daniel 11:32 which say, “…..but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

These are a set up people which I’m proud to be a part of who have experience the power of God and have read the stories of old of great #men who have done great things through their faith.

But #what is faith?

Faith is believing in something that you haven’t seen with your eyes, as yet, but holds that belief to be true and will come to past; or can happen. For example, a baby have faith in his father that when he throws him up in the air that he will catch him, therefore, while the baby is facing a situation that could kill him, he is enjoying the throw because he has CONFIDENCE IN HIS FATHER THAT HE WILL NOT LET HIM FALL. Faith therefore is having confidence in someone that he or she will fulfill his or her promise; or is able to do what is expected of them. Faith is based on knowledge and it’s that knowledge about the person (sometimes very small or limited) that propels us to trust that individual.

#The Power of Faith

They are many persons in the bible who true faith in God did great miracles. Some of these are:

1. Jesus- Though mostly overlook, Jesus is one of the prominent character in the Bible who exemplifies the power of faith. Jesus could not have raised the dead, healed the sick, walked on water, and all the other miracles he did including casting out demons if he did not have faith. When the disciples of Jesus failed to cast out a demon out of a child Jesus chided them for their lack of faith (Mark 9:14-29), when Jesus and his disciples were on a boat and he fell asleep and his disciples started crying out because the boat was sinking, Jesus again chided them for their lack of faith (Mark 4:39).

Lesson Learnt: Faith in the awesome power of God can allow us to do some powerful things that will not only affect our lives; but also those around us.

2. #Moses at the Red Sea– When the armies of Pharaoh came upon the children of Israel at the Red Sea and when everyone around him began to panic, Moses believe in God that He will not let His people die or go back into slavery. He knew that even though he was in an impossible situation and death seems nearer than he expected; he serve a God who specializes in the things that seems impossible; therefore at the command of God he stretch forth the rod that was in his hand and the water parted. The children of Israel was able to walk on dry land while the armies of Pharaoh perished in the Red Sea (exodus 14:10-29). Today you may have a ‘Pharaoh (whatever is your enemy or situation) in your life and don’t see a way out of it, but like Moses you can stretch forth your faith and whatever your situation is God will deal with it. It took few hours for the water to parted as God sent a wind to part the water all night, this shows that God may not remove or fix your situation immediately but if you maintain your faith in God he will definitely show up (Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 13:5).

[pullquote]Faith therefore is having confidence in someone that he or she will fulfill his or her promise; or is able to do what is expected of them. Faith is based on knowledge and it’s that knowledge about the person (sometimes very small or limited) that propels us to trust that individual.[/pullquote]

Lesson Learnt: Faith in God will make a way even in the pathway that seems unmovable. Faith in God can bring you through whatever situation you may find yourself in.

3. Peter walked on water- There was a time when Jesus had told his disciples to go before him in a boat while he stayed him; however, while they were in the boat they saw Jesus walking on the water coming towards them. Peter, being amazed at what Jesus was doing and having faith in the power of Jesus, asked The Lord to bid him to come which Jesus did. At the command of Jesus and with his faith that Jesus will not allow him to die, Peter started walking on the walking. However, when Peter realize what he was doing and started paying attention to the boisterous waves he panic and became fearful. Peter started to sink; fear is the enemy of faith as these two CANNOT CO-EXIST TOGETHER. When fear creeps in and you entertain it you start to doubt God. That’s what happened to Peter. His faith caused him to do something that was impossible for a man to do, but when he started focusing on the troubles around him he started to sink (Matthew 14:22-31).

Lesson Learnt: There will be times when we like Peter are walking on water, the waves of troubles surrounds us but if we maintain our faith we will not sink. Do not for a minute start looking at the troubles that surround you, or at the situation that is before you, but instead keep your eyes (faith) on Jesus and you will ride out your storm(s). Like Peter walked on water, you can ‘walk’ on the Word of God.

4. Abraham- Excluding Jesus and Job, this is the man that I believe, that had the strongest faith and patience in God. God made a promise to Abraham when he was 75 years old that he will bless him with a child through Sarah his wife (Genesis 15:4), but God did not fulfilled this promise until Abraham was 100 years old, that is 25 years after the promise (Genesis 21). It took great faith for Abraham to hold on to the promise of God even when it seems impossible as both Abraham and Sarah had passed the time that they could have children, they were old people. The bible says, “against all hope, Abraham in hope believed……… Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was good as dead-since he was about a hundred years old- and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith an gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:18-21-NIV). Now that is what I call having great unwavering faith. How many of us could have done that? He is therefore an example to us all of having faith in God and that is why he is call the Father of Faith (Romans 4:11). The bible further says,

“And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had promise” (Hebrews 11:11- NIV). THERE FAITH OPEN AN IMPOSSIBLE DOOR THAT IS STILL BEING TALKED ABOUT EVEN TODAY AND IS STILL BENEFITTING ALL OF US.

Lesson learnt: There will be times when God makes us a promise and it seems like he somehow has forgotten, but he haven’t. It was not a case where Abraham was constantly hearing from God about the promise (well at least not that we know of), but he knew the God he serve and that God never lies. It is therefore important that we do not waver in our faith with God as it is impossible for God to lie, if he says he is going to do something then even when the situation seems dead he is able to do what he promised. Haven’t he proven that he is a God we can always rely on?

5. #Elijah– When God people had sinned and God wanted to punish his people God used Elijah to #prophesy that there will be no rain for 3 years (1 Kings 17:1). Elijah knew the consequences of his action: that he could be killed by the King and that he too will be greatly affected by the drought; however, he did not allow that to stop him as he knew that God, the ruler of the world, will not only protect him but also provide for him, and that is exactly what God did.

Lesson learnt: The bible says in the book of James 5:17-18 (NIV), that “Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens have rain…..” Please note that the bible said he was a man like you and I, what was the secret of his success? Elijah had great faith, and his faith was mixed with his #relationship with God. We too can be like Elijah.

How to develop strong faith in God

Now that we have seen the power of faith I know that many of you who may be asking, “so how can I have strong faith? Is it possible for me to have strong faith?” Well it is indeed possible for anyone to have strong faith, God never change, his method of doing things might change at times depending on the time and season; but God character and personality never changes; he is the same God of Abraham, Moses and the Apostles. Here are some tips on how anyone of us can have strong faith:

1. Read the Word of God, which is the bible often. The bible contains many examples of people who through faith did great things for God (read Hebrews 11); the Bible also contains many facts about God. By reading and applying the Word of God daily to your life you will grow to know God and will in turn develop strong faith in Him. Faith comes through hearing and through experience, we can learn from other person’s experiences, after all that’s one of the reasons the bible was written in the first place.
2. Learn to trust God and take him at his word. It is important that we always remember that God never and cannot lie (1 Samuel 15:29).
3. Whenever God made you promises (including what is written in the Bible) keep repeating it out loud to yourself. If God tells you something through one of his servants; whenever it seems like it’s not coming through or doubt arise in your mind, say it out loud what God had promise you (you can do this in your own words). What happen is that whenever you speak a word out of your mouth the word goes into the spiritual realm (or atmosphere) and forms life (meaning it becomes whatever you said). Nothing is wrong with reminding God of what He promised you, not that he ever forgets.
4. Do not entertain doubt or fear. Whenever doubt or fear creeps into your mind immediately rebuke it. Do not allow it to linger as it will erode the spoken word of God. God cannot act in an atmosphere of doubt (if he does it’s because he want to prove himself to you so the next time you will not doubt). It is the job of the enemy to try to steal the promise of God but it is your job to save guard what God had given you. There will be times when the promise of God seems long and like it will not come to pass; but what I often do in times like this is to remember this verses in the bible, “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3).

Each one of God’s promise is for an appointed time, your appointed time may be 2 months, 1 year, 10 years etc. but regardless of what GOD appointed time is, the promise of God will surely come. However, sometimes as human beings we tend to want to jump ahead of God time and get ourselves into trouble. Sarah did that when he told Abraham to sleep with her handmaiden Hagar and begotten Ishmael. The consequences of this are still being felt in the Middle East today (thousands of years later).

You have trusted friends, family, governments, spouse and they all have failed, isn’t it time you start trusting God?

Please share your testimony of what God had done for you and I might share some of them with our readers, or just share your thoughts with our community. Also please subscribe to my blog.