Luke 18:8 (NIV) When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" John 11:40 (NIV) Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"
Examples 1. The Woman with the issue of blood. Matthew 9:22 (NIV) Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the Woman was healed at that moment. 2. The Roman Officer(Centurion) Matthew 8:10 (NIV) When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. Matthew 8:13 (NIV) 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that moment.
3. Two blind Men Matthew 9:29 (NIV) Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you."
Faith hears before it sees.
4. The Canaanite Woman whose daughter was demonized and suffering. Matthew 15:28 (NIV) Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment.
5. A desperate Dad. Mark 9:20–25 (NIV) 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
We don't need great faith. We just need faith that is committed to growth.
A Growing Faith Matthew 17:19–20 (NIV) 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Matthew 13:31–32 (NIV) 31 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."
1. Identify where your faith is. "Vulnerable trust is bold faith."
We all have a measure of faith. Romans 12:3 (NIV) 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
2. Become a person of the word. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
We grow our faith by growing in the word.
"Our faith grows by listing to, meditating upon, living in line with, and boldly declaring the Word of God!"
3. Be filled with the Spirit of God. The Spirit identifies us as God's. Romans 8:15 (NLT) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father."
Pray in the Spirit Jude 20 (NLT) But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. Rest with yielded spirit.
God isn't looking for strength. He is looking for Surender.
Independence is opposed to trust.
Don't trust yourself.
______ Psalms 46:10(NIV) Be still, and know that I am God!
