How God Responds to Faith
A rheostat changes the flow of electric current by increasing or decreasing resistance to its flow. That decreases or increases the brightness of a light bulb. Similarly, increasing faith increases the flow of God’s grace. What applause is to a performer, faith is to God. It greatly pleases Him.
Jesus responded positively to those who had boundless confidence in His authority over disease (Matthew 8:10, 9:2, 9:18, 9:22, 9:29, 15:28; Mark 2:5, 5:34, 10:52; Luke 5:20, 7:9 8:48, 17:19, 18:42; Acts 3:16). He emphasized what faith without doubt can accomplish (Matthew 21:21, 22; Mark 11:22; Luke 17:6).
Prayer united with faith heals the sick. (James 5:15). Through our faith God powerfully protects us until we receive salvation in full (1 Peter 1:5).
God Stretches Our Faith
We are God’s faith-building projects. We need marathon faith, not sprint faith—faith that doesn’t quit when the going gets tough. Jesus initiates and perfects our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
God Tests Our Faith
Like we harden and temper steel to increase its strength and reduce its brittleness, God uses the heat of our troubles to test our faith and fortify it with endurance (Genesis 22:1; Psalm 81:7; James 1:2–4). God values enduring faith. Trials test faith and reveal its backbone. When it remains strong amid trials, it brings praise, glory, and honor to the one believing when Jesus is revealed to the world (1 Peter 1:7).
How Faith Grows
Demonstrations of God’s mighty power nourish faith (Exodus 14:31). His parting of the Red Sea evidenced His faithfulness to the Israelites, increasing their faith in Him.
Other people nourish faith as well. Jonathan encouraged David to remain strong in his faith (1 Samuel 23:16). Paul and Barnabas encouraged believers to continue in the faith (Acts 14:22). Judas and Silas encouraged and strengthened the faith of believers (Acts 15:32).
Paul sent Timothy to the Thessalonians to strengthen and encourage them in the faith (1 Thessalonians 3:2). God’s proven trustworthiness and human encouragement are to faith what a leaf blower is to a fire.
Why Faith Must Grow
Stagnant faith is unhealthy faith. Long static faith is as serious an illness as long COVID. Jesus expects more than just a little faith in His followers (Matthew 6:30, 8:26, 14:31, 16:8, 17:20; Mark 4:40; Luke 8:25, 12:28).
Faith can have gaps that need filling (1 Thessalonians 3:10). Some believers are weak in faith (Romans 14:1).
The goal is to be strong in the faith and not settle for less (Titus 1:13; 1 Peter 5:9). Abraham’s faith didn’t weaken (Romans 4:19) but grew stronger (Romans 4:20).
Some people are full of faith (Acts 6:5). They trust God completely without any doubts.
The shield of faith stops the devil’s fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16). Christians defeat the evil world through faith (1 John 5:4). Those with a stagnant faith are as vulnerable as knights without armor or nations without armies.
Why Faith Is Vulnerable
Not everyone who professes faith has it. Not all faith is genuine (2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Timothy 1:5).
Some people let faith slip away like a greased pig from their grasp. Some turn away from the true faith (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 2:18).
Faith can fail (Luke 22:32, John 16:1). The love of money causes some people to wander from the true faith (1 Timothy 6:10). Others follow foolishness (1 Timothy 6:21).
The tempter can get the best of us and destroy our faith (1 Thessalonians 3:5). If we don’t cling to it tightly, we can become shipwrecked (1 Timothy 1:19). Please don’t take your faith for granted. #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
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