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| mustard seed. |
-God, You have created the entire world. I am sure you can provide a castle for me.
And God answered:
-Son, this room is the fruit of the size of your faith...
Woaw!
God's response says a lot about faith.
The Bible defines Faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
And Jesus said that if your faith is as small as a mustard seed, you would tell this mountain: 'Move from here to there, and it will move.' Nothing will be impossible to you (Matthew 17:20).
If we read Jesus words, we will understand that faith is measurable. Faith produces fruits, and the size of the fruits is proportional to the size of our Faith. By using a 'mustard seed' as a size of reference, Jesus has set a standard that could be placed (or compared) against our own faith.
We all have faith, we all believe something.
Wherever you are, whatever yo do, you do believe something, you do have hope for something. Even Jesus mentions the words: '...because of your little faith' in the following passages (Matthew 17:20/ Matthew 8:26/Matthew 6:30). By using the terms 'little faith' rather than 'no faith', Jesus acknowledged that men always have faith for something. But whether their faith is small or big, is totally up to them.
How do I classify Faith?
I classify Faith in three subgroups:
-The Building Faith: 'the kind of Faith that hopes for positive, and constructive outcomes.'
-The dead Faith: 'where there is a total absence of action.'
-The negative Faith:' a faith that aims at destroying '( terrorism,holocaust, crime, murders...) In this case, people have a strong faith at accomplishing evil deeds.
Every man and woman,hopes for something...it could be success, failure,a job, money, debt,love or even evil acts..
What is the size of your faith?
If a faith as big as 'a mustard seed' could move a mountain, then the faith needed to get a job should be smaller than a mustard seed, don't you think so?
The Bible says that faith without actions is dead (James 2:14-26). The actions that you are taking on a daily basis are an expression of what you hope for. Your surroundings (home,relationships,wealth,job...) are clear fruits or results of your faith. Just like in the story mentioned at the beginning of this post, whatever you have surrounding you, is a fruit produced by the size of your current faith.
Your salary or income, is a clear fruit produced by the size of your faith. Those who constantly earn considerable amounts of money, really believe that they can be recipients of that kind of cash. Have you ever seen a rich man being bankrupt and bouncing back into wealth few weeks later? The size of his faith propels him to get back what he has lost.
What caused an average man to always date the most amazing girls?
The size of faith. He is not intimidated, and goes the highest standard instead of settling for ordinary.
If there is a vacancy and 100 candidates are lining up for the post, who will get the job?
Answer: 'The one with the biggest faith.' Even if that person gets the job through nepotism, he/she still has the biggest conviction of hope and as a result, he/she will get the job.
Have you ever wondered why some people always get 'lucky'? They always win, always get more, always earn more and more, they always get the job, the right friends. They are the very same people who win grammys, get scholarships, end top of their classes...The size of their faith has created repetitive results.
What caused an average man to always date the most amazing girls?
The size of faith. He is not intimidated, and goes the highest standard instead of settling for ordinary.
If there is a vacancy and 100 candidates are lining up for the post, who will get the job?
Answer: 'The one with the biggest faith.' Even if that person gets the job through nepotism, he/she still has the biggest conviction of hope and as a result, he/she will get the job.
Have you ever wondered why some people always get 'lucky'? They always win, always get more, always earn more and more, they always get the job, the right friends. They are the very same people who win grammys, get scholarships, end top of their classes...The size of their faith has created repetitive results.
What causes someone to be so unfortunate to the extent of creating constant negative results?
Answer: 'Dead faith or negative faith.' Some people have a tendency of doing nothing about their circumstances (dead faith=inaction) or/and of self-sabotaging by placing their hopes in negative results through worries,anxiety, complaints, curses and self-defeating statements.
When they show up for an interview, they make sure they are late, untidy, blurry in their speech. They often predict negative outcomes in everything they see, the world is always an horrible place to live. There are more nightmares than dreams in their head...
The size of their negative faith is so big, that it produces rotten fruits.
To sum up everything: 'The fruits of your life, will be proportional to the size of your faith.'
'Small faith, small results. Dead faith, no results. Big faith, big results. Negative faith, disastrous results.'
Understanding faith growth.
In the book of Matthew 17, the disciples of Jesus were sent to heal and exorcise people from demons. They did well for most of their mission but they butted themselves against an obstacle: ' a young boy was possessed by a strong demon who would not leave his body. The disciples tried so hard to chase the demon but failed . In a final attempt, Jesus chased the demon and the young boy was free. Later, when the disciples questioned Jesus on the reason why they failed, the Master said:
'Because you have little faith...'
In other words, the disciples had enough faith to heal and chase certain demons. But they needed a bigger faith to chase stronger demons.
In the same way, some people have enough faith to heal a cough, but need a bigger faith to heal cancer or HIV. They can attract 5 dollars, but they need a bigger faith to attract 8000 dollars as a regular income.That's the reason why some people succeed in small challenges, but failed in bigger ones. They simply need a faith with a size that matches the challenge.
You will not attract a million dollars if the size of your faith can't even get you to pay the rent on time!
How will your faith get you to win the soccer world cup, if the very same faith can't even get you to win a local tournament?
A very good example can be found in my favorite sport: 'soccer'.
Do you know which teams often win the world cup?
Answer: 'The teams that often win the world cup, are made of players who have won trophies and medals in lower tournaments such as UEFA champions league, domestic cups, individual awards (Player of the year, young player of the year, best goal keeper...) and so on...Therefore, when they go to the world cup, they really believe that they can make it. The champions team is an aggregate of faith belonging to individual winners. Look at the Spanish team of 2010, or the Brazil squad of 2002, or the Argentinian team of 1986...If you make your own analysis of all the soccer world cup winners, you will agree with me.
Now, down to the question that everyone is asking:
How do we grow our faith?
Faith is developed just like a muscle. There are no Biblical characters who have started out things with gigantic faith. All the characters that God has worked with, had to undergo faith growth process. Even Jesus started his ministry at 30...for a reason. David knew he was called to be King of Israel, but it took him over a decade of miracles to reach King hood. Moses had a speech impediment when God called him to release the Israelite people from Egypt, he had doubts in the beginning and he had to see the 10 plagues of God over the Egyptian to have the faith that split the red sea. If Moses had not experienced the miracles of God through the 10 plagues against the Egyptian, I am sure that he would have failed to split the Red Sea.
The problem with many Christians,is that we want to move from A (beginning) to Z ( the end) while skipping all the other letters. It 's not going to work. Because by the time you will face 'Z' which is the final challenge, the size of your faith will still be proportional to the letter 'A' level (the beginners level). The size of the faith that belongs to level 'A' is no match to the challenge at level 'Z'.
Do you now understand why so many Christians filled with the Holy Ghost can't win anything, can't get jobs, can't get healed, or delivered, can't live their purpose?
The faith growth process makes you move from A to B,B to C and so on. There is no skipping.
5 tips to grow your faith.
1. Embrace all the challenges that God place on your way: 'When God calls us for his purpose, He presents a final picture of who we ought to be. But by the time He meets us, the size of our faith is not enough to turn us in the final picture He has in mind for us. When David was called to be King, he had to defeat Goliath. After defeating him, David's faith grew. Each challenge overcame, turns into an experience that testifies one thing:
'If I did it then, I can do it in the future'
This is God's way of pulling our faith to another level. Those challenges strengthen what we believe in. Moses was strengthened but the 10 plagues, David by defeating Goliath.
Unfortunately, some Christians run away and get selective of the challenges presented to them. And because of a lack of achievements and results, they lack past references to increase their convictions for future challenges. Every time, David was running from Saul, he remembered his past reference:' defeating Goliath', and by doing that, he believed that nothing is impossible.
Do you have references?
2. Listen and confess the word of God:
Faith comes from hearing the word of God. ( Romans 10:17)
Listen to God, confess the verses in the Bible. The word of God carries out instructions on what to do, in many situations. The more you follow those instructions, the more you will see results. The more you see results, the more your faith will grow.
Confessing the word of God on a daily basis will produce results. It might not produce result instantly, but in a long run, yes it will!
Every time you confess the word of God ( such as Psalms 23), you are creating something. Constant repetition, with authority , gives results.
3. Tithe your income.
If you don't have an income yet, you don't have to Tithe.
Tithing is a principle of faith. When we tithe our income, we believe that we can live with 90% of our income, and that God will meet our needs where we fall short. We believe that God will protect our wealth (savings..) from the devourer as He promised. We believed that He will open the windows of Heaven.
By the time of this writing, I have been tithing for a year, and God always met my needs as He promised in His Word. I used to be scared and thought that I would always fall short if I tithed my income, but on the contrary, I am better off with 90% of my income than I was with 100% of my income.
My faith has definitely grown through tithing.
Tithing is a real 'faith strengthener'.
4. Right company + Right environment= Faith growth
When you walk with people who have achieved what you hope for, your faith will grow. Please, understand very well what I am typing:' When you get in touch with people who have achieved what you hope for, your faith will grow. Something inside your heart will whisper: 'It is achievable.'
Those people will inspire you through their lives but also with instructions on how to make your hopes come to reality.
If you hope for a great romantic relationship, you should get in contact with those who had long lasting and successful relationships.
If you are hoping to become a successful business person, you should connect with other successful business people who will make you believe that it is possible.
The simple fact of being in touch with others, triggers contagion.
The reason why Jesus complained about his disciples little faith, was because they were in constant contact with Him. As a result, their faith should continually grow.
Direct contact with those who made it, will grow your faith. This is why I always encourage people to get mentors, and live around those who 'crossed the rivers' to the other side.
5. Join your faith in prayer
Jesus said: 'If two or more agree on one thing in prayer, it shall be done to them as they asked.' (Matthew 18:19).
In other words, a gathering in prayer is an aggregate of individual agreements but also of individual faiths. Your faith has a specific size, but when joined with other people's faith, a bigger faith comes to life.
Therefore, if your faith is not enough to heal a serious sickness, join it with someone else faith. If your faith is not enough to get a job, join it with someone else faith to get a miracle.
Here is the tricky part:
'I don't advise you to pray with someone who does not believe in the realization of your request. I recommend that you pray with someone who had a successful experience in the field of your prayer request.
For example, when seeking for true romance through prayer, do not ask someone who does not believe in love to pray for/with you.
If you are seeking for financial wealth through prayer, I think it would be best to pray with someone who believes and has experienced financial breakthrough.
A prayer partner who has positive experience in the field of your prayer request would be a perfect 'faith buddy' who can contaminate your faith for growth.
Scrutinize your prayer partners.
Are you ready for a growth in your faith?