According To Your Faith

Jesus walked on the earth over 2000 years ago. His Disciples walked with Him, watched Him closely, heard His voice. They were eyewitnesses to His miracles. Yet, even they had trouble taking in everything they were seeing. We are 2000 years removed from those moments. We have to decide whether we believe any of those things happened. Then, we have to decide whether they were limited to 2000 years ago. In Matthew 9:27 we read, “As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored.” We receive from God according to our faith. People argue that it’s too much to put healing or restoration into our hands. The power to heal is NOT in our hands. The power for ALL things is in God’s hands. Always has been, always will be! But the level of faith to believe in the power of God IS in our hands. For example, faith to become a believer was totally on us. We are the ones who said we believe Jesus is the Son of God. Which is harder? Believing that Jesus can save you from your sins or that He can heal you? Jesus asked the Pharisees this very question in Mark 2:8. “Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?” Do YOU believe Jesus has the authority, the ability to forgive us? Sure you do, or you wouldn’t be sitting here today. So, why do we struggle with His ability to heal us? God doesn’t need to increase His faith to heal us. As the source, He always operates at and offers us maximum power. In Mark 5:32 we read about the the woman with the issue of blood: At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him.” Healing flows into us from His power, through our faith. In Mark 5:34 we read. “He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Faith is the pipeline that brings the supernatural into the natural. We are so used to living in our minds that it is hard to imagine that God CAN do supernatural works in our lives. In Ephesians 3:20 we read, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” Power to heal our bodies. Power to heal our minds. Power to heal our relationships. Power to restore our finances. Power to direct our careers. Power to overcome circumstances. Power to change outcomes. These are all well within the power of God. What is that power? It is the supernatural reality contained in His Word. 2000 years ago, God’s Word, His Son, walked around speaking Words of healing and life. He activated the power Himself. Today, it is activated in us by the Holy Spirit. In John 14:26 we read, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” We have to be reminded so that we will believe. So, what did Jesus say???? In Matthew 8:13 we read, “Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.” What the Centurion believed about God determined what he received from God. Is this just a story or did it REALLY HAPPEN?? That’s what we have to decide. That’s what lies in OUR HANDS! And that is what determines our faith level! Faith does not come because of results. Results come because of faith. Results will increase as our faith is increased. Jesus didn’t ask the blind men if they were living a perfect life. He asked about their faith. God doesn’t care that we are not perfect!! God wants to know the level of our faith!!! BUT our faith level will NOT be GREATER than our WORD level. In Hebrews 11:6 we read, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” You seek Him THROUGH HIS WORD. The REWARD is increased faith. The less we are in God’s Word, the more we begin to TAKE ON THE CARES OF THIS LIFE. Taking on the cares of this life stops the flow of faith from our spirit. Faith comes from our spirit NOT OUR MIND. Faith is not emotional or rational. As a Believer, Faith, not emotions gives us victory over Satan. As a Believer, Faith, not emotions overcomes the world. As a Believer, Faith, not rational thinking defines who we are. As a Believer, Faith, not rational thinking is the filter through which we see everything. You are a Believer!! You are no longer bound by natural laws!! In Hebrews 12:2 we read, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” An author is the one who originates or gives existence to something. An author determines responsibility for what was created. Fixing our eyes on Jesus gives existence to our Faith. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, our faith is improved. We cannot allow ourselves to become “fixed” on our circumstances. In Mark 9:23 a leper asks to be healed, but has doubts: " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes [has faith]." Not SOMETHINGS…Not CERTAIN THINGS…ALL things!! How do we get our minds to expect the impossible? The power to have that kind of faith comes from knowing God intimately. The only way we can know God deeply is through His Word. What we’re afraid of is that healing isn’t God’s will for our life. We’re afraid the results we really want aren’t God’s will for our life. But, if we don’t know God’s Word, we can’t know His Will for us. Let me remind you what Jesus said about His will… In Matthew 8:3 we read, “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I AM willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” If we come to Him in faith, we will find out that HE IS WILLING. EVERY TIME!!! If we know His Word, we can agree, by faith with His will for us. EVERY TIME!! If we know His Word, we can believe God will accomplish His Will for us. EVERY TIME!!! If we know His Word, we WILL receive God’s power in our lives ACCORDING TO OUR FAITH.