Most of the time I would tell you that I am a person who has a lot of faith. I believe the word of God when it says that if God wills it and I have a little faith I can move a mountain. But every once in a while I’ll come up against circumstances in which I find God having to point out that I’m lacking in faith.
If someone close to me comes down with a sudden illness, I begin to get anxious, if I’m faced by an enemy who is desirous of causing me harm in someway, I may be distrusting, or maybe I’m concerned about someone who may be in peril and I worry. All signs of a lack of faith.
But, regardless of what burdens I may be facing, God sometimes just has to remind me that my circumstances don’t change the truth.
He is who He says He is, He is true to His word, He keeps his promises, and He is right here with me no matter what the circumstances are.
I also think in times like this it’s extremely important for us to go back to the word of God, because that’s where we’re going to find answers, courage, joy, peace and deeper faith.
Let’s take Bartemeus for instance, whom we read about in Mark chapter 10. Bartemeus was a blind beggar. He sat outside the city of Jericho and as he is sitting there he hears a crowd of people coming and when he learns that it’s Jesus, his disciples and a crowd, he calls out to Jesus saying “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”. The Scripture says that many people around him began to rebuke him and tell him to be quiet. Now think for a moment what it must be like to be a blind beggar and to be rebuked by many people (that you can’t see) who are telling you to be quiet. It is probably safe to assume that they probably sound a little frustrated and agitated. You have to wonder if Bartemeus felt that his safety might be at risk (I would have). He certainly doesn’t behave as though he’s concerned though, because they tell him to be quiet and in an even louder voice, the Scripture says that, he calls out again “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus then asks Bartemaeus “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51). Bartemaeus responds and says “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:51-52)
Bartemaeus is just one of many people who were healed, by Jesus, because of their faith in Him.
We could also look at the thief on the cross. When Jesus is crucified, there are also two thieves who are crucified, one on each side of Him (Matthew 27:38). One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:39-43.
Because of this thief’s faith that Jesus was the Messiah, his faith has brought about his salvation.
In Mark chapter 5 we see one of the most beautiful acts of Faith. It is about a woman who has had issues with bleed for 12 straight years. She has seen multiple physicians, the scripture tells us, and the condition only got worse. And at this point in her life she has spent all that she had. So, she is weak, worn, poor and desperate. When she finds out that Jesus is near, she goes to see Him but there is a large crowd and they are pressed around Him tightly. But the scripture says that the woman (as weak and tired as she must have been) pushed through the crowd “For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” (Mark 5:28). “Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (Mark 5:29). The scripture then says that Jesus knew immediately that power had gone out from Him and He asked who had touched Him. The disciples reminded Him that the entire crowd was touching Him as they were being pressed in upon. But Jesus kept looking around to find who it was that touched Him. The woman, now realizing that He knows that someone touched Him, she falls down at His feet, trembling in fear, and tells Him the whole truth. The Scripture then says “And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:34.
Her faith had made her well.
What about your faith. What power is in your faith? Do you have the kind of faith that would trust that merely touching the hem of Jesus robe would heal you? Or the kind of faith that would trust that Jesus words could bring back your sight if you were blinded? Or that He could redeem, forgive and take you with Him to Heaven?
You don’t have to have great faith – Matthew 17:20 – He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
God has proven Himself true to His word, through His word. Jesus has proven that He is who He says He is and that He is our Redeemer, Savior and Friend. When we confess our sins and believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for the redemption of our sins and that God then raised Him from the dead, we will be saved…through faith (For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8).
I pray that we would spend time with our Heavenly Father in prayer and that we would trust Jesus to intercede for on our behalf and that we would begin to deeply examine the scriptures. And as a result, I pray that our faith would grow to the size of that mountain that Jesus said we could move! God is who He says He is, His promises are true, Jesus is our Savior and if He is our personal Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit resides in us and directs our path. Trust God to guide you, love you and forgive you. Believe it, revel in it and testify (to anyone who will listen) about it. Because your faith has made you whole, you can do it, I have faith ; ) (And he said unto him, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole”. Luke 17:19 KJV).
If you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and your faith in Him is lacking, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. If you do, you will find not only your faith, but you will also find our Savior, your redemption and an unimaginable peace. And, we will be able to say “your faith (in Jesus) has – redeemed you”.
Please pray that prayer and when you do, reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I would love to be in prayer for you.
Luv Ya!
