Matthew 17:19-20 “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘why could we not cast it out?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.'”
I’m starting to understand what true faith is. This verse should greatly help us to understand what faith is and/or how it works. Sometimes I don’t like the way that God works. It seems difficult sometimes. But the truth is that God wants us to rise up and be the people that he created us to be – His children. And its not necessarily the easiest thing to arise to the level where God wants us to be. If it were easy, many more people would be there. But on the other hand, its not so hard that its impossible to attain. Indeed we can grow to a mighty, although not perfect, spiritual maturity.
Faith is one of the key things that takes us to higher places in God. Without faith it is impossible to please God. So what is this kind of faith and how do we attain it or operate in it?
One of the greatest scriptures about faith is Mark 11:22-24: Have faith in God, for whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt, but believes that those things whatsoever he says will come to pass, he will have what he says. For whatsoever things that you desire, believe that you receive them and you shall have them.”
So what are these two scriptures saying that faith is? Well faith is a firm persuasion, or more simply just to ‘believe’ something that is said, especially when there is no evidence of it besides the spoken word. We’ve (with the help of Satan I’m sure) watered down the word faith and believe so much that it doesn’t have the same meaning as when Jesus used it. We use the word ‘believe’ when were are in doubt about something. We say things like, ‘I believe so,’ which means, ‘I think so, but I’m not 100% sure.’ This is a far cry from what faith is in the bible. Notice what Jesus says: “..and does not doubt, but believes…” And look at the reason that the disciples couldn’t cast the demon out: “because of your UNBELIEF.” I know some translations of the bible say: “because of your little faith,” but that doesn’t make sense because Jesus went on to say that faith as small as a mustard seed could move mountains.
So what is true faith? Well from what I can gather from scripture and from the examples of Jesus and the Apostles, faith is being completely persuaded, without a doubt, that what was told you will most certainly come to pass. True faith doesn’t say, “I’m hoping it will happen (although the word hope has been defamed, also).” Faith is absolute certainty without a shadow of a doubt that that which is spoken shall most assuredly come to pass in your life or any other circumstance. Thats what faith is.
This is why Jesus said, “..because of your unbelief.” The disciples had unbelief and not faith only. The doubt that they had prevented them from receiving God’s blessings.
So we must have a complete persuasion that what God said is true. Some people might say, “this is impossible.” No it is not impossible. It is very doable. We have just been splattered with so much unbelief that we constantly doubt.
So how do we attain this faith. Its very simple. Oh so very simple. We must do what Jesus said and “pray and fast.” In other words, we must know God better and deny the cravings of the flesh. The bible says that they which KNOW their God shall be mighty and do exploits. We must also consume the word of God, because faith comes by hearing and hearing by God’s word.
It’s easy to believe someone that you know well and trust. Once you begin to know God better you will find it easy to trust (have faith in) him.
Notice all the mighty men and women of faith were all people that knew God and fellowshipped with him deeply.
Glory to God!
Hal Chaffee 