How many times have you heard the “preacher” say “you must build your faith in God” or “have faith and strengthen it” or “this event is testing your faith”.
What does that mean? If you take that message on it’s own merits it sounds a lot like “works” to me. In other words building your faith through your own efforts towards salvation.
I often ponder on the way things are expressed and how misleading they can be. I have been very sloppy (still am but improving) with the use of my words. I would say the same old cliches and not think twice about the words and the message I am giving to someone else.
This is why I have chosen this subject for my blog.
Lets start with the question; what is faith as described in the Bible and by commentators:
‘Faith’ means trust, confidence, assurance, and belief”
Faith is the basic ingredient to begin a relationship with God. Faith is the assurance that the things revealed and promised in the Word are true, even though unseen, and gives the believer a conviction that what he expects in faith, will come to pass. … In other words, it becomes so tangible that you now possess it.
“We are saved by grace and not by our faith”. It is the faith of Jesus that saves us!!!
Another verse is “A measure of faith is given to us by the Holy Spirit”
The key text that changed the way I view faith is this one “
1 Corinth 12:4 There are [d]diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works [e]all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [f]the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit and it is Jesus faith that saves us.
So how do we strengthen our faith?
I always think of faith as a gift (so which it is!!!). The gift is a portion of Christ’s own faith graciously given to the believer to perform any or a specific task and towards righteousness. It is always distinguishably supernatural.
Eph 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
For me I would not have faith unless the Spirit gave it to me. I have “faith” the sun will rise in the morning and that gravity will keep me firmly planted on the earth. Is that faith from God or from human observation and reasoning? You may disagree but I believe even that “faith” is from God, the One who breathed his Spirit into me from birth. Even human reasoning is inspired by the Spirit that dwells within me and in all humanity. The beauty is that God gives us the choice to fully surrender, that is, give our heart, mind and soul to Him. It is then Christ lives in me through the Spirit. That is another topic for another day.
The take home message is the faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit and that we can only receive more faith as the Spirit gives it. Total surrender is the way to receive (or as they say the way to strengthen our faith) more faith, if that is God’s will of course. Faith is never achieved by our own works, it is only by surrender.
Oh the answer to my title question “FAITH – Mine or Gods or Both?” it is clearly Jesus faith only and his gift is a portion of his faith to us. Also remember it’s the faith of Jesus that saved us.Now look at the following verses in light of faith as a gift
Gal 5:5 “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” Righteousness by faith – the gift of righteousness through the indwelling Spirit. The gift of faith!
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Heb 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
My Biblical Thoughts 