Building Your Faith

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Very familiar verse, right. So, faith is substance plus evidence. Occasionally, friends and family members have a call on their life to serve a deeper purpose in Christ. We know that God has called them to ministry or work in the church. But they just can't see it. An inherent danger exists if you push a loved one to get involved in ministry or recognize that deeper calling. The friend or family member must see it for themselves according to their own "faith." Jesus gave us the example of how to allow another's faith to work in their own lives. Many believers are familiar with the story of the woman with the issue of blood in the 9th chapter of Matthew. The woman believed that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus clothes she would be made whole. In Matthew 9:22 Jesus tells the woman, "Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour". Another familiar example is the story of blind Bartimaus in the 5th chapter of Mark. Bartimaus called out "Jesus, Son of David HAVE MERCY ON ME"! All of the people around tried to quiet him down and he cried out even louder. When Jesus heard the level of his faith Jesus told him to go, your faith has healed you. (Mark 5:52) I like the KJV which says, "And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus IN THE WAY" Oooooh, Holy Ghost! (That's that COGIC flavor, huh.) Jesus never gave anyone faith. Jesus told those who believed that they were healed according to their faith. Although he was God in the flesh, Jesus gave the glory to God the father according to the faith of the believer. Believers in Christ should pray for each other to help build the level of faith needed to go into ministry or be healed or whatever the other believer wants from God. It is DANGEROUS to encourage or discourage someone into service for Christ if they do not have the faith for themselves. Prayer changes things and we must pray for one another and have the faith for one another to be healed and delivered. Remember my friends "there is nothing too hard for God." Be Blessed:)