It is so true that all faith works must be open and in our mouths. We need to learn to flex our faith muscles. If we say we have faith, the real proof is putting it to work. First, let’s understand how this working faith works and what hinders it.
1 Cor. 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
This charity is from the Greek word agapaô (phonetically ag-ap-ah’-o) which can mean love. Also, faith involves hope.
Heb. 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Also, faith works by love.
Gal. 5:6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
A lack of love also hinders our prayer results.
Mark 11:25–26 “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: That your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
What else can hinder our faith works?
Mark 11:22–24 “And Jesus answering saith unto them, have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
This doubt is a bigger thing—in Christian lives—than is acknowledged. Our testimony can be part of our faith works.
Rev. 12:10, 11 “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
We can overcome the enemy by our testimony. The Greek word for testimony is marturia (phonetically mar-too-ree’-ah), which can mean witness. It is not a word of testimony or witness until we put it into our mouths.
What is involved in overcoming Satan with our word?
John 14:12–14 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
Those are powerful words. We do the same things our Lord did. What was Jesus’ mission on earth?
1 John 3:8 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
That must be our mission also. Can we do this?
Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Matt. 17:20 “And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: For verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
From those scriptures—it appears so. If we are not there yet, what do we need?
Phil. 2:4, 5 "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
We need a Christ like mind. Just how do we define that?
Isa. 58:6–12 “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: And thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: And thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.”
Wow! How do we do all this?
Matt. 7:7, 8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Get on your knees and ask God for help. He wants you to.
1 Cor. 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
This charity is from the Greek word agapaô (phonetically ag-ap-ah’-o) which can mean love. Also, faith involves hope.
Heb. 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Also, faith works by love.
Gal. 5:6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
A lack of love also hinders our prayer results.
Mark 11:25–26 “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: That your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
What else can hinder our faith works?
Mark 11:22–24 “And Jesus answering saith unto them, have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
This doubt is a bigger thing—in Christian lives—than is acknowledged. Our testimony can be part of our faith works.
Rev. 12:10, 11 “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
We can overcome the enemy by our testimony. The Greek word for testimony is marturia (phonetically mar-too-ree’-ah), which can mean witness. It is not a word of testimony or witness until we put it into our mouths.
What is involved in overcoming Satan with our word?
John 14:12–14 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
Those are powerful words. We do the same things our Lord did. What was Jesus’ mission on earth?
1 John 3:8 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
That must be our mission also. Can we do this?
Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Matt. 17:20 “And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: For verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
From those scriptures—it appears so. If we are not there yet, what do we need?
Phil. 2:4, 5 "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
We need a Christ like mind. Just how do we define that?
Isa. 58:6–12 “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: And thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: And thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.”
Wow! How do we do all this?
Matt. 7:7, 8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Get on your knees and ask God for help. He wants you to.
