Have faith in God

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.  Mark 11:22-24 NKJV

Jesus commands us to, “Have faith in God.” If people could put as much faith in the Word of God as they do in the word of man – then they would assuredly get their prayers answered. If people have faith in God, their prayers would be answered without any human effort. Prayer would be a simple transaction of everyday business between them and God. If you claim to have faith in God, then your actions should bear that out. Most people won’t come out and admit that they place no confidence in God’s word, or that they do not believe that God is faithful to His word, but by their actions, they prove it’s so. They are happy to believe that unanswered prayers are God’s fault or God’s will. They will fight tooth and nail and go to court with other people over broken contracts, but they don’t exercise any faith in God to keep His contracts. God goes out of His way to emphasize to us that He will keep His word to us if we will claim all the promises of that word!

God speaks to every generation to remind them of His faithfulness and that He will never do anything that’s contrary to His word. He means what He says and He says what He means! God obligates Himself to His word and He keeps those obligations as long as we extend our faith according to His word, with nothing wavering. All failure is on the part of man, not God, so the sooner you realize that and make the adjustments or the corrections, the sooner you will see God answer your prayer.

Listen to good preaching

Good preaching is not a matter of style or technique – three points and a poem!

Good preaching is preaching that:
– presents the truth of the Word of God
– preaches the integrity of the Word of God
– tells us of all the great things that God has done
– inspires us to believe His word
– inspires us to believe that He’ll keep His word today

For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.  Romans 1:17 AMP

When we hear all the great miracles God has done and how He blessed and protected and delivered His people, when we hear personal testimonies of God’s faithfulness, then our faith rises. We realize that whatever God has done – He can and will do, to keep His obligations to give us what He has promised. Our faith is built up and we have a powerful expectation of answered prayer. Believe and accept any record of what God has and will do that is in harmony and agreement with the Word of God.

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.  1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NKJV

Reject all bad preaching

When we go to churches where the minister belittles the Word of God or explains it all away as either something that didn’t really happen or something that’s “passed away”, or he claims that God didn’t really mean what He said, then our faith is hindered and squelched.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  1 Corinthians 1:18-21 NKJV

The message of the cross is foolishness to the world, but to the believer it is the power of God! On the other hand, the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”  1 Corinthians 3:18-20 NKJV

No one can listen to preaching where man’s wisdom is exalted, and where God and His word are criticized, and expect to have their faith built up. If you want to develop a simple, unwavering faith, you cannot listen to preaching that contradicts the Word of God. Any man-made traditions or religions or sects that are faith-killing, Spirit-quenching, and truth-destroying, must be rejected if you want to build your faith and get results. Don’t tolerate any church or any preacher who slanders God’s word – for it is the source of your faith and your eternal life.