Mark 11:22-24
The way we come
to know God is through the exercise of faith.
The way we develop our spiritual strength and knowledge of God is the
same. The way we began is the way we
continue. God is not pleased with
religion in place of faith. How can we
fortify our faith?
Anyone who is
confident in their relationship with God will be confident in their faith.
A faith test occurs
when our concept of God and the reality of our lives conflict and
we can’t understand why something is happening.
God builds our faith by testing it.
The testing of our
faith is more about who God is than who we are.
The end of a
test of faith may not be a change in circumstance but a greater knowledge
of God and His love and power.
Four Ways God
Fortifies Our Faith
I. By Testing Our Obedience
- Luke 2:4-7
Examples of Faith-Building Challenges
· Manna – Faith in
God’s Provision Exodus 16:4
· Abraham – Faith in
God’s Purpose Genesis 12:1-3
· Elijah – Faith in
God’s Direction - I Kings 17:2-7
We cling
to what we’ve got because we are fearful of losing it. God wants us to let go so He can bless
us.
II. By Providing for our
Problems - 1
Peter 1:6-7
Nothing ever happens by accident in the life of a follower
of Jesus Christ. Everything is Father-filtered.
God’s permission
brings God’s protection, provision and purpose. Romans 8:28; 1
Corinthians 10:13
Sometimes God
will custom-make a problem to grow our faith.
III. By Employing Our Resources - Luke 16:11
There is a direct relationship between how we handle money and the
spiritual death of our lives.
Every time I
give as God directs, it breaks the grip of materialism
in my life.
IV. By Making us Wait Isaiah 64:4
While
you are waiting God is working.
