FAITH, WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
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Faith, where does it come from and how do we get more of it? Is there anything we can do in order to increase our faith? Are there some who no matter what, they'll never have faith? These are the questions we'll let the scriptures explain to us so let’s begin.
(Ephesians 2:8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast. Most Christians have seen this passage many times and when we examine it closer we find that it's NOT by grace that we are saved, it's by faith that we are saved. It's by the grace of God that WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN FAITH! It's by that faith that we are given which allows you to believe in Jesus and in turn be saved. So how did you get that faith and what did you do to get it? "You have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast". That’s right, you did nothing to get your faith and the faith you now have was given to you as a GIFT! Notice how this scripture stresses that faith comes not of yourselves, your works or you free will; it's a free gift from God. We're reminded that we cannot work nor do anything ourselves by our will or intellect to receive faith, it's simply a gift from God. Otherwise we'd be able to boast that we earned our salvation because of how smart we are or how we did this or did that in order to believe or accept Jesus.
(Romans 12:3) For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith. If you have faith, you're not to think of yourself more highly than another; why? Because you did nothing to receive that faith; it was that free gift from God. It also seems by this scripture that each and every believer is given a certain measure of faith, some more and some less, but is that measure of faith that you were given or have now, all that you'll ever receive? (Romans 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. From this passage we understand that indeed faith comes by hearing and reading the Word of God. It is God who has given us our faith and it's God who builds on that faith when you spend time in His Word. By spending time in God's Word, He gives you more and more of that free gift of faith.
(Heb 11:6) And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him. Are you seeking after God? Are you running after Him to know His will through His written Word? Remember, God is a rewarder of those who seek after Him. Run, seek, and you will find a greater and greater faith dwelling inside you. Now before we get to self-righteous and think that we're doing such a great job ourselves of seeking God, studying and reading the Bible; that somehow we're building our faith because of what we are doing; let’s read this next scripture. (Philippians 2:13) For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. You mean that it's God who works in you and to do HIS WILL for HIS GOOD PLEASURE? I thought “if it’s to be, it’s up to me”. No, this scripture plainly shows that it's God who works in you to do His will. So, before you try to take credit for how well you're doing reading scripture and studying God’s Word, understand that it's God who's putting that will into you so that you do the reading and do that study. Can you believe it, you can’t even take credit for all the studying and reading that you've been doing; it's a Gift that God has given you. God is working HIS WILL in you to do His good pleasure! If it wasn't God working His will in you to cause you to read His Word, then you'd be able to boast; it would then be your works and your hard work in reading the Bible which causes you to increase your faith and then you'd be earning your salvation and that is just not acceptable with God!
(Ephesians 1:11) In whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will. We were foreordained according to God’s purpose; do you fully understand this? The Greek word for foreordained is “PROORIZO” which means to predetermine or determine beforehand, ordain. So we were predetermined before we were even born, according to God’s purpose and God working all things according to His will. Does "all things" include how much faith God gives us? (JOHN 3:27) A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven.
Yes, throughout scripture we see this truth, that everything comes from God. (1 CORINTHIANS 11:12)….but all things are of God. This includes both good and bad, it all comes from Heaven. (2 CORINTHIANS 5:18) But all things are of God …. Yes the Lord is sovereign in everything! Be it good or bad, ALL THINGS are of God and from God! So naturally this includes the amount of faith we receive too. You cannot earn or manufacture more faith on your own; it has to be given to you from God. (Deuteronomy 32:39) See now that I, even I, am he, And there is no god with me I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; And there is none that can deliver out of my hand. It's God who is all powerful and who is directing both the good and what we perceive as bad in our lives. Yet if we understand the Word of God, then we know there is nothing that works for the bad in our lives. (ROMANS 8:28-30) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. Even when it doesn't seem good it's God who has done it. (Exodus 4:11) And Jehovah said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? Or who maketh a man dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, Jehovah? We are discovering in the Word, that it's God and not the devil who's in control of ALL THINGS including both the good and the bad in this world. If you have faith then you must recognize the true gift that God has given you. If you have faith to believe in Jesus Christ and believe fully His written Word, be very grateful, because there are many others whom God has not given this gift to. After all, the Bible clearly says that it's God who does according to His will and not ours. (DANIEL 4:35) And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
You may think that you're in control, but scripture is consistent that it's God who's the one directing you and the path that you're taking. It's God working His will in you, even the things you don't understand, God is still directing your life, you just don't recognize it. (PROVERBS 16:9) In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. In your heart you do what you want, you think that it's you planning and doing according to your will but it's God working His will in you; it's the Lord who determines every aspect of your life. Yes, your whole life has been planed and carried out by God putting His will in you, even your coming to Jesus!
(John 5:21) For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will. You mean not everyone can have eternal life in Heaven, just the ones that Jesus gives it to? Yes, we know that not everyone in this world is going to heaven. (Matthew 7:13) Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. (14) For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. This says that very few are those who find eternal life! If we understand that God is in control and yet not everybody in the world is going to heaven, then we must reason that there are many in this world whom God did not give that free gift of faith. This means that John 5:21 is true and that the Son really does give eternal life to who He wills! Notice that Jesus Himself says that very few are given this gift of faith or that gift of eternal life through Jesus. "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, "Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able" (Luke 13:23,24). This would mean that God's not only in control of whom He chooses to give the free gift of faith so they can believe in Jesus, but this also means that He does not choose many, many people to receive that free gift of faith, otherwise every single person in the world would go to heaven.
(John 15:16) Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: Wow, you were chosen! You were chosen by God and Jesus to have that faith to believe and be saved. It was nothing you did, nothing someone said, it was all planned for your life and meant to be; it was a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8) You have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast. You were chosen to have faith; it's that free gift which is not given to everybody. Can you appreciate what you have just a little more now?
The Father calls and by His gift of faith we come to Jesus: (John 6:37) All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out…(44) No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: The way the Father draws us is by putting that faith in us which is not given to everybody. (JOHN 13:18) “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. You have either been chosen to receive that free gift of faith or you haven't been chosen and will not receive the gift of faith.
Can just anyone who wants to, come to Jesus? (John 6:65) And he said, For this cause have I said unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it be given unto him of the Father. Jesus answers that question and Jesus says NO, "no man can come unto me, except it be given unto him of the Father". He does this through the faith He gives you. It's the Father and not you who determines that! Besides if the Father has not given you the gift of faith you won't be even be interested in coming to Jesus. Many people say that it's not fair for God to do this, and what if someone wants to come to Jesus but can't because they weren't chosen to receive the gift of faith? Again, those who were not given faith don't have the desire to believe and come to the Lord. (John 6:35) And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. (36) But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. (37) All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. Those who have been given the free gift of faith will naturally come to Jesus and He will not turn them away. Those who haven't been given faith will naturally resist wanting to come to Jesus and never will, or they may come to Jesus for a time and then fall away and no longer believe. (John 6:64) But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. (65) And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” (66) From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. ALL of the disciples who were following Jesus, except the original twelve, fell away because of unbelief. Jesus knew who they were and the little faith they were given seemed to have vanished when they believed no more in Jesus! That's why we are saved by the grace of God and not our own efforts or free will to choose. God chose us in order for us to choose Him. It is all God and none of us. God works His will in us in order to accomplish His will. For further study on this subject please go to the article on this site entitled "Free Will or No Free Will that is the Question".
Now that we're clear on where faith comes from and who it is that gives you eternal life through the gift of faith, let's go back to the original question of what we can do to get more faith. What can you do to have more faith for healing, more faith for trusting God and more faith for answered prayer? What is it that you can do in order to have that childlike faith that God will take care of all your needs? Let's read the answer again, "You have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast". No matter what you need saving in, God says it's not of yourself, and that faith is a free gift of God. Where do you need saving besides your eternal life? Your health, your finances, protection, circumstances... what area do you need saving in? This passage says that God and only God can save you in these areas by giving you faith.
Here's what you need to understand from this important scripture, we are "saved [Greek- Sozo] through faith, and that not of yourselves". Although most Christians understand the word "saved" to just be talking about your soul after death, the real meaning of the Greek word Sozo or saved in our Bibles means to save, deliver, protect, heal, and provide for. So the word saved has a much broader meaning than we understand; let's read some examples in our Bibles. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, (21) for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well [saved - sozo]." (22) Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well [saved you - sozo]. " And instantly the woman was made well [saved - sozo] (Matthew 9:20-22). Do you notice how saved here means made well or healed? So then you could substitute healed for saved in Ephesians 2:8,9 "You have been saved / healed through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast". We're only healed if God gives you the gift of faith to believe in your healing. If it's God's will to not give you the faith to believe you can be healed then you will not be saved / healed. (Matthew 8:24,25) And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. (25) And they went and woke him, saying, "Save [protect - sozo] us, Lord; we are perishing". According to Ephesians 2:8 "You have been saved / protected through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast". We are protected only if God puts that faith in you in order to believe. Can you see how sovereign God really is over us? Truly God does according to His will and none can stay His hand!
So what's the purpose of understanding faith if there is nothing we can control or nothing we can do in order to get more of it? Why don't we just throw up our hands and say "I give up, either God's going to give it to me or He's not, there's nothing I can do". We don't just give up because it's the Lord who has us learning, doing, and experiencing certain things in life in order for us to become more like Him. God is working His will in us so that we can receive more faith. I would best describe it that God is downloading information (His nature and character) into us by creating problems and experiences throughout our lives that we overcome. We don't fully understand that He is doing this but He is and by us overcoming the obstacles He puts in our path we learn more and more how to walk in the steps of Jesus. (1 John 4:4) Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. We are able to overcome those obstacles because God is working His will in us so that we do overcome. "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure". God has already determined the outcome before you even do it. (Eph 2:10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. God has set a path for you to walk in, He is working His will in you in order for you to accomplish what has been set out for you from the foundation of the world. (Hebrews 4:3) For we who have believed do enter that rest... although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. In other words you must rest in the Word of God and quit trying by your efforts to do something to earn more faith. We must simply be obedient to what we know to do, we must be obedient to that still small voice that guides us, that spirit that's leading us because it's God's spirit working in your life to have you learn His ways.
Here's the purpose of this article and what the Lord would like you to learn. God wants you to quite beating yourself up for not having the faith you think you should have. God wants you to quite listening to the devil and condemning yourself for your doubt and unbelief. God wants you to quit trying to "pull yourself up by your boot straps" in order to try harder to gain that faith. What God wants you to do is to rest in Him and His promises that you see in the Word. That's why the Bible says, (Romans 10:17) so then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The more we hear and read the Word of God, the more we're able to rest in Jesus; the more we're able to stop with our works and start trusting and believing the Word, the sooner God will save you from your circumstances by giving you more faith in Him. By reading and hearing the Word of God, we're eating the Lord Jesus (the Word) and Jesus is becoming a part of us. As the saying goes "we are what we eat". (John 6:35) And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst... (48) I am the bread of life. (49) Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. (50)This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. (51) I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh... (53) Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. (54) Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (55) For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. (56) He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. How you eat His flesh and drink His blood is by eating and assimilating the Word, it becomes part of you and produces fruit that we call faith. God's word is true and faith comes from hearing and reading the Word of God. If we want more we must be willing to come to the table and eat, not just once in a while but every day!
Let's look at the next way scripture says we can increase our faith. And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). The apostles knew that they couldn't do anything but ask the Lord to be merciful and give them more faith. We must do the same; we must humbly seek the Lord and ask for His mercy and grace to increase our faith. (Mark 9:23) Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (24) Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” We must come humbly before the Lord and admit that we cannot do it ourselves and that we need His help. What will be His response be if we ask? All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them (Mark 11:24). The Lord promises to give to those who ask. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (5) Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. (Psalm 37:4,5) Are you truly delighting yourself in the Lord, committing your way to Him and trusting in Him? Scripture cannot lie and this says that God will act. But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. (19) For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you...was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. (20) For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen (2 Cor 1:18-20). The bottom line is that if you desire more faith, we must simply come before the Lord and ask Him just like His disciples did and God promises that He will act. Some get more some less but it's all a gift from God. (1 Cor 12:7-9) To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (8) To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit.
In conclusion I would just like to encourage each and every one of you not to look within yourselves as to what you can do to increase your faith, but to look up. Ask the Lord to be merciful to you, that He would increase your faith and that He would work His will in you to cause you to desire to read and study His Word. Let Him drive the car for once while you sit in the passenger seat and rest in the promises of God. Do this and He will safely navigate you with more faith through the twists and turns of life.
God bless,
Mark, a servant of the Lord, www.HeavensHelpers.org
Questions/Feedback - email me: mark@heavenshelpers.org
