If we are not living by faith we are doing it wrong.
God requires faith; not as a test, but it needs to be that way– He is a spiritual being! Jesus is the only way to the Father; He is the way, the truth that leads to life (John 14:5–7)!
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
- It takes faith to become a Christian
- Once a Christian starts a relationship with Jesus, it becomes real
- John 4:24 (NKJV)24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Romans 1:17 (NKJV): 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
- See God’s favor throughout your life; look at the positive and good, thank God for it all.
- “I tell you these things because I want my joy to be in you and your joy to be full.”
- By faith and relationship we see the goodness of God
People who focus on the natural rarely see the supernatural.
- Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV)5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Acknowledge Him, by faith we see Him and His will for our lives–Good! This builds our faith which we see in Psalms 27:13…Rather than seeing chance or luck, we know its God–a good God. We do not allow that to be taken away from us (John 10:10). We do not lose heart, because we know and see the goodness of God.
acknowledge
accept or admit the existence or truth of.
“the plight of the refugees was acknowledged by the authorities”
Similar: admit, accept, grant, allow, concede, confess
2.(of a body of opinion) recognize the fact or importance or quality of.
“the art world has begun to acknowledge his genius”
- Psalm 27:13 (NKJV)13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
- Psalm 27:13 (ESV)13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
- I would rather be led than organized
- Staying focused on the one who loves us–Jesus!
- Peter looking at the waves rather than Jesus (Matthew 14:28–33)
- See things spiritually.
Walk in the spirit or be led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:14). Applying wisdom is good, but applying spiritual wisdom is best.
Matthew 16:7–12 (NKJV)7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.” 8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- See God in your circumstances, not coincidence or reason
- For example, do not look to reason based on natural circumstances i.e. we only had 2 fish. No, we know Jesus calms the storms we face because we learn from Him and we see Him work in our lives (as well as the lives we see in scripture).
- They thought based on natural principles, but Jesus had faith and looked into the spiritual. Jesus wanted to remind His disciples to look at the outcome; the miracles and what He provided, rather than what they had.
Genesis 18:10–15 (NKJV): (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”13 And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”
Mark 5:35–43 (NKJV)35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” 40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.
Matthew 14:28–33 (NKJV)28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
Micah 6:8 (NKJV)8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
John 21:25 (NKJV)25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
John 14:12–14 (NKJV)12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
John 14:5–7 (NKJV): 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
Joel 3:10 (NKJV)10 Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ ”