Characteristics of Faith, Pt. 3
Paul shares a profound truth with the Corinthians: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7 NKJV)
Our perspective, apart from the faith of God, is limited in clarity. We are to lean on God’s understanding, not ours. Our sense knowledge and circumstances distort our ability to see with the eyes of faith.
Faith recognizes as truth what is not visible to our natural senses. Faith trusts God’s promises to transform unseen realities into tangible existence!
Faith is the connector to God and His Kingdom; it is the key that unlocks heaven’s resources. It’s been said that “faith is the currency of heaven.” If I want to receive anything from the Lord, I must believe in Him and His promises—regardless of what I see or understand in the natural world.
Let’s continue our discussion of faith by examining how faith speaks.
Faith Speaks
Simply stated, faith speaks and proclaims what we believe.
Let’s examine the story of the withered fig tree in Mark 11 to discuss how faith speaks. (Mark 11:12-14, 20-26)
Jesus has just entered Jerusalem the week before His crucifixion, and through a fig tree, He illustrates an important principle about believing in prayer and overcoming faith.
The day after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus sees a fig tree in the distance and walks toward it. As He approaches, He notices leaves on the tree, but there are no figs. Although it is not the season for figs, Jesus still expects fruit from the tree. The fig tree symbolizes Israel; God expects her to be a fruitful tree or vine.
In response to the fruitlessness of this fig tree, Jesus curses the tree, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” (Mark 11:14 NKJV)
The next day, he and the disciples passed by the tree, only to discover that the fig tree had withered and dried up. Peter remembered what Jesus had spoken the day before and said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” (Mark 11:21 NKJV)
Understand that God isn’t cursing Israel in this story. Instead, Jesus is declaring through this act that the old has passed away and something new is coming! Israel and the law she received were unfruitful. However, a new covenant was on the horizon, ratified in the blood of Jesus at His crucifixion, which would yield fruit.
With the resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, a new covenant has been established for all of humanity—both Jews and non-Jews.
Metaphorically, Jesus is the vine, or a fruitful fig tree. As Jesus explained in John 15, He is the vine, and we are the branches. Abiding in the life of Christ ensures fruitfulness in every season. Being “in season” with God demonstrates your maturity and capacity for greater entrusted responsibility.
After noticing the dried-up fig tree, Jesus explains the power of faith and prayer.
“22 Jesus responded to them, “Have faith in God! 23 I assure you that whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea’—and doesn’t waver but believes that what is said will really happen—it will happen. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you will receive it, and it will be so for you.” Mark 11:22-24 CEB
Jesus illustrates how faith creates an entry point for God to work in impossible situations. This passage encourages us to trust and proclaim God’s promise despite the challenges we encounter!
What mountain was Jesus referring to? A mountain, as illustrated with the fig tree, represents any difficulty, hindrance, or seemingly impossible problem you are facing.
Faith that finds answers and moves mountains starts with the belief that God hears your prayers. God is always present and hears your prayers—always!
When God’s faith is active, declaring faith over your circumstances becomes a confident proclamation of heaven’s reality.
How can we obtain the kind of faith that confidently declares God’s promises?
Jesus told the man with the tormented son in Mark 9:23, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (NKJV)
The term “believe” comes from the Greek word pisteúō, which means being firmly persuaded, confident, and forward-leaning. It embodies a faith that expects an answer.
Jesus is not referring to intellectual belief or mere agreement, but rather to a heartfelt conviction that constitutes true faith. Only Jesus can instill this kind of faith—it speaks to the heart, not the mind.
Belief is an assurance of the mind; faith is an assurance of the heart.
When Jesus gives the word to Peter to “Come, walk on the water,” it empowers Peter to act in faith (Matt. 14:28-31 NLT). By the way, Peter was doing well until he “looked” at the sea!
Peter could have acted before the word, but that is belief, not faith. Many confuse their mental ability to believe with the faith imparted by Jesus. You have the faith of God when you hear Jesus say “Come, walk on the water!”
God: Purchase the Property!
In 2004, God led Carolyn and me to look at our current church property that was for sale. After the walkthrough, I had the impression that this was the property God had been speaking to us about. I was so confident that I even told the realtor after the walkthrough, “We are going to make an offer!” Carolyn looked surprised!
The next morning, I started seeking the Lord on this—we needed a clear word. After praying for a few minutes, I heard the Lord say,
“This is the building I have for your church. Do not look at the size of the sanctuary or the money in the bank. It is the building blocks, the stepping stones to the worship and revival center that I have spoken to you about.”
Almost instantly, God granted me the gift of faith for the property, and shortly thereafter, He bestowed faith upon Carolyn as well. Carolyn recounts that right after we viewed the property, while washing dishes, she asked God for the faith to believe alongside me in purchasing the building. She shared that a sense of peace enveloped her, and in that moment, she too felt assured that everything would be okay. God also gifted her with faith.
We needed a gift of faith, as the property was on the market for nearly five hundred thousand dollars, and we only had two thousand dollars in the church account! God reminded us, “Don’t look at the money you have in the bank,” so we moved forward in faith, trusting that God would handle the financial details. I tell the entire story in my book, Fulfill Your Dreams.
God miraculously brought the purchase of the property together for us. Nearly 20 years later, we still marvel at His faithfulness! It began with a word and a confident declaration of faith in an impossible situation.
When God’s faith is released in your heart, your problem becomes smaller, and the assurance of answered prayer emerges. Your prayers for the situation gain new boldness and confidence through God’s faith.
You can confidently declare what God has placed in your heart, assured that the answer is on its way!
I love what the late German evangelist Reinhard Bonnke stated: “I don’t want to play with marbles when God told me to move mountains!” I agree with Reinhard. Let’s not stop short of moving the mountains in front of us—God is waiting for us to believe and act!
When you have God’s faith, you start to pray and speak with a confidence that the promise is received now and is on its way.
In Matt. 12:34b, we are told, “The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” (NASB) Confessing God’s truths builds structure in the Spirit that affects our lives. Positive confessions of faith help build a framework for faith to grow and for God to work!
Faith says, “I’m about to speak something I have no reason for, but I trust God and I will declare it.” Faith says, “I am going to look through the darkness or emptiness of the situation, and declare what God says!”
Imagine the conversations Abraham and Sarah must have had! They initially laughed at God’s promise of a son, but faith gripped them, and I believe they “spoke God’s promise” to each other!
Not By Might nor By Power!
In Zechariah, we read of the power of the Spirit, preceded by a declaration in accordance with God’s will and purpose. Zerubbabel was tasked with rebuilding the temple, but he was forbidden to rely on human resources to accomplish the job. The temple reconstruction was stalled for about 12 years, as the people succumbed to opposition, discouragement, and apathy. (Ezra 5:1-2)
God raises up prophets, Zechariah and Haggai, who begin to declare God’s purposes to the people. The Spirit of God on their words awakens the people from apathy and compels them to complete what they started.
An angel appears and declares to the prophet Zechariah, “So he answered and said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zech. 4:6 NKJV) He continues,
vs. 7 “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of Grace, grace to it!”
Notice the ‘declaration’ of this angel?! Zechariah would then repeat these words to Zerubbabel, and the situation changed. All the opposition, discouragement, and lack of resources represented a “mountain” that stood in the way. But a declaration of faith, “you shall become a plain,” shifted the circumstances!
We are God’s representatives proclaiming His love and grace to humanity!
When God created the earth and all that is within it, He spoke it into existence. Through Jesus, born-again believers serve as His representatives on earth, co-laboring with Him for Kingdom purposes. Christ is in us, with His authority and power residing within us!
Isaiah predicted this reality, referring to King Jesus and His followers,
“Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princess will rule with justice.” (Isaiah 32:1 NKJV)
The New Testament states that we have been made kings and priests with Christ. We are called to co-labor with God to establish His righteousness and justice on earth. Our King reigns in righteousness; therefore, we rule and administer in His kingly authority. What God declares right—salvation, healing, deliverance, and the breaking of poverty—we are to administer from heaven to earth by the authority of His name and the power of the Spirit.
Isaiah 32:16 states, “justice will dwell in the wilderness,” referring to justice in needy places for the poor and afflicted. As a result, verse 18 declares, “My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” (NKJV)
When we collaborate with Christ and administer His justice and decrees on earth, the needy and afflicted begin to dwell in peace and security. This requires us to see and hear what God is doing, and then proclaim it here on earth! God gets the glory!
Job stated something similar:
27 You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, And you will pay your vows.
28 You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways. 29 When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person. 30 He will even deliver one who is not innocent; Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.” Job 22:27-30 NKJV
“You will declare a thing…when you say exaltation, it will come…” Even those who are not innocent can receive God’s mercy through those who administer God’s love, grace, and mercy to the needy!
God is waiting for the declarations and affirmations of your mouth. When we speak to the mountain and believe, impossibilities shift and prayers are answered! At times, guided by God, we are called to pray and declare what God reveals! Those in need are set free, even the guilty.
This is the ministry of the servant of the Lord. We are called to stand in the gap for them and declare, “Exaltation will come!” Jubilee is coming!
Isaiah also articulates this truth,
“To proclaim liberty to the captives … to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God…” Isaiah 61:1-2 NKJV
We have been anointed and commissioned to proclaim Jubilee over people. Jesus is the Jubilee of Jubilees! We are God’s ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5).
We are to work alongside God, making declarations and decrees of justice for our families, the Church, businesses, cities, and nations—for their future and destiny. It’s all about being in agreement with God and proclaiming His justice over lives and situations.
Final Thoughts
Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Fill your heart with faith-filled declarations of God’s perspective on your situation.
Seek the Lord for His perspective on the mountains you face. Listen to what He is saying about it, then declare it confidently and believe it will come to pass!
