This week the focus is on building up faith in our personal lives AND asking God to sow faith into the lives of the people we are praying for. This is about building faith so we feel strong enough to act (i.e. to speak to the people we are praying for) and asking God to begin to develop a faith seed in those we are praying for.
Our faith can grow to a point where we become assured of seeing God's salvation come to those whom we pray. There are some principles of faith that are essential for us to understand: Remember faith is of the heart it is not of the mind -- it is not just
positive thinking. It is possible to convince ourselves of something mentally and allow no thoughts of doubts to enter our minds without it being true biblical faith. (There are many people in the world who don’t doubt they are wrong and they are not Christians!) biblical faith is an attitude of the heart, not the power of a stubborn mind.
Mk 11:23 I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
Rom 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance (or evidence) of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
The word "assurance" comes from the Greek word hupostasis. This was Greek word for a title deed. Biblical faith is knowing with certainty deep in our hearts that we have what we ask God for, just as surely as a title deed proves that we own a piece of property. "Evidence" is from the Greek word elegchos, which literally means the proof of the charges in a legal case that results in a conviction. In other words, our faith in God's word or His promises is all the evidence we need to validate our conviction.
Faith needs to grow
Jesus teaches that we need faith like a mustard seed that starts out tiny but grows into a tree.
Matt 13:31-32 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
Matt 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ' Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Rom 12:3 teaches that each of us is given "a measure of faith." The Greek word metron, which is translated "measure" means a limited portion.
Rom 1:17 however, states that we go from faith to faith. In other words, our faith can and must grow.
Faith Grows By The Word Of God
Faith grows by a revelation of the Word of God as we feed on it claiming and speaking out the words of God. Josh 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Rom 10:17 Faith comes from hearing the message,and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Ask Father to grow your faith so it goes from strength to strength,.
Ask that Him to plant a seed of faith in each of the people you are praying for
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