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A local tire store had an advertisement that caught my attention. The ad said, “Hello, neighbor! Tires ain’t pretty, but everyone needs tires, so you might as well get them from us at the best price.”

Some time later I was in a radical, wild church service where people were laughing, and shouting, and praising God. Some were even leaping for joy, running, and dancing! During all of this, the Lord spoke to me in this way, “Hello, neighbor! Faith ain’t pretty, but everyone needs faith! So get your faith from God and learn how to release your faith and respond to the Word and power of God.”
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(Rom. 10:17)

I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
(Ps. 119:162)

Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.
(Jer. 15:16)

…yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
(1 Peter 1:8,9)
Notice that between “believing” and “receiving” in these verses is “joy unspeakable.”

Joy Unspeakable
When you are really a Bible believing Christian, there must be some rejoicing with joy unspeakable. If the joy is “unspeakable,” you must let it out somehow through laughing, shouting, leaping , or dancing for joy. This kind of joy is full of glory. The spirit of faith declares the outcome even in the middle of adversity. You see the victorious end of the challenge you are facing.

Some people would have great faith, but they are too concerned about being pretty all the time. They want to look cool or sophisticated. Real Bible faith ain’t always pretty. (I know that may not be good English, but it is still true.)

Shouting, Dancing, And Running
When the glory of God is manifested, it brings the supernatural power of God. The spirit of faith will cause you to shout while the walls are still standing, like God’s people did at Jericho before the walls came down (Joshua 6:20).

The spirit of faith will cause you to dance like David did when the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem and the glory returned (2 Samuel 6:14,15). The spirit of faith may cause you to run like Elijah did when the hand of the Lord came upon him (1 Kings 18:46).

The rain he had prayed and contended for was coming, and he outran the king’s chariot. The spirit of faith will cause you to sing and praise God loudly, as Paul and Silas did at midnight when they were imprisoned in chains (Acts 16:25). The power of God shook the prison and set them free.

These are demonstrations of the power of God, and they are all connected to faith. Everyone needs faith. Romans 1:17 says, “…the just shall live by faith.” According to Hebrews 11:6, faith pleases God. Dr. Lilian B. Yeomans said it this way, “God delights in His children stepping out over the aching void with nothing under their feet but the Word of God.” God watches as we demonstrate a faith that acts on the Word.

The spirit of faith may often cause a person to look foolish, as Naaman did when the prophet Elisha told him to dip seven times in the muddy Jordan Rover (2 Kings 5:14). What God required of Naaman for this healing from leprosy was not difficult, but it seemed too foolish. Naaman’s reasoning almost made him miss his miracle, but he finally acted on the prophet’s word and was totally healed.
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.
(1 Cor. 1:27)

The answer still is, …Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zech. 4:6)

The Shout Of Faith
…I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
(Rom. 4:17)

I like what Smith Wigglesworth said in his book, Ever Increasing Faith about the shout of faith:
God help us to understand this! It is time people knew how to shout in faith as they contemplate the eternal power of our God, to whom it is nothing to quicken and raise the dead. I come across some people who would be giants in the power of God, but they have no shout of faith.

I find everywhere people who fail, even when they are praying, simply because they are just breathing sentences without uttering speech and you cannot get victory that way. You must learn to take the victory and shout in the face of the devil, “It is done!” Things will be different, and tremendous things will happen.
Get “Ugly” For Jesus
Recently I was ministering at a campmeeting with several other ministers. One night, the meeting became particularly radical and unusual. As people were rejoicing and enjoying the presence of God, some looked rather comical. A minister friend of mine said to me, “Those people are not ashamed to get “ugly’ for Jesus!”

I laughed and agreed. We rejoiced as people received from God. Sometimes you have to get “ugly” for Jesus. If you want the anointing and the power of God, you must act like the Bible is true! The spirit of faith can be seen and heard. Smith Wigglesworth said, “No man can doubt when he learns to shout.”

Changed By Faith
You don’t have to be perfect to have a spirit of faith. Some people disqualify themselves from the blessings of God or from being used by God because they think they have too many flaws. While it is true that that you are to keep growing spiritually, you do not need to have reached perfection to have a spirit of faith.

The great faith chapter of Hebrews 11 includes many people who were far from perfect. There were flaws in Abraham, Sarah, Noah, Moses, Samson, David, and many others in the Bible who had a spirit of faith.

I am glad that God works with imperfect people. The spirit of faith enables you to overcome in every area of your life. Smith Wigglesworth said, “Any man (woman) may be changed by faith, no matter how he (she) may be fettered.”

Recently I was talking to a jeweler about diamonds. He said that all diamonds have a flaw somewhere that can be seen by the trained eye using a magnifying glass. However, the fake diamonds we call cubic zirconium’s (cz’s) are flawless. They are man-made. Although they look like diamonds, they are much cheaper, and they have only a fraction of the value of a real diamond.

You are valuable to God. He sees you in Christ. He will keep working with you if you keep a spirit of faith and seek Him with all your heart. Sometimes the devil will tell you that you are not the real thing, because you have a flaw. I’m sure you do have a flaw, but you are still a real diamond. At least you are not a cubic zirconium! You don’t have to be perfect to have a spirit of faith.

The Spirit of faith comes in all sizes, colors, and ages. You could be 17, like David was when he killed Goliath, or 80, like Joshua and Caleb were when they entered the Promised Land. The spirit of faith cannot tell what color your skin is or how much education you have. The spirit of faith cannot tell whether you are handsome or homely.

The spirit of faith has one thing in common – it believes and speaks. The spirit of faith acts on the Word of God.

Believe And Speak
All scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). The word “inspired” means “God-breathed.” Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

The Word of God was spoken before it was written. It proceeded out of the mouth of God. Then it was spoken and written by men for us. It was spoken before it was written, and it was written that it might be spoken. The spirit of faith must believe and speak.

The Word of God in your mouth is God giving you mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The spoken Word gives life of God to all who believe and speak.

Summary Points:
  • God delights in His children stepping out over the aching void with nothing under their feet but the Word of God.
  • Some people would have great faith, but they are too concerned about being pretty.
  • No man can doubt when he learns to shout.
  • Sometimes you have to get “ugly” for Jesus.



Source: The Spirit Of Faith by Mark Hankins
Excerpt permission granted by Mark Hankins Ministries


Author Biography

Mark Hankins
Web site: Mark Hankins Ministries
 
Mark and Trina Hankins travel nationally and internationally preaching the Word of God with the power of the Holy Spirit. The vision of MHM is to take the spirit of faith, the message of who the believer is in Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit to every generation and to every nation. Mark and Trina Hankins have been in full-time ministry for over thirty five years. Through church services, leadership conferences, mission trips, publications, radio, television, Bible schools, and the internet, MHM is reaching the world with the Word of God. Mark is known widely for his unique anointing to minister on the subjects of faith and the believer’s identification in Christ.
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