"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…" (Heb. 12:1-2).
Not only is it impossible to please God without faith, but we need to understand that faith is not a formula.
The Author and Finisher of Our Faith
We need to realize that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Many people teach about faith, and they never mention the Lord Jesus Christ. They present faith as a mechanical thing. Faith is not mechanical.
You see, I am having fellowship with the Lord. He is a Divine Person. He is an intelligent Individual. He will help me and guide me continually.
An important fact is recorded in Matthew 17:14-20:
Do we dare to believe that? Jesus sees the possibilities of our lives. Nothing shall be impossible to us!
The point of this Scripture is this: You do not have to have a whole lot of faith. If you just have a small "mustard seed" of faith—the smallest grain that Jesus could use as an illustration—just a small amount of the God-kind of faith will move mountains, and make nothing impossible to you!
Source: The ABC's of Faith by John Osteen
Excerpt permission granted by John Osteen Publications
Not only is it impossible to please God without faith, but we need to understand that faith is not a formula.
The Author and Finisher of Our Faith
We need to realize that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Many people teach about faith, and they never mention the Lord Jesus Christ. They present faith as a mechanical thing. Faith is not mechanical.
- Faith has to do with a living Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.
- He is alive and doing very well.
- He is still the Lord of all creation.
- He is still the God of the whole universe.
- He still has all power and all authority in heaven and in earth.
- Jesus is the Author, the Beginner, and the Developer of our faith.
- Fellowship continually with the Lord Jesus.
- Be aware of His sweet presence in your daily life.
- Love Him.
- Adore Him.
- Praise Him.
- Let Him teach you the Word of God.
You see, I am having fellowship with the Lord. He is a Divine Person. He is an intelligent Individual. He will help me and guide me continually.
An important fact is recorded in Matthew 17:14-20:
And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for oftimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.This is an astounding statement: "With God nothing shall be impossible." Jesus said that we can be so like God that if we have just a grain of the God-kind of faith, we can remove mountains, and nothing shall be impossible to us.
Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove thence; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Do we dare to believe that? Jesus sees the possibilities of our lives. Nothing shall be impossible to us!
The point of this Scripture is this: You do not have to have a whole lot of faith. If you just have a small "mustard seed" of faith—the smallest grain that Jesus could use as an illustration—just a small amount of the God-kind of faith will move mountains, and make nothing impossible to you!
Excerpt permission granted by John Osteen Publications