Power Of Your Faith

Key Scripture:  "Where is your faith?" Luke 8:25

Power Point:

     Scripture teaches us that Jesus is the Author and the FINISHER of our faith. I don't know about you but that takes a huge load off my shoulders. For many years, I thought it was all up to me!

     What a pleasant surprise to know that the One who died for me, still lives for me.  Today He is continuing to do what He did on earth-teach me how to grow my faith.

     When the disciples were in that little boat on the lake, they battled the storm they were in, but they found that they just didn't have the physical or spiritual strength to survive.  They finally called on Jesus for help.  He didn't get angry or irritated; He simply turns toward the storm and spoke "Peace" to it.  Then He turns to the disciples and says, "Okay guys, where is your faith?" (Suzanne translation!)

     I've heard people say that this was done in a condemning tone, but we know that there is never any condemnation in Christ Jesus! He never puts us down, He pulls us up!  We also know, from His own words, that He is "gentle and humble in heart". (Matthew 11:28).

It would be totally out of character for Him to respond that way.  

     This was a teaching moment. Knowing Jesus, I think He turned to them with a twinkle in His eye, and, in effect said, "Well, we know I have faith, where's yours? You could have done what I did!"

     It was Lesson # whatever in "How To Have the Christ Kind Of Faith”. That was His job, and it remains His job today.  He will always challenge your faith in order to grow your faith.

     If you think about it, the disciples did have faith in Jesus.  The first thing they did was to turn to Him, knowing He could, and hopefully, He would help them. They did that knowing that He was powerful, and that He loved them.

They believed in Jesus, they just didn't understand who they were IN Him! And it was time for them to learn that.

     Do you find yourself in that place of faith today?  You're not at the beginning of your walk of faith, but you're certainly not at the end.  You find yourself still attending FAITH 101 classes with Jesus, but you're still hesitant to move out on your own. Opportunities present themselves for faith to arise, and Jesus turns and looks at you and says, "Okay Beloved, where is your faith?"  You know Jesus can do it, but can YOU do it?

Can you turn the tables on the enemy?

Can you calm the storms of life?

Can you have the same relationship with your Heavenly Father that Jesus did?

     Jesus says we can. We get to walk with Him every day just as the disciples did. Jesus is growing OUR faith by giving us His Spirit to live in us and enable US to overcome the world. The Holy Spirit is our teacher, our encourager, our Helper, and He has every intention of answering Jesus' prayers that we would grow in faith until we ourselves do greater things than He did.

     The next time you face a trial of faith, remember this, it's your golden opportunity to believe that Jesus is in you, and with you, and through you. You're not alone.  His faith is readily available, and perfectly prepared for you any time you need it.  You have power over the enemy because you know that Jesus has already defeated him. You will experience the "sweet smell of success", because Jesus always leads you in HIS victory.  You can turn the tables on the enemy and create an atmosphere of faith so intense that he will run the other way.

     The extraordinary good news in all this is that even if you are not full of faith-He is! And He is full in you! He does not condemn you, and He will not abandon you or leave you to your own devices.  He will strengthen your faith and strengthen your heart so that you can take your stand-and walk-by faith.

Power Thought:

 Are you in a teaching moment for Faith 101?

Is there something you need to speak "peace" to today?

Copyright © 2015, Suzanne Roberts, Unpublished Work