Lack Of Faith Will Cost You Everything
Doubt Is Too Expensive
The Definition of Faith
(1) Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Authorized Version
(2) Contemporary English word "faith" derived from the Latin fides. Today faith denotes trust. (Holman Bible Publishers, 2003, p. 547)
(3) Hebrew Terminology: The most significant Hebrew word for faith is aman, a root word that denotes reliability, stability, and firmness. Aman concretely meant to support or to uphold, as for example the strong arms of a parent would uphold an infant. (Holman Bible Publishers, 2003, pp. 547-548)
(4) Alternative expressions for the Latin word fides are trust, belief, confidence, loyalty, reliance, honor, allegiance, etc.
The above definitions and description of faith are meant to assist your mind in grasping an in-depth understanding of what it means to have faith. It is imperative to define the word “faith” in specificity due to the nature of seriousness with which the scriptures hold the concept of faith. While there are secular definitions of faith, the biblical definition holds the most significance.
It is impossible to read a book in the canon of writings classified as the Holy Bible without encountering some resemblance or exemplification of faith in action. Faith is central to our very existence, and according to scripture, it has eternal consequences. I place emphasis on this because if you don't know what it truly means to have faith in God, you are living your life without God, possibly engulfed in a realm of frustration and emotional suffering. You may feel as though your spirit dwells in a desert with little or no understanding of how you got there and how to get out.
Facts About Faith
Faith is the currency of heaven. Faith is used to purchase God's promises. Faith acts as the direct connection to heaven's network, functioning like a telephone line.
God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith. Romans 12:3 American Standard Version.
Everyone is given a portion of faith. No one can truly say they have no faith because it is already freely given to them as a gift from God. While some may not have faith in God, they have faith in someone or something. It is up to each individual to utilize the measure or portion of faith they have been given. Just because we have been given something doesn't mean we automatically use it. It is our responsibility to exercise our faith.
The mustard seed is all you need. "And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you.” Luke 17:6 American Standard Version
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 Authorized Version
It is safe to say that if faith comes by hearing, it can also leave by hearing. Your faith depends on what you choose to entertain with your ears. Keep your hearing attuned to the word of God, just as a horse has its hearing tuned to its rider.
Jesus can be likened to an antenna, and your faith acts as the signal. Depending on your proximity to the antenna, the signal can either be strengthened or weakened. In essence, the scriptures serve as an amplification device that prevents signal attenuation when there is distance between the signal and the antenna.
They Put a Stop to Jesus' Miracle Working Power
Who can stop Jesus from working miracles one might ask? The common answer to this question would be, "no one". But not so, according to the Bible.
He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
- Matthew 13:58 American Standard Version
Let's focus on Matthew 13:54-58
54 When he came to his hometown, he taught the people in their synagogue. They were surprised and said, “Where did he get this wisdom? Where did he get the power to work miracles? 55 Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? Aren’t James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? 56 And his sisters, aren’t they here with us? Where did this man get all this?” 57 They were repulsed by him and fell into sin.
But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are honored everywhere except in their own hometowns and in their own households.” 58 He was unable to do many miracles there because of their disbelief. Common English Bible
There are two ways this passage can be interpreted:
(1) Their lack of faith acted as an electrical resistor (hindrance) to the miraculous power of Jesus. Their unbelief prevented Jesus from performing miracles. Essentially, their faith was so resistant to the power of Jesus that He was unable to work. (An electrical resistor is a component that resists the flow of electrical current in a circuit. It acts like a barrier, making it more difficult for the electric current to pass through).
(2) Due to the Nazarenes' lack of faith, Jesus made the decision not to continue performing miracles. Their disbelief caused Jesus to lose any motivation to assist them.
The latter interpretation appears to be the original conveyance of the text based on John 12:39. Either way, the miracles that could have taken place did not occur.
There is a bold lesson to be learned before we begin to pray and believe in God to do something for us:
If we believe that something good is going to happen to us, not only are we open to entertaining a cheerful spirit, but we also tend to become happy, smile often, and treat others kindly. On the contrary, when we believe something bad will happen, we are more vulnerable to being sour and unkind toward others.
The point is that we are more likely to adjust our attitude and actions based on what we believe. The people of Nazareth lacked faith in God's power. Hence, they adjusted their attitudes and actions to their unbelief, which resulted in a lack of faith in Jesus.
They didn't believe He could make it happen, so in the case of the Nazarenes, they got what they were believing for, which wasn't much. They didn't receive their heart's desire. They may have experienced a few miracles, but it was nothing compared to what Jesus was prepared to do.
Are you prepared to receive what Jesus is prepared to give?
If you are believing to see God do something in your life, adjust your face, attitude, and behaviors to match your beliefs, and your faith will inevitably fall in line.
For the Nazarenes, their faith manifested according to their beliefs. This is also true for numerous individuals who suffered from blindness, illness, or spiritual disconnection. Throughout His ministry, Jesus continually repeated, “Your faith has healed you”, not mine. Your faith was the thing that brought healing to your body.
To add fuel to the fire of doubt and unbelief, Jesus, being a product of Nazareth, came from a town that was not known for its intellectuals or body of knowledge. In fact, in John 1:46, Nathanael said to Philip, 'Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?
It suffices to say, 'What you see is what you get.' If you choose to see Jesus for who He is, the Son of God, then you are choosing to see faith.
Note: To read more on the lack of faith and unbelief people had in Jesus read the following: Matthew 13:58, Matthew 17:20, Mark 6:6, Mark 16:14
Faith Is a Decision
What are you going to believe?
More significantly, who are you going to believe and agree with: God or the adversary, Satan (a Hebrew term, a proper noun, which translates to "adversary" or "accuser" in English)?
Now, let's focus on what the Bible says about faith, as we have previously done with its equally potent counterparts: mistrust and unbelief. I will also replace specific words that are aligned with what the adversary actually desires us to believe.
Jude 1:20
The Bible says: beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.
The adversary says: beloved, tearing down yourselves on your most holy doubt, praying in the evil spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:7
The Bible says: for we walk by faith, not by sight
The adversary says: for we walk by doubt, and by sight.
Do your mind, emotions, and actions align with what the adversary says? If not, it means you have decided not to turn your back on God because you are clearly choosing what God says over what the adversary says.
Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38 all repeat the theme that “the just shall live by faith.” If we rewrite the text to say the opposite we get this: “the unjust [dishonest] shall live by doubt.” Are you living by doubt? If you are not unjust or dishonest why are you living by doubt instead of faith?
As you can see, it will always be up to you to decide which option to live your life by, for it is only you who will experience the consequences of your choice. You are free to live based on what the Bible says, or you can do what is contrary to the word of God. If you believe what the Bible says, you must not only say it, but you must also believe and behave in a manner that demonstrates that what the Bible says is true.
Our Power to Render Jesus' Miracle Working Power Inoperable
When our faith rejects Jesus, He will not enter our soul and destroy our free will, forcing us to have faith in Him. Jesus is not a violator of the body, mind, spirit, or our emotions. Therefore, having faith in Jesus will always be a choice. God will not use His Son to rob us of our ability to choose between faith and mistrust. He will not hold us hostage and say 'have faith in me or else'.
God will never hold us hostage against our will. It will always be our decision to invite Jesus into our circumstances or choose to face them alone, relying on our own efforts, which are unlikely to produce the desired results.
I am not saying that we should not strive to do our best, as the scriptures plainly tell us that 'faith without works is dead' (James 2:26).
Fight For Your Well-being
You must fight for your well-being because faith is a decision.
It's a consequential decision concerning:
life and blessing, or death and cursing. Deuteronomy 30:19-20
your qualify of life. You can speak in faith or speak in unbelief and doubt, and eventually you will produce what you say. Proverbs 18:21
the building up or tearing down of your most impactful relationships because your pain impacts other. And since we know this, it is safe to say that your healing will also impact other. As you build yourself up in faith, you’re also building up your relationships in faith. Jude 1:20
a decision to please God. God is not pleased with the faithless. Hebrews 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to please him (God).
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
Take Action to fight for your Well-being
Placing mistrust in God is the absolute worst decision one can make. If you are not trusting God, don’t look for things to get any better because in due season they will get worse.
I don't know about you, but I would not knowingly displease someone who, when called upon, can cause the sun and moon to stand still. Just as the Lord did for Joshua during his fervent battle with the Amorites, you should not doubt that He will do the same for you when you are in right standing with Him because God does not entertain the enemies of His children. Refer to Joshua 10:12-14 for more details.
Tough Love
Jesus will not kidnap you and drag you into heaven. Having faith in Jesus is your decision.
Prayer Appointment
Ask God to continually increase your faith in accordance with the challenges you face daily. Humbly ask the Lord to dismantle any barriers of impossibility that may exist within your thoughts and actions.
Share Your Progress
Can you remember a time in your past when you were filled with faith and hope?
Has your faith experienced growth or decline since then?
Share the circumstances that led to the augmentation or diminishment of your faith in Jesus.
Answered Prayers Journal
What prayer has God answered this month?
Is there something you forgot to pray for and God gave it to you anyway?
Are there things you forgot you asked God for and God reminded you that He’s still working on it?
Scriptural Evidence
From the Authorized Version unless otherwise noted
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Joshua 10:12-14 On the day the Lord gave the Amorites into the power of Israel, Joshua spoke to the Lord in the presence of the Israelites:
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon!
and Moon, at the Aijalon Valley!”
The sun stood still and the moon stood motionless
until a nation took revenge on its enemies.
Isn’t this written in the Jashar scroll? So the sun stood motionless in the middle of the sky. For a whole day, it was in no hurry to go down. There hasn’t been a day like it before or since, when the Lord responded to a human voice. The Lord fought for Israel. Common English Bible
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Matthew 13:54-58 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Matthew 17:20 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 hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mark 6:5-6 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat,1 and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
John 1:43-51 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight
Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Hebrews 10:35-39 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Jude 1:20-21 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.