Outside Lazarus’ tomb, Lord Jesus looked up towards and thanked God, the Father, for having heard Him and further thanked Him for always listening to Him. We are also required to be transformed into His image and likeness and live in that manner. Faith itself is a gift from God and we must continue to grow in our spiritual maturity in the Holy Spirit, while also getting strengthened in faith. Just like we exercise our body to remain fit and active, our faith must be tested daily in all situations to remain strong.
How to grow strong in faith? – The disciples prayed to Lord Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). The reply they received was about the sufficiency of a little faith to move ‘the mulberry tree’. The roots of this tree are thought to be extraordinarily strong, keeping it up, for up to even six hundred years. Before this the disciples were commanded by the Lord to forgive a repentant brother even if he sins against you seven times in a day and seeks forgiveness every time, the same day. One of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is ‘longsuffering’ or patience (Galatians 5:22) and we are ‘to bear with one another in love’ (Ephesians 4:2). When a person comes to you seven times in one day seeking forgiveness for the same sin, it would appear that he is not serious in his repentance or effort to change.
But Lord Jesus commanded us to keep forgiving him in love and this would mean forgetting the sin every time. The disciples then realized the need for increased faith to live in this manner. But as per the Lord, even faith of the size of a mustard seed, a very small one, is enough to live in this manner. For us, who have deep roots of a mulberry tree within us of vengeance seeking and unforgiveness, it is almost impossible. We generally see faith as an instrument of great miracle working, healing from severe sickness or raising the dead and such miraculous deeds. But the Lord seeks faith for restoration of relationships. Because He came to forgive us our innumerable sins and turn us back to God as His children. Faith in itself does not produce results but the One in whom we set our faith, He does it. The eye cannot see itself and in a mirror is its reflection. In like manner faith is unable to see itself but must turn towards the object of faith, Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus’ call to follow Him is the result of His having chosen us for that (John 15:16). Large crowds followed the Lord and He fed five thousand families at one time, after teaching them, making a total of fifteen thousand or more people to have received that bounty. They heard His words but turned away from Him finding it difficult to follow His teaching (John 6:66). Those chosen by God are led by the Holy Spirit to hear the Word of God in any meeting. What we hear is received as information in our minds and processed in light of our past beliefs. The Holy Spirit helps us understand and our heart is then affected, creating a desire in us to hear the Word again.
As per the Word, ‘faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God’ (Romans 10:17). One can listen to any amount of teaching from preachers and get knowledge but not have faith, which comes only by listening to the Word of the One we need to believe in. The Word heard in faith reaches the soul and starts affecting our behavior and pattern of life. This way of receiving faith is in our fallen state and believers receive the Word and the understanding through our spirit, that is submitted to the indwelling Holy Spirit. Though we hear the Word, the effect is directly on our spirits into the soul and to the heart and mind. The process is reversed in a believer and thus using the small faith produces answers to prayers.
Before the process of creation could fully start, the Holy Spirit was ‘hovering over the face of the waters’ (Genesis 1:2-3). However, He would act only on the Word of God being released. In like manner, in a believer also, though the Holy Spirit is indwelling, the action starts only on the Word of God. Either we hear the Word or read it, the Holy Spirit gives us understanding. The Holy Spirit in us, teaches us all things and reminds us of the Words of teaching of Lord Jesus (John 14:26). We understand and realize the truth of fulfillment of all that is in the Scripture and get filled with faith. We then believe that what God had done for all those mentioned in the Holy Bible, He is able and willing to do in our life also by answering our prayers.
Lord Jesus desires us to reach out to help the needy, being inheritors of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 25:35-36). The desire to do good for someone is the work of God in us, for ‘both to will and to do for His good pleasure’ (Philippians 2:13). Many people call to tell about an accident or some such calamity suddenly appearing before them, while they are praying. God desires you to pray for help for such persons as also for prevention of the calamity, if possible. He gives the vision and He will fulfill what we pray for. The more we draw close to Him by studying and meditating on His Word, the more understanding and faith we get filled with.
Necessity of following God without expectation of reward – Lord Jesus ended his letters to the seven churches with this call, ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me’ (Revelation 3:20). Why does the ‘Lord of lords’ knock and not enter by force as a right, being the Creator and Sustainer of all creation? He desires that we must first realize the need, repent of pride, self-wisdom and self-sufficiency and then call Him in. He knocks and waits endlessly, like I was presented the Holy Bible in 1979 and I turned to open the door almost thirty years later. Only the one who hears His voice can open the door and He prepares us through trials, tribulations and His mercies. The call is not to a family, a group or the Church to open the door but to every individual so that He can shower His blessings on us and prepare us to serve Him.
Service of the Lord cannot be separated from love, without any expectation of great rewards. In Bethany, near Jerusalem, Lord Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. Martha would be busy serving Him and the disciples but Mary would sit at the feet of the Lord and listen to Him. Our Lord praised Mary by saying, ‘Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken from her’ (Luke 10:42). Service is equally important but done with full awareness and teaching of the Word of God makes it true service. Such service creates self-awareness and growth while allowing us to share in fulfilling His good purpose for us and others through us and giving God the glory for letting us.
David was born and brought up in Bethlehem and as a fugitive from King Saul, in the cave at Adullam, he craved for water from the well of Bethlehem. The three mighty men of David, great warriors, at great risk to their lives, broke through the Philistines camp and brought water to fulfill his desire (2 Samuel 23:14-17). They did this not for any recognition or reward but out of love for David. David was so touched that ‘he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD’ as an offering. He said, ‘Is this not the blood of the men who endangered their lives?’ Those who are committed to the Lord in such a manner find great honour and recognition in all that they do, for the Lord gives them success in everything.
Daniel was taken captive to Babylon at a very young age but refused to live according to the ways of his captors (Daniel 6:6-28). He served various kings and was honoured by all. Others felt jealous of him and got a decree issued from King Darius, to punish anyone found praying to anyone except the king, by throwing him into the den of lions. When Daniel came to know of this, he went to his upper room with windows open, prayed towards Jerusalem three times a day, ‘as was his custom since early days’. He was cast into the lions’ den but God shut the lions mouths finding him innocent of any wrong. The king also recognized ‘the God of Daniel’ in this miraculous saving and ‘Daniel prospered’.
The various commands and blessings of the Lord are, ‘Follow Me’ and ‘I will hold your hand’, and in both situations the one who is being helped is behind and not ahead. The very definition of faith further clarifies this fact, for faith is about unseen and hoped for things (Hebrews 11:1). If we have the capability to see into the future and receive what we want, then faith is unnecessary. Since only God is able to decide where the answers to our prayers fit into His overall plan for the whole universe, we must be subject to His Divine control. Through faith we cannot change God’s plan but He can definitely reduce our pain and equip us to face any situation. Without submission to God to increase our faith, it is trying to impress the very God who knows all about us and whom we want to petition through our faith.
Joshua was promised by God Himself about victory over their enemies in Canaan. Joshua was given the plan by the Lord to capture Jericho, the first of the towns across River Jordan, for it was greatly fortified (Joshua 6:10 – 20). Legend has it that its walls were so strong and wide that a chariot could move on it. The Israelites were to go around the city once for six days, while the priests with the Ark of the Covenant were to continuously blow the trumpets, with the people being quiet. On the seventh day they were to go around seven times and at the sound of the trumpets for battle, as required, the people ‘shouted with a great shout’ and the walls of the city fell down inwards. The Israelites ‘utterly destroyed all that was in the city’ and great fear came upon the rest of the people in Canaan. In this God so increased Joshua’s faith that he could face any challenge in capturing the rest of the areas.
We seek God’s intervention for a problem and He answers in His own way and as per His time. While waiting we study and meditate upon the Scripture, learning about all the miraculous works of the Lord for His people. This strengthens us in hope that what He did for others, He will do for me also for He does not change and shows no partiality towards anyone. We exercise the ‘mustard seed’ size faith of ours and God blesses us to increase our faith through His blessings. A trial or suffering is not to go after other options but to get closer to God for his help. In this manner every time we grow in faith and become a blessing to many others also.
Faith in continuous suffering for a long time – A Jewish marriage, during Lord Jesus’ time, was in two steps; the first, was the betrothal or engagement ceremony as in the present times. The second was the marriage ceremony, when the bridegroom would come to her house to take his wife with him. Mary was betrothed to Joseph and during the interim period a woman had to remain faithful to her husband. When Gabriel, the archangel, declared to Mary about her being chosen by the LORD God to be the mother of the Messiah, she only questioned the procedure, for she was a virgin and ‘knew no man’ (Luke 1:38). Having learnt about the action of the Holy Spirit in her conception, she surrendered herself to the will of the Lord. With that she accepted the probable breaking of her marriage and even death by stoning.
God did not create His Son as a grown up Man, as the Jewish people expect, but born as a child to a woman and made Him dependent on His parents for care and upbringing. He suffered endless rejection by the same people who were eagerly waiting for Him to appear as a conqueror King. Knowing fully what awaited Him, He surrendered completely to the will of God the Father. In the Scripture, we are told about the heroes of faith in the Old Testament times. ‘By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called… not knowing where he was going’ (Hebrews 11:8). Faith is not only in reaching the destination but in the journey of faith without knowing the end. In our sufferings we focus on our pain and the problem, more than on God who can get us out of that.
When Apostle Paul was being taken as a prisoner to Rome, the ship faced great turbulence but he remained steadfast in faith (Acts 27:19-25). His faith in the promise of God was answered by the visit of an angel of god who told him, ‘do not be afraid Paul; you would be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you’. He could encourage the sailors and the guard over him by saying, ‘Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me’. Prophet Habakkuk was told by God, ‘Behold, the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by faith’ (Acts 27:19-25). To live with confidence in one’s own works for salvation, in any situation, is to live in pride. But those who depend on God, live in abundance or lack, like Apostle Paul, live content for they live in their faith and not only by their faith.
During the Passover meal, Lord Jesus surprised the disciples by declaring that ‘one of you will betray Me’ (Matthew 26:21-22). All of them were aware of their shortcomings and asked Him, ‘Lord, is it I?’ Apostle John was filled with the Love of his Lord and ‘leaning back on Jesus’ breast. He said, ‘Lord, who is it?’ (John 13:25). Living close to the Lord through daily study, meditation and prayer is to lean on His breast in faith that He is with me in storm as well as in a joyful celebration. It is then that one can reach out to confidently pray for others, knowing that He will answer my prayers while also leading me forward on the journey decreed for me. Then daily walk with Him become more important than knowing the outcome. It is in this state that one can, in reality humble oneself ‘under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you’ (1 Peter 5:6-7).
Being filled with faith is not like a medicine shot that God will inject into someone. It is living in belief in His Word, His promises and His works as written in the Scripture, with the assurance that what He did, He is able and willing to repeat in my life also. He did not fail when he fed two to three million people for forty years in the wilderness and none had lack, not even for one day. He does not change and He is not going to change to deny me the answers.
Living in faith is not about a few days or a season, it is about a whole lifetime commitment to live in accordance with the statutes of the One we believe in. In this walk, like Abraham, one may be required to move without any knowledge about the destination, the way and the obstacles therein. Faith is to keep moving in this surety that the One who has commanded to move is in control and definitely has a plan clearly worked out. A miner under the earth can see only one step at a time with the light on his protective helmet. Walk of faith is also taking one step at a time with the hope of being cared and provided for by the Lord.
