Basics Of Biblical Faith

Rock of Offence Commentary

The subject of faith is fascinating because of its Scriptural importance. During the last 32 years my search for the truth on this subject guided me in a direction that didn't follow normal religious traditions. The reader may ask: "If the tenets of religion didn't guide your quest, what did?" I discovered that Jesus plainly stated the guidelines for having "faith in God"--and gave many examples to illustrate his teaching. I learned that the early apostles followed the same principles. Yet, our modern understanding of faith tends to be different from what Jesus taught.

My interest for this subject comes from several places:

The constant drone of misinformation about Biblical faith from the religious community is spiritually devastating. False teaching not only has the power to destroy faith (by replacing it with a counterfeit), but it also warps our conception of God and His intentions toward us.

Jesus asked a thought-provoking question...

"...Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8 KJV)
Many of us skip over the significance of Christ's question. Yet, it demands an answer from this generation. I'm convinced the Lord Jesus Christ is returning soon for his Church. The stage is set like no other time in history. When Jesus comes will He find real faith on the earth, or a substitution that only looks and sounds similar? This is a critically important question.

The following article is a "starting point" for one of the Hebrews 6 doctrines of the New Testament:

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit." (Hebrews 6:1-3 KJV)
The Hebrews 6 doctrines are called "foundational". Faith toward God is one of these foundational doctrines of Christ. Failure results in the Christian life if this foundation is not properly laid. Biblical faith is a vital link in our relationship with God who is the source of our life. Four different times the Bible says, "the just shall live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). God doesn't waste words. Through repetition the Bible is alerting us that faith is very important. Our spiritual life depends on it.

The subject of "faith" is often misunderstood. God designed it profoundly simple. It's so simple young children operate in it naturally. Yet, long term exposure to "religious" conceptions of God and incorrect teachings about His intentions toward us damages our ability to operate in Biblical faith. Many of us are in this condition. Therefore, it may be difficult to immediately apply the principles Jesus taught.

Before we continue I'd like to tell a story that exposes a common misconception. It's about two city police detectives. The story is fiction. How does it relate to our topic? I'll answer this question later on.

Detectives Bob Rogan and Chuck Marvin work for the homicide division of the Detroit police department. Bob is a veteran of 25 years. Chuck transferred to homicide after 12 years, as a street cop. Detective Marvin is a family man and very active in his church. He joined the force to make a difference in his community. A homicide detective sees a lot of gruesome crimes in a city like Detroit. But, tonight a tragic event would change the life of one man forever.

Bob received a call from the dispatcher, "officer needs assistance at 4312 Winding Rd". He wasted little time activating the siren and emergency lights. The address was 10 minutes away. The siren, glaring lights and screeching tires created quite a stir among the residents. Other police cars could be heard approaching several blocks away. Bob arrived first. Witnesses at the scene reported gunshots in the apartment building. Bob moved in, being joined by other uniformed officers. By the time they entered the building the suspects had fled. A trail of blood in the hallway instilled fear of what they might find. A fellow police officer was brutally murdered and left in one of the rooms. Apparently, he stumbled across a drug deal and decided to take action without proper backup. Bob telephoned Chuck, who stayed over to complete some paper work at the precinct. The crime scene was charged with emotion. He felt his partner's presence would make things better--at least for him.

Detective Marvin arrived at the scene visibly upset. In police work you see death every day. But, this time it was a colleague and close friend. The victim also had a wife and children. The suspects made a hasty phone call to a nearby get-away car before the officer discovered their meeting. Learning the police had entered the building, the dealers set a trap and the officer walked right into it. Their quick escape allowed the dealers to avoid arrest.

Chuck almost spit out the words; "telephones and automobiles are instruments of evil!" If it hadn't been for telephones and automobiles we would have captured these guys." Bob thought Chuck had lost it. Maybe it was the emotional atmosphere...or a hard day at the office. Yet, Chuck continued his tantrum. Bob tried to calm him down--but it only made matters worse. Angrily Chuck said, "I'm going to do something about this. We can't allow such evil things to be used by the public anymore. They cause nothing but death and destruction!"

Weeks later, Chuck quit the police force to work full time for a public safety organization that wanted to outlaw telephones and automobiles.

Do you think Detective Marvin was irrational? So do I--but you probably agree with him if you think telephones and cars are evil. Yet, this absurd story illustrates a type of theological mindset held by some in the church. In the following article I refer to this mindset as "Marvin's theology". Now, if your name happens to be Marvin--you'll need to forgive me. I didn't write the story with you in mind!

Characteristics Of The Spiritual World
Certain physical laws govern our world. Down through history, men like Isaac Newton, Ben Franklin, Albert Einstein and others spent their entire lives discovering some of these natural laws. Ignoring them can immediately place your life in danger. Refusing to accept the law of gravity and jumping off a cliff result in needless death. Ignoring the principles that govern electricity and using an electric hair dryer while sitting in a bathtub full of water will get you electrocuted. Laws of physics that control "the force of momentum" make car accidents dangerous and sometimes fatal. There are many such laws that govern our world. By learning their secrets (and dangers) and cooperating with their principles, we can manufacture products that make life easier--like the telephone and the automobile. Both products utilize physical laws (principles) that operate in our world. Unfortunately, criminals also use these products to their advantage. They live under the same physical laws as the rest of us.

The spiritual world is vastly different. Yet, "spiritual" laws govern the spiritual world as "physical laws" govern ours. This is important: The spiritual world where God exists and the spiritual world where the devil and demons reside is the same place--governed by the same spiritual laws. Some find it hard to believe that evil people and good people exist in our physical world. Social reprogramming tries to brainwash our culture into believing that there's really no such thing as "evil" or bad people. The terrorist attack on September 11th exposed this misguided idea as a lie. Many were astonished when confronted with this simple fact. The event shocked millions! In the Bible, demons are called "evil spirits". The same Bible calls God's angel's "ministering spirits". The Bible says this about God's nature...

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24 KJV)
God is clearly revealed as "a spirit"--He primarily exists in the spiritual world. The Bible calls Him, "The Father of Spirits" (Hebrews 12:9). Some Christians wrongly place God in one spiritual world--and Satan in a totally different one. This may not be openly stated, but it is suggested through some popular religious teachings. The Bible also reveals that we are made up of three primary parts: spirit, soul and body. The Bible calls the human "spirit" the innermost part of us that contacts the spiritual world. For those of us redeemed by Jesus Christ, our spirit is where all contact with God and His kingdom takes place (Jesus said, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth). The human spirit is also where God's resources, benefits and blessings are accessed--this includes all the benefits of salvation. Unfortunately, evil spirits can be accessed as well--because they coexist in the same "spiritual" world. This fact makes it vitally important that we adhere to the truth of God's Word. We don't have exact knowledge about all spiritual laws and principles involved. Yet, the Bible gives us insight on several important ones. Initially, the only way to experience God's salvation is to cooperate with the principles of the spiritual world. All other benefits and blessings of salvation (after we receive eternal life) like prosperity, healing, freedom from fear and dealing with life's problems are accessed the same way.

The three primary principles of faith in the spiritual world are:

Believe

Confess

Receive

These laws are woven into the very fabric of God's Word. They are mandatory for receiving anything from the spiritual realm. Our Father set it up that way. Unfortunately, Satan operates under these same laws (because he is also a "spirit"). Satan perverts spiritual laws to do the bidding of his kingdom. More on this later.

These three spiritual laws of faith are outlined in the famous teaching of Saint Paul found in Romans 10:8-10. Paul applies them to salvation. Yet, they reveal the most basic fundamentals of faith that allow us to enjoy many other benefits and blessings of God.

"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."(KJV)
The order changes from time to time--but the principles remain the same. Sometimes confession is first and other times believing is first. It's important to notice that Paul preached "the word of faith". This kind of faith involves three important characteristics...

Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus

Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead

Receive salvation (You shall be saved)

As we continue it becomes clear that these spiritual laws apply to every thing we want to receive in our relationship with God. Salvation is the first step.

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." (Col. 2:6-7 KJV)

God's Word--The Foundation
Biblical faith is founded on God's covenant promises. These promises are rock solid and unchangeable. We can only exercise faith based on promises that do not change. If uncertainty exists in any form--we can still make a request of God and hope that He grants it. Yet, hope and faith are two different things. You will discover that religion undermines Biblical faith by redefining God's blessings and promises. This practice is designed to cast doubt on God's willingness to do what he says. What the Bible calls unbelief--religion calls humility and submission to God's will. Religion leads the Christian to believe that God will withhold the answer to a particular request in order to develop a deeper spiritual life, character or piety.

We can see this in the area of healing. Divine healing is one of those "rock solid" promises from God's Word. Jesus spent nearly half his earthly ministry healing the sick. In some places the Bible emphasizes God's will by telling us that Jesus "healed them all" (Matt. 12:10-15, Luke 6:17-19,Luke 9:11). That means Jesus did not find one person in need of more character or piety in the entire crowd! Either these people possessed unusually high levels of character, or healing is based on something other than what modern day religion is telling us.

We see the pattern where "all were healed" continue in the book of Acts with the apostles:

"And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one." (Acts 5:12-16 KJV)
I remember sitting in the sanctuary listening to a pastor pray for a lady with a serious illness. After the prayer he turned and said, "Now, we need to believe that God will heal you if it's His will." That's like saying to a new Christian who finished praying the sinners prayer... "Now, we need to believe that God will save you--if it's His will". Anyone knowledgeable about Biblical salvation would immediately object to this kind of statement. Why? Because the Bible clearly teaches it's God's will for all to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4). Eternal life is a free gift...and it's immediately available upon request. Eternal life is NOW for anyone who desires it. God's will isn't a problem. Why? Because God already stated His will--you are to have eternal life...it belongs to you. Divine healing is exactly the same way. Yet, many pray, "if it be thy will" when a request for healing is made--and it doesn't work because doubt is injected into the request...doubt that it may not be God's will for some religious (usually good and logical) reason. This doubt subtly perverts Biblical faith into the counterfeit of "wishing" and "hoping". Any kind of doubt (even good sounding religiously worded doubt) destroys the "confident expectation" of Biblical faith. This counterfeit is falsely called "faith" by religion--the Bible calls it unbelief. Doubt like this (no matter how good it sounds) strips Biblical faith of its power. James makes an interesting statement on this subject...

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." (James 1:6-7 KJV)
These words are difficult to hear. Yet, they expose one of the central reasons the church is powerless today. We have redefined Biblical faith into "religious wishing". God doesn't honor our philosophy about faith. James uses the word "wavering" to convey the idea that "confident expectation" is replaced by wishing or hoping--a form of unbelief and doubt. Real faith does not waver. It's anchored in God's promises that do not change and do not fail. Biblical faith is bold and audacious--just as David acted in his dealings with Goliath. If you read the story you'll notice that David did not approach Goliath wishing and hoping for victory. He knew he had won even before the stone left his sling. That's real faith...and without real faith--we don't receive anything from the Lord.

Covenant--Faith's Legal Foundation
God's Word has "rock solid" promises, benefits and blessings backed by God's character--He cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). In Genesis chapter 15 God promises Abram that he will inherit land. Abram asked God a question: "How shall I know that I will inherit it?" In response to Abram's question God did something that many modern day Christians have little knowledge about. God made a blood covenant with Abram. A covenant is a binding agreement (sealed in blood) that guarantees certain promises will be kept. If the promises aren't kept the covenant is considered "broken"--and the one who breaks it is put to death. God cut a covenant so that Abram's faith would be based on something unbreakable. Abram knew that he would inherit the land because God's character (and existence) was at risk if His promise ever failed. That's powerful stuff--but it gets better.

Abram's covenant with God occurred in the Old Testament. Today, the Bible teaches that Christians also have a blood covenant on which to base their faith. It's called the blood covenant of Jesus Christ--or the new covenant (Most call it the New Testament). This covenant becomes the surety (guarantee) that God will keep His Word. It gives us the same sure foundation for faith that Abraham enjoyed. Abraham was the pioneer of covenant-based faith. The apostle Paul called Abraham "the father of all who believe" in Romans 4:11. The new covenant is sealed in the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son. It cannot fail.

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8 KJV)

"by so much more Jesus has become a surety (guarantee) of a better covenant." (Hebrews 7:22 NKJV)
Biblical faith is always based on the provisions of the new covenant (God's Word) and is characterized by "knowing" that God's promises and blessings belong to you--right now! Religious faith (counterfeit faith) is not based on new covenant provisions and is characterized with doubt that says something like; "I'll get my answer to prayer if it's God's will". Biblical faith is always YES & NOW--Religious faith is always "MAYBE & SOMEDAY". Religious faith is practiced by an overwhelming majority of professing Christians.

The prerequisite for practicing Biblical faith is finding the promises in the covenant (God's Word) that guarantee the answer to your request. These promises and benefits provide the foundation for faith. It requires some in-depth Bible study.

"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." (Psalms 103:1-8 KJV)

Principle #1: Believe
"Believing" is the first step in a three-step process. It's the most important step in obtaining eternal life. Yet, religious philosophy and tradition can twist the simple child-like act of believing into a dangerous counterfeit. Today, many in the church mistake mental assent (agreeing that something is valid or true) for Biblical faith. Mental assent does not provide salvation. It's a characteristic of the mind or intellect. Biblical faith is a characteristic of the heart. Mental assent says, "I agree that Jesus once lived and died on a cross for the sins of the world". Biblical faith says, "Jesus died on the cross for my sins and I trust Him to provide me with eternal life." Mental assent agrees with a fact--Biblical faith produces an action that applies the truth of God's Word to one's self. You can see this during the encounter Paul and Silas' had with the Philippian jailer in Acts 16...
"...Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." (Acts 16:30-34 KJV)
In this story the Philippian jailer's household believed on Jesus Christ. Their belief was evidenced by certain actions. First, there is an attitude change toward Paul and Silas. The jailer brought them into his house, treated their wounds and gave them dinner. Next, they were all baptized. Biblical faith always generates a corresponding action. Mental assent does not.

Strong's Concordance gives us a definition for "believing" (pertaining to salvation): "to entrust your spiritual well-being (eternal destiny) to Jesus Christ". "Believing" in the Bible (for salvation) involves trusting or having faith in a person other than yourself. It is "trusting" that Jesus finished the work and paid the price for your salvation. It is deeply personal. Self-righteousness (considered false doctrine in the New Testament) trusts "self"--your ability to achieve some level of obedience to law or spiritual performance that earns salvation and pleases God. Self-righteousness is the opposite of "believing" on Christ for salvation. Yet, many "professing" Christians practice it.

"Believing" also carries another important meaning in the Bible. It applies to our walk of faith after salvation is received and is part of how the blessings of Christ are realized in our life. In this area, "believing" or faith is understood as, "the confident expectation of receiving a request from God".

Below are some Scriptures that show this characteristic...

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23 KJV)

"...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." (Matt 17:20 KJV)

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11:24 KJV)
These Scriptures are NOT restricted only to salvation. Some popular teaching wrongly tries to confuse these two areas of faith. The spiritual laws are the same, but they apply to different situations. The first application of faith (trusting Christ) secures salvation. The second application of faith (having a confident expectation of receiving) appropriates the blessings that Christ's salvation purchased. These blessings begin with eternal life. Most Christians stop at this point. But there are many other riches included in our spiritual inheritance provided by Christ. The first step a Christian takes is appropriating (possessing a confident expectation of receiving) eternal life. We can be confident because it is a benefit purchased by blood for us. We will see that the same confidence can be applied to all the other blessings as well. Don't be surprised that religious people are offended by the confidence produced by Biblical faith in the new covenant. The Bible calls it "boldness".

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16 KJV)

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" (Hebrews 10:16-23 KJV)
Approaching God with boldness (confidently standing on His promises) is considered arrogant presumption by religion. Some leaders say that new covenant boldness represents disrespect and irreverence for God. This is not true--and the Bible is replete with examples. Religious teaching puts people in a position of doubt and uncertainty concerning God's willingness to grant a particular request. Biblical faith KNOWS that God has already said "YES" to all His blessings. Notice also in Hebrews chapter 10 that faith has a "profession" (or confession) that we are commanded to hold fast. This brings us to the next step.

Principle #2: Confess What You Believe
Confession involves speaking words. Words are things you say. When Biblical faith is present, confession is always the result. Concerning salvation the Bible says...

"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy..." (Ps 107:2 KJV)
The confession of our faith serves two purposes in scripture: It helps to train our spirit (the heart) on God's Word. It is also part of the process of "renewing the mind" spoken of in Romans 12:2. Faith's confession (speaking to yourself and to others) causes the truths of God's Word to take root in your life. When God's Word takes root in our heart--and we act on it...God shows up to perform His Word (Jer. 1:12,Rom. 4:21). It is through this process that God changes us into the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29).

Confession is one of the most controversial principles of faith today. Confession (speaking words) is one method God uses to transfer His resources from the spiritual world into our physical world. There's much about the nature of faith that we don't understand. The Bible says this...

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2 KJV)
Jesus is called the author of our faith. This means he knows the most about it because He's the author of it. For that reason I reject much of what is said in the church today about the nature of faith when it contradicts what Jesus says about it. As far as I'm concerned--Jesus has the last word on what faith is and how it operates--and he used clearly stated words so as not to be misunderstood. Yet, this fact doesn't stop people from misapplying it. The practice of "confession-driven faith" is a "foreign concept" to most Christians. Most of us understand the importance of prayer. It's the way most of us make requests of our heavenly Father. When our Father answers our prayer it's a supernatural occurrence. Whether we realize it or not--influence or resources flow from God in the spiritual world--to us in the physical world. We call it answered prayer or a miracle--and it's perfectly Biblical. Yet, Jesus teaches that there is another way to exercise faith--and He's the author of it. It doesn't nullify prayer and petitioning God the way most of us have been taught. But, it does offend religious philosophy and cherished church traditions. I consider it a "higher" level of faith because the Bible says that God uses it. Jesus comments on this type of faith...

"And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. And when even was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11:12-24 KJV)
And again...

"...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." (Matt 17:20 KJV)
There's a lot in these brief teachings. Yet, for the sake of time we will focus only on the truth that applies to this article. We'll save the rest for another time.

Do we see examples of this kind of faith in the Bible?

In the opening pages of Genesis God creates the heavens and the earth through the use of words. He said, "Let it be...and it was". God said, "Let there be light" and light was. God moves in this kind of faith because it's His faith--it's natural for Him and He wants it to be natural for his children. That's us!

God instructs Moses to do some speaking...

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink." (Numbers 20:7-8 KJV)

The apostle Peter used words to heal...

"And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him." (Acts 3:2-10 KJV)
Notice in this situation Peter did not pray for the man--He spoke healing to the man through the name of Jesus--and words (he commanded him to rise up and walk).

Maybe Peter didn't understand that God had a reason for wanting this man lame. Maybe God wanted to produce more piety or draw him closer to himself through this infirmity. How dare Peter "speak" healing on him like that. How arrogant and presumptuous can you get! Sadly, some in today's church think that way. Peter could say those words because, as in salvation and all the other promises and blessings, God has already declared healing his will for all who will receive it. This gave Peter BOLDNESS! He stood on the "rock solid" promises of the covenant and God's healing became reality.

Jesus Shuts down the power of a storm with words...

"And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:37-41 KJV)
Notice again that Jesus didn't pray--he spoke to the storm and it obeyed his words. Even more amazing is the fact that he turned and chided the frightened disciples about not having faith. One conclusion is that Jesus expected the disciples to do the same thing he did. Otherwise, what would be the point of his reproof? Yet, the disciples didn't learn from the example. Instead they marveled that the wind and the sea obeyed Jesus. Yet, Jesus insisted that it would also obey their words...if they had his kind of faith. This is amazing!

Jesus heals a centurion's servant with words...

"And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but SPEAK THE WORD ONLY, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." (Matt 8:5-10 KJV)
It's interesting that Jesus called the centurion's faith, "great faith". Jesus said that he hadn't found faith like that anywhere in Israel. It is also important to note that the centurion was a Roman soldier. He was a gentile--an "outsider" concerning Israel. Yet, Jesus commended his faith as being "great". What kind of faith was it? The kind that speaks words that bring God's resources to bear on a problem.

A woman with an "issue of blood" receives healing through words...

"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." (Mark 5:25-34 KJV)
There are several things to notice in this example. First, the woman didn't pray--she said something. What she said was "words". Her words were not tainted with caution and doubt that says, "if it be thy will I'll be healed." Her words were grounded in a total confidence that Jesus would heal her.

Second, Jesus was not the one controlling this miracle. The Bible says that Jesus knew that "virtue (healing power) had gone out of him--but didn't know where it went! He turned around and asked the question, "who touched my clothes?" This is IMPORTANT. Jesus told the woman that HER FAITH healed her. He didn't condemn her actions as arrogant and presumptuous--he commended her. Every time I read this section of Scripture I'm amazed at the revolutionary faith principles at work here. It invalidates much of what religious philosophy teaches about faith. This woman was in control of the miracle through her faith. And, that's exactly what Jesus said to her. This is amazing!

Jesus heals a man sick of the palsy with words...

"And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men." (Matt 9:2-8 KJV)
Again, Jesus didn't pray for the man. He commanded him with "words" to arise, take up his bed, and go home. The man received healing and went home according to Jesus' words.

Then, there are the words of Jesus which we will repeat again because they contain such important truth...

"And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

"And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

"...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 11:12-24, Matt. 17:20 KJV)

It's interesting to note that Jesus taught us to "have faith in God"--then defined what "having faith in God" meant through the example of removing a mountain by speaking words to it. Once again, Jesus invalidates much of what religious philosophy and church tradition teaches about faith. Sometimes you pray and sometimes you say. These are different expressions of faith. Yet, the Bible suggests that faith has more to do about "saying" than praying. Our confession (words) play a vital role.

Principle #3: Receive What You Believe Before You See It
This last step is based on an irrefutable fact. You must be "totally confident" and "totally convinced" that God has predetermined that you are to be granted your request. Any hint of "maybe it's not God's will" or, "God may not think that it's wise for me to have this" destroys the premise of what Jesus is teaching us in the Scripture quoted below. Placing these conditions on prayer perverts faith into hoping and wishing (counterfeit religious faith). It always sounds reasonable and logical--and many skilled religious leaders can make it sound "Biblical". Yet, it contradicts what Jesus said...

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11:24 KJV)
The final element in exercising our faith is receiving our request before we see the manifestation of it. We can paraphrase this principle by saying: You've got to believe you've received your request BEFORE you actually get it. This principle is difficult to act on depending upon whether you have an unhealthy (unbiblical) conception of God or a healthy one. If you've been taught a "religious conception of God" all your life (and most of us have)--it's going to take some time to undo the damage. In Luke 8:18 Jesus warns us to, "be careful how you hear". The apostle Paul taught (Romans 10:17), "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God". Hearing wrong teaching about God produces the opposite of what Saint Paul taught. Wrong teaching perverts and destroys Biblical faith. Hearing the truth of God's Word produces faith. Wrong conceptions of God don't go away over night. You can't expect folks to unlearn wrong things about God anymore than expecting abused children to shrug off bad experiences and approach life with a healthy attitude. In a very real sense...wrong conceptions of God commonly perpetrated by religion is abusive in much the same way. The truth of God's Word can undo the damage--but it may take time.

Do we see examples in the Bible of the kind of "receiving" Jesus taught? Absolutely!

The miracle of Jesus and Peter walking on the water teaches us much about this principle.

"And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God." (Matt 14:25-33 KJV)
This story gives an amazing revelation of the nature of faith. Yet, some churches and denominations use it to illustrate an aspect of salvation (Because when Peter began to sink he said, "Lord save me"). While this practice is not necessarily wrong--it can cause us to miss the real message.

Jesus walked on the water and his disciples saw it. Peter observed his Lord doing something supernatural--and wanted to do the same thing. Peter knew who Jesus was. He also knew that if his Lord commanded him to walk on the water...he could do it too. Peter asked Jesus to allow him to come out on the water! Peter was exhibiting extraordinary faith by even making this request. Jesus said one word to Peter--COME. Peter got out of the boat in the middle of a storm in the middle of the sea (notice that none of the other disciples tried this) and walked on the water just like Jesus did! Of course we know the rest of the story. The storm caused Peter to waver (doubt) in his faith and he began to sink. This is where Peter called upon Jesus to save him before he went under. This story actually has little to do with salvation. It's an example about Biblical faith and how it works.

Something happened between the time Jesus said, "come" and when Peter got out of the boat. Peter received the word "come" as fact. To him, there wasn't anything hard about walking on the water because God had just given the command--it couldn't fail. Yet, Peter did eventually fail. Was it God's Word that failed or Peter's faith in it? Jesus rebuked Peter for having "little faith". When Peter wavered in his reliance on that word "come" and gave more attention to the storm he began to sink, calling on Jesus to catch him. This is another example from the Bible that invalidates much of what religious philosophy and church tradition teaches about faith. Religion leads us to believe that if something is God's will--it automatically happens. If your prayer request is unanswered--then it wasn't God's will (No thought is ever given that maybe you didn't follow the principles Jesus taught on how to pray!). This way of thinking is misguided and Peter's failure exposes the fallacy. Success occurs when God's Word is mixed with faith. No faith--no results. Replacing faith with wishing--no results. Little faith--limited results (Like Peter experienced). Receiving the answer before it is seen is a vital part of Biblical faith.

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:1-2 KJV)

"And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching." (Mark 6:1-6 KJV)
Notice in Mark chapter 6 that the same Jesus who healed multitudes and performed mighty miracles in other places came into his own country where the Bible says that, "he could there do no mighty work" and "he marveled because of their unbelief". The condition of your faith is the deciding factor in experiencing the power of God. Unbelief shuts God's power down as in Mark chapter 6 and causes us "not to profit" from God's promises as stated in Hebrews 4:1-2.

By revisiting some Scriptures we've already read, we can see that before the miracle happened--the recipient received the answer before it materialized. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says that we "walk by faith not by sight". If we have to see something before we believe--then we're not practicing the kind of faith Jesus taught. Biblical faith receives the answer before it sees. That's the only way it works.

Jesus heals a centurion's servant by speaking the word. The Centurion received the answer before he saw his servant healed. Jesus called this "great faith"--Matt. 8:5-10

Jesus heals a man sick of the palsy. The sick man received Jesus' words (he acted on them), sat up and was healed--Matt. 9:2-8

A woman with an "issue of blood" is healed. She "received" healing as something she could have before touching Jesus' garment (there was no doubt here)--Mark 5:255-34

Roadblocks To Faith

Practicing Marvin's Theology
The most alarming discussions on the subject of faith come from those who practice what I call "Marvin's Theology" (based on my earlier short story). Don't go looking for this topic in your local bookstore because you won't find it. Marvin's theology is my own personal analogy. And, I don't know why I chose the name "Marvin"--it just sounded right for some reason. The premise for this theology sounds something like this:

Anything that Satan uses to his advantage is also evil by association.
In our story, detective Marvin considered telephones and automobiles as evil because criminals used them in a homicide. This mindset may sound irrational and absurd within the context of the story, but it's considered perfectly normal in some popular religious teachings.

As I stated earlier, there are laws that govern the spiritual world. The Kingdom of God and the devil's domain operate under the same laws. When the occult (witchcraft/wicca/sorcery) uses the principle of speaking specific words, which forces a predetermined destructive outcome (we call it "casting a spell" or "speaking a curse")...prominent religious leaders boast that this proves the whole faith/confession revival is of the devil. They claim that "confession-based faith" is an "occult" practice and is therefore demonic. It doesn't matter that Jesus practiced faith this way throughout his ministry. I know of one popular Christian book that used this argument as its foundation. It sold several hundred thousand copies and is still popular in most Christian bookstores. Some churches strongly recommend it as a handbook on faith--go figure.

According to Marvin's theology:

Jesus was using "something of the devil" when he cursed the fig tree in Mark chapter 11. And, he taught his disciples to use "something of the devil" when he told them to have faith in God, speak to a mountain...and it would be cast into the sea!

The woman with the issue of blood was using "something of the devil" when she said the words...if I can touch the hem of Jesus garment--I'll be healed--and she was healed in Mark chapter 5.

The centurion described as having great faith used "something of the devil" when he requested that Jesus "speak the word only" and his servant would be healed--and his servant was healed in Matthew chapter 8.

God himself was using "something of the devil" when he spoke, "Let there be light"--and light came into existence in Genesis chapter 1.

Marvin's theology is easy to find. It's one of the most "toxic" beliefs in the modern church because it discredits real faith and replaces it with a counterfeit. It mocks and belittles Biblical faith by giving it names like, "name it and claim it". If you aren't familiar with this phrase, you will hear it occasionally used to describe the current faith revival. Where did it come from? It's a label assigned to those who take Jesus' teaching in Mark 11:24 literally. The name is an attempt to ridicule people who believe (as I do) that Jesus taught the correct principles about how to pray and receive from God.

Marvin's theology short-circuits real faith and prevents us from receiving from God. This type of theology uses all kinds of "religious" explanations why prayer isn't answered. It neglects to mention the real cause of most unanswered prayer, which is false teaching. Another prominent Christian author and teacher said, "If God gave us what we ask for--it would be the worst thing that could happen". He continued, "Instead of asking God to grant our request...we should pray that He will "do the right thing". I already know what some of you are thinking..."that sounds good--what's wrong with that?" What's wrong is it contradicts specific principles that Jesus taught about faith. Faith only works according to specific Biblical guidelines. Sloppy theology doesn't work. Some Christians wrongly think that God will honor whatever they personally believe regardless of whether it agrees with the Bible or not. This is a disastrous assumption. The Scripture teaches that God only honors his Word. If our beliefs are aligned with his Word, our faith works. If our beliefs are not in agreement with God's Word--our faith is not faith at all...and, it gets no answer. Marvin's theology is a direct attack on God's character because it warps our conception of Him and His intentions toward us. This is a tragedy.

God's Predetermined Provision
Misunderstanding when God gave His blessings is another major hindrance and stumbling block. Biblical faith causes us to see spiritual blessings the way God sees them. In God's mind salvation and every promise and provision it includes was given to you "in Christ" at the cross 2000 years ago. God is not presently deciding who gets blessed and who doesn't. God is not presently deciding who gets healed and who doesn't. Healing belongs to you just as much as eternal life belongs to you. God gave it "in Christ". Religion doesn't teach the truth about what it means to live "in Christ". It remains a mystery to many sincere Christians. Yet, it's the cornerstone of Biblical faith. Healing becomes reality when people understand this truth.

"For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us--by me, Silvanus, and Timothy--was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." (2 Corinthians 1:19-20 NKJV)
Frequently, I hear Christians say (when they pray for healing), "Well, I think God healed me this time." The statement reveals a serious problem in their understanding of faith. God isn't "going" to heal you--God isn't deciding if it's wise to heal you--God isn't judging whether it's his will to heal you--God isn't holding back healing because he wants to develop your character...GOD ALREADY GRANTED YOU HEALING. Failing to make your request of God from this position stops faith dead in its tracks. God grants healing and other blessings based on the merits of Jesus Christ (never on your merits). If you're a Christian you're "in Christ"--healing belongs to you--because it belongs to Christ. And, it's right NOW. Faith appropriates everything NOW because God decided you should have these things centuries before you were born. The promises and blessings of God are "blood covenant" benefits. The blood covenant of Jesus Christ began at the cross. It became active when Jesus proclaimed; "It is finished!" God's promises and blessings belong to you! Don't let Marvin cheat you out of them.

The only thing we lack is the right kind of faith to receive the blessings. God decided it was his will a long time ago.

Self-Righteousness And Legalism
Recently, I listened to the testimony of a pastor sharing some of the things he hears when praying for the sick. One person exclaimed, "Now Lord, you know that I'm the best Christian in this church!" Nothing blocks God's power more than standing on your own goodness and performance--and using it as the reason God should grant your request. The Bible calls it "self-righteousness". It's a false belief that undermines God's grace. Yet, when God's Word is compromised to advance the program of a church organization--this deadly belief is the inevitable by-product. The subject is already covered in another article. You can read it by clicking on the link below. I consider self-righteousness one of the "Seven Dangerous Religious Traps". And, it blocks the power of God from working in our lives.

Legalism--Frustrating The Grace Of God

The Misapplication Of Jesus' Prayer In Luke 22:38-44
I've mentioned this practice several times. It ranks near the top of the most misused statements of Christ by religious people. Jesus' words in this story are blindly accepted as the "Biblical" way to present every request we make to God. It sounds reasonable and humble. Yet, the way most Christians use it contradicts the way Jesus said to pray.

I'm talking about the prayer Jesus prayed in the garden just before his betrayal by Judas Iscariot.

"Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42 KJV)
Most of us know little about the horrific events Jesus endured. Roman crucifixion was bad enough--by itself. Yet, the Bible says that Jesus also faced untold sufferings from the spiritual world. Yet, the cross was the culmination of God's purpose in sending His Son. God's Son came to sacrifice himself as "the Lamb of God" for our sin. Jesus is God, but he is also a man. The Bible calls him "the son of man". The Bible says that he was made like us. This fact qualifies Him to be our high priest (Hebrews 4:15). He had feelings and was subject to the same apprehension any of us would experience before his brutal execution.

If you place yourself in his situation, Jesus' prayer makes perfect sense. In the midst of the anguish he cried out to his Father (the only one who really understood him) to ask, "if thou be willing, remove this cup from me." The Bible says that Jesus' sweat was as drops of blood during this time. So great was the anguish. Saint Luke reports that God sent an angel to strengthen him. Yet, Jesus knew that the cross was the reason he came. He finished his prayer with a statement of sacred devotion: "nevertheless not my will, but thine be done."

Jesus demonstrating his devotion to the will of God speaks these words. They were not offered as an example of how Biblical faith operates. Jesus' words were not spoken as a prayer request or to call upon God's resources to fill a need. These words represented his devotion to the will of God--even when it sent him to die on a Roman cross. It was a prayer of consecration.

The prayer in the garden has a sense of awe and majesty about it. Yet, when misused in the area of faith--it introduces doubt where confidence, boldness and certainty should exist. Misapplying Jesus' words has the opposite effect most people desire. It short-circuits Biblical faith and shuts down answered prayer. This is a hard concept to get across. Why? Because it sounds so right...and Jesus did pray this prayer. Yet, Jesus prayed it for an entirely different purpose than the way most Christians try to use it.

Once again, on the subject of faith Jesus said...

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11:24 KJV)
If you misapply the words of the garden prayer to Jesus' teaching above you get something like this:
Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, ye might receive them if it's God's will. For this reason you should pray that God's will is done rather than expecting him to grant your request.
If you listen to what many Christian ministries teach on the subject of faith you will recognize that the misapplication (mixing Luke 22:38-44 and Mark 11:24 together) is the most universally held position. Yet, it's a distortion of what Jesus actually taught.

When you see the contradiction it's an astonishing revelation. The temptation is to be intimidated by those who tout their theological degrees and seminary credentials. Many fall into this trap--but you don't have to. Religious teaching engages in this sort of distortion all the time. Few Christian take notice. They trust someone else to determine these difficult doctrinal issues for them.

Conclusion
It's not my desire to cloud such an important subject with negative things. Yet, popular teaching constantly ridicules and distorts the subject of faith like no other. In order to be concise I combined both a teaching on faith and a defense into one article. I know it's a lot to take in.

Today, it's popular to malign the current faith revival as something that's of Satan. As with any revival there are those who abuse the truths. Yet, we must never allow abuse to become the excuse to reject God's Word. Popular books and influential Christian ministries continue to push religious propaganda. This has been going on for hundreds of years. Why does religion do this? Because at the very mention of the devil or Satan many Christians consider any topic included in the same sentence as "guilty by association". It's a mental tendency most of us are plagued by--including me. Religion takes full advantage of it. Many people never take the time to find out the truth. They just receive whatever their church or denomination teaches.

Were the practices of Jesus Christ ever maligned by the religious leaders of his day as "being of the devil?" The following passage gives us the answer.

"Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." (Matt 12:22-28 KJV)
Attributing Satan's power to an act of the Holy Spirit is religion's favorite method to discredit a revival or movement--especially if it's something they don't like. What we hear today is not new. Recognizing this fact is one of the pathways to Christian maturity. That's why it's so important for us to know God's Word for ourselves. The Bible says, "The just shall live by faith", and not by the philosophy of religion. The words of Saint Paul should give us bold assurance...

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32 KJV)
Don't let Marvin cheat you out of the blessings of Christ.