Faith. Now there's a word that many actually consider to be a message that is at odds with God. But really, it's just about believing what God said. Faith isn't a "message" really. It's not a "movement" either.

While there are some ministers who seem to specialize in preaching faith, they didn't make it up. Faith isn't some new teaching. God put the "believing and receiving" system into effect, and Jesus made the term popular. Anyone can read the Gospels and see that.

The theme of faith, or trusting God, is intertwined throughout the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. But even though faith appears throughout the Bible, it isn't the only thing in the Bible. Think about it. How many times do you read about grace in the Word? What about mercy? Or how about God's love?

On the other hand, even though faith isn't the only topic in the Bible, it seems to be mixed up with just about everything else in there. In fact, for faith to work at all you need to be walking in God's love (Gal. 5:6). So even though faith isn't the only area you need to study in the Word, it is crucial to your success as a believer.

It is important that you know about it, not just as some part of the Charismatic lingo. But, know about it as a real and viable power tool for your life. Faith is God's key to breaking the power of natural law.

You've Got a Built-in Substance
Designed to Connect with God's Word
What is it that makes you believe God's Word is true? It is faith in God's Word. What makes you think you get righteousness by believing in your heart that Jesus rose from the dead? It is faith in God's Word? What makes you think you can get salvation by confessing with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord? Again, it is faith in God's Holy Word?

Why do you believe? Because something inside the very core of your being connects to the Word. You read it, or someone told you about it, and something clicked within you. You know that it is true. How do you know? You know because God placed a substance inside you that was designed to be stimulated when confronted with His Word. What is that something? It's the amazing substance the Bible calls faith. Faith isn't floating around in the atmosphere somewhere; it's in you.

The Word Stimulates Faith, and Faith Activates Power
There is a connection that takes place when the Word of God stimulates the measure of faith inside of you. The Word of God is alive. It is living and active (Heb. 4:12). And the faith you have inside of you was given to you by the living God, who inspired the Scriptures we have today.

When you connect the measure of faith with God's Word, something extraordinary happens. Faith and the Word collide, and wham! An atmosphere for the supernatural is instantly formed. Suddenly, the power to break natural law is present. Suddenly, you experience that mysterious thing called receiving; the time when the blood of Jesus begins to gush in, the time when the very power of God is drawn into your physical body, obliterating sickness and disease.

It is a combination of faith and the Word that activates God's power within your life. And it doesn't take years to happen. It can take place in an instant. This is why Jesus said you could move mountains with your faith. He said that if you'd only believe you could say, "Move!" to a mountain and it would fly into the sea (Mark 11:23).

There Is a Huge Difference Between
Mountains and Mustard Seeds
Jesus said you could move something as large as a mountain with something as small as a mustard seed (Matt. 17:20). Now, He used the analogy of a mustard seed because it was the smallest of the seeds people planted in His day. It is tiny. You practically have to squint to see a mustard seed. But a mountain; how can you not see it? You can't even see around a mountain. It's so big that you can only see one side.

If it's sticking out of the sea, it is even bigger because the thing goes down into the ocean! Compare that mountain to a seed so small you've got to squint to see the details of it. Big difference, right? Well, that's the ratio Jesus laid out between faith and your problems. Even if you've got to squint to get a look at your faith, it's enough to plow through a gigantic problem you can't see around.

It's Now Faith Is - Not Is Faith Now
What is faith anyway? The Bible calls faith the substance of what you hope for and the evidence of what you don't see (Heb. 11:1). In other words, you're saying, "Jesus, I believe that You can and will do this thing that I hope for. And because I believe that You can and will, I take Your Word as evidence that it is already done."

That's what you call trust! You're trusting that God's Word will work for you. You are trusting in it so much that you don't even consider that what you hope for might not happen. "Of course it is going to happen!" you might say. "We're talking about God here!" Now, if you're thinking like that, you're going in the right direction. God used faith to create the worlds. He used it to create you! The fact that you're here at all is evidence that God had faith! That ought to tell you something!

I think a lot of people negotiate with the things of God, choosing one instead of the other when the potential is there to receive all from God. What happens if you negotiate around the truth that Jesus delivers? You could get stuck fighting off miserable things like depression or addiction.

And what happens if you negotiate around the truth that Jesus blesses abundantly? You could miss out on God's plan for your earthly success. You could stay broken by poverty or limit God's ability to bless others through you. And healing; what if you negotiate around the truth that Jesus heals? Yeah, you got it! You could remain bound by sickness and the freedom of living healthy.

But faith is faith, no matter whether it is put in God's power to save, deliver, prosper or heal, or if it is put in Satan's powers to steal, kill and destroy. Some people make faith hard. Instead of trusting in 'Now Faith" they say, "Is faith now?" They change the words and confuse themselves. But it is in black and white right there in the Bible, so don't let those people confuse you!

When You're Hungry, When Do You Want To Eat
When you're sleepy, when do you want to sleep? Later? When you hear your stomach growling, you don't say, "Hmm. I'm starving. I think I'll eat in a couple of days." I don't know about you, but if I'm sleepy, I want to take a nap! And if my stomach is stabbing me and growling like an animal, it can mean only one thing. It's time to chow down! Give me something to eat before I devour the next thing that moves.

You can attack sickness in much the same way. You can say to yourself, "I'm not waiting forever for my healing! I'm going to do everything in my power to get this thing done! I'm going to do my part, and God is going to do His; and between the both of us, I'm getting healed!" It may sound kind of childlike to be demanding like that, but really, that's what it takes! If you look throughout the Scriptures you can find stories of people who were demanding and received. Jesus responds to people who have enough faith to draw from His power.

Childlike but Not Childish
Kids have a great understanding of the Word now. That is why you hear so much about childlike faith. Think of the way a child acts, and you've got a good idea about the essence of faith. For example, when a kid sees a piece of candy at the checkout counter in a grocery store, he zeros in on it and commands you to do what? Produce! That child locks his little mind on that candy, and buddy, you'd better know that he isn't asking for it next week! When is the time for candy? Now is the time for candy! Baby wants it now! Do you understand what I mean? If you've ever dealt with a kid having a candy fit at the checkout counter, I'm sure that you understand what I mean.

Breaking the power of natural law through faith is much the same way - it has all the elements of childlike faith and tenacity without the childish tendency toward whining and complaining. It is about realizing that power flows now and suddenly and that you don't give up if something doesn't go perfectly along the way.

All you really need to know is that God's Word is for you and if you believe it, it can simply work a miracle for you - regardless of the complications of the situation.

You Need the Prayer of Others
If you're sick, you don't have to face it alone. Not only is Jesus inside of you, but you've got people all around you who are willing to pray the prayer of faith for you. James 5:14-16 instructs you on exactly what to do if you get sick:

"Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

In other words, the prayers of the righteous work! There are people walking in the gifts of the Spirit in the church today - as described in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11,28. There are also many good churches with pastors and teachers who believe in healing and are willing to lay hands on you and pray the prayer of faith.

Don't Be Bashful! Get Yourself to the Altar for Prayer!
I know of some people who have talked about healing so much that they're embarrassed when sickness tries to attach itself to their bodies. I know some preachers who leave their hometown when they're sick because they're afraid their congregation will find out. They're scared of what the "faith crowd" will think about them if they admit to being sick.

That's crazy! Don't let pride keep you from having other believers pray with you.

You know, I believe in healing, and I'm healthy. But I've had sickness try to attach itself to me, and do you know what I've done about it? I've fought it with my faith and my will. I've spoken good things over myself. But I'm not afraid to say, "Hey! Pray for me! The devil's attacking my body!"

Yeah, I'm a faith preacher. And yeah, sometimes I need prayer. Big deal. Nobody on this earth is perfect. Sometimes the devil tries to knock us in the head. But that isn't any reason to skip town and pretend like nothing bad ever happens. This is a way that people are robbed of one of the most important facets of healing - the power of united prayer.

So don't be bashful to ask for prayer. Don't be embarrassed if something has gotten hold of your body. So what! Be tenacious! Be bold! Have faith, and get to the altar for prayer. Together, we can whip this thing!" You and God can whip this thing for good.

Copyright © Jesse Duplantis Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.