What Is Faith?

It's so interesting to actually go back to the Bible and read what it says rather than just go by what I've heard taught my whole life. When I do this, I notice treasures I hadn't before. This is revelation. It doesn't change the Bible, it brings it to life. It's no longer a story, but now becomes a life-style. Let me share with you an example.

I was reading in Matthew. If you're wanting to go deeper into a story, read everything around it too so that you get a context for the event. In Matt 8:22-26, there's a story of Jesus and his disciples facing a storm. I went back and read from the beginning of the chapter to get an idea what they were doing out there.

Jesus had been ministering to the people in a particular town. His disciples (students) were with him. One person said to Jesus, "If you choose, you can make me clean (heal him from leprosy)." Jesus said, "I do choose." On a side note... if God (Jesus and Holy Spirit) is the same yesterday, today and forever, then why do we still question whether it's His will to heal? He just said so in this chapter.

Next, Jesus runs into a centurion (an officer in the Roman army). The centurion tells Jesus that his servant is lying home, paralyzed. Jesus says He will come cure him and the officer responds by saying, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed." Jesus comments on this man's amazing faith. In fact, Jesus said He had not seen such faith yet in all of Israel. Jesus spoke and the servant was healed, according to this man's faith.

When Jesus is ready to leave that place and go to another, he gathers up His students and gets in a boat. During the trip, a great storm arises and the disciples become fearful. They wake Jesus up screaming, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" Jesus calms the storm and comments on their lack of faith. This is where the digging begins...

The man with leprosy wanted to know what Jesus' will was for him. Jesus showed him (Since everyone is Jesus' favorite, he'll do the same for anyone). The centurion knew Jesus' authority, but had not yet experienced his will. Jesus notes the powerful faith and offers to heal the servant. These two men were having first experiences (encounters) with Jesus. They didn't have a grid to build on, but they believed He was who He said He was.

Back in the boat, we have the disciples, students of Jesus (his teachings, his ways, his will...). He tells them that He wants to go to the other side of the the body of water. He shares with them His immediate will. They just watched him manifest His will all over the land. They had never known a time that Jesus didn't get what He wanted, what He willed, yet they woke him up, afraid this might be the first time it would happen.

Fear is not of God. Fear has no power except that which we give it (because we have been given authority, Luke 10:9, we can transfer that authority to fear). The disciples side with fear and begin to doubt God's will... getting over to the other side. They wake Jesus up and spew their fear all over Him. This is how we often pray. We forget God's will, we forget His command to do what He has taught us to do now that He resides in us through Holy Spirit (Matt 10:8... Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons).  We then partner with fear and run to Jesus with accusations that He's going to just let us die.  Now do you understand His reply to the disciples, His students? "Why are you afraid, oh you of little faith?"  He wanted them to learn, to do what He was doing. They were about to become apostles (culture changers). He needed them to know their authority, through Him, and get used to using what He was giving them. How could they do all they needed to later, with Holy Spirit inside of them, if they couldn't learn to do it now with Jesus right there with them?

Don't fret! As my friend, Allison Bown, noted on my Facebook page, "Thank God He has compassion and patience for when we miss our opportunities... and doesn't define us forever by them." The disciples were learning because they would be "doing". Where are we on this spectrum? Are we still learning? Are we doing? Maybe we're sometimes learning and sometimes doing. Both require staying in Him and He in us. Both require lining up with everything He has already taught us and demonstrated. Both require intimacy and both can result in a fun adventurous life. Now go! Have fun!!!