Grace through Faith
In Part 1 & 2 of this series we discussed the relationship between knowing God and manifesting His promises. You will want to review these first before proceeding to Part 3.
Knowing God
We discussed how vast and mind-blowing God’s provision is and how it is released through knowing God intimately (2 Peter 1:2).
Everything we would ever need practically for our lives – for us to be unveiled as God’s kids and conformed to His image – has already been provided by God’s grace (2 Peter 1:3).
Grace means that it is already ours.
We access these treasures through faith (Ephesians 2: 6-9, Romans 5:2).
Ah, but here can be the rub.
What if you don’t “have enough faith”?
Well, let’s talk about it.
Remember when I said, “if you start with the wrong premise, you will arrive at the wrong conclusion”? This is not about YOUR faith – it is accessing GOD’S faith – He is the author and finisher of it (Hebrews 12:2).
But how do you do that?
God’s Faith
We have heard that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). However, just plucking any scripture out and brandishing it will not generate faith. Why? Because the One Who IS the Word generates faith. Romans 10:17 is better translated in The Passion Translation:
17 Faith, then, is birthed in a heart that responds to God’s anointed utterance of the Anointed One.
When you engage with the One, Who is the Word, faith is birthed! Faith is a fruit of communing with the One Who is faithful!
Intimacy Releases God’s Faith
Jesus said in John 15:5 (NIV):
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
To remain (in other translations, abide) means:
- to commune,
- have intimate fellowship,
- saturate yourself in/practice the presence of
- soak
- intimately worship
- have contemplative prayer
- simply talk with
- interactive Spirit-led Word reading and meditation
Some of this terminology may be new to you, but they are all terms meaning basically the same thing as expressed by different streams in Christianity. Isn’t that wonderful? The vastly diverse body of God has gotten the same memo!
It’s all about intimate relationship!
And guess what fruit pops out as a byproduct of remaining experientally in our union with Christ?
The fruit of Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control!
Faith pops out by abiding! And Who is the Source or that Faith – Jesus Christ/Holy Spirit/Father God!
That is why Scripture admonishes us to have the “faith of God” (Mark 11:22, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:8). He is the Source of it.
We don’t work it up!
The Faith-Love Connection
Not only do we partake of God’s faith… we partake in God’s LOVE! God is Love (1 John 4:8, 16). Abiding in Him releases the fruit of Love Himself (Galatians 5:22)!
And guess what? Faith works by Love (Galatians 5:6)!
Galatians 5:6 (AMPC) says:
6 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.
So, God provides grace.
God provides faith.
God is the Love Who activates faith.
And you access ALL of that by abiding with God…
And God helps you abide in Him!
As you practice His presence more and more in your daily life, Christ’s faith and love will pop out. His faith is infectious!
It is easy to believe (have faith in) someone Who is crazy good, crazy powerful and Who is crazy about you as His Son/Daughter!
Rest is the Flavor of Faith
How can you know you are in faith? You are at rest. The flavor of faith is rest.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Coming to Jesus means that you turn your attention and affection to Him. THIS is why you choose to abide and why He provides the self-control (another fruit) to do so. We tend to forget to come to Him – we need help remembering. Holy Spirit, the Helper, is always there to help!
How does “coming to” Jesus provides rest?
Because as He carries the bulk of the burdens, we believe in His goodness. As we do so we can rest. We can rest or “cast our cares” because He cares for us so very well (Psalm 55:2, 1 Peter 5:7).
The flavor of faith is rest. That is why we are told to “labor” to enter the rest (Hebrews 4:11).
So, when you feel yourself striving and laboring to “work up faith” –
STOP, drop and roll in the goodness of Love, Himself.
Turn your affection to Him and release those burdens.
Let Him love on you, minister to your heart, and faith will pop out sooner or later! And it is His delight to help you!
If you need more help with this, you will want to get my “Marked by Love” book. It will immerse you in encounters with Love, Himself ! You can pick up your own copy HERE!
Let me know about YOUR experiences with this love/faith journey!
XO,
Catherine
