uncommon faith - pt. 3
Welcome back to Part 3 of our Mini Series : Uncommon Faith!
If you haven’t caught up on the last two blogs, you can do so here on my blog. But just like last week, we will do a little re-cap.
Our main question has been, how can we develop an uncommon faith?
Receive Jesus as the developer of our faith.
Making the Word of God the final word.
Continually Feed on the Word.
Meditate on the Word.
I don’t know if you noticed yet, but a lot of these points have to do with reading and studying the Word of God. You see, the Bible doesn’t just contain the works of God, it also contains the ways of God. My Pastor likes to put it this way,
“We must determine to know God not simply by His works but by His ways (who He is).” -Pastor Johnny Olivardia.
The Word of God tells us WHO God is and when we learn about WHO God is, then we can properly develop our uncommon faith. Just like in our earthly relationships, the closer we get to someone, the more we learn about who they are. The more we learn about the other person, the deeper our faith grows in them.
So, our last two points to help us have an Uncommon Faith is :
5. Act on the Word.
James 1:22 NLT says,
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
The New King James Version says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only…” You know what the Word says… You meditate on the Word by applying it to your situation, then you act on it by putting your faith on the line.
How do we act on it? :
A) We speak it.
Faith grows when God’s Word becomes a vital part of our daily speech.
When Jesus was in the desert for 40 days and was being tempted by the Devil, what did he do for retaliation? He spoke God’s Word. When Satan tempted him to eat, Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” When Satan tempted him with all power and authority, Jesus said, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”
“It is written…”
Jesus was prepared and acted on the Word of God by speaking it into existence. The Devil was no match for Him!
How else can we act on it?
B) We take dominion.
What does it mean to take dominion? If something gets out of line—you put it back. Don’t let your body or your finances tell you what to do. If they get out of line—take authority and put things back where they belong! The devil doesn’t control you. You are led by the Spirit and filled with the life of God.
Luke 10:19 NIV says,
19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Jesus’ victory over death and the grave has given us authority and dominion over all the works of the enemy.
What does the Word say about your situation? Read it. Mediate on it by applying it to your situation. Speak it into existence and then take dominion over it.
If you are sick in body know that God’s Word says that “by His stripes we are healed!” (Isaiah 53:5)
If you are struggling with anxiety or stress, God’s Word says, “Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
If you are weary and don’t know how to continue pressing on, God’s Word says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
If you don’t know how you are going to pay for your rent or mortgage or groceries, God’s Word says, “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6:26-27)
Speak the Word and take authority over your life! That’s an uncommon faith - and that’s the life you‘re meant to live.
How else can we have an uncommon faith?
6. Continually Give God Praise.
Philippians 4:6 ESV says,
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Praise and thanksgiving is what we do between the “amen” and “there it is” of our prayer. Praise encourages our faith. Praise is our affirmation of receiving what we have believed.
Hope says, “I might have it someday.” An uncommon faith says, “If God’s Word says it is so, then it is so.” An uncommon faith says, “I take it NOW” and “I have it NOW.” And when you believe you have it, you thank and praise God!
Most of us may be guilty of waiting until the answer has manifested in physical form before we thank God. But an Uncommon Faith says you thank God that it is done for you—before you even see it!
It’s time to live in an uncommon faith! When you let Jesus develop your faith, feed and meditate on His Word, act on it and give Him praise—you will develop an uncommon faith. Stop living in the land of average and come on over to extraordinary. It’s His will for your life!
I hope this little Mini Series has encouraged you to live a life full of uncommon breakthroughs. 2021 is a year to live with an uncommon faith! It is the year to feed and mediate on God’s Word and live in the authority that has been given to us!
So, are YOU willing to do what it takes to develop your Uncommon Faith?