What is it about faith? Some people say if you pray and you don’t get what you want, you don’t have enough of it.
If you believe even when it looks impossible, people say that you have lots of it.
James 2:19-22 says if you have tons of it but don’t do anything with it, it’s worthless. Jesus said it only takes a little. (Matthew 17:20)
Jesus’ first miracle was at the wedding in Cana. (John 2:1-11) His mother didn’t ask Him to change the water into wine. She simply stated the fact, “the wine is all gone.” Then, she turned to the servants and with the confidence of faith, simply told them, “Do whatever He tells you to do.”
Jesus had not yet done any miracles. His mother had the head knowledge and the Spirit’s confirmation that He wasn’t an ordinary child. And, with that, the heart knowledge that grows from close relationship. She had no proof that He COULD do miracles. She didn’t know HOW He would get more wine but, she knew that He would.
In Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus ignored the Canaanite woman who pestered Him about her demon possessed daughter. Jesus finally told her ‘so what’ and was, in fact, really kind of rude to her. She responded about how even the dogs eat the crumbs under the master’s table.
Jesus told her, “Woman YOU have GREAT faith.” and delivered her child from the demons. Why was ‘her‘ faith great? She had (probably) seen, or at least heard about, the miracles. In spite of impossible circumstances, she knew that He could so she persisted.
The first miracle, (water to wine) was done through a heart’s awareness that existed because of an intimate relationship. The other (demon cast out) was done because of a persistent faith that came from knowledge.
When we have an intimate relationship with the Lord that acknowledges His sovereignty; our faith is perfected. Faith is knowing that He “can.” Perfect faith acknowledges that He is Lord while trusting that He works all things for our good because He loves us. (Romans 8:28)
Perfect faith acknowledges the sovereignty of God. So, how DO we acquire perfect faith (?); through intimate relationship in prayer and the confirmation in knowledge that comes from Bible study.
Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Prayer: Father, help me to strengthen my faith. Show me your faithfulness through your Word, the witness of the Holy Spirit and through my own memory of your faithfulness. I love you. Amen.
Scripture References:
James 2: 19-22 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
Matthew 17:20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
John 2:1-11 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Matthew 15:21-28 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.