Mountain moving faith has to be a faith that has great value. In 2 Peter 1:1-2, Peter addresses the church and says, “To those that have obtained like precious faith.” The victory of the believer is connected to the strength of the faith they possess. Our faith as Christians has to be faith that is seen, declared, and demonstrated. In this blog, I’ll be looking at the kind of faith that Peter was looking for, and how this faith is revealed and recognized in scripture.
(1) Faith That Can Be Built Upon
In Matthew 16:17-19, Jesus says, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father Who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” The first principle that we are challenged with is: is our faith strong enough for Jesus to build His kingdom on? Are we standing in the like precious faith that Jesus needs to establish His word and Kingdom in our lives? Are you someone that He can use to bring forth His promises and purpose? Going on to the next verse, Jesus states what that faith can receive. “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Peter had like precious faith, and through it, he saw the kingdom of heaven established in his life. Jesus had recognized it in him and declared what that faith can do and possess.
(2) Witnessing Faith
In Romans 1:8, Paul tells the church, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.” In Col.1:3-5 Paul states, “We give thanks to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and your love for all the saints.” Paul tells us in Romans how the sound of their faith is being heard everywhere. The actions of their faith are effectively speaking loudly to all the world. In Colossians, Paul goes on to talk about how this faith is bearing fruit in the gospel all over the known world. The faith that the Colossians possessed was bearing fruit which is the witness to how they had received it. It was this kind of fruit-bearing faith in the Gospel that was being a witness all over. A second to that type of faith is a faith that can be strengthened and increased. This is because it is a foundation faith that is now being an example to others. It is producing fruit that is seen. In Col. 1:9-11, Paul goes on to state, “For this reason, we also, since the day we HEARD it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” If we are not actively moving forward in our faith walk for others to see, how can we ask to be strengthened in our faith? The purpose of strengthening is so that you can continue in your faith walk as a witness that is ever-increasing in your effectiveness as you strive forward to be the example that we are all called to be.
(3) Commended and Enduring Faith
Can our faith stand up against opposition and come out commendable? In 2 Thessalonians 1:3-5, Paul is talking to the church and is so moved on how they have handled opposition and persecution that he states, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, and it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is the manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.” Can you imagine the kind of precious faith this church possessed? How their trust and love for all that God is and has, holds them to be able to not only stand up under persecution but to excel in their faith exceedingly. This says that their faith walk is growing abundantly under all the stress. This proves that God is so much greater than our problems, and He can make all grace abound towards us who believe. The testimony of our faith is when it can stand up under the stress, pressure, and even persecution that can come against it. This shows that the roots of confident faith go so deep that no matter what storms come against it, it continues to strengthen and be nourished without hindrance.
(4) Confident Faith
The place that is most effective when it comes to any and all dimensions of our faith is when we can stand steadfast and confident in our faith. This is the most important ingredient to allow our faith to become precious and enduring. If we can hold fast to the thing that we possess, then no matter what comes against us, we are assured of the promise because we remain steadfast in all things. In Heb. 10:22-23, the writer states, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience (of unbelief) and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope [hope is what faith sees coming] without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Every promise in Christ is Yes and Amen.” (2 Corinthians 1:20). This is the reason for our steadfastness in our faith. Knowing that not only is the promise in front of you but God has declared it to be a “yes and amen.” This should drive our faith forward with the confidence we need to inherit.
Finally, Hebrews 10:35-36 says, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:” Enduring faith is “Like Precious Faith” in action. The proof of who we are is in the faith that we live and operate in. That faith is the evidence of God’s kingdom at work in us and our holding onto it with the hope that faith sees. Enduring faith matures beyond our circumstances and is used to confront all that opposes us as well as what we need to advance the kingdom of God in and through our lives. Stand strong believer. Your faith, when precious and enduring, will surely bring you through.
Blessings,
Pastor Richard Giovannetti
