Understanding biblical faith is vital because God’s will for us doesn’t automatically happen. Everything done for us by grace, just like our initial salvation, has to be received by faith. But if we don’t understand the principles of faith, we won’t be able to appropriate what God has given us.
Let’s look at what the bible says about faith.
Asking in faith
Before we can talk about believing and receiving from God, we have to first define what “real” faith is. This is the beginning point for receiving from God. The main aspect of faith is belief. This might seem obvious, however, many people say they have ‘faith’ in God, but they don’t know what His word says about their situation. What do they believe? Faith begins where the will of God is known. You must spend enough time with Him and in His Word to know what He has said about your situation and to have confidence in it. This only comes from His Word. Once you have knowledge of God’s Word and confidence in it, you can pray, expecting to receive. (1 John 5:14-15)
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
In Mark 11:22-24, Jesus gives us some qualifications for receiving.
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
The 1st principle of faith: Believe you receive WHEN you pray
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24
- Believe you receive “when you pray” – NOT when you see it (that isn’t faith)
If what you are praying for doesn’t immediately happen, that doesn’t matter. God still gave, and if you have confidence for what you ask, continue to believe and you will receive!
1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.
The 2nd principle of faith: Faith SPEAKS
Mark 11:23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
- Speak what you believe
Faith is voice activated. We see this principle of faith demonstrated clearly in Romans, for the prayer of salvation:
Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Faith is in our heart. And out of the abundance of the heart we speak.
Luke 6:45 for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.
The 3rd principle of faith: Faith ACTS in positive response to what you believe
- Actions follow our expectations
James 2:17 So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions (complementary response), then it is dead.
Do you have assurance that you have what you ask for?
If you do, then you will act like it is true. It’s a heart matter. What does that mean? If I told you I deposited $100,000.00 in your account and it is now yours; would you go take that money out? Would you jump around excitedly thanking me? Or would you say thanks and sit on the couch and finish watching your show? There would be some kind of positive response to believing that I have just given you $100,000.00! No one would have to tell you to be excited; your reaction is a natural response to your faith in what I’ve told you. Hopeful expectation gives birth to actions. Actions don’t produce faith; it is faith that produces the actions.
Each of these keys is part of perfected faith. When you are “in faith,” your actions and your words will naturally change to line up with what you believe.
Enduring Faith
The 4TH principle of faith: MAINTAIN confidence in spite of the circumstances
- Faith doesn’t waiver at the promise of God
You may have the faith when you pray, but if you are going to receive into physical manifestation what you believed for when you prayed, you are going to have to maintain your faith. Your confidence can not waiver, regardless of the circumstances. It will take effort to hold onto that faith if the physical reality of what we believe for takes some time.
James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Hebrews 6:11-12 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
For more on faith and patience, see my article “Faith and Patience"
If you aren’t yet at the place of believing in your heart-then spend time in the Word, in praise, in thanksgiving, in His presence, until you are fully persuaded. Then make your prayer of faith. It would do little good to skip this step, and try to make yourself “have faith.” Remember, faith is of the heart, not the mind. Without hopeful expectation, your ‘faith’ will NOT work.
For scriptures to meditate on to build your faith, see “We have the victory”