How can we strengthen our faith to avoid limiting God's work in us? Learning from Nazareth: Mark 6:5 “So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.” - The people’s unbelief did not diminish Jesus’ power, but it did limit what He did for them. - Faith is the God-appointed channel through which His power flows; when the channel is clogged, the flow slows. Why Faith Matters - Hebrews 11:6 — “And without faith it is impossible to please God…” - Ephesians 3:20 — He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” - Matthew 17:20 — even mustard-seed faith moves mountains; size matters less than genuineness. Common Faith Blockers - Familiarity that breeds contempt (Mark 6:3-4). - Doubt fed by double-mindedness (James 1:6-8). - Remembering past disappointments more than God’s past faithfulness (Psalm 78:41). - Relying on sight and human logic instead of God’s promise (2 Corinthians 5:7). Practices that Grow Unhindered Faith - Stay saturated in Scripture—“faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) - Speak agreement with God’s promises (Mark 11:23); our words reveal our heart posture. - Practice obedience in small things so trust stretches for larger things (Luke 16:10). - Keep company with believing friends who stir up courage (Hebrews 10:24-25). - Recall and rehearse testimonies of God’s past works (Psalm 103:2). Anchoring in God’s Promises - Proverbs 3:5-6 — trust rather than lean on understanding. - John 15:7 — remain in Christ and let His words remain in you; prayer then aligns with His will and sees answers. - Mark 9:23 — “All things are possible to him who believes!” Living Expectantly Every Day - Begin the day anticipating divine appointments; look for how God might work through you. - When a need arises, default to “God can” rather than “maybe He won’t.” - Celebrate every answer, no matter how small; gratitude fuels further faith. - Keep asking, seeking, knocking (Matthew 7:7-8); persevering prayer demonstrates settled confidence in our Father. Strengthened faith does not coerce God; it simply removes the barriers we erect, letting His already-willing power flow freely into and through our lives. |
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