BY FAITH

By Deborah Kingzett

Scripture tells us that in this life, we will face trials.  The enemy will wage war against our faith, and the battle in our minds is, at times, unrelenting.  Yet God tells us that without faith, it’s impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6).  Through these trials and challenges to our faith, we grow not only in faith, but also in intimacy and relationship with Him.

Hear God’s Word

All of scripture is God’s promise to us...it is His love letter to all people for all time.  However, we need to hear the spoken rhema word of God for our particular situation.  Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the (rhema) word of Christ.”  We need to draw close to Him, and when He speaks to our heart, and we know that He has spoken to us directly and specifically, then faith fills our being to believe for that which He has spoken to us!  

Do Not Doubt

When we hear the rhema word of the Lord, then we need to receive what He has spoken to us in childlike faith and not waiver.   James 1:6 goes on to say, “But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”

 Guard Your Pearl

Matthew 7:6 says, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet...”  When the Lord has spoken His promise to your heart and spirit, that word is a valuable and treasured pearl that needs to be guarded.  We need God’s wisdom to know which people with whom we should share our pearl from the Lord.   The enemy can use only one comment or one reaction to steal every ounce of our faith for the word that we have heard from the Lord.

 Remember

Remember God’s faithfulness in the past...how He provided, how He answered prayer, how He did a miracle.  Rehearse those answers to prayer, and thank Him for His love and goodness.  Remembering how God has demonstrated His love and faithfulness in in your life in the past will increase your faith!  “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits,” (Psalm 103:2)

Decree and Declare!

Decree and declare that word or promise that you received from the King!  “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you,” (Job 22:28).  We need to put action to our faith because we know that, “faith without works is dead,” (James 2:26).  So put feet to your faith, and decree and declare the word God spoke to you in the secret place!  

Jesus says in Matthew 17:20, “...if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”  Apprehend the word that God deposited in you in the secret place, the place where faith entered your heart, and begin to speak to mountains!

Deborah Kingzett is the Ministry Leader of the IMPACT Prophetic Prayer Teams at Gateway Church in Ashtabula, Ohio.  God uses her teaching gift to equip the saints for the work of service.  She and her husband, Bill, are in leadership at Gateway Church, are part of The Wave leadership team, and recently traveled to Poipet, Cambodia, to reach out to the women, children, and families.  They have three grown children, Bill, Michael, and Emma.