Faith

Disciple: Peter

Month of January

Tribe of Israel: Benjamin

Based on Revelations 21: 11-14

Let’s now take a few moments for stillness and entering the secret place, the spiritual dimension within each of us, where Jesus bids us enter when we pray. Invite and welcome the invisible Christ of God in your spiritual body into your mental and physical consciousness. Let the mind of the Christ dwell in you richly and guide you into all TRUTH.

Prayer:

We now share this prayer together.

O Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takes away the sin of the world and is always alive forever with us and within us: grant us the faith that doubts not your promises and trusts you where we cannot see. May we firmly take hold of your promises, rest in your love and rejoice in your grace and mercy; now and always. Amen.

Discussion

In Hebrews 11:1 we find the most common biblical definition of faith. It states, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen". Faith means that we are confident that there is a spiritual dimension to our lives. Jesus Christ taught that a Christ-centered, spirit-based faith is the sure foundation to discern, know and do God's will. As we enter the year 2008, let us therefore put our trust in Christ in our spiritual core, to bring the healing, salvation and peace we so greatly need and desire for our world.

In Matthew 17:20-21, Jesus stresses to his disciples the vital role that Christ-centered faith plays in realizing God's sure promises in our lives. In responding to the disciple question about why they were unable to cure a mentally deranged lad, Jesus said “Because you have such little faith! Yes! I tell you that if you have faith as tiny as a mustard seed, you will be able to say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there!’ and it will move; indeed, nothing will be impossible for you!”

Let’s now put this profound and startling statement by Jesus in its historical context. No sooner had Jesus, Peter, James and John come down from the Mount of Transfiguration, where they witnessed the lifting up and heavenly glory of Christ in Jesus as the Son of Man, that Jesus and his disciples were again faced with an earthly challenge that demand a practical and immediate spiritual solution.

A concerned father brought his epileptic son to the nine other disciples to be healed. They were unable to heal him. When Jesus came on the scene, we can almost experience the sigh of relief in the heart of the father and those who loved the boy when they saw Jesus. We can also understand the fear, frustration and embarrassment the unsuccessful disciples must have felt.

Jesus demonstrated to his disciples the impotence, weakness and inadequacy of carnal minded faith which is not centered in the Christ. When we turn within in faith and trust the indwelling Christ through our spiritual core for God’s help, power and guidance as Jesus did, we will find that our prayers will be answered. With steadfast faith in the Christ, Jesus condemned and cast out the demon. When Jesus spoke the word with Christ-centered faith, the demon and its manifestation in the boy’s life immediately left, and the boy was healed.

Whatever your problem, no matter how entrenched it might seem; no matter how many times you have previously looked to other people for help, for a cure or a healing, recognize that you can now confidently place your faith in the Christ within and through your spiritual core. Your indwelling Christ is abundantly able to do that which need to be done in your life and affairs.

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus speaking from his Christ-centered, Spirit-based identity as the Son of God and Son of Man. He speaks with the power and authority of Christ, giving these instructions to his disciples and all who choose to follow him as Savior, Lord and High Priest. “All authority in heaven and earth has been given unto me…obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Daily Practical Application & Affirmation: