How much faith does it take to overturn Gods ‘No’? We live in a time when the fulfilment of our own needs, desires and wants has become paramount. People quote Jesus out of context and say, “Jesus said if you ask for anything in my name it will be given to you, so I want the 4 M’s, Millions, a Mercedes, a Mansion, and a Miracle, in Jesus name!”
So what happens when those 4 M’s don’t materialise? We begin to blame ourselves, and take on unhealthy leans in theology. It’s sin, I haven’t tithed enough, prayed enough, read my Bible enough. There must be sin from the generations past down, I am not confessing enough. Or my personal bug bear, I obviously don’t have enough faith.
Our beliefs should be tied to all of scripture, not one or two verses taken out of context. Could you point me to one person in the New Testament who had all 4 M’s given to them? We live in the tension of the already and not yet of the kingdom. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, there will be no more pain, no more fear, no more tears, He himself will wipe every tear from our eyes. Until then, absolutely we go after the already of the kingdom. However sometimes we experience the not yet. And when we do, we need trusting faith. Not unhealthy faith that attempts to overturn Gods no.
Having said that, let me encourage you, God does give dreams and visions for the future of our lives and they are good, pleasing and perfect plans. Sometimes we need to keep on keeping on in trusting faith that His plan for our lives will unfold in due course.
“…If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”
(Habakkuk 2:3 NLT)
Wait patiently because if it is the Lords will, it will be done. Patience is not the same as indifference; patience communicates the idea of someone who is strong and able to withstand all sorts of things. What helps us get through assaults with patience is living our lives in light of eternity and having a vision of God. Our God who is the source of patience who inspires us to keep on keeping on.
Friend, if you are in that difficult place, build your trusting faith, keep on keeping on, fix your eyes on Jesus and eternity, and be encouraged by Pauls words, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:6 NIV)
How much faith do I need to make a change to my circumstances is absolutely the wrong question. The right question is, “Lord, if it is your will, take this cup from me, but not my will, yours be done!”
Andrew Christie 