GIBI Course – Faith in Operation
Faith in OperationLesson 1
Matthew 15:28“O woman, great the faith of thee.”Great: splendid, magnificent, extraordinary, wonderful, grown up, important, powerful.Using any one of the above words would sufficiently explain what Jesus was saying. Jesuslooks at her faith in its entirety and it is really wonderful and powerful. When He sees our faith this way it is the same to Him. He would do anything with it and for it. He is not sayingshe had any more faith than anyone else, but that her faith is powerful when used as she wasusing it.Matthew 17:20“If you may possess faith like as a grain of mustard…”As: like as, as it were.If you possess faith as a grain of mustard possesses it you could send this mountain away. Heis not speaking of the size of a mustard seed, but the operation of a grain of mustard. For itworks far beyond its size. The mustard grain uses all that it possesses, so must we use all thefaith we possess.Matthew 21:21“If you may possess faith and not doubt.”Doubt: scrutinize, examine, estimate, dispute, contend, hesitate, judge.According to this statement of Jesus, faith does not work when we are scrutinizing anddisputing its operation. Faith does not need a close watch over from the possessor. Faithneeds freedom of operation so that it can perform the pleasure of God.Matthew 23:23“You have left aside the weightier of the law, the judgment, the mercy, and the faith.”Left aside: send away, dismiss, suffer to depart, to emit, send forth, pass over by, to let alone.Weightier: important, momentous, difficult of observance, authoritative, strict, imposing,impressive.Judgment: decision, award, distinction, sentence, justice, equity.Mercy: compassion, pity, benefit, kindness.Faith: firm persuasion, assurance, trust, confidence.Jesus is scolding them for dismissing or passing over the most important things. One of which is faith. Are we doing the same as they did? If God accepts faith only, how can any of us dismiss using and operating in the faith He gave us.Mark 4:40“How is it you do not possess faith?”Possess: be affected by, subjected to, have ready, regard, to seize.Jesus is scolding them for not being ready in faith to meet the storms of life. It is amazingthat we have faith, yet we are not subjected to using it. Jesus expects us to be affected by our faith in everything we do and face. We should always regard faith in all pressures and storms.3
Leave a Comment