Walking in the Dimension of Faith

This week I shared messages with you from previous series’ and I pray they were a blessing to you.  This morning’s message comes from a 2007 series entitled: “Developing the Language of Faith.”  Enjoy:

The reason I deal with faith so much is that it is supposed to be our way of life as Christians.  The Bible teaches us to walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7), live by faith (Ro 1:17), fight by faith (1 Tim 6:12), pray by faith (James 5:15), and overcome the world by faith (1 Jn 5:4).  We are to do everything we do by faith, in faith, and through faith!  Which leads me to the title of today’s message.  I was talking to a friend of mine (Leo Jacobs) about this series and he said, “There is a difference between tapping into faith and walking in the dimension of faith.”  I meditated on that statement for a while.  I thought about many biblical passages that could support what he said, but for the sake of brevity, let’s just examine one this morning.  In Matthew 14 Jesus fed the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves.  He then sent the disciples away in a boat to get to the other side of the lake and He went to pray.  After praying for several hours, Jesus walked on water to catch up with the disciples.  The disciples were afraid of a storm that was raging and to make matters worse, some of them thought that Jesus was a ghost approaching the boat.  Jesus said, “Take courage! It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  Fear is never God’s will.  Peter then said, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  Jesus said, “Come.”  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink.  He cried out, “Lord, save me!” and Jesus did.  But then Jesus said something interesting.  Jesus said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  Now let’s take a closer look:

1.  Peter literally walked on water.  This was a supernatural act of faith, but Jesus called it little faith.

2.  The “little” in Jesus’ statement was not a reference to amount, but rather a reference to duration.

3.  Peter had faith and his faith in God was remarkable enough to walk on water, but he did not do it for very long.  He tapped into faith for a short period of time, but he then factored in his surroundings and allowed doubt to cancel his faith.

4.  Anyone can have a short-burst of faith, but God is looking for believers who will literally live by faith; to walk in the dimension of faith.

5.  If we factor in the natural, it will lead to doubt of the supernatural.

6.  Doubt cancels faith and faith cancels doubt.

7.  When we walk in the dimension of faith we look at everything through the lens of faith.  This changes our perspective, our thoughts, our language (the language of faith), and it will ultimately change our life altogether.

What are you facing today that you are not facing in the dimension of faith?  When you look at it through the lens of faith you will see a different outcome – the outcome that Lord desires for you to have!

Closing Confession:  Father, I declare, by faith, that I graduate from merely tapping into faith from time to time, to walking in the dimension of faith daily.  I declare this morning that through the power of the Holy Spirit I live by faith every moment of every day.  I look at every situation through the lens of faith and I allow my faith to change my perspective, my thoughts, my language, and my life.  I walk, live, fight, pray, and overcome the world by faith!  I have been justified by the Blood of Jesus.  That makes me the just and the just live by faith.  That’s me… every day and in every day.  I declare this by faith!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper!