The word “faith” is tossed around so freely few understand its real meaning. It is mostly used to believe in a church doctrine or a trust in the verbal word of a professional doctor, banker, electrician, teacher, or maybe even the government. It can also refer to a mental or emotional agreement with someone. Biblical faith is what is commonly thought of as faith, but on serious steroids. It is intuitive than mental or emotional. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1, ESV). It includes an element of risk taking. Its source is much deeper within you. In practice, what separates real faith from fantasy is how we respond in a crisis or a tragedy that only God can resolve.
This type of faith does not originate from what we have seen or heard; it comes from the Holy Spirit planting a gift into your innermost being. It is mysteriously planted in one’s innermost being. John wrote about faith as it relates to salvation when he said, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. (John 6.44a, ESV). God’s drawing is not something we can do for ourselves or anything others can do for us. This drawing is His impartation of faith that involves a revelation of what is possible when God is involved. Paul says it this way, for by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8, ESV). The only role we play in salvation is embracing the vision God has planted deep within.
When we believe the vision the Spirit implants in our hearts, God responds by regenerating us. We experience a positive traumatic experience that changes the trajectory of our life. We come out the other side with new desires for Him, new values, fresh hope for the future. This definition of faith is far more than a mental or emotional belief in what a salesperson may say in a sales pitch.
The key to you seeing a miraculous life-change is NOT a matter of pumping yourself up to believe for a miracle. Instead, it is acknowledging something only God can do, and having Him drop the faith Jesus had into your heart. Jesus said truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing (John 5:19a, (ESV). This explains why Jesus healed only one man when many were sick around the pool of Bethesda. (John 17) He only saw His Father heal that one. Remember, God the Father will always be all knowing, wise, loving and totally sovereign. As for our side of the equation, our desperate need plus God’s gift generates the opportunity that releases God’s supercharged power to create a life-change.
Most have seen lightning strike the earth, few have seen lightning originate on earth and split into the atmosphere. I saw a video (Google it for yourself) of a lightning strike from the New York City World Trade Center on April 1, 2023. One explanation was that the first strike from above happened, but we couldn’t see it. That strike then charged the WTC, which sent the strike from the earth to atmosphere. This explanation illustrates what happens spiritually. First, God drops His faith into man, which charges the person with God’s power, resulting in the supernatural happens!
Miraculous moments often arise out of the times when we face overwhelming problems or painful situations we typically avoid, like the plague. But would you respond that way if you knew those problems created perfect conditions for God to drop His faith into your heart and bring about a life-altering miracle or a revelation? The amazing news is, if God doesn’t work a miracle at that moment, He has something better waiting for you. Consider the three Hebrew guys in Daniel 3:18-30. If God is for you, who can be against you? Consider viewing the dark times in your life as opportunities for a life-changing experience. Lean into them rather than away from them.