Faith and Confidence in God

Episode #17: Faith and Confidence in God 1. Different Kinds of Faith Faith is not one-size-fits-all—Jesus spoke of various levels of faith: Strong Faith – A faith that stands firm regardless of circumstances. Weak/Little Faith – Matthew 14:31 Jesus said to Peter, "Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Peter started strong but doubted when he saw the storm. Lesson: Fear weakens faith—trust in God despite the storm. Great Faith Matthew 8:10 – Jesus said the Centurion had great faith because he understood authority. Matthew 15:28 – The Canaanite woman persistently believed in Jesus' ability to heal her daughter. Lesson: Great faith trusts in God's authority and does not give up. No Faith – Mark 4:40 In the storm, Jesus asked the disciples, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" Lesson: Fear and faith cannot operate together. Unbelief – Matthew 13:58 Jesus could do no mighty works in His hometown because of their unbelief. Lesson: Faith is necessary for the supernatural to manifest. 2. The Holy Spirit is Still Hovering Over the Earth Genesis 1:2 – "The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." The Holy Spirit is still present today, ready to move on our behalf. We must simply reach out in faith and receive what we need. 3. Overcoming Weak Faith and Offense We should not be offended when someone points out weak faith. Jesus met every need with confidence—He knew His Father would provide. When we take offense at correction, we block our ability to receive. Faith is based on relationship—the closer we are to God, the stronger our faith. 4. Measuring Faith – Where Are You? We need to know where we are in faith to grow in it. We cannot judge God's Word by others' results. Some may receive miracles, and some may not—but that does not change the truth of God's Word. We are not to judge others' faith. We do not know their hearts (only God does). Just because someone says they have faith doesn't mean they truly do. 5. The Power of Words and Knowledge Life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Hosea 4:6 – "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Without a deep understanding of God's Word, we cannot stand in faith. We live in a fallen world, which is why we face sickness and infirmities. We do not get sick because of personal sin. God does not punish us in Christ—Jesus already bore our punishment (Romans 8:1). 6. Understanding God's Judgment God punished people immediately in the Old Testament. Example: Disobedience often resulted in death. God's judgment was swift, clear, and final. Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias and Sapphira They lied to the Holy Spirit, not the apostles. They were in agreement in their deceit. There was a revival happening—God's presence was strong. Judgment was immediate, and there was no question as to why. Lesson: In times of great outpouring, there is also great accountability. 7. Recognizing the Enemy's Attacks Many things we assume are God's judgment are actually Satan trying to take us out. The enemy wants us to believe God is punishing us to drive a wedge between us and God. John 10:10 – "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly." Lesson: If something brings death, destruction, or confusion, it is from Satan—not God. Final Thoughts Faith exists in different levels—weak, strong, great, and even unbelief. We must recognize where we are in faith and grow in our trust in God. Offense blocks our ability to receive from God. Our words shape our spiritual strength—speak life, not doubt. We do not suffer because God is punishing us—He already placed our punishment on Jesus. We must recognize the difference between God's discipline and Satan's attacks. Faith is about confidence in God's promises, regardless of circumstances.