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Essential Steps to Increase Your Faith

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Essential Steps to Increase Your Faith

Summary

Essential Steps to Increase Your Faith
Summary
Written during a world-wide pandemic, COVID-19, this book on faith is a  "must-read."  The author, who has previously written several other  inspirational books, shares examples she learned of how to apply faith  and succeed, no matter how difficult the problem!  Much more than  personal insight though, the book is filled with Scripture from research  she has done in the Bible.  She loves to share the powerful truths God  reveals to her from His unchanging Word.  She writes with a style that  will give you hope, and she offers you essential tools to know how to  apply your faith and get you through, above and beyond, life's most  troubling circumstances.  You will not only want to read it cover to  cover, but you will want to refer to it again and again.

Sample

Chapter 1 – What We Confess!

One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the Word of God, or the Holy Bible.  Without reading it or hearing it, we can’t grow in our faith in God, and we’re not aware of, or we soon forget, His many promises to us!  Within its pages, we have a beautiful and amazing love story, of God’s unconditional love for mankind in spite of our sinful natures, leading up to His own execution on the cross, so that we could be saved.  Within the Bible, we also find fascinating history, science, prophecy, exhortation, miracles, promises, many helps on how to live the Christian life, and more.  The Bible literally has everything we need to know about God and life, and much much more.

There is something of a miracle contained in its pages.  God has arranged it so that His Word is living.  When He speaks, things happen.

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

We are told that it is as sharp as a sword.  It has the power to discern our thoughts, and our hearts.  Only God’s Word can do that!

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12
 
Jesus is the Word.  This is all the more reason we need to cherish His Word.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
The same was in the beginning with God. John 1:2
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3
In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:4

Seeing the importance of reading the Word of God, the main topic of this chapter has to do with what you confess!  Even though I had been reading the Bible since childhood, memorizing it, and going to Bible school, it wasn’t until later in life that I learned about the power behind confessing your faith.  It was all new to me.  Also, I didn’t realize the importance of disciplining myself to watch what I said, especially when it came to negative confessions.  Some people don’t believe it matters what you say, or confess, but clearly it is in the Bible.  If this is new to you too, hopefully, this chapter will offer some insights to enlighten you, as I was enlightened.

Word of Faith
If we look in Scripture, we’ll find that everything is created by the Word of Faith – that’s how God works – by the spoken Word – this is how the world and everything was created. He spoke it into existence. Read Genesis 1. Every time God created something, the Bible says, “And God said...”. Then He declared that it was so...let there be light. And poof, there was light, and so on.  When Jesus healed, or delivered someone, He always spoke it out, either to the demon, or to the person for their healing, or even to rise from their dead state.  Our Savior is so extremely Awesome (the kind where you fall down on your face in awe of Him), He can do anything!

What you confess is so important, I’d like to point out something very surprising! Do you believe that you are saved by the “confession” of your sin? NO. We are saved by confessing the Lord! He knows about the sin. The confession is to acknowledge that He alone can save us from all unrighteousness. Confessing your sin isn’t actually what saves you! Isn’t that interesting? I always thought you had to confess your sins in order to be saved!

We read in Romans the importance of what we confess:

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; Romans 10:8
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Romans 10:10  

Faith is a “confession” of what is in the heart. Then it goes on to say that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
 
Before we go on, I’d like to clarify that it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t confess our sins. When God convicts us, we will want to confess our burden of sin, and be free of it. And we have that incredible promise of forgiveness in I John 1:9:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 
And so, here is a monumental step to successful faith – Instead of confessing the problem, confess the Lord and His Word!  Do not confess the problem. This can also amount to complaining, which won’t get you the desired results!

Some people have given the phrase, Word of faith (as we just read in verse 8), a bad name because it was not represented well by some popular TV evangelists. It does not mean a power trip or anything like that. It doesn’t mean that you can control what you get by what you confess, especially when it is clearly not God’s desire or will for you to have something. Everything must be done by prayer.

You might wonder, where do I use the Word of faith? And how does it work?  Let’s take healing for example.  There are many healing Scriptures to be found in the Bible. I’d like to share one of my favorites. As a declaration of my faith, and that I am in agreement with Scripture, I repeat it often when I desire and need healing.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  Romans 8:11  

You know that “quicken” means to bring life to? When something is awry in our bodies, it is attacked by something that is NOT life-giving; rather, it is trying to rob us of life as God intended us to have. So, this verse is very important to confess when you are asking for healing! One time I had a lump on my gums, and God put that verse on my heart, so I said it, and I prayed, and the lump went away, and so did the pain associated with it! Praise God! Our words are powerful when we agree with God’s Word!  Here is an important passage of Scripture about the gravity of what we speak.  Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees:
 
A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. Matthew 12:33  
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Matthew 12:34  
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. Matthew 12:35
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36  
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matthew 12:37  

In verse 37, this is a sobering truth if we think that our language doesn’t carry some weight!
Similarly, our tongues can make us or break us.  Look at this enlightening passage in James:

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  James 3:9  
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. James 3:10  
Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? James 3:11  
Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. James 3:12

So, we see that we choose the words that we say.  When we bless God, and in the next breath, likely out of anger, we curse man, we are then unstable, and headed down a dangerous path.  We have lost control of our tongue, and now Satan can have a hey-day with us.  We are no longer of any use to God until we correct and control our tongue.  In other words, shut-up, repent, and change our thoughts and words to the right God-approved ones.  
Beware of Negative Confessions
Words are powerful. Here’s an example. When doctors diagnose us, they are just doing their job, what they are trained to do to try and help us. But in another sense, depending on what they find, it’s almost like a curse. If it is negative and/or life-threatening, don’t ever believe that what they say is the final diagnosis. Pray about it and ask God about the diagnosis, don’t just blindly accept it as final! Then believe for total healing! Declare the Word.  We can pray over ourselves, and break every word we, or someone else, ever said about us that did not align with Scripture, re: our many healing promises.

We need to stop agreeing with negative confessions, whether it was said by a doctor or not. What have we got to lose? And if you catch yourself saying, “I’ll never get over this, or feel well again,” stop yourself.  Instead quote the Word, and say, “By His stripes I am healed, and/or He sent forth His word and He healed me.” You can quote any other number of Scriptures, and believe, and thank God for healing you in advance, even if you still feel lousy, or feel the pain. Don’t give up!

Every time we confess something negative, contrary to God’s Word, we are really denying the truth of the Word.  For instance, if we keep saying, “I’ will never be able to afford this,” or, “If I don’t get a job, I’m afraid I’ll go bankrupt,” you are not believing God’s promises.  Instead we need to focus on His promises:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

For years I had been reading the Book of Job, and one day, I was reading a great Christian book explaining all about fear.  I learned that fear is a spirit, and also, that when you speak negatively, demons can hear you, and they will do their best to fulfil what you just uttered.  If you continue to confess fear, fear will be your constant companion in that thing that you fear.  Be careful, because sometimes what you fear can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.  I’ve seen it happen.  The author explained that all that happened to Job, was likely the result of negative confessions of fear of losing what he had.  And what happened?  He lost everything.  Look at Job’s own confession:

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. Job 3:25

Job may have been picked as the one to go through severe testing because of his negative confession of fear, even though he was a righteous man.  His fears became a self-fulfilling prophecy.  It is something to carefully consider.

Agree with God’s Word
Whatever your trouble is, I would suggest to get a good Bible concordance.  Then look up all the Scriptures you can find that have to do with your problem, whether it’s healing, provision, loneliness, fear, relationships, etc.  As you look for Scripture, you will also be feeding your spirit on God’s Word, and increasing your faith at the same time! Repeat the verses, and let them get deep into your heart and soul. After awhile, you will notice a big difference when it comes to your faith.

Try this: Confess your healing, deliverance, provision, etc. by repeating the Scriptures.  If it’s healing you need, then declare it by voicing it over your body — it works, trust me, it has worked for me with my dental when it seemed the situation was hopeless.  You are simply agreeing with God’s Word.  Remember, it is His Word that gets the results, not us!  We are simply stating what He’s already said, and believing in our heart that it is so!  Remember, this is how we get saved, according to Scripture (confess and believe, Romans 10:9-10).  Regardless of what the dentist, doctor, or bank manager says, believe what the Word of God says even more.  Jesus is the Great Physician, and He is our provider.  Does He use doctors, and other professionals?  Absolutely!  But why not first go to the One who created you?  He knows what needs to be done!  Put your trust in Him above all!  

And remember, cover everything by prayer.  Ask God what He would have you do, and which Scriptures He would have you read; then let it seep into your soul and spirit. It will help you stay faithful (full of faith), and stay positive! This is a big test of your faith, but if you don’t try it, how will you ever know how faith works?

From Faith to Freedom
I’d like to share a story of something that happened to me about a year or so ago.  Here is the account I journaled as it was happening:
 
This has to do with my sore right knee.  I feel it is an attack of arthritis, so I cursed arthritis in my body, and I felt something go.  Some believers do not know about cursing things in our body that are impeding us, or even designed to kill us.  Jesus clearly gave us instruction in the following:

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. Matthew 21:18
And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. Matthew 21:19
And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Matthew 21:20
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. Matthew 21:21
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matthew 21:22
       
It may be new for some, but try praying this way!  You can speak to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, the Covid virus, or any other virus, and more, and curse it!  Jesus gave us permission!  Try it, and pray for your friends and loved ones that way. Just remember to give Jesus all the glory for great things He has done!

Next, I came into agreement with the Word, and I quoted Romans 8:11 and other healing Scriptures, and jump-started my faith to work.  I was able to climb into our pool, and I was able to swim around again in 25 Celsius degree water. The water became warmer as I moved around. Not so yesterday. Here is the GEM I learned – it’s the following verse:

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17

If you really think about it, there is no liberty in the midst of pain. Pain boxes you in, and limits you. (We’ll talk more about pain in Chapter 3 and Chapter 10).  But the good news is that the Spirit of God never causes us to feel oppressed, or caged in.  You have total freedom in the spirit.  In Isaiah 61:1, and Luke 4:18 (see quote below), it says that Jesus came to set the prisoner free, and set at liberty those that are bruised!

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he [Jesus] hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, Luke 4:18

Remember that when bad things happen to you, God is not the instigator, Satan is responsible.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

This is very important to embrace when you find yourself struggling with pain, or any other meddlesome problem that is taking your focus away from God.  It is especially true when faced with the limitations imposed on us because of the Covid!  We need to earnestly pray against this insidious virus!
 
This morning the Lord impressed on me to move around – my knee is healed, so I was going to go golfing, but my husband Craig (lovingly) put his foot down and said no. So, I baked instead. Now I am editing my children’s book, Joanna’s Secret Treasure. I’m loving the pool in this 26 plus weather.

Yesterday and today, the Lord impressed on me not to worry about seeing a doctor.  He assured me that the knee pain is temporary, part of a lesson on faith, so I can help others.  Today, He strongly impressed on me to pay NO attention to symptoms, looks, or feelings. Just believe, and forget about the senses vying for all my attention.
 
Many people think that they have to accept the pain and the problem, when clearly, they don’t. So, their pain continues, even though they can pray, and rebuke it, and more than likely, be free of it.    

I prayed today that if this pain is from God, give me the strength to endure it. But I realized that it is severely limiting me, so it can’t be from God, because it interferes with Kingdom work (such as my volunteer work, art venues, and writing). If it added to Kingdom work (as it did just temporarily for the experience that I am now sharing), that is a different story.

The question always to ask God when something bad happens, and we feel pain, is this: What is the divine purpose of this pain?

What faith is & what faith is not
Faith is action, not inaction.  Faith involves life.  Unbelief is death to the things of God, things that have no use in the kingdom.  The Kingdom of God is a living thing; it is Christ at work in and through us, and it is evidence of that life to those around us.

If Jesus is speaking, there is life, as He said in the following:

It is the spirit that quickeneth [giveth life]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

Let’s think about this for a moment.  There again, it is important what we confess.  Jesus said that He speaks life.  If we speak His Word, we also speak life into things.  For example, healing.  Whatever originates from God brings life.  The words that we speak, if not of the Spirit of God, will not bring life.  These are the words of the flesh, and Jesus said that they profit nothing.  Why is this important what we confess when it comes to faith?
Bearing Fruit
Well, there is another aspect that we must be aware of, and that has to do with bearing fruit.  Take a look at the following:

A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Proverbs 18:20
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21

What are the results of our faith, according to what we confess? All we have to do is see what kind of fruit they bear.  Good fruit or bad fruit?  If you are struggling with ulcers, or an over-active mind, and you can’t sleep at night, perhaps there is too much worry in your life, and you need to think more positive faith-thoughts.  Sometimes I sure have to!

Why is faith so important in the Christian life? Because faith connects us to the life of the Spirit of God.  It is how He wants us to communicate with Him.  

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6
 
God established this in the very beginning with Adam and Eve.  Faith is life-giving.  And after Eve believed a lie AND followed up on it, death resulted. Unbelief is like a mini spiritual death for believers, and certain permanent death for unbelievers.  It restricts us to the world and our senses. Faith is dealing in the infinite — unbelief is dealing in the finite, the world and the senses.

Faith as a Weapon
Faith is also a fight. Why? Because the devil knows how powerful it is once we grasp it, and start living in it. It is his greatest fear, and our greatest weapon.  It is part of our armor to counter-attack the enemy, and it is powerful!  This is how Jesus responded to Satan when he was tempted in the wilderness.  He said, “It is written …”

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.   Ephesians 6:16
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Ephesians 6:17

Satan fears that we know and appropriately USE the Word (that’s our shield of faith in verse 16). It will defeat him every time. Faith in the Word is our greatest weapon.  In fact, it is a double-edged sword.  I quoted this verse earlier, and I quote it here again.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Transform Your Mind
When I was in Bible School, I got so immersed in the Bible, it literally transformed me, like it says in Romans 12:2:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

It was easy for me to believe in God’s many promises because I was so saturated in the Word. Everything that was spiritual started to make sense to me because my mind was in line with the Word. The Word is powerful because it is the only Word that can literally change your life. But you have to continue to be immersed in it, and also apply it.

Being saturated in the faith will overhaul your thinking and change the course of direction of your thoughts, where the real battleground lies. It will change your life. But many, many people never reach this plateau because they are far too busy to spend that much time in the Word, drinking it in, and spending time with the Lord, getting life and nourishment from the vine.  Once saturated in the Word, then start confessing it over every single situation where healing and a touch of life from the Word are needed.  You are sure to see a difference!  
Chapter 1 Questions
1.      Describe the power of the Word of God found in the Bible, and what it can and does do when applied.  Refer to Scripture.
2.      Describe what “word of faith” means.  How would you apply it to something you are struggling with right now?
3.      What is the difference between faith and unbelief?
4.      Why is what we confess so important? And why is our faith a great threat to Satan?
5.     How can we transform our mind?

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Currently this book is sold as an e-book only and there is currently no printed version.  Although this book is sold in multiple different countries, it is currently in English only.
This book is available at the following sites:
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