Trusting the Character of God
It would help us all to know and to realize that the size of our faith is not nearly as important as the quality of God’s character. We have all hoped that our faith would be big enough to receive the help we need in our families, health, and finances. Many of us have blamed our lack of faith when help fails to manifest. But let me say this: God doesn’t stretch His hand over us because we are always faith giants; He manifests His help when we have a knowledge of His goodness. “For God so loved the world that He gave…” God doesn’t give because we always deserve it. God gives because He loves.
There are no shortcuts to real mountain moving faith. There is no diet pill or drive through mentality to having sincere bedrock faith. There isn’t a recipe of faith or a 12 step program. Real faith comes only from a personal fellowship with our Heavenly Father. This pure and genuine faith is only forged in alone time with God. As you meditate on God’s Word because you want to know Him, your faith will become authentic. As you bow your knees behind closed doors because you want to commune with Him, your faith will be fueled by personal knowledge of the One you are seeking. Faith is not something we try to have; Faith is what comes automatically when we know God. If you know the character of the One you are asking then you will rest on that character more than your efforts.
The devil has successfully convinced many Christians that their faith isn’t enough. And by doing so, he has persuaded believers to consider their own faith first when they should have first considered the character of God. Christians then move into a place where God cannot go: They move into self condemnation. They move to a place of blaming themselves. Many Christians can forgive others but few have learned to forgive themselves.
James 1:5 in the Amplified Bible says, “If any of you is deficient in wisdom let him ask of the giving God, who gives to everyone liberally and UNGRUDINGLY, WITHOUT REPROACHING OR FAULTFINDING, and it will be given him.” This verse tells us how to receive from God. God always gives in an environment without faultfinding. God does not size up your self-righteousness before He decides to give you something. You must not be in a place of blaming yourself if you are to receive from God. He gave us Jesus “while we were yet sinners.” (Rom 5:8) He doesn’t withhold because of grudges. He gives because of His incredible desire to demonstrate His love.
When you come to God you must know this about Him. You must be willing to believe that He is not looking at your faults. (If you are Born Again) You must understand that He has required you not to condemn yourself. You must see yourself as qualified to receive because of His love and not your “put on” faith. Believing only in your faith is not faith at all. Believing that God is going to give out of His love is what faith was meant to be all along. This faith only occurs when a person personally knows God.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti, NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
