We see in the Book of Mark the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree. Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem when Jesus cursed the fig tree because it didn't have any fruit on it. The next day when they passed by the tree, Peter pointed out that it had withered and dried up from the roots. Jesus said to His disciples, "Have faith in God" (Mark 11:22) or "have the faith of God."

In essence Jesus was saying, "Did you see what I did? I was able to do this through the God-kind of faith. If you have this kind of faith, you'll have the same results."

After hearing this, many Christians may say, "I want that kind of faith!" Little do they know that, as Christians, they already have it. Romans 12:3 says, "God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

Basics of Faith

Faith is the center of our Christian beliefs. Everything we receive from God is through faith.

• We are saved through faith—"For by grace are ye saved through faith" (Eph. 2:8).
• You can't live the Christian life without it—"The just shall live by his faith" (Hab. 2:4).
• It takes faith to please God—"Without faith it is impossible to please [God]" (Heb. 11:6).
• Faith is the only battle we're to fight—"Fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim. 6:12).

All that Jesus did on the cross through His death, burial, and resurrection is available to us through the grace of God.

ROMANS 5:1–2
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.

How do we access this grace? Through faith.

What Faith Is Not

We can better understand faith by knowing what it is not. Faith is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It is not a panic button. Faith is a lifestyle.

Living by faith doesn't mean you won't have tests or trials. The Bible says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers [us] out of them all" (Ps. 34:19 NKJV). Scripture also promises us that God "always causes us to triumph in Christ" (2 Cor. 2:14).

Our Words Dominate Us

Words are coins in the kingdom of faith. The moment you said you couldn't do something, you were whipped. Failure holds you in bondage when you talk failure. Talking lack stops money from coming in. Fear and doubt only grow stronger when you speak words of fear and doubt.

What are we to say? We're to speak the Word. Scripture tells us to "hold fast our confession" (Heb. 4:14 NKJV). We have an enemy—Satan—who is against us. And our continual confession of the Word enforces his defeat.

To keep us from gaining an upper hand, the devil tries to steal that confession from our mouths. He does this through adversity. He tries to make it look like the Word isn't working. But as long as we don't quit speaking the Word, we can't be defeated. God's Word will get the job done.

Through faith we are a mighty moving force that can't be stopped. The devil is not big enough. Adversity isn't big enough. Sickness and disease aren't big enough. Why? Because our Father is greater than all!