The Purpose Of Faith

Over the many years of my Christian walk, I have heard and seen people proclaim and desire to use their faith for a varied number of things.  Some of those things seemed legitimate, while others seemed to be totally out of context with biblical faith.  Yet, I have come to understand that many have not gotten an understanding of what faiths purposes are, and so they allow the carnal mind to dictate the application of their faith.  It is my objective in this lesson to receive from the Holy Spirit and deliver to you God’s purpose for faith in your life.

Faiths Foundation.

     The first thing that I want to establish, is that faith has purpose, and is not just some generic force that does any, and everything, for any, and everyone.  All of the secular self help guru’s are telling people to believe in themselves, and others (people), yet this is not biblical faith, for biblical faith is centered in God.  It is God who responds to faith, causing the manifestation of what you are believing, and not yourself or other people.  The foundation of faith is God, and not some generic force that anyone can tap into to accomplish their purposes.  Again, the purpose of faith is not to believe in oneself; rather God alone.  Mark 11:22 gives us the key regarding who to have faith in, it reads;

  “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.”

Understanding who our faith is founded upon, will help us to establish its purposes.  Since God is the foundation of our faith, then our faith must be built upon Him, applying only those things that (He) the foundation will support.

God’s Will And Your Faith.

     There are many things that faith can do, yet its purpose is to birth the will of God in the lives of His people, and in the earth.  Your faith is meant to demonstrate God’s glory.  His glory in providing, healing, delivering, sustaining, revealing, resurrecting, etc….  These things are God’s will.  Some will ask “what about my will, or me, me, me?”  Although God uses your faith to accomplish things, faiths purpose is not about you, or your will; rather it’s in God (for His will), regarding everything you attempt to apply your faith to.  Your faith is purposed to do the will of God, for in the will of God you will find that your faith is a strength.  Jesus understood this fact, and He made a statement in John 4:34 that speaks of Himself doing the will of God, it reads;

   “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

Meat gives you strength, similar to faith.  Your faith is to be applied to do the will of Him that sent you.  Your faith is not intended to be directed by your will; rather God’s.  Many need to renew their minds on this particular point. 

Not Personal; Rather For The Kingdom.

     One of the greatest purposes of your faith is to build the Kingdom of God.  The purpose of faith is never personal; rather its always for the Kingdom of God.  This tells us, that in order to have faith work in our lives we must lose the sense of self, and think on God and His Kingdom.  Jesus tells us not to be anxious or concerned about self, Matthew 6:25-32 says;

  “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

So we ought to never take thought for our personal things, which releases our minds to apply our faith to the things of God.  God will lead you when and where to apply your faith, and He does not desire you in anxiety or fear to focus your faith on yourself, or be concerned that God is not taking care of things on your behalf.

     Some Christians are personal faith keepers and self appliers of their faith.  So many miss it big, by first, trying to use faith for themselves.  The first place that we should use our faith is the things of God.  When we apply our faith to the Kingdom of God, God takes care of us.  Matthew 6:33-34 says;

  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

 You don’t have to be concerned about yourself first; God is first in all things.  When you apply your faith to take care of the Kingdom of God, God takes care of you. 

     Again, the purpose of faith is not to ascertain a personal wish list; rather to legislate dominion, submitted to the directions and will of God.  We are to use faith to exercise our dominion by the direction of the will of God.

Faith Works.

     Faith is like a spiritual employee that is engaged to work.  Yet its work is specific to the company it is employed by.  Faith is employed by God, it works for the Kingdom, yet you, the Christian, has been given a portion to supervise.  It is employed by the company (God’s Kingdom) and not by the supervisor (you).  The supervisor cannot take the Kingdoms employee and have them work for themselves, demanding that it works for them to give them castles, houses, and land.  Now if it is the Kings (God) plan for that supervisor to have those things, then and only then can that person have faith work to ascertain those things.  Again, faith is a tool or employee that is employed or used to accomplish a certain purpose, God’s purpose.

Misappropriated Faith.

     Many people instead of using faith to foster God’s will misappropriate their faith to try and get what they want.  The application of your faith should be subject to the will of God, lest the manifestation of your faith will not come.  Now I know that there are many people who would beg to differ in regards to the things that we can apply our faith to, so because of this I will use a biblical example before them.  Here is a question, “did Jesus use faith to personally enrich Himself?  Or was His application of faith an act of the Father’s will and for Kingdom purposes?”  The answer is clear.  We should do likewise and not use our faith for self centered goals that are not in the will of God for us.

     Things, things, things, and more things.  Is that what faith is about?  When I hear people telling me how they want to use their faith for things, for themselves (such as bigger houses, cars, land, money, etc..), I know that they have not sought out or received the will of God regarding faith.  Whenever we are in doubt regarding something we can apply our faith to, we can use the life of Jesus as a guide.  Again, did Jesus use His faith for mostly personal or self centered things?  Was He praying for a new donkey or horse?  Was He seeking a bigger earthly house, or more money?  NO!

     Beloved child of God, I don’t want you to misunderstand me, I believe that you can use your faith to get your needs met, but not for selfish abundance or prideful desires.  Yet we should not focus our faith on our needs; rather our God, who in turn will supply all of our needs.  The purpose and object of your faith is not the things, only God.  You can believe God for anything, and not you believing God to give you what you have instructed Him to.  He knows exactly what you need, when you need it, and how much you need, so let Him instruct you where to place your faith.

Why Faith Does Not Work.

     Often faith does not work, because it is applied to the wrong things, or for the wrong purposes.  If we would only ask God what He wants us to believe for, or the purpose that He wants us to apply our faith to, we would find great success in believing.  The application of your faith (where you are applying it, and purpose) will dictate the manifestation of your faith.  Many Christians faith are placed upon the lust of their hearts, causing no manifestation.  James 4:3 says;

  “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

Faith is not working for many because faith is a Kingdom tool, and the person using it must become Kingdom minded.  They must know that it’s about God.  Again, faith is not about you, your wants, your desires; rather about God.

     Your faith is purposed to get the work of the Living God done.  You are to apply faith to His work.  James 2:18-20 says;

  “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

Your faith is purposed to accomplish the works of the Lord, lest it be dead faith, and not a living faith.

Pride Versus Proof.

     The purpose of your faith can offer proof or a sign to unbelievers, yet it can never be in pride.  When you apply faith in pride, then it is operating in presumption.  God never works with presumption, for it is founded in entitlement, which is not based on God; rather the individual.  God gives proof of His Word, and not of an individual’s thoughts, ideas, or desires.  Mark 16:20 says;

  “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

Pride tries to impress people regarding your relationship with God, while proof seeks God’s affirmation of His Word for His purposes, whether that be salvation for the lost or encouragement to believers.  In any case your faith is to be applied by the direction of the Holy Spirit, which will be supported by the Word of God.  Faith is purposed to help us and others believe God’s Word before it is manifested.  Hebrews 11:1 says;

  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

     So what are you believing for or applying your faith to?  Is it the things of God (His will and not your wants), or are you applying your faith to things that you have not asked God about, or that you have not found out His will regarding?  Beloved Child of God, it’s time to release your preconceived purposes for faith and submit your faith to God.  Selfishness in faith has caused a breakdown or malfunction of the great spiritual tool that has been given to God’s people.  Far too many have used faith to get their personal wish list; rather than believing God for the supernatural in ministry.  Your faith was purposed for you to believe God for healing the sick, seeing many come to salvation, casting out devils, receiving God’s Anointing, performing miracles, speaking those things that be not as though they were, receiving provisions (naturally and supernaturally), ministering to people, receiving dynamic teachings from the Lord, ministering, ministering, ministering.  It’s time to use your faith for those things that God has purposed it to be use for, HIM!

By the Holy Spirit through Bishop Tony Owens      
House of David Ministries Inc.
1(877) 35-JESUS or 1(516) 792-3465www.riversofrevival.com