By Ken Fletcher
“How long does one have to wait for the manifestation of our faith in God? The Word teaches us that patience will keep us steady in faith until the actual manifestation appears. So, the force of patience plus the force of faith is in operation.
What is patience? It is an enduring force. As we begin to exercise our faith initially on whatever it is, we begin a process. We must decide that we believe the Word more than we believe the circumstances. We believe the circumstances will change before we even begin. When will it manifest? That, we don’t know for certain!
That’s when patience comes in to up gird what we have believed. How long? Don’t know! We might even say, don’t care! Why? Because we have believed it is done! Of course, we would prefer a manifestation sooner than later. But, our expectation (or hope) after we have believed is all based upon God’s Word–which is His will. We stand firm–refusing to doubt!
We’re patient that soon we will see the manifestation of our faith. Then, when it arrives in manifestation, faith and patience are not necessary anymore. We see it there! We don’t have to believe anymore!
What got us there? We believed in spite of the circumstances. We acted upon the Word, whether we received it from the Bible or through the Spirit. Afterwards, we confidently expect it to come to pass. When? I usually say, soon! Sometimes it’s instant! Not much patience needed there!
But, sometimes it can be a period of time before it manifests. Are we prepared to not waver? Are we prepared to be patient in uncomfortable circumstances? Are we prepared to not doubt even though some time has passed and nothing seems to have changed?
We can decide to not waver! Friend, we can decide to be patient, endure–confidently knowing that the manifestation of our faith is on the way!
Are we going to decide to be patient during the period in between when we first believed, spoke and acted, and when the actual manifestation of our faith appears?
The reason many do not receive, and I include myself here, is because of the lack of patience. Some where along the way, we dropped the ball, wavered, and got impatient, and ended up doubting! That which we believed in the beginning, we have doubted.
Remember what Jesus said in Mark 11:23, “…and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass…” Jesus is describing the pathway of faith. Faith is over or done when the manifestation appears. The key is not to doubt in the middle.
That is why, even when the manifestation is not as fast as we would like, we can stand steady in faith and doubt not. Being patient because we know that we have the end result if we do not doubt! Endurance, my friend, is a big deal! It’s the way to finish strong!
Fighting the good fight of faith! It’s a good fight because we win every time IF we do not doubt. Notice what Jesus said in this part of the verse of Mark 11:23, “…and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass…” Believe what? What he saith shall come to pass! What “he says”!
What the person says is what he is to believe will come to pass! That is what Jesus said. Now, we do not go around saying things without any basis. If so, we will surely fail each attempt. We believe in our heart what we say based upon God’s Word. We are steady in faith based on what God has said. We refuse to doubt what we believe!
We are patient and are in confident expectation! How long? As long as it takes! I am trying to encourage you, but I am also encouraging myself!
The Word always works! The variable is us! When we believe, speak and act, we begin to expect that our words are coming to pass. Just as Jesus said! WE believe what WE say in faith! We refuse to doubt! No matter how long it takes, we decide to stand on what God has said.
Do I always get it right? Nope! But, I’m a learner. And, I am getting it right sometimes. Much more than I used to. I know enough now to say it is certain IF we do what Jesus said. Being patient, full of faith, and not doubting what we have spoken.
Jesus is all about faith. We read in the Word that our faith pleases God. The more we grow in faith, the more we please God. The more we operate in faith, the more Father is pleased. The more we do things in faith, the more we get to experience Jesus in our lives.
Faith is of the heart (or soul). We believe in our heart God has raised Jesus from the dead and say with our mouth Jesus is our Lord. All based upon God’s Word to us. What does it take to be born into the Kingdom? Faith in God’s Word. Faith in Jesus as our Savior!
We are to live by faith and not by sight. We are in the world but we are not of this world anymore! We are learning to live by faith like our Master. You know, we have a long way to go. But, we’re pressing forward into more of God’s will because of His grace upon us.
I hope these writings are helping you to approach things from the basis of faith in God. And, that dealing with these inner issues that stand in our way to victory, you will be able to make the little adjustments needed for breakthrough. I’m praying for you.” KF KenFletcher.org
