Faith
Understanding the foundational role of faith in prophetic ministry
There is nothing anti-intellectual in the leap of faith, for faith is not believing without proof but trusting without revelation.
Faith is the prerequisite and the enabler of the prophetic.
Just as our five senses—hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch—enable us to communicate with one another and to perceive and interact with the world around us, faith enables us to communicate with God, who we cannot see, touch or hear.
Faith is our sixth sense, our spiritual sense, without which it is impossible to please God.
The Red Sea Example
Recently, archaeologists excavated an ancient Roman synagogue in Israel and discovered a floor mosaic showing the parting of the Red Sea, featuring Caesar's soldiers being swallowed by giant fish.
Moments before, Moses had stood on the beach, with the Red Sea at his back and Pharaoh's army and all the chariots of Egypt coming at him.
"The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
"Why do you cry to Me?" God said. "Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea."
Faith in Prophetic Ministry
The stronger a prophet's faith, the more clearly he or she is able to hear God, recognize his voice and separate what God is saying from whatever else may be whispering inside.
Faith enables a prophet to say things about which he is clueless, particularly when it comes to God's plans, methods and timetable.
Personal Testament of Faith
Many people think faith is the same as positive confession. Actually they are worlds apart.
[Personal story about the job position and learning about true faith...]
The Centurion's Faith
One of the greatest expressions of faith in the Bible is attributed to a Roman centurion rather than a Christian. [Story of the centurion's faith...]
"I promise you, if you have faith inside of you no bigger than the size of a small mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move away from here and go over there,' and you will see it move!"
Key Takeaway
A chief faith factor is obeying what you feel God is telling you to do and trusting him to clean up the mess if he wasn't.