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By Aaron Winter
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Great faith is the result of great opposition. Some may think this to be an incorrect statement; but just like physical exercise produces stronger muscles, Great Opposition produces Great Faith. Each person has a measure of faith within them. Romans 12:3 (BBE) tells us; "God has given to everyone a measure of faith." However, just like each individual will choose for themselves how developed their muscles will be, we also have to decide if we are going to "workout" to develop our muscles of Greater Faith.No Pain-No Gain, We Just Do It
In the natural world it goes like this. You know what I am talking about; there you are standing in line at the grocery store waiting to check out when you notice the guy in front of you. He has muscles that are screaming out against the fabric of his shirt, "Let us out, there is not enough room for all of us in here." You know exactly where and how he invests a lot of his time - in the gym, putting his muscles through great opposition.
We develop our faith muscles in much the same way. Only the equipment we use cannot be found in a gym. Most often our equipment is found in our bedroom closet, in the bathroom, or in my case, in my car. That is where I do my praying and reading of the Word uninterrupted. It's my gym, my workout room where, when the difficulties get greater, and they persist longer and longer, I keep exercising, praying and studying the Word of God, and that is when my faith muscles develop. It does not happen overnight, but it does happen just like exercise produces muscles, James 1:3 (NKJV) tells us that, "…the testing of your faith produces..."
Just like with physical exercise, pain is a major ingredient in the process. At first you feel really good. You get a plan a routine maybe even a workout partner or coach and somebody to spot you and the first few times you go to the gym, you feel great. You make time in your busy schedule because you know that being healthy and in good shape are important and besides that you keep that picture of the "slimmer you" pinned to your bedroom wall. You are so determined.
Then after about three days you are so sore you can hardly get out of bed, your workout partner can't make it a time or two, your coach wants to add more exercises to your routine, and is no longer saying encouraging words to you. Now all you hear is "you have to push harder" and he expects more from you than you think you can do. Oh, no! And then the bill comes due for "professional coaching."
Now you hurt in places you didn't know existed. Your workout partner doesn't even try to come anymore and you realize this exercising idea is costing you far more than you had anticipated. After all, you don't need to go to the gym, you can work out just fine in the comfort of your own home, and you certainly don't need some high priced workout coach with HUGE muscles telling you what to do. So you take the "slimmer you" picture off the wall and go back to the not so bad after all you. Is any of this sounding familiar?
It's Not So Different
It is the very same thing when it comes to our Faith muscles. The difference is the trials and heartaches of this life come to us; we do not have to go to them. Unlike exercise equipment we cannot pick and choose which ones we want and if it turns out to be harder than we thought we cannot walk away and choose another. Hardships simply open the door to our lives and walk in, and we cannot fire them because they cost more than we want to pay. The only way to deal with them is to overcome them, and you cannot do that with weak, underdeveloped Faith muscles. You can give into them and they will certainly overtake you, or you can stand and fight. I love the Apostle John's words of authority when he writes in 1 John 5:4-5 (NKJV) "And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith."
Remember, we already have the measure of faith within us. (Romans 12:3) We don't have to go find the Faith; we just have to develop what is already in us. We are not struggling to keep our faith but with every battle our faith muscles become stronger. Great Faith comes from a very small seed, but it is used and then does what you have commanded it to do.
"So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." Luke 17:6 (NKJV)
Great Faith is simple, but it is not easy. It simply comes by not giving up. I'm writing this article because for true believers, the OPPOSITION IS GREATER than it has ever been before. The opposition we face is neither timid nor shy, but it is aggressive and in your face. But I'm telling you my friends, within us is GREAT FAITH, screaming to get out and be put into action.
We've All Got Potential
We know what measure God gives one person in Faith, is not greater than another's. Again, Romans 12:3 says we all have some. However, some choose to use their Faith in every challenge. They don't give up because their Faith did not seem to be working; they persevered in spite of the challenge. They took the Word of God at face value and they did not back down when the pressure was at its greatest.
There is power in our Faith. Jesus said to the father asking for healing for his son in Mark 9:23 (NIV), "If you can'?" said Jesus, (meaning, 'yes, if you believe') "Everything is possible for him who believes."
In this season of time we are going to see more and more GREAT FAITH, because the opposition is at a new level. Our strength comes from the training of our "workout coach". 2 Timothy 1:12 says, "I KNOW in whom I have believed," and because of that we do not waiver in our Faith in the face of great opposition. Instead, we can rest securely in the midst of the battle knowing that the outcome will be to our total satisfaction and to our heavenly Fathers Glory.
Come on; get yourself ready for your Greatest Spiritual Workouts. The Holy Spirit, your "Coach" is here to help you build those powerful muscles of Faith.
Georgina Buchanan
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