Faith is an Act

How easily Satan can trick us into getting things backwards, making us cry out at God in frustration, "What's wrong? Why isn't anything happening?" All the while the problem is in us.

One good example involves the power of God being released through you. Tonight, are you totally baffled as to why this isn't happening? More than one partner has said, "I don't understand why God isn't using me. I have the faith to work His works, but not the power."

There can be a number of reasons, but one of them could be that you've gotten God's order backwards. Brother Cerullo has often said, "Faith is a fact, but faith is an act." It is after you express your faith in a step of action that the power flows - not before. Many of you are waiting for the power to come first, before you step out, but it will never come. It is action that releases the power, not sitting home thinking about your faith.

As the book of James emphasizes, just saying, "Goodbye. Keep warm. I have faith that God will feed and heal you." does nothing. But when you act on your faith, miracles happen! Then, "...God who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of - infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes"(Ephesians 3:20, AMP).

My Favorite Teacher

"Watch out if you get Miss Linder," said a boy in fifth grade. "She's the meanest teacher in the school." I was in third grade then and didn't worry about Miss Irma Linder. But when I entered fifth grade, I was assigned to her class. 

She was tough. Mean. Demanding. She had eyes that saw everything we did, even with her back to us. But despite it all, Miss Linder was my favorite teacher in grade school. I learned more from her than any of the others. She had a way of making me want to learn. When I did less than my best, I had the feeling that I had let her down as much as I had let myself down. 

Since then, I've had other teachers I've loved or admired. But there's no question about my all-time, lifelong favorite teacher. His name is Jesus. Even his enemies called him "teacher" (rabbi) and recognized his great skill of communicating truth to his hearers. 

When I talk to my Favorite Teacher, I hear myself begin sentence after sentence with, "Teach me...." Those are sincere words and express my heart's desire. I want to learn and I believe my Favorite Teacher wants me to learn.