Faith and blessings of God

God’s power is released through faith

Matthew 17:20 NRSV

20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

See also Mk 9:23; Lk 17:6

Praying in faith

Matthew 21:21–22 NRSV

21 Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.”

See also Jas 1:5–7; Jas 5:14–15

Praying in Jesus Christ’s name

John 14:12–14 NRSV

12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

In the OT, faith in God’s power

Hebrews 11:32–34 NRSV

32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

See also Heb 11:11–12 Abraham’s faith when promised an heir in his old age; Jos 14:6–14 Caleb receives Hebron; 1 Sa 14:6 Jonathan’s confidence in God’s power to defeat the Philistines; 1 Sa 17:32–47 David’s confidence in God’s power to overcome Goliath; 2 Ch 20:20 Jehoshaphat’s faith in God’s power to give success against Moab and Ammon; 2 Ch 32:7–8 Hezekiah’s faith in God when threatened by the Assyrians under Sennacherib; Da 6:23 Daniel’s faith when in the lions’ den

In the NT, healing in response to faith

Mt 9:22 The woman had exercised faith by touching the edge of Jesus Christ’s cloak.

See also Mt 9:29–30 Two blind men are healed; Mk 10:52 Bartimaeus receives his sight; Lk 17:19 One of the ten men with leprosy who thanked Jesus Christ; Ac 3:16 the crippled man at the temple gate; Ac 14:8–10 the crippled man in Lystra

Powerful ministries marked by faith

Acts 11:24 NRSV

24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord.

See also Ac 6:5–10 Stephen; 1 Co 12:9 Exceptional faith to meet specific needs is a special spiritual gift.

Faith and spiritual warfare

Ephesians 6:16 NRSV

16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

See also 1 Th 5:8; 1 Jn 5:4–5

The importance of love accompanying faith

1 Corinthians 13:2 NRSV

2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.