Laura Ingle

Key scripture -“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17).

Do you want to know how the righteousness of God is revealed to us? “From glory to glory and faith to faith.”

How does that work? God gives you truth through the Word of God…you believe that truth and act on that truth… God gives you more truth. As your knowledge of the truth of God increases you are going from glory to glory and faith to faith.

Faith like a muscle, grows strong with exercise. The more you obey the light, the more you are living by faith, which increases the more light you get, which in turn causes you to go from glory to more glory and faith to more faith.

Have you ever wanted to live by faith, like the people listed in the “Hall of Faith” which is in Hebrews Chapter 11? Have you ever said to yourself, “I wish I had more faith because I know I would be a better person if I did.”

The key scripture for today holds the key to opening the door to a greater faith.

Look at the phrase in verse 17: “by faith from first to last.”

The first faith that it refers to is saving faith, when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and the second faith is power-giving, which is your fruitfulness as a child of God.

We build on the first faith because it is foundational, and the second one identifies us. The first faith is all about assurance, the second faith tells us what we become.
The first faith deals with redemption, the second deals with risk. The first faith is a gift, the second is all about growth.

If you want your faith to grow and be more powerful you need to:

1. Believe that your faith can grow.

Think about it this way, when you were learning to swim, ride a bike, skate, or drive a car, it all started with you believing that you could do it. If your faith is going to expand you must believe that it can.

2. A second way to have a powerful faith is to associate with others who have great faith.

In Romans 1:11-12 Paul said, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

In 1 Thessalonians 3:2, Paul wrote … “We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.”

Your faith can be enlarged by watching how others handle adversity and the challenges that life brings. The more you associate with those who really trust God, the more you will become a person of faith.

3. The third thing you need to do is read and embrace God’s Word.

The apostle Paul always challenged Timothy to be constantly nourished on the words of faith. “If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.” (1 Timothy 4:6).

Pastor D.L. Moody said that, “I prayed for faith and thought that some day it would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith didn’t seem to come. One day I read in Romans that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” I had up to this time, closed my Bible and prayed for faith. Now I opened my Bible and began to study and faith has been growing ever since.”

As you get into the Word, you will become acquainted with the great heroes of faith—men like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, Peter, and Paul.

When you read God’s Word you will find that God will use a passage to reveal an exciting truth, and you will feel such joy as you “hear” the Lord speaking to you! Today, when you read God’s Word, listen closely for His voice.

4. Practice prayer and fasting

Remember the man in Matthew 17 who came to the disciples and asked them for help for his demon-possessed boy? He asked the disciples to heal him but they were unable to drive out the demon.

Then Jesus prayed and something did happen—a miracle! The disciples got discouraged and asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20). Then referring to the boy who was demon possessed, Jesus replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer ” (Mark 9:29).

In other words, there are some problems which are so immense that we must be totally immersed in prayer and fasting—believing that God will hear and answer our prayers. Big problems demand great faith!

5. Remember past victories.

David found that remembering his past successes with God increased his faith for the greater challenges that he had to face. He told King Saul that the giant Goliath was no problem based on his past victories over a lion and a bear.

“But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
(1 Samuel 17:34-37).

Starting today, trust and believe God and allow Him to lead you, then willingly go by faith into situations where you have no way out but with God. If you corner your faith, it will grow for sure and you will go from glory to glory and faith to faith.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I want to go from glory to glory and from faith to faith. I want to see You move mountains in my life. I believe You and I trust You. Jesus said, “all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23). I will step out in faith and follow You wherever you send me. Father, I want to align my life to Your truth, and only your truth, not with myths or opinions. I ask that You give me wisdom, increase my faith, and be my strength so that I apply Your truth in all the decisions I make today. Jesus told us, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40 NASB). I believe! Teach me and help me to understand more and more of Your Word as I am being transformed into the image of Jesus. “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18). I will pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness and I will fight the good fight of faith. Father, strengthen my faith so that I finish strong! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.