09/11/2020 —  
Many of us are familiar declaration of Jesus in Matthew 11 to have faith. The problem is, we have received it as a command, and have attempted to work to have faith in our own strength. But Jesus wasn't issuing a command at all.

Jesus invites us to have faith. It is a gift, available to anyone who believes in Him. And when we accept that gift, God births us a new character that never wavers in the face of obstacles to that faith. Faith that wins never wavers! And it turns us into victorious men and women who reflect God's glory to everyone they encounter.  
 
 
Mark 11:20-33
"In the morning, they passed by the fig tree that Jesus spoke to and it was completely withered from the roots up. Peter remembered and said to him, 'Teacher, look! That’s the fig tree you cursed. It’s now all shriveled up and dead.'
"Jesus replied, 'Let the faith of God be in you! Listen to the truth I speak to you: If someone says to this mountain with great faith and having no doubt, "Mountain, be lifted up and thrown into the midst of the sea," and believes that what he says will happen, it will be done. This is the reason I urge you to boldly believe for whatever you ask for in prayer—believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, if you find that you carry something in your heart against another person, release him and forgive him so that your Father in heaven will also release you and forgive you of your faults. But if you will not release forgiveness, don’t expect your Father in heaven to release you from your misdeeds.'
"They came again into Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the Jewish rulers—the chief priest, certain religious scholars, and the elders—approached him. They came up to him and asked, 'What right do you have to say and do these things? Who gave you the authority to do all this?'
"Jesus replied, 'I too have a question to ask you. If you can answer this question, then I will tell you by what power I do all these things. Where did John’s authority to immerse come from? Was it from heaven or from people? Answer me now.'
"They stepped away and debated among themselves, saying, 'How should we answer this? If we say, "from heaven," he will say to us, "Then why didn’t you respond to John and believe what he said?" But if we say, "from the people," we fear the crowds, for they’re convinced that John was God’s prophet.'
"So they finally answered, 'We don’t know.'
“'Then neither will I tell you where my power comes from to do these things,' Jesus replied."
 

• When you have faith, you don't have fear. Faith and fear cannot coexist in the same heart.

• When Jesus told the disciples (and us) to "Have faith," it was not a command. If it was a command, it would be up to us to have faith. But it's not! Faith is a divine gift, and Jesus's words are an invitation. He offers us faith; all we need to do is accept it.

•  A condition of our acceptance of faith is to forgive others. Our forgiveness of others is a condition God places on His forgiveness of others. This is essential because love requires forgiveness, and following Jesus requires love on the part of the follower.

• Your faith can operate in the service of anything you need and anything you want. It can also operate when you are in need of a supernatural turnaround. Your adversary the devil wins every standoff you participate in with him.

• Commit now to accept God's gift of faith and accomplish your supernatural turnaround.