My wife and I grew up in the Faith movement which was in full swing in the 1970’s. Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Oral Roberts, and others were preaching primarily on faith. I recall many messages focused on healing and finances yet most of those sitting in the pews were lacking in both areas. Why? I believe Love was the missing ingredient.
Most of the faith teachers did quite well because they used the faith message to promote giving… primarily to them. Acts chapter 20 was quoted often:
35 “… And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
The Truth they failed to focus on and explain is that giving is all about intent. Because Love was not at the forefront in much of the teaching, the “name and claim it” doctrine became popular among those in the faith movement and they were claiming about everything imaginable. Houses, cars, fat bank accounts were all on the list, nothing but the best. The evangelists all needed faster, more expensive airplanes to get them from one place to another as though on one else could bring forth the Word. A few even acquired a fleet of airplanes while many in the audience were suffering lack. As I said, Love was the missing ingredient.
FATHER’S Word does not become null and void because men misused it. It continues to have the power within it to cause it to come to pass. We must simply walk in HIS Word with the right motive and intent. Jesus always walked in this manner and we should purpose to do the same. When we do, we will receive power from On High and our faith filled words will produce results.
In Mark chapter 11, Jesus spoke:
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
How could Jesus make such a claim? FATHER gave Him these words to speak to the disciples and to us so this statement must be true in the fullest sense. Why isn’t working on a widespread basis among the believers today? All words have motivation and intent behind them and that is where the problem lies. If you are walking in Love you will hear FATHER’S Voice and Intent, you will express what HE has called you to do which will result in the resources of Heaven to be at your disposal. As you hear HIS Word, your faith is built up into great faith.
When a mountain presents itself to you and would hinder your calling, you have the right and support by FATHER to deal with it. You are to overcome anything that confronts you and would deter you from your calling. With this understanding, we can look a 1 John chapter 5:
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
FATHER expects us to walk in faith and for that faith to grow into great faith. In order for this to occur we should expect challenges to come our way where our faith will be tested. We must not be moved by those challenges but should overcome those challenges by faith with the Divine intent of Love. As Paul wrote in Galatians chapter 5:
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
When faith works through Love, you should believe and receive whatever is necessary for you to fulfill your purpose and be a blessing to mankind. Let you faith grow into great faith and the expected results will manifest.