Childlike Faith
“Faith as a gift is an extraordinary confidence in God that is unshakable by situations, pain, apparent failure, or ridicule. This gift strengthens the individual and other believers (by example) to endure persecution and wait upon the Lord.” For example, I continue to have faith even during times of pain in my marriage, and I’m not bothered by ridicule at work when I share my faith. When you have the gift of faith you “believe the promises of God and inspire others to do the same.” The gift of faith serves as a witness to nonbelievers that there is a God. I find God planting seeds in people around me as I demonstrate my confidence in Him. My gift of faith has been rewarded time and again, such as God healing my marriage and providing work for me.
My mother had confirmation of my gift of faith through three people. When I was around nine years old, we visited a Bible study on the east coast and a black lady pastor with a gift of prophecy prayed over me and said I had a gift of faith and would share it with many people. Some time after that my mom had a dream of me speaking/preaching about faith to a stadium or big auditorium of people. When I was in junior high, the youth pastor, who prayed with me to accept Christ, told my mother I had a gift of faith and would be using it to speak to large groups of people. And last year, when I talked with our pastor, I told him about all I had been through in my marriage and he said that was also a sign of my gift of faith.
Nowhere in the Bible does it mention childlike faith, but when it comes to the Kingdom of God we are to come as children.
Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3-4 Amp.
In dealing with the world we are not to be naive fools but instead as wise as serpents—filled with the wisdom that comes from God and not man. But when it comes to faith in God (His miraculous work in our lives and others) we are instead to be “simple and elemental” like a child. I tend to have a starry-eyed, optimistic, maybe naive, sort of childlike faith and sometimes others look at me like I’m crazy or immature. I’m kinda like a kid and don’t even consider or even know the consequences of my actions when I take a step of faith. For me it’s like, well, God did it (whatever the situation might be) in the Bible so why shouldn’t we expect Him to do the very same thing right now? The gift of faith is empowered by being filled with scripture and looking to it for examples. “Faith comes alive when we apply Scripture to our daily tasks and concerns” (Life Application Study Bible).
My wife was surprised and amazed at how bold I was in sharing with several neighbors (some non-Christian) the opportunity for a Christian marriage study at our house. And we both were amazed at how receptive they were despite the fact that only one committed to doing it. I may doubt whether I discern correctly His will; for example, when I stopped selling my book on personality type, but I have no doubts in my mind about sharing my conviction of faith with everyone. My wife has doubts that anyone is interested in our sharing our faith and then fears that maybe the neighbors might not want their kids to play with ours. Those things never crossed my mind, instead there have been explosive miracles in sharing my faith, seeds visibly planted in hearts.
I am inspired by stories of great men of faith like Hudson, Goforth, Verwey and Muller. The Lord used Hudson and Goforth as an instruments of His wildfire revival in CHINA. Verwey started Japan Mission to reach people in hospitals and through radio and newspaper. MULLER ESTABLISHED SCHOOLS AND ORPHAN HOUSES. The back of his autobiography calls him an ordinary man who trusted in an extraordinary God. This is sorta correlates with my experience because God gave me a job as a computer teacher for elementary school kids. At the Army youth center where I teach many kids are are starving for love because they come from single parent families, mixed families, or families with a parent deployed overseas. (I also teach Sunday school; interestingly, my grandfather was also an elementary school and Sunday school teacher.)
Hebrews 11 is called the ‘Hall of Faith’ and lists many faith-filled people like Abraham, Moses, Joshua and all the prophets. It seems courage is also an element of faith. Hebrews 11:32-35 are examples of how God used the faith He gave them for outstanding victories. God told Joshua to be strong and courageous and he went on to conquer and possess the land that God had promised to the Israelites. Hebrews 11:35-39 are examples of Christians keeping their faith despite suffering. Jeremiah was an “example of faith and courage.” Jeremiah “faithfully proclaimed God’s word and had received nothing in return but persecution and sorrow.” “In living out our faith, we may find that rejection, disappointment, and hard work has brought us to the point of despondency. But we are still needed. God has important work for us” (Life Application Study Bible). Lastly, Hebrews 11:13 is an example of people still having faith despite God’s promises not being fulfilled in their lifetime.