Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to (walk with God and) please Him, for whoever comes (near) to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He rewards those who (earnestly and diligently) seek Him.

We cannot have faith without belief, because belief is faith in action. We can have belief without faith, and we will not see what we are believing for come to pass. Faith and belief work together and require action. All doubts and fears are overcome by the Word, casting out unbelief that tries to enter the mind. 

Mark 16:17-18

These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.

Some may read this and not think that Jesus gave us the authority to do this. It was just for the disciples…. but we are disciples (followers) of Jesus, and He is speaking to us too. When we read the Bible as if it were our reality rather than a story, our view will no longer be passive. An active believer believes what Jesus’ Word says to be true and acts upon it. 

Matthew 28:18-19

Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations (help people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

The power transfer from Jesus to the believer happened at the cross. Jesus defeated the powers of this world and transferred the world-overcoming power into the hands of born-again believers. When we learn of this truth, we cannot shrink back from our authority. Or let the devil talk us out of it and become powerless Christians, being unable to fulfill God’s plan for us here on earth. 

Luke 9:11

But when the crowds learned of it they followed Him; and He welcomed them and He began talking to them about the kingdom of God, and healing those who needed to be healed.

We can have faith but still doubt in our hearts. If we are struggling to use our authority over our sickness, then we need to renew our minds with what Jesus said about healing. We may need to remind ourselves of the kingdom of God and of Jesus’ healing of all who are sick. We need to imagine ourselves healed and remind the body of what Jesus has already done. 

Luke 9:1-2

Now Jesus called together the twelve (disciples) and gave them (the right to exercise) power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. Then He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to perform healing.

When Jesus died and rose again, He gave the born-again believer the right to exercise power and authority over all demons and to heal diseases. That means we don’t have to beg God to heal us because He already gave us the authority to rebuke sickness and demons. God is waiting for us to call in our healing and believe that we have the authority to do it. 

Luke 10:19

Listen carefully: I have given you authority (that you now possess) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and (the ability to exercise authority) over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will (in any way) harm you.

If we want to grow our faith and see more miracles in our lives, we must use our authority and speak our faith. We cannot sit silent in the face of an attack, but we must counter every negative, nonbelieving thought sent our way with the Word. God spoke the world into existence with faith. We must speak to our circumstances with faith-filled words. 

Philippians 4:9

The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things (in daily life), and the God (who is the source) of peace and well-being will be with you. 

We are to be intentional with our faith and practice, believing and acting on the Word of God. Start with practicing your authority and faith for a headache or a parking space. The faith will build as we see God work with us for what we are believing for responds and the headache leaves. Our authority as believers is real, and just as Jesus spoke to the fig tree, we are to speak.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s Word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things.

If we are to stand in the day of hardship, our thinking must be correct. We can’t be double-minded, harboring ungodly thoughts, and then expect ourselves to have world-overcoming faith in the Word. Where we focus our eyes, ears, and minds either builds us up or tears us down. If we want to succeed, we should keep our thoughts on the truth of the Word of God.

Hosea 13:4-5

Yet I have been the Lord your God since (the time you became a nation in) the land of Egypt; and you were not to know any god except Me, for there is no savior besides Me. I knew and regarded you and cared for you in the wilderness.  

God knows His people and watches over us. There is no other god than God. He is strong enough to lead the Jews out of captivity, raise Jesus from the dead, and create the world in seven days, and He is more than able to lead us out of our trouble. We don’t have to stay sick, poor, sad, or whatever the problem may be.

Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good, a strength and stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (He recognizes, cares for, and understands fully) those who take refuge and trust in Him.

The Word is our reminder of God’s strength and love for us. The Word also builds us up and helps our minds focus on God and His abilities, not on the problem. With the help of God and the Word, we take a stand and stay standing until we have exercised the authority of the Word and the mountain is removed.