Faith, Failure and Fulfillment

God gives us faith as we receive His word, revelation, presence or call. That faith can move us to take action based on our best understanding, advice, reason or from other motives, including leading of the Holy Spirit. An illustration is Abraham’s receipt of God’s promise that his descendants would be as numerable as the stars. After years Sarah advised him to have a child by her servant and Ishmail was born, which was a horrible failure and not of faith. Later, Issac was born as promised and God’s promise fulfilled. This illustrates impartation of faith, failure of human effort and fulfillment by God’s power. 

In Peter’s story, we find three examples. The first is when He confessed Yeshua was Messiah, God’s son. Yeshua said it was by revelation that Peter did so. (Matt. 16:17) Soon afterwards, Peter contradicted the Lord’s statement that He would be killed. The Lord replied that Peter was influenced by the enemy. (Matt. 16:23) Peter was given faith, but failed to see its fulfillment. After many experiences we find the Lord walking on water to find the disciples. At this sight Peter received faith to say, “If it is you Lord call me to yourself.” The Lord said, “Come.” Peter, started out, but doubted and had to be saved by the Lord’s hand. (Matt. 14:29-31) Yet again, faith was thwarted. The third incident of faith given to Peter is before the garden of Gethsemane, where Peter declared, “I will die with you.” The Lord, told Peter that he would deny even knowing Him three times before sunrise. (Matt. 26:33-35) After the resurrection the Lord reaffirmed Peter three times. Subsequently, Peter preached powerfully by faith at Pentecost; healed a paralyzed man and was used by God to impart the gospel and Holy Spirit to Gentiles – eventually he was martyred for the Lord. His gift of faith failed in his own reasoning, but was fulfilled by God as Peter submitted to the Spirit’s leading.

We can experience each of these situations in our walk with the Lord. It is not that faith fails, but we must wait and follow Spirit leading, until God brings about His purposes in His timing and power. All the glory belongs to Him. God wants to use us in His work and gives us faith to believe. Our part is then to surrender to Holy Spirt leading. Then, God can accomplish the impossible. Like a small child helping his father, our part is minor, because the heavy lifting is only possible by the Father.