# Faith, Relationship, and Releasing What You Believe

🔥The Understanding
Mark 11:22–25

Jesus said:

“Have faith in God.”
Mark 11:22

This statement was not just about believing God exists.
Jesus was teaching His disciples how faith actually works.

Many believers stop at believing in God, but Jesus was teaching something deeper:
How to release faith through relationship, persuasion, words, thoughts, and actions.

Believing and Receiving

Jesus said:

“Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
Mark 11:24

Notice the order:
Believe first.
Receive second.

Believing is the foundation of persuasion.
It is what you truly trust internally.

Receiving is the action part.

If someone hands you food, you reach out your hand and accept it.
Receiving requires response.

Faith is not passive agreement.
Faith responds.

 God Is the Source of Faith

God is the source.

Humans operate in faith by releasing faith through:
• Words
• Thoughts
• Actions
• Expectation
• Obedience

Many people think that simply believing in God means they are automatically operating in faith.

But the source gives you faith.
The source does not do the acting for you.

Faith still requires participation.

The Lexus Perspective

Imagine Lexus manufactures vehicles.

They are the source of creating the car.

They can even choose to give vehicles away if they desire.

But after the vehicle is created, you still must:
• Receive it
• Drive it
• Steward it
• Operate it

The manufacturer is responsible for producing the vehicle.
You are responsible for operating what was provided.

This is how many Kingdom principles work.

God is the source of wisdom, provision, healing, ideas, favor, and faith.
But humanity still has responsibility concerning obedience, stewardship, movement, and application.

“Faith without works is dead.”
James 2:26

The Pool of Bethesda Perspective

In John 5, the man at the Pool of Bethesda waited for the water to be stirred by an angel.

His faith was in the God using an Angel to stir the pool, but he had not yet fully developed the understanding of releasing faith beyond waiting for a moment.

Jesus entered the situation and revealed something greater than dependence on a system or ritual.

The source Himself had arrived.

Many believers spend their lives waiting on “stirred water moments” while God is attempting to develop relationship, understanding, maturity, and spiritual authority within them.

Abraham Became Strong in Faith

The Bible says Abraham:

“Did not consider his own body, already dead… and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.”
Romans 4:19

Scripture also says:

“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.”
Romans 4:20

Why was Abraham strong in faith?

Because Abraham had relationship with the source.

Yahweh appeared to him.
Spoke to him.
Walked with him.
Tested him.
Showed him visions.
Gave him promises.
Entered covenant with him.

Faith was built through encounters and relationship.

🔥Relationship Builds Persuasion

Genesis 18 reveals Abraham having encounters with God.

God penetrated the sense realm and gave Abraham evidence of His existence and promises.

God even gave Abraham imagery.

He showed him the stars and said his descendants would be countless.

“And He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars… so shall your descendants be.’”
Genesis 15:5

Faith became strong because Abraham continually interacted with the source.

Faith is strengthened through:
• Hearing God
• Encountering God
• Walking with God
• Obeying God
• Remembering what God has spoken
• Meditating on His principles, spiritual laws, and covenant promises

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Romans 10:17

🔥Faith Requires Allegiance

Abraham’s relationship with God became so strong that he was willing to offer Isaac on the altar.

That level of trust came from relationship.

Faith is not merely mental agreement.
Faith involves allegiance.

Abraham became a friend of God.

“And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God…’ and he was called the friend of God.”
James 2:23

Jesus even said concerning Abraham:

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
John 8:56

Abraham’s faith was connected to ongoing encounters, revelation, trust, obedience, and relationship.

Faith Is More Than Positive Thinking

Many people reduce faith to motivation or positive confession.

But biblical faith is rooted in relationship with the source. (The source of faith is a person) Jesus Christ! (The principle of faith is rooted in the spiritual laws, principles, and God’s covenantal promises.)

First comes relationship.
Then comes persuasion.
Then comes obedience.
Then comes application.

Relationship keeps us accountable and aligned with something higher than ourselves.

Without relationship, principles can become self-centered.
Without relationship, application becomes mechanical.
Without relationship, faith can lose its spiritual foundation.

Speaking, Believing, and Forgiving

Jesus continued teaching in Mark 11:

“Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes… he will have whatever he says.”
Mark 11:23

Faith speaks.

Words reveal belief.

Jesus also connected forgiveness to faith:

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him…”
Mark 11:25

Why?

Because unforgiveness corrupts the heart and interferes with spiritual alignment.

Faith is not only about receiving promises.
It is also about maintaining the condition of the heart.

Final Thought

Becoming strong in faith involves many variables.

But it always begins with relationship with the source.

God builds faith through:
• Encounters
• His Word
• Obedience
• Process
• Vision
• Testing
• Experience
• Trust

The source gives the faith.
But humanity must release faith through agreement, action, obedience, and expectation.

Faith is not merely believing God exists.

Faith is becoming so persuaded by God that your words, actions, decisions, and lifestyle begin to move in agreement with what He has spoken.