FLOURISHING FAITH

By: Dennis Harworth

Every time I hear the word flourishing, it reminds me of my dad’s thriving vegetable garden that overflowed with juicy tomatoes, tender string beans, and towering corn stalks.  Corn on the cob was my favorite and made summer barbeques extra special.  Fresh ears of sweet corn were picked straight from the garden, steamed and smothered in butter and served with burgers hot off the grill.  Family gathered around the table to enjoy the plenteous bounty while laughter filled the yard.  These childhood memories still taste like sunshine and home, sweet home.

It was quite a different story when I helped get the garden ready for the first time.  As a little boy, I had no idea where vegetables came from (other than the grocery store).  It was a lot of work; weeding, fertilizing, tilling the soil, and watering daily.  But after enjoying the harvest of delicious fresh vegetables throughout the first summer, I looked forward from then on to all the garden prep.

Like well-fertilized and watered plants, it takes great effort and diligence to cause faith to flourish in your life.  It is not automatic and it surely is not easy.  The Apostle Paul in writing to the church at Thessalonica was thankful for their faith flourishing and love growing in spite of all the persecutions and hardships they were suffering (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 NLT).  The Greek word used here for flourishing is huperauxano, which means to increase above ordinary degree; grow exceedingly; flourishing to grow abundantly.  This Greek word is in the present active tense and describes an abundance that is continually growing beyond measure and greater with the passing of time.

The Greek word for faith is pistis, which means firm persuasion, a conviction based upon hearing to trust God.  It means to have total dependence on God and a willingness to do His will.  In the New Testament it is always used of “faith in God, or things spiritual”.  The very nature of this Greek word denotes a force that is aggressive and forward; never passive or retreating.  It is always reaching forward to achieve a specific target or goal.  Paul recognized this kind of flourishing faith in the Thessalonians that continued to grow exceedingly even during severe trials and tribulations.  They were constantly grabbing hold of the promises of God and never letting go.  They were walking in faith toward victory!

Do you want to know how to flourish in faith?  I know I sure do!  It will take a lot of work, but it will so be worth it!  Just like it took work in getting the garden ready and staying consistently committed until you enjoyed the harvest; the same goes for growing forward exceedingly and not giving up in trusting God and His promises.  Here it is in a nutshell:

Faith will flourish in every area of your life if you continue to trust God and walk according to His Word. Your heart must daily remain steadfast, knowing that “the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).  This faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17) and praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20).  As you meditate on the Word daily, your confidence in the promises of God grows stronger. 

Even your prayers will become powerful and effective when you believe without doubting (Mark 11:23-24).  Your faith will increase as you trust God during trials and tribulations instead of surrendering to fear.  Although it won’t be pleasant at the time, you will begin to develop spiritual maturity and endurance when your faith gets tested (James 1:3).  As you remain faithful, God will guide your steps and establish your path in life.  Your life will bear fruit in abundance and when you abide in Jesus, the Father will give whatever you ask in His Name (John 15:16).

Through every challenge, setback, and season of uncertainty, you will be able to stand firm because of your trust and confidence in God’s precious promises.  It is with this unwavering faith that you will experience victory, love, favor, and fulfillment in every area of your life.  Therefore, be diligent to put forth the effort every single day, meditating on and obeying God’s Word and daily spending time in prayer.  Then you will thoroughly enjoy the spiritual harvest of your FLOURISHING FAITH.