Watch a baby learning to walk. Do they ever look down at their legs, to see if they are working right? That baby is looking at the object it desires to reach.
That's where you are today. You can see the objective but physical walking won't get you there and so you ponder this thing called faith.
It is just like getting into your car and turning the key. You expect something to happen and when it doesn't it is perturbing. That is faith at work. The expected.
Much of what Jesus taught, had to do with obedience. He understood our blinded eyes and gave us His authority to use. Evidently we needed more than just faith, as our minds are so earth bound, it's hard for us to see it clearly. It makes sense this is why Jesus gave us orders to follow. If we follow His command, then it is His own faith we are using.
We believe 'on' Jesus but do we 'believe' Jesus? Do we believe Jesus confirmed that He is the Son of God? Do we believe that Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven? Are we able to grasp that? If so, that doesn't come by logic, it comes by faith and we know it to be so.
We have four witnesses to the things Jesus taught. If we can believe those four witnesses, whose words are conveyed to us today, then we should be able to believe everything Jesus taught.
Some say these things like faith, healing, casting out demons, praying in tongues were all for that time and yet they turn around and say Jesus died for all time and all people. Everything the Lord taught, was meant to be carried down through the church for all time.
The first step is believing Jesus. Jesus made several contracts with His followers, some call them promises. The fact is, He made a statement and most folks simply overlook the impact of those statements. He said, boiled down, "If my words abide in you and you abide in Me, ask the Father what you will and it will be given." Now that's pretty strong language, don't you think? It seems to me, that's clear.
Jesus also said, at one time and with no more emphasis than any other thing He said, "bring me what we have" and He took a little boys lunch and fed a multitude. That was pretty clear, too. In that instance, we read the results. Don't we expect results out of everything He said?
Remember also, Jesus didn't put any qualifications on these promises or contracts, outside of what He actually said. "Ask the Father what you will....". It doesn't say "only if it's for somebody else" or "only if it's within reason". It's a wide open door and Jesus invited you to step through it. What's keeping us?
It is very true that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. You see, there is a concept I don't think very many stumble across and that is the factual, reality of those words. It is just as real as putting on your shoes. It is a simple matter and we humans tend to make everything more difficult.
It's not what you think or do, it's what is already in you. The Holy Spirit Himself, lives there. Is He capable? Or perhaps you feel it couldn't possibly be something special for you? If that's so then who is it for? Would God lavish His promises on the lost and leave you out in the cold?
You entered a contract when you accepted Jesus. Would Jesus share with those who have not entered that contract? Then why the contract?
When you read the Word, especially concerning the life of Jesus, read it as a promise for right now and for anything.
You ask "Well, aren't there any boundaries"? Yes, you are also a steward handling precious things for the Lord. You are an ambassador, so surely you need to use faith wisely.
If your neighbor is ill, lay hands on them and "ask what you will", knowing it will be done. What are you doing but obeying the Lord? It is through this obedience, not your mindset, the healing power can work.
You don't feel it? Nobody asked you to. That's not in our orders. All you're doing is providing the Lord with a vessel to work through but if you don't go through with action, there is no avenue to work through.
He said, "Whatsoever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven and whatsoever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven". That sounds like a commander speaking, to me. It doesn't sound like a plea nor does it sound like He's generously giving you something. It sounds like a command. He is, after all, our commander and chief. Are we good soldiers?
As a Christian, your will is His will and His will is your will. So will it.
We either believe and obey Him or we don't. It's that black and white. When it comes to faith, we simply do as He commands.