Introduction
If you want to live a victorious life, you will want to live by faith.
What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 state: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith is the connector between God and man. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” It is impossible to please God without faith. Why? Because your Father is not pleased when He cannot manifest Himself in your life and meet your needs.
Since faith is the connection by which salvation, healing, financial prosperity, and more are transferred from heaven to you, it is impossible to please Him without it. Jesus went through horrible death on the cross and suffered hell so all your needs could be met according to His riches in glory. Then, He made available to you, His faith by which to receive.
How Faith Comes
Let’s look closer at how faith comes to you.
“But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”” (Romans 10:6-13)
Faith is available to “whosoever”. Whosoever, that is, who will obey the laws that govern it. Whosoever means you and me!
How does faith come to you and me? Romans 10:17 states: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” God’s WORD is the source of faith.
Everything God has, His very best, is always available through the claim of faith. No one has to sit and wait for some special move of God, or for some special anointing to fall in order to receive healing or breakthrough. God is ready, now. He is always on! He is always saving. He is always healing. His abundance is always at hand. “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach). There is a miracle in your mouth just waiting to be released.
Words alone are not enough. They must be filled with faith.
Feeble Faith
Here is the problem: Low-level, feeble faith (meaning either faith that hasn’t been fed by God’s WORD, or faith that has been contaminated because it has been mixed with fear) will allow the enemy into your life. Remember, Ephesians 6:16 talking about the full armour of God, says, “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts [of weapons] of the wicked one.” The rest of the armour depends on faith to work. The helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness etc., works by faith.
Without the shield of faith, you are uncovered. You are especially vulnerable where your physical body is concerned. It becomes difficult to hold on strongly to your faith confession when pain strikes. Even when you do say the right things, they can bring little result because they are mental, empty words. Then, it is easy to question God: Why didn’t you help me with this? I wonder what’s wrong here. That’s when things get worse rather than better.
It’s time – or really past time – to get under the WORD of faith and stay there night and day. Put everything else aside. Let me say that again: Put everything else aside. There is nothing more important. NOTHING!
Shout the Truth
It is time to wake up your faith. It is time to wake up the strong man, the giant that is asleep inside your most innermost being.
Look at pain and failure in the eye and shout! It is very important to shout with every fibre of your being. I mean it – you’ll have to do it!
In fact, let’s test you right now. Just say in a normal but firm tone: “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world”
Now, let’s check out your level of faith. Notice your inner condition.
Next, take a deep breath and shout those words with everything you’ve got. I mean everything. 1-2-3 SHOUT!
Check yourself out again. Wow! The giant is awake! Let him out!
Let’s Faith talk says:
“I AM A FREE MAN! I AM COMING OUT OF THE CAGE! JESUS HAS SET ME FREE! I AM SUPPOSED TO PROSPER! I AM SUPPOSED TO BE HEALED! I AM SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPY AND FILLED WITH JOY! I REFUSE TO GO BACK INTO THAT CAGE OF DOUBT AND UNBELIEF!”
Now that your faith is awake, talk right now about how wonderful your heavenly Father is. Praise Him. Tell Him how grateful you are that you are free. Say: “Thank God, I am not going to hell!” Don’t talk about the devil anymore. Give him no place.
God’s Part / Our Part
Romans 3:27 says faith works by spiritual law – the law of faith.
Galatians 5:6 says faith works by love. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”
The law of faith hinges on the commandment of love just like all the rest of the law and the prophets. Nothing that’s of God works without love. (Of course not! God is love. Nothing of God works without God).
So, let’s put Romans 10:17 and Galatians 5:6 together and we’ll see both our part and God’s part in developing our faith:
- Faith cometh – that’s God’s part.
- By Hearing – that’s our part.
- Faith worketh – that’s God’s part.
- By love – that’s our part.
Make quality decision that must be made so you’ll never be in that weakened position, ever again. “I will keep the commandment of love. I will stay in the WORD and live by faith”
Questions:
Define Faith
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Why is Faith so important?
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According to Romans 10:17 and Galatians 5:6, what is your responsibility in building your faith? How are you going to begin implementing it?
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What other lessons have you taken from this study?
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