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A Living Faith
Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him. Hebrews, Chapter 10, Verse 38.
Paul was saying that those who have been justified by faith will live by faith. As Christians, we have been forgiven of our sins and justified by our faith in the finished works of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If we are going to have a “living faith,” we are going to have to BELIEVE and trust in the LIVING WORD. Jesus is, of course, the “Living Word.” The Living Word must be “living within us” if we are going to be living by faith.
If we are going to walk in faith, our faith, must be rooted and grounded in the source of faith, Jesus Christ. When we have faith in the Word of God, we are having faith IN God. We must have faith in God’s Word before we can truly have faith in Him. Before we could know Christ, we had to hear about Christ in order to know He existed. When we have faith in God’s Word, we are having faith in Him. Our faith must be in God and His Word, or our works will be unproductive AND IN VAIN.
At one time or another we have all heard the term “blind faith.” However, there is no such thing as “blind faith.” Faith is not blind. Faith SEES through the eyes of the spirit. Faith sees opportunity in the promises of God. The “just live by faith” because they do not focus on the problem but on the solution to the problem. Christ Jesus is the “answer” to all our problems. The answers to all our problems can be found in the Word of God. His promises are truly “YEA” and “AMEN” because their foundations rest upon the Word of Almighty God.
At one time or another we have all heard the term “simple faith.” Faith can be simple. However, even as simple as faith may be, faith may require more of us than we sometimes understand. In order for us to operate in faith, we must obtain and understand the knowledge of faith and how “simple faith,” works so we can receive the promises of God.
So Jesus answered and said unto them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say unto you, whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things which he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say unto you, whatever things you ask for when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark, Chapter 11, Verses 22- 24.
When the above scriptures was translated from the Greek, the phrase “have faith in God” SHOULD have been translated “have the faith of God” or “have the God-kind of Faith.” As Christians, all the faith we have and receive comes from God. According to the Bible, God gives us the faith to believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. (Galatians, 2:20).
Many people are lacking the “God-kind of faith” because they lack the KNOWLEDGE which helps them to understand how faith works. We know that faith works by love, therefore, if we are going to have faith, we must be conduits of the love of God. Once we know how faith works and how faith is released within us, we will see changes in our life as well as the lives of others who we are holding up in prayer.
Praying without faith is praying without power. We can throw rocks at the mountain, rebuke, declare and decree all we want, but we will never be able to CAST the mountain into the sea without faith. Faith is persistent, insistent, unshakeable and unmoved by anything we may see, hear or feel.
There are no shortcuts to faith. Jesus is the only way to Heaven, and God’s Spirit is the only one who can give us faith. The God kind of faith is Holy Spirit oriented. Faith comes from the Life of Christ which dwells within us. Paul stated, “The life I live I now live by the faith OF the Son of God.”
Faith changes the way we perceive and understand the things we see and hear. We will look at things differently through the eyes of faith. With faith, we will respond differently to the cares and sorrows of this World. Adversity will not have dominion over us when we believe by faith ALL the promises of God.
Faith does not need physical evidence to prove that “ALL things are working together for our good.” Faith is the only proof we need that God is on our side and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. If we are diligently seeking God, our faith in His promises will carry us through to the other side of adversity during the trials, troubles and temptations of life.
Faith says that “with God all things are possible.” Faith goes beyond reason. Faith sees that the answer to our petitions are on the way BEFORE they are manifested. Reason MUST take a back seat to faith when we BELIEVE in the promises of God. We know the promises of God are for us because we have the KNOWLEDGE of His Word written upon and in our hearts. God places a treasure chest of faith within our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit when we choose to believe in Him and stand on His promises.
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding and great promises: that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter, Chapter 1, Verses 2-4.
All faith is based on revelation knowledge. All things which pertain to life and godliness are imparted to us by the knowledge of God through the Holy Spirit. If God has given us all things which pertain to life and godliness, faith must be one of those things. Faith in the finished works of Christ justifies us and imparts to us the gift of eternal life. The amount of faith we have in Christ will be in direct proportion to the knowledge we have of the Word of God and how much we trust Him. If we do not KNOW what faith can accomplish we will accomplish very little with what meager faith we possess.
Many Christians pray for God to “increase their faith.” However, what they need to ask God for is more LOVE. Faith is energized by love. The more of the love of God we possess, the more faith we will possess. Jesus was able to minister to people by faith because He had compassion for them.
If we are going to have and maintain faith, we are going to have to be faithful. If we lack faith, we must read, study, and meditate on God’s Word and pray for God to give us more love so we can possess MORE faith. When we fully understand how faith works, we can ask God to impart faith to us though the power of His love.
I have written down some of the most powerful scriptures in the Bible regarding faith and where they can be found. If you desire more faith, ask God to give you the knowledge and understanding you need as you read and meditate on these scriptures. Let the knowledge of His Word in these scriptures come alive within you. Digest “what is written” and you will find yourself on a journey leading you to the unseen treasures of faith and love found in His Word. God will impart His love, new life, and faith to us as we pray, meditate, and study His Word daily.
Faith works (is energized) by love. Galatians, Chapter 5, Verse 6.
Now faith is the substance (foundation) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews, Chapter 11, Verse 1.
Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in Him. Hebrews, Chapter 10, Verse 38.
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. Hebrews, Chapter 11, Verse 6.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verse 8.
Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Ephesians, Chapter 6, Verse 16.
That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians, Chapter 2, Verse 5.
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 1 Corinthians, Chapter 16, Verse 13.
For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 7.
But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer daughter; your faith has made you well. Matthew, Chapter 9, Verse 22.
And all things, whatsoever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Matthew, Chapter 21, Verse 22.
So Jesus answered and said unto them, “Have faith in God.” Mark, Chapter 11, Verse 22.
“I say unto you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew, Chapter 17, Verse 20.
BELOVED, WHILE I WAS DILIGENT TO WRITE TO YOU CONCERNING OUR COMMON SALVATION, I FOUND IT NECESSARY TO WRITE TO YOU EXHORTING YOU TO CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS. Jude, Verse 3.