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| From the pulpit on Sunday |
Faith, etymologically refers to a feeling, conviction or belief that something is true, or real without having evidence. This therefore suggests that faith exists beyond the human senses, and does not recognize material evidence or proof. In other words, if it’s to be faith, it requires no element of visibility, but solely conviction. Relatively, the Bible gave a profound description of faith, thus: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of the things not seen”. (Hebrews 11:1)
An obvious convergence between the above definitions is that both submit to conviction that something is true. However, while the former diverge at a mere belief, and having no evidence, the word of God which is the truth establishes that faith itself, is the substantial evidence, or title deed of things not seen. By implication, faith does not only believe that something is true; rather, it’s the actual evidence or proof of the existence of a thing. Hence, faith takes possession, and does not amount to a mere conviction or belief that something will certainly happen, but that something is in existence already.
In a like manner, when God pronounced Abraham the father of many nations, he wasn’t just expecting it to manifest, but he took it, believed it and acted based on the word, and the bible says it was accounted unto him for righteousness. No wonder, our dear man of God, Pastor Chris often remarks that knowing and believing the word of God is different from using the word, in conformity with the scripture: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” .(James 1:22). Regrettably, most times, people mistake belief for faith, and end up lamenting the futility of the faith they applied with inconsistent results. It is therefore protuberant to distinguish faith from believing on God’s word. As our man of God rightly puts it, “if it didn’t work, it’s not faith because, faith is the evidence that you have received, hence relies solely on the word of God”.
No doubt, to believe in the word of God is not elective, but fundamental as it constitutes the base of faith. Belief, therefore is precursory and relative to faith because, to have faith, you will firstly believe in God: “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”. (Hebrews 11:6). However, it’s pertinent to note that to tarry at this preliminary stage (belief) may not fix you in the appropriate position where you could profitably manifest God’s glory and power on earth: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal”. (1 Corinthians 12:7).
This is simply because belief is not peculiar to children of God alone, but devils inclusive: “Thou believest that there is one God, thou doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble”. (James 2:19). It therefore implies that for us to accomplish God’s calling on us, and manifest excellently as children of God, it’s fundamental that we grow our faith: “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19).
Remarkably, when a person believes in God, he’s acknowledged with a deposit of faith into his spirit in order to conform to God’s image and likeness: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith”. (Romans 12:3). Next, is to continually subject himself to the teachings and listening to the word of God to enable the faith grow: “So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17).
Now that the person moves from belief to faith, it is important to note that faith sees and meditates solely on God’s word, and disregards the facts or circumstances of physical life. This is because, God’s word is Spirit, and the spiritual world controls the physical. For example, when Abraham was impliedly named the father of many nations, on the surface of the earth, he was childless or an assumed father, but in the spiritual realm; he was, because God’s word is infallible: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return onto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11). Hence, he did not only believe God’s word spoken of him, but took possession and acted on it disregarding his old age and Sarah’s disability to conceive and bear a child: “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb”.(Romans 4:19). Why; the bible says: “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it”. (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
In other words, a man that works by faith does not speak from the point of view of his sight, but strictly based on what the word of God says. That’s the reason why we’re enjoined to study continuously and meditate tirelessly on the word of God: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then, thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8).
As we meditate on the word for the purpose of establishing the will of God on earth with our mouth, we speak forth with total consciousness of God’s goodly thoughts concerning us. No wonder the bible says: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”. (Jeremiah 29:11).
In the light of the above, what then is our faith, and what should be our fate despite inconsistent facts or circumstances that may appear? Simply, faith is agreeing with God concerning anything that can give you an expected end in accordance to His word. It does not matter what might have happened to you, or where you find yourself now. Imagine the deadness of Sarah’s womb at almost a hundred years, yet it conceived, received strength and bore Isaac by the Spirit of God. Similarly, Lazarus deceased, buried, already stinking in the tomb for four days, yet received life and rose at the voice of the Lord, among others. What else could be deadlier than the above situations?
To be precise, our future is destined to be bright and glorious. This is the mind and thought of God towards us for both now and the future. You can therefore boldly make positive declarations, notwithstanding dicey circumstances around you, concerning your life that will be consistent with ‘an expected end’. In other words, God signed and issued us with blank cheques; all left for you is to withdraw and take possession of whatever that will give you comfort and pleasure: “If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures”. (Job 36:11).
In other words, rather than living in pessimism, we can boldly opt to live a fulfilled life because no evil, calamity or uncertainty is allowed to prevail against us in accordance with the scripture “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:17).The grace of God is sufficient for us, and therefore, victory is ours in Christ!