Article of the month of January
2007
Living by Faith
by Dr. John Williams
Introduction
In order to live by faith, we should know what faith is, why do we need faith and how can we receive and use it. Faith is very important in the life of a Christian. Faith is a quality of God. It is a spiritual quality. God is the source of faith. The Bible says Jesus is the author and the finisher of faith (Hebrew 12:2). Jesus commended those who had great faith and at the same time, rebuked and admonished those who had little faith. The Bible says that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrew 11:6). Jesus said to his disciples that all things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23). We can receive everything from God only by faith including salvation, healing, answers to prayers, Holy Spirit, etc. In order to live a victorious Christian life, we need faith. Faith is listed not only as a fruit of the Spirit, but also as a gift of the Spirit. As a Christian grows spiritually, he also grows in faith.
In order to understand what faith is, we should check different meanings of the word faith, review different definitions of faith, find the synonyms of faith, study several illustrations and examples given about faith and also review those things which are the opposites of faith and examine which is not faith, but is sometimes mistaken for faith. When we use this approach of study we can have a clear idea of faith. The second question that we have to deal with is Why do we need faith?. The answer to this question will give us a list of reasons why we should have faith. This will also indicate to us the purpose or the importance of faith. The Bible gives several reasons why we should have faith. The third question is how do we receive or use faith. This is a very important and a practical question and again the Bible clearly indicates how a person can receive or grow in faith. Further it is written how one should exercise faith in a variety of situations and even live by faith. The answers to all of these questions will help us to have a very good understanding of the subject of faith.
Unless and until we have a full revelation about “faith”, we may not be really interested in faith. The Bible is the only book that explains clearly and with authority what faith is. To my knowledge no college, university or academic institution on the face of this earth, offers a course on the subject of faith. The reason is that faith is something that does not lend itself to intellectual analysis.
The Bible explains faith as follows:
Faith is:
A. God’s nature
B. A Spiritual quality
C. Receiving now
D. Believing in the supernatural
E. Having hope when there is no hope
F. It is the assurance
G. Believing when there is no evidence
H. Believing without seeing
I. Believing in the Word of God
J. Believing in heart
I. WHY DO WE NEED FAITH ?
The Bible says in Mark 9:23, that all things are possible to him that believes. We need faith specifically for the following reasons:-
A. To please God
B. To appropriate God’s Promises
C. To live a victorious Christian life
D. To do good works
E. To overcome fear
F. To give liberally
G. To receive anything from God
H. To be justified
I. To make all things possible
J. To do anything successfully and boldly
K. To have our desires fulfilled
L. To receive answers to our prayers
II. HOW CAN WE RECEIVE FAITH?
Now that we are convinced that faith is very important in our spiritual life, our next logical question will be ‘how we can receive this faith’ or ‘how we can grow in this faith’. The Word of God says that God is the only source of faith and that He alone can give us the faith. But till it is important that we do certain things or meet certain conditions to receive or grow in faith. What we should do specifically to grow in faith are listed below:
We can receive faith:
A. By hearing the Word of God
B. By knowing the Word of God
C. By believing the Word of God
D. By meditating on the Word of God
E. By confessing the Word of God
F. By doing the Word of God
G. By combining love with faith
H. By following the steps of faith
I. By receiving answers to prayers
Now we are going to address the most important questions on the subject of faith. What is “living by faith” and how can one “live by faith”. Living by faith is a life style that the world cannot understand. It is a higher order of life. It is literally living in the Kingdom of God. Living by faith may be summarized as follows:
A. Living a supernatural life
B. Living like Jesus
C. Doing the works of faith
D. Living a victorious Christian live
A. LIVING A SUPERNATURAL LIFE
Faith is also a fruit of the spirit which means only fully grown or mature Christians can bear the fruit of faith. Not every Christian live by faith one hundred per cent. They operate at different levels of faith. A person who lives by faith will not walk by sight (II Corinthians 5:7) and will not lean unto his won understanding (Proverbs 3:5). He will not be discouraged by the circumstances. He will not just rely on the resources which are at his disposal. He will believe in every promise of God and he will look beyond the physical realm and the intellectual realm and begin to explore the possibilities which are available in the spiritual realm, which is the realm of God. He will operate on the supernatural power and the wisdom of God which he believes and knows are available to him. He will also rely on the supernatural plans of God namely divine protection and safety; divine health and healing; and divine supplies and prosperity. In other words, he will live a supernatural life or a spiritual life. People in this world cannot understand him fully, because he may look like he has nothing, but yet he possesses all things. He may look like an ordinary person, but he is an extraordinary person. The Bible says that Jesus looked like he had nothing, yet He possessed all things.
B. LIVING LIKE JESUS
A very good example of a life of faith is the life of Jesus. Even though Jesus was in this world, he was not a part of this world. He did not have any worldly education. He did not have any worldly possessions. He did not hold any worldly position. But at the same time, He was the most successful man who ever lived on the face of the earth. He came to do the will of the Father and He did it perfectly. He came to destroy the works of the devil and to establish His kingdom of peace and joy, and He did a perfect job. He came to heal the broken hearted and to set the captives free and He successfully carried out His mission. He came to die on the cross for the salvation of mankind and He gave His life voluntarily and willingly even though He could have escaped death by calling ten thousand angels to his rescue. He shed even the last drop of His blood. The success of any man can be measured only in terms of attainment of his own goals. Jesus believed in His mission and He carried out His mission to the entire satisfaction of His heavenly Father. While Jesus Christ was living on this planet, the life He was living was a life of faith. He was able to do whatever He wanted to do and on one could stop Him from doing it. He was able to get whatever He wanted and no one could prevent that. This was possible only because He was not relying on His physical faculties or His intellectual power. He was operating on the supernatural power of God.
So, the faith life is the highest form of spiritual life. Because Jesus was one hundred per cent perfect spiritually, He could literally live the spiritual realm while He was on this earth in human form. The same life has been made available to us through Jesus. God has also established His spiritual kingdom of peace, joy and righteousness here on this earth and has made a way for us to enter into it and to live in it. Therefore, living a life of faith is living in the Kingdom of God now, enjoying and operating on the spiritual gifts of God, given through the Holy Spirit. Jesus was not relying on the sources of power on this earth; He was only relying on the supernatural power of God, for His supplies, for His health, for His protection, etc. Jesus performed many miracles. He could walk on water. He could rebuke the wind. He could turn the water into wine. He could multiply two fishes and five loaves of bread to feed a multitude. He cold curse the fig tree and make it either away to its roots. He could raise the dead, heal the sick, cast out the demons, make the lame walk, make the blind see, and the deaf hear.
The Bible says when Jesus Christ was in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights fasting and praying, angels were ascending and descending upon Him. All these things recorded in the Bible about the life of Christ, help us to see the spiritual side of the life which is available to us, as we enter in and live in the kingdom of God. Jesus was not depending upon the resources of this world to accomplish His tasks. He was not expecting any favors from anybody in positions of authority. He was certainly in communion with God and He walked in close fellowship with Him, listening to His voice and acting under His direction.
Faith life is something that we cannot explain in intellectual terms. This is something that one has to experience. One has to grow in faith, step by step to reach and live a life where nothing shall be impossible.
In James 2:17, we read that faith without works is dead or of no value. In the next verse, it is written that we cannot show our faith, unless we have some works which substantiate it. In James 2:24-25, we read that we are justified by faith, which means that we are justified by the works of faith.
In Mark 9:23, we read that all things are possible to him that believes. Therefore, if a man believes that all things are possible, he will be attempting to do many great things. A man of faith will be an active person. If God has promised something, he would try to appropriate the same by his faith. Because he has faith in the Word of God, he will give much importance to read it diligently and to obey the same. Faith is believing and acting upon the Word of God. Faith always calls for action. If a person does not do anything, that means that he has no faith. In Hebrews Chapter 11, we have a list of names of men and women of God who had great faith, and their faith can be seen through their works that they wrought. Hebrews 11:3 says that the worlds were framed by the Word of God through faith. As we have seen earlier, faith is God’s nature or attribute. It took a lot of faith on the part of God to create this world. Since we have been created in the nature and the likeness of God, we have been endowed with the quality of faith. In other words, God has put His nature of faith within us at the time of creation. In Hebrews 12:1, it is said that Jesus is the author and the finisher of faith. God has dealt a measure of faith to every man and therefore, we have the capacity to do great things.
The following are some specific works of faith:
1. Giving an excellent offering
Abel gave an excellent sacrifice to God (Hebrews 11:4). It is one thing to give an offering and another thing to give an excellent offering or sacrifice. It is one thing to give something and another thing to give our very best. Giving our very best is an act of faith.
2. Attempting to do something great
In Hebrews 11:7. We read that Noah by faith prepared an ark. It is mentioned that it took 120 years for him to make this great ark for which God gave detailed plans and specifications. It was an monumental task to attempt to create such a huge structure all by himself. A man of faith will always listen to the voice of God and obey Him. H will be waiting for instructions from God all the time. He will be willing to do anything to please God, no matter how big the task is, because he knows God will give him the strength and the resources to carry out the assignment. A man of faith will always be doing the works of God.
3. Going without knowing where
When God directs us to go to any place, we should be willing to go without any question, doubt or fear. In Hebrews 11:8, we read that when God called Abraham, he went by faith not knowing where he was going. It takes a lot of faith to go to an unknown place, because of the risks and the uncertainties that they may have to face.
4. Making a great sacrifice
There is no limit to what we can sacrifice to God. In Hebrews 11:17, we read that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice in obedience to God. This was a great act of faith. God had promised to make him a father of many nations and he knew that he could have descendants only through his son Isaac. As we make any sacrifice to God, He will certainly reward us adequately to offset the losses incurred by us through such sacrifice. But, in order to make sacrifices we have to have faith in God.
5. Forsaking for the sake of the Gospel
Another act of faith is forsaking something for the sake of the gospel. In Hebrews 11:27, we read that Moses forsook the pleasures of Egypt to suffer afflictions along with the people of God. he did it in response to the call of God. Even now, anyone who is living in faith will be willing to forsake anything for the sake of the gospel, because God has promised to give a hundred-fold return now and later.
6. Overcoming dangers
It takes a lot of faith and courage to face and overcome perils and problems when we face them. We need faith to believe that God will supernaturally make a way when there is seemingly no way. In Hebrews 11:29, we read that by faith, the children of Israel subdued kingdoms, stopped the mouths of lions (Hebrews 11:33), quenched the violence of fire and escaped the edge of the sword (Hebrews 11:34).
7. Taking great risks
Another act of faith is taking a big risk, even of one’s life in doing something for the Lord. In Hebrews 11:31, it is mentioned that Rehab gave shelter to the spies taking a very high risk knowing that they were the men of God who ere on a special mission. People, who live by faith, will always be taking high risks, because they know that God will supernaturally protect them and deliver them.
8. Obtaining the promises of God
Faith should always be in the word of God and those who have a high degree of faith will have absolutely no difficulty whatsoever believing in the promises of God. Those who have faith in God’s promises will naturally claim those promises, meet the conditions and appropriate the blessings. Faith is something active. Those who are full of faith will be full of works. They will search the Word diligently, find the precious promises of God and appropriate every blessing that God has promised. People who live by faith will be hard working and active. They will be busy always, because they will have many things to do. As per the examples cited in the forgoing paragraphs, those who are living by faith, will be engaged in a wide range of activities in extending the kingdom of God, in the process of which, they will be forsaking the pleasures of life, giving their very best in terms of talents, money, time and resources, traveling frequently to unknown and far off places, making great sacrifices, taking high degree of risks, overcoming problems, escaping dangers and appropriating the promises of God. The faith life is both an exciting and an active life. That is why James says faith without works is dead. He challenges anyone who claims to have a lot of faith to show the works that they have done to prove their faith, and he believes that he can show his faith only by what he has accomplished or done for God under the direction of God.
D. LIVING A VICTORIOUS LIFE:
The Bible says in I John 5:4 that faith is the victory that overcomes the world. So the faith life is the highest form of life. Mark 9:23 says that all things are possible to him that believes. Living by faith is living an abundant life. Whoever follows the Biblical principles of faith will have victory in all areas of life. They can overcome all problems they face in life. Such a life can be characterized by the following statements:
LIVING BY FAITH IS :
1. Having perfect peace
2. Having fullness of joy
3. Living according to God’s will
4. Pleasing God at all times in all things
5. Obeying the Word of God
6. Enjoying divine health and healing
7. Having God’s supernatural protection
8. Being successful in everything
9. Living a holy and righteous life
10. Giving pre-eminence to the Word of God
11. Appropriating and enjoying the promises of God
12. Serving God
13. Attempting great things for God
14. Living like Jesus
15. Living a supernatural life
16. Living in the kingdom of God
17. Living without fear, doubt and confusion
18. Having all desires fulfilled
19. Receiving answers for all prayers
20. Loving God loving everyone
21. Giving liberally and cheerfully
22. Having dreams and visions fulfilled
23. Being very active
24. Using all creative ideas and imaginations
25. Having fulfillment in life
CONCLUSION
God has created us as a tripartite being with a body, spirit and soul (mind, emotion, and will). The real person is the spirit. We are living in a body which is endowed with a mind. Faith life is a spiritual life. Faith lie is a life that the spirit of man lives. It is neither a physical life nor an intellectual life. As we begin to live a life of faith, as pointed out earlier, we move into the spiritual realm, which is God’s kingdom of earth.
God has dealt to every man a measure of faith. God has given men the potential to grow to be like Him. Even at the time of creation, God said, let us make man in our own likeness (Genesis 1:26). In Romans 8:29, it is written that whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His son. In John 1:12, it is written that as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God. Faith is a virtue of God. It is a divine quality. It is a spiritual trait. We have the potential to develop our faith to a very unlimited resources and power that is available in the believeth (Mark 9:23). If your life is not that way, you should examine yourself and see in what areas you are not meeting the spiritual requirements, and start making necessary corrections.