Putting your faith at work

What Is Faith

Hebrews 11:1-6, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [2] For by it the elders obtained a good report. [3] Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. [4] By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. [5] By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. [6] 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.”

This is an interesting passage on faith. What makes it interesting is that it begins the introduction of the subject of faith with the very Author of faith, showing us how He uses it to create the things He wants. [3] Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Through the instrumentality of faith, the Word of God created the world. The Father spoke and His Son came forth and made everything the Father wanted. He believed what He said and saw what the Word made. This is the Almighty God creating things by the Word, His Son Jesus Christ. The Word is not just sound wave, the Word is a Person. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4. The Word is Spirit and the Word is living! The Word is a Person, honoured and revered. Quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword! You don’t toy with Him. You must esteem Him precious, special, Great! This is a deep mystery! Whenever you speak the Word, you send Jesus into action. It is chilling! This is the reason you must speak the Word with a whole lot of caution. I hope you can handle this. You believe Jesus when you believe the Word. You are not just believing a sound wave, you are believing a Person.

He made us in His image and gave us His nature. We are designed to operate like Him and He operates by faith. If you are going to show the God side of you, you must learn how to operate by faith. The man side of you is weak and ineffective, you were not created to live by your man side. That was why Jesus was referred to as Son of Man and Son of God. He came to show us how to live the God side as a man: By letting the Father send Him!

1. Faith is a is a spiritual force; a mystery that gives you mastery over the affairs of life. It makes all things possible. Matthew 17:20, “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Jesus has never lied to anyone. You can achieve anything if you understand how faith works. You will not be intimidated by anything if you understand the dynamics of faith. You can overcome any problem if you know how faith works. Delays, deprivation, destruction, defeat, death, etc. God cannot intervene in your life if you don’t believe what He says to you.
2. Faith is a Law. Romans 3:27, “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.” It is God’s way of doing things. It is a principle that produces the same result everywhere and for everyone when applied correctly. Here is the thing, this law works for people who think; people who meditate. That was the advice God gave to Joshua in Joshua 1:8. It says, “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.” God told Joshua to think if he wanted to succeed. And He also told him what to think about: God’s principles and ways of doing things. If you keep thinking of your problems, you will create more of it. But if you think of solution, you will create wonders! Start thinking. If you don’t think you will sink. Start thinking like champions and you will rise to the highest level in life. You have the mind of Christ, use it to create wonders on earth. Set aside time for strategic thinking every day. The world’s system of thinking, talking and doing things is designed to make you fail. But if you understand God’s ways and put them to use, you will succeed without doubt.
3. Faith is a weapon of victory. 1John 5:4, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” The unbeliever is powerless over the forces of darkness: Satan and his demons and all their agents. You can make witches blind, deaf, crippled or even kill them if you want. You can transfer or dismiss a troublesome boss if you know how faith works. Defeat and failure in life come from lack of faith.
4. Faith is different from hope. Hope is what I desire to see; my expectation, but faith is God’s desire for a person in a situation. So then, your hope can only become a force if it matches God’s desire for you. Psalm 119:49-50, “Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. [50] This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.”

(To be continued…)

Bishop Dr. Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l. Website: www.dayspringcmi.org e-mail: [email protected] Help line: 08035150515