Faith
Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe (Augustine)
The righteous will live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4)
Throughout the Bible, faith is a continual theme in the dealings of God with his people. Faith is the basis and foundation for all that God does with and through his people. Faith can be likened to spiritual oxygen for every born again believer – it is essential to live, develop and walk out our Christian life.
The Focus of Our Faith
The eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews chronicles the men and woman of faith in the Old Testament demonstrating the power of living by faith. These people lived by faith in a Messiah who was still to come. They are commended in the Bible for living by faith. We live by faith in a Messiah, Jesus Christ, who has now come - who died, rose again, and poured out his Holy Spirit on his people.
Pleasing God
The writer of Hebrews exclaims:
Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)
Faith is a fundamental and essential ingredient in our lives. There is no greater joy for a child than to please his father or mother. As God’s children, when we move and live by faith it pleases our Father in heaven.
In an age and time obsessed with information, it is easy at times to think that we gain God’s approval and build our relationship with him based on our knowledge and fact gathering in relation to the Bible. Whilst it is of benefit to know about the Word of God, this knowledge is only effective when it is combined with faith - in God and in his powerful Word. Faith brings power, life and the dynamic revelation of God’s truth and his Word into our lives
Seeing the Unseen
The writer to the Hebrews gives us a succinct and powerful definition:
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
Faith reminds us that there is an unseen realm to our lives – the heavenly dimension. Faith reminds us that we are ‘citizens of heaven’ living on earth. It reminds us that we are ambassadors of God’s Kingdom living in this world by faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Saving Faith
We come to Christ through faith, responding to his wonderful grace and kindness that leads us to repentance. This saving faith that we believe and confess (Romans 10:9) is expressed in our baptism in water and in receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Living By Faith
Faith is never a one off event or a feeling; it is a lifestyle of trusting God and believing his Word. Faith in Jesus Christ and his Word is what God looks for in his people, (Luke 18:8) and when he sees it, he responds and moves in power
Faith and Authority
Faith is linked to authority (Luke 7:9) and when we have faith we can move in authority demonstrated in signs, healings, wonders and miracles
Faith is like our spiritual muscle that grows and strengthens as we move out in obedience to God’s Word. But equally however small we think our faith is. When we put it into action we can achieve great things - Jesus said that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains (Matthew 17:20).
Building Lives on the Foundation of Faith
We not only use faith for the great miracles and exploits. We can and must build our lives upon faith. By faith, we can bring our tithes and offerings to God in response to his Word, knowing that God will provide and meet all our needs, according to his riches in Christ.
By faith, we build and work out covenant love in marriages, relationships with our children, and between one another in the church community. By faith, we can read the Word of God and stand on its promises. By faith, we can see the knowledge of the glory of the Lord covering the earth as the waters covers the sea. By faith, we can see a glorious, radiant and powerful church prophetically announcing and advancing the Kingdom to all nations and cultures, and into every area of society.
Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step (Martin Luther King Jr.)
This article was written by Gavin White, an elder at King’s Church Manchester.