#39 Faith
What is faith? The dictionary says that faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something. It also says faith is strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension (understanding or grasp) rather than proof. There are many scriptures which discuss or speak concerning faith. We will discuss a few here.
Faith is defined or described in Hebrews 11:1 as, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” As the above definition says, there is belief in God and what He says even without proof or seeing that proof until after we exercise that faith. I am sure everyone has heard the saying, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Well, faith says, “I will see it when I believe it.” In Romans 4:16-17 & 20-21, Abraham is mentioned as having heard from God that he will become the father of many nations. At an advanced age and having no heirs, Abraham had no reason to believe that statement by God other than his belief that God meant what He said and would cause it to come to pass. “For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (as it is written, A Father of many nations have I made you) in the sight of Him who he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.” In verses 20-21 we see, “yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able to perform.” And God’s promise to Abraham was fulfilled with the birth of Issac. Abraham had faith that God’s promise would be fulfilled before he saw the proof.
There is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit which is faith. When the Holy Spirit brings conviction to each person of their sin, He also brings faith to believe in Jesus as Savior. It is the same faith which each believer has as a Christian. It is not a commodity which will be used up and need replenishing. It is yours to keep from the time the Holy Spirit gives it to you. We do not need more faith. In Matthew 17:14-21 we read the account of the child who had a demon which made him seem to be a “lunatic”. He fell into fire and water and was very ill. His father brought him to the disciples for deliverance, but they could not cure him. Jesus called the disciples unbelieving and proceeded to rebuke the demon from the boy, curing him at once. He explained to the disciples that the littleness of their faith, or their unbelief, was the reason they could not help the boy. He then says that “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, move from here to there and it shall move and nothing shall be impossible to you.” Matthew 17:20 A mustard seed is a small seed from which grows a very large tree. Jesus makes the point here that it does not take much faith to cause a large effect. However, unbelief will stop the faith that you have from working.
With permission I will share a word from the Lord to my pastor many years ago. Late one night while writing a term paper for a seminary class, God spoke to my pastor. He asked plainly, “Do you want to know what your problem is?” My pastor stopped what he was doing knowing he was going to school. “No sir. I know I have some, but I’m not sure which one you are referring to.” Then God said, “You keep asking for more faith. You don’t need more faith. Your problem is unbelief.” He has since shared that word with us at church and encouraged us to do warfare to cast out unbelief from our souls. Unbelief is a demon that believes nothing and is a foundational stronghold which we have all received into our souls throughout our lives. It counteracts the presence of the truth and makes us double-minded keeping us from receiving whatever particular benefit God has promised and we are seeking. So, when we cast out and tear down the stronghold of unbelief, our faith produces the fruit of faith. Faith always works. If we don’t see the result promised by God, there is a demon of unbelief in the way.
The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and the need for the Savior, and then gives us the faith to be born again. In Romans 10:17 we read, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” The Word of God can be reading scriptures when the Holy Spirit leads us to them and most often is when God speaks to us individually. We are supposed to hear Him speak to us. He desires to speak to us and with us daily. As we hear the Word of God which God desires to say to us, faith comes. It is a holy gift from God. The devil and demons are very active in undermining our faith with unbelief and other lies and deception. They lie about God’s promises saying that we are not deserving and we have messed up too much. They lie about God saying He is a liar and will not bless us as He has promised, when they are the culprits stealing those blessings. They employ every tactic possible to cast aspersions on God and keep us bound in hopelessness and despair.
In Jude 1:20 we read, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” Praying in the spirit builds up our faith. We don’t need more faith. We need to pray in the spirit.
I have found that my faith has also been built up greatly by my confession of the truth from the gospel of Christ. Every day I confess the covenant benefits and other scriptures to which the Holy Spirit leads me. My faith has grown stronger as I have confessed these benefits for my self and my family. Warfare continues to drive unbelief and demons from my soul as the Holy Spirit exposes them and fills my soul.
The more we walk in the Spirit in these last days and allow the Spirit to fill our souls, the more our lives are filled with the presence of God and all His benefits. The more we flow with rivers of living water and miracles, which are still very much for today, the more our faith moves mountains.