We learn from the Scripture and experience the power of God working in us to complete a task that we start in the name of God. The words spoken in faith carry the same power and are effective in fulfilling the work. However, many times we fail to achieve the desired results and even find it difficult to understand the deep meaning of the Word of God. We, like Job, keep fumbling for answers and fail for no visible or understandable reasons.
Why does our faith fail? Faith is generally understood as a strong belief in God, or established doctrines of a religion and cannot be established with proof. Thus, a person of faith depends on such norms of the religion due to tradition, fear or way of life in a family. Faith is not only located deep inside of a human being but acts in the whole body. It is like a staircase, and its connection to the next level we know but to reach the next level, one has to climb step by step, even when the whole staircase may not be visible. It is not about knowing all about the stairs but actually about the act of starting to climb them.
The command to Abraham was clear, ‘get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you’ (Genesis 12:1). Abraham was told to climb the staircase which was not even visible and which God would show him later. We cannot seriously consider an idea without identifying with it at some level. Then, we start with a consideration of the effects of that idea on us. Over time this idea fully becomes a part of our thoughts and works also. The same is true about our words, for our power flows with our words and affects the surroundings. The circumstances around you start changing you by pulling you in directions that otherwise we would not follow. Your thoughts and words eventually make you believe in them.
The promise from God to make him a great nation was made at 75 years of age and at 99 years, God told him, ‘no longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations’ (Genesis 17:5 &15). Abram means ‘exalted father’ while Abraham means ‘father of a multitude’. Likewise, Sarai’s name, meaning princess or noblewoman, was also changed by God, on the same day, to Sarah meaning ‘mother of nations’. Abraham’s household had a large number of male and female servants who repeatedly spoke their new names. The new names were registered in their minds, bringing about a change in their own ideas about their future. With this God prepared them to receive the blessing of the son, He had promised.
The Jewish people recite the Shema prayer daily in the morning and before going to bed. The command in the prayer is, ‘Hear (Shema) O Israel: The LORD our God is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength’ (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). The Hebrew word ‘Shema’ means ‘to hear, understand and obey’. They pray this daily for all their lives, from childhood onwards and this is engraved on the surface of their mind and soul. This becomes a necessary part of their lives and despite the clear mention of the Spirit of God and the ‘Angel of the Lord’ or the Son of God, who has authority to change the natural ways through His supernatural authority, they refuse to believe in Lord Jesus as their Saviour or in the Holy Trinity.
Faith has been defined in the Holy Bible as ‘the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1). Through faith we are filled with an image and proof of what we seek and believe in. Faith is ‘trust, confidence or assurance but many take faith as belief in something for which there is no proof. That would be superstition because for God there is ample proof of His being and working in our lives. God does not demand blind faith but trust with full knowledge about Him as revealed in His Word and His Son, the Living Word. We believe in the Word of God but it remains in us and never dominates our thoughts and desires. We continue to live a dual life and sometimes we do act also in faith but the bridges to our old beliefs remain intact.
As per command of the LORD, Prophet Elijah chose Elisha to be his disciple. Elisha slaughtered his yoke of oxen and using the ploughing equipment boiled their flesh and gave it to the people to eat (1 Kings 19:19-21). ‘Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant’ or follower. When we destroy all links to our old ways, thoughts and beliefs and follow the Lord earnestly, our faith starts operating in every situation and we get filled with the power and authority of God.
What should we do to have a result-oriented faith? While going to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter, the news of Lord Jesus being there was heard by a woman who was suffering from blood-flow for the past twelve years. In her unclean state also, she took courage to get into the crowd to fulfil what she had said in her heart (Mark 5:28 & 34). ‘For she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well’. She repeatedly continued to say this in her heart and was filled with faith to move forward and was healed. It was the effect of her preaching to herself about healing by touching Lord Jesus that acted. It was not a one time saying but continuous talking to self to convince her heart, mind and soul to create a permanent imprint there.
In another instance, on His way to Jerusalem, Lord Jesus was passing through Jericho and a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, cried out to the Lord, seeking His help. However, many devout Jews, as a mark of respect for the Rabbi, tried to warn and silence him. On the other hand, the blind man ‘cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ (Mark 10:48-52). Lord Jesus heard him, stopped, and ‘commanded him to be called’ and then asked him, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He healed him by saying, ‘Go your way, your faith has made you well’. The suffering woman and the blind beggar believed in the healing power of the Lord and both kept repeating that to their own self to convince their hearts, minds and souls about that. Filled with faith they moved forward and received the desired result.
Faith must lead to action, for the woman with the blood flow had faith and could have kept on speaking to herself. But without moving forward, in her weak state, to face the crowds and push her way to the Lord, healing was not possible. The blessing is available, like a ripe fruit on a tree, but one must reach out to pluck it out and enjoy its taste. Lord Jesus spoke to the fig tree that bore no fruit and it dried up from the root (Mark 11:13-14 & 23). He taught the disciples, ‘whoever says to this mountain, ‘be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says’. Faith in action is to take the step forward and the change will happen, for this is the promise of the Lord to all believers.
The LORD God has clearly said, ‘I the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to His ways, according to the fruit of his doings’ (Jeremiah 17:10). Whatever is dominating our thoughts most of the time, that is what we are connected to and that will bear fruit in our lives. We live in either of the three stages in life; in the past, thinking about what was and what could have been; in the future to what you want to have and achieve and sometimes in the present also. The Scripture teaching is, ‘Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old’ (Isaiah 43:18). This is about living in the past achievements or good or failures that caused the troubles of the present. All the sins of a believer are forgiven but the devil keeps on bringing all that up to keep us from living in the blessed state of the present. Faith is to keep remembering the goodness of God for us and live with this and not be dragged into the past mistakes.
‘Without faith it is impossible to please God’ for the simple reason that all the proof of His mercy and grace for mankind exists in the Scripture and in history (Hebrews 11:6). If still one does not believe, he is rejecting everything, which is surrendering to the ways of the devil. If any of us does some good deeds for someone and that person becomes distrustful of us, what will we feel?
Moses was reluctant to go back to Egypt to lead his people out of slavery. After having performed various miracles in the power of the LORD God, he could trust God and strike the rock to get water in abundance for the people (Exodus 17:5). Faith is therefore belief in the past mercies of God and moving forward to see God doing more acts of mercy in our lives.
Living daily in the power of faith – A normal way of faith in action or its manifestation is; first, God gives a revelation in the form of an idea; second, the person believes in the revelation and third, he acts on it and finally God supplies the power to bring the revelation to come through. This revelation is received and perceived through a message of knowledge, wisdom or discerning of spirit. Gideon received the message from the ‘Angel of the Lord’, supposed to be Lord Jesus before His incarnation as Man on the earth (Judges 6:16). With only 300 men, he could face the armies of the ‘Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, (who) were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude’ (Judges 7:12). Such a vast army fled before the power of faith of Gideon and the might of the Lord helping him.
We walk in faith in daily life by following some of the following ways. First, Give God your best like ‘Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous’ (Hebrews 11:4). God desires the best in your life, your time, praises, devotion, attention and heart etc. Our natural tendency is to let God wait while we attend to our more important things in life. But what can be more important than God in our lives?
Second, touch the life of others. Lord Jesus was a blessing to whoever he met through healing of their bodies, souls and overall life. With the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we must also touch the lives of others through our words and deeds. Apostle Paul transformed innumerable people and his teachings are still impacting the lives of people all over the world.
Third, believe and follow the warnings of God seriously. Noah believed the expected destruction by the flood, despite the visible circumstances, and made the ark, a huge ship that took 120 years to build. A new job, marriage or anything else, seek God and explicitly follow His Word, for He alone knows what is best for each of us and He is never wrong.
Four, believe in His grace to bring good in every storm. The trials we face are not to destroy but create new beginnings. Trust God to renew everything for our benefit. Be thankful in everything and keep moving forward in faith.
Five, accept change willingly and follow His commands. Matthew left a lucrative business as a tax-collector to follow the Lord and other disciples left their businesses and families. Through their acceptance of change, they carried the message of the Gospel to others and became a blessing to the world. It is difficult to move from one’s comfort zone, but like Abraham, move even when the destination is shrouded in mystery.
Six, God’s timing is perfect and He is never late. You may feel that you are past your prime, but not in God’s sight. Abraham was 99 years old and had Isaac through faith in God’s promise made at 75 years of his age. God’s miracle can work at any age and only He knows what is the suitable time for anyone’s life.
Seven, you can never run away from God’s plan. Barnabas and Saul (Apostle Paul) were chosen by the Holy Spirit to move on Missionary work. When they moved into the second part of their journey to Antioch, John Mark, later the writer of the Gospel account, left them and returned to Jerusalem. Later Mark joined Apostle Paul and became a useful member of his group. In his last letter from the prison in Rome, just before his martyrdom, the Apostle, wrote to Timothy, ‘Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry’ (2 Timothy 4:11). He not only worked with Apostle Paul but was blessed by the Lord to write the Gospel account for future generations.
Eight, do not focus on your own capabilities but look unto the Lord. The Disciples were sent away by the Lord, after feeding the five thousand families, while Himself He went up on the mountain to pray. When He saw them struggling in the storm the whole night, even till early morning, Lord Jesus walked on water to their rescue. Apostle Peter prayed to the Lord, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water’ (Matthew 14:22- 30). He obeyed the Lord and could walk on water in the storm. The Lord is mighty and ever-ready and willing to help make us successful in all that we undertake to do. Do not focus on your own weaknesses and strengths only, but be ready to see God perform miraculous works through you.
Faith is a gift from God and we must pray for its fullness every day from God (1 Corinthians 12:9). Also, faith is like a muscle of the body, which when not exercised for long, grows weak. Act in faith while seeking God to step in to make your steps stable to prevent stumbling. We must remember that the forces of evil and darkness surrounding us will always try to attack us through thoughts of failure. Remember the promise of God, ‘For He himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5-6). Since our God is in and with us, we can boldly declare, ‘The LORD is my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’
Everyone wants to see God happy with him and be a blessing to him in his life. But without faith it is impossible to please God. In faith and in the might of His name, when we move forward, He steps in to help us walk triumphant over any situation. He has promised and is always with His chosen ones, but can we also definitely stand in this?
