Faith

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph. Here’s hoping I haven’t missed much. Happy reading!)

In John 5:47 Jesus says:

“But if you do not believe his {Moses'} writings, how will you believe My words?”

Jesus was talking to the Jews of that time, some of whom were fanatical about their ‘faith’. These were the hard-core, religious Jews who had thoroughly read the laws of Moses and esteemed it as God’s standard. Yet Jesus addressed their one short-coming-they did not believe!

There are quite a few like those Jews even today. They may kiss the Bible, esteem it highly and read it religiously; but their exercises become futile because, in their hearts, they do not really believe what is written. Therefore today my message to you is a simple one-about believing what you have been, and are, reading in God’s word.

In English we find two words: ‘faith’ and ‘belief’ that are sometimes confusing as to what it means. But in the original Greek, there is found only one word for which the noun form is written as ‘faith’ and the verb form written as ‘belief’. Abraham believed God and is called the father of faith.

Now faith is not based on some 'feeling' and is not the conclusion of your own logical thinking. It is more than logical reasoning and intellectual understanding. Faith is based on knowing the certainty of what is written only in God’s word and acting upon it. If it says ‘This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it’ we are going to do just that based on our belief in what is written.

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (Heb 4:2)

Here, the author of Hebrews describes two categories of people who heard the word of God; one who profited because of their faith and the other who did not profit because of their lack of faith. That is why it is important in your life to know whether the word of God that you hear or read has really profited you or not. It is not really an issue of how long or how much you have read the word of God, but how you have read the word of God that matters-with or without faith. If without faith, then there is no profit.

Are you just hearers of the word or also doers? Even in the Parable of the Sower, there were four different categories of people who heard the word of God; but only one produced fruit, some thirty-fold some sixty-fold and some hundred-fold. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10: 10).

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1: 15). These are the words of Jesus and this is what we believe-the gospel. We turn away from every sin that entangled us, and repent; turn toward God in faith and anticipation of His kingdom that is near.

If you are new in the kingdom of God, I encourage you to read the gospel of John. For John says in his book about his writings, that …these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20: 31). I like John’s writings because he gives a reason to why he has written; it was not a random choice, there is purpose and meaning to his words. And again “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13).

John’s book is written in a simple language, that even a teenager can understand and believe. As a 15 year old, I read the gospel according to John, and understood the message of repentance, forgiveness and salvation only in Jesus Christ and I, too, believed in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Have faith in God

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11: 1). He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in Himself… (1 John 5:10). The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ… (Rom. 8:16). We are God’s children-what a privilege! Faith rises in our hearts as we begin to know that we are God’s children; no one need tell us that! We have the witness within us, with God-the Holy Spirit, bearing us witness with our spirit.

We do not rest on the witness of others; we do not stand on the faith of our fathers; for faith is neither transmitted, nor inherited. We inherit so much from our parents, but the Bible says, the just shall live by his own faith. Our parents may be involved in ministry and in serving God; but the faith we have in God is ours alone! Therefore have faith in God. Believe in the name of Jesus Christ and you will be saved-you and your household. 

Keep the faith

Believe in God not just for the good times or for a little while. In the Parable of the Sower, there were a category of people-they who receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. (Luke 8:13).

You can afford to lose some money-maybe in a bad decision, being cheated in some investment; but do not lose your faith in God. A living faith in God is exhibited when we know of Romans 8: 28 and boldly confess, ‘we know all things work together for good…’ because we love God and we are the ‘called’ according to His purposes.

Paul warns Timothy that if we lose faith, we are like those who are ship-wrecked in a seafaring journey. 1 Tim. 1: 19 says: ‘having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck’

Our faith in God must be strong to weather any storm, any test; and we must hold up the shield of faith  in any temptation when the devil throws every fiery dart towards you (Eph. 6:16). O yes, we can take this and that because we have put our faith in the living God who is eternally faithful. We are not alone; there is someone who banks on our faith-even our Lord Jesus Christ, who Himself is praying that our faith should not fail. During His time here on earth, the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail…” (Luke 22: 31, 32). Keep the faith, for there is the honor roll of the faithful. Paul declared triumphantly in 2 Tim. 4: 7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

God does allow the testing of our faith, because it produces endurance (James 1:3). That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1: 7).

How else do we prove that we have faith, unless it is tested? And did you know that every living being in heaven has been tested? Yes, the angels and saints in heaven are those that have passed the 'faith' test.

Grow in faith

Romans 4: 20 say this about Abraham: He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God…

How do you strengthen you faith? Give glory to God, even before the promise is made manifest; thank the Lord before you receive His blessing. Look beyond with eyes of faith and grab hold of the substance in faith. Abraham waited on the promise of God-a son for Sarah and himself, although well beyond child-bearing age; for years and decades. The Bible says that he did not waver in unbelief but strengthened his faith. No wonder then he is remembered as a hero of faith. How long are you willing to wait in faith-few days? Few years? It may even be a decade before your faith bears fruit! But grow in faith while you wait.

In Jude 1:20 it is written: But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit…

Therefore, if you want to grow in your faith, pray in the Holy Spirit. Paul explains: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8: 26). If we do this, then Romans 8: 28 will be true in our lives too! God will cause all external circumstances to work together for good in relation with the Holy Spirit’s dwelling within us and to pray in accordance to His will.

Pursue faith (1 Tim. 6: 11), for it is not a given that faith once inside us, will automatically grow. But as we go after and grow in faith, we can settle every matter in accordance to God’s word- God said it, I believe it and that settles it!