FRUITFULNESS AS A DISCIPLE - Moving On in Faith

7. Moving On in Faith

Key Scriptures

Romans 10:17 AV

James 2:14–26

John 14:12

Hebrews 11:1–40

Luke 18:8

Mark 11:22–24

1 John 5:4

Mark 9:23

Introduction

Faith is the greatest power in the universe, because it is the means by which the power of God is released into human experience. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

None of us has the means within ourselves to meet God’s demands or to fulfil the work of the Kingdom of God. We need a supernatural gift and that gift is the gift of faith. Faith is the power by which we come into new life in Jesus, and it is also the power by which we exercise this new life of God in us. Faith is not a matter of the mind, but it is rather an act of the will (Proverbs 3:5). It means unwavering trust and absolute confidence in God and His Word.

A five finger exercise of faith

Faith has a number of very important elements which are inter-related and which really need to stand undivided if we are to appreciate the breadth of this great theme. It could be said that without any one of these faith strands, we have not fully expressed what faith is, nor can faith be fully operative within our lives if any one of them is missing. Faith is like a hand with five fingers. If you write ‘FAITH’ across the palm, the fingers gather in to give that firm grip which is faith in action.

1. Faith is GRACE (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Faith is the very basis of our relationship with the Father. We are not saved through our own strength or righteousness, but by the grace of God which is made real in our lives through faith. Not one of us is born again through any effort of our own. Not one of us even had the strength to put our trust in God. We were by nature hostile to God and found it impossible to submit to God’s Word (Romans 8:7–8). Faith in God is a divine gift. Faith in God is given as a response to the Word of God as it enters our lives under the active power of the Holy Spirit. We have been walking along in one direction in life, when suddenly God speaks His Word into our situation. The result of this is that we stop and turn to hear this voice that is speaking to us. When we turn away from our old direction of life and listen instead to the Word of God, then the Holy Spirit brings something to us that we did not have before – the gift of faith! (Romans 10:17). Faith is grace made real in our lives. God’s grace comes to us by faith. Faith makes a channel between us and God, through which God’s grace can come to us. Without faith we cannot receive God’s grace. This grace channel, or tunnel, is created when we receive God’s Word to us.

2. Faith is TRUTH (Jude 3)

On a number of occasions the word ‘faith’ appears in the New Testament with a definite article in front of it, i.e. ‘the’ faith. That tells us that there is something definite about this faith. There is content to it (1 Corinthians 16:13). It is not only important that we believe, it is important what we believe. There is a body of truth which encompasses God’s revelation to us in Jesus. This is the truth which is the ground of our faith. Faith does not rest on a good idea or some emotional experience that we have. It rests on the declared work and word of God in Jesus.

3. Faith is GIFT (1 Corinthians 12:9)

This gift of faith is for specific occasions and need. Like other spiritual gifts, this gift of faith opens us up to a capacity and potential that does not belong to our old human nature. It is this faith that looks at the impossible and cries, ‘It shall be done’. This sort of faith is almost an insult to our flesh and human minds because it relies on a child-like dependency on God. It demands that we lay aside our own efforts and plans to work things out our way, and throw ourselves afresh on the grace of our heavenly Father to give us the grace we need to help in time of need.

4. Faith is POWER

Faith is vital, dynamic, effective and powerful. Whenever we hear of faith in the Scriptures something powerful is happening (Acts 3:16). Jesus gave us some mighty, powerful promises of faith (Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:22, 23; John 14:12–14).

5. Faith is VICTORY

Men of faith have always been those who have known the secret of how to overthrow the world’s system (1 John 5:4). They have known how to withstand the enemies of God’s Kingdom. Of course, faith and obedience are closely linked. Faith enables us to believe God’s Word and obedience enables us to fulfil it.