How Faith Works: Faith Speaks

  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17 MEV

 We've begun a new study examining how Faith works. Faith is not something that is so complex, so difficult, so hard to muster up and walk-in. No, Faith is simple. The New Covenant is a Covenant established by Grace and its currency is Faith. The New Covenant is better, so Jesus didn't bring us something that's impossible to possess, to grow in, and to walk by. 

 So far we have seen that Faith sees. Faith when fed the truth of Grace, Jesus' Finished Work of Redemption, and the promises of God through His Word creates a positive image of good inwardly. Faith sees the promises as our own before we can see them in the natural. 

 We also saw that Faith believes. Faith believes with the heart. How do we believe? We believe by listening to and feeding on the words of Christ. We believe boldly because of the character of the one promising. God is a Good Father, so we can take Him at His Word. 

 At the same time, What we feed upon determines what we believe. If we are feeding on the traditions of men, the way of this world system, and the lying words of the enemy, we won't walk victoriously. Let's continue then examining how Faith works.

 Faith sees, Faith believes, and Faith speaks. Faith is in our hearts but released with our mouths. Our words agree with the reality Grace made in order to create that reality in our own life. 

 Words are powerful. Words can be one of the most powerful forces in the universe. Our words can build up or tear down. Our words contain either life and blessing or cursing and death. 

 Words are containers. They contain Faith, life, love, and joy, or they contain doubt, unbelief, loss, and depression. Faith can create the reality Grace made available in our life by agreeing with God. Or we can take the world, the lying enemy, or religious tradition at their word and create the reality of death, defeat, disorder, disease, and disaster in our life. We can choose either life or death, blessing, or cursing by the words we speak.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NKJV

 Let's once again look at Paul's words;

 for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10 MEV

We have the same spirit of faith. As it is written, “I believed, and therefore I have spoken.”So we also believe and therefore speak,                                       2 Corinthians 4:13 MEV 

 Take note that these passages also align with and agree with the words of our Lord Jesus in Mark's Gospel. Faith is in our hearts but must be spoken out to be released. As essential as it is to believe by Faith we must also see the vitalness of speaking out what we believe by Faith.

 So what are you saying? Do your words agree with God's? They can. If anyone feeds upon the words of Christ, trusting in His great Love and goodness they will build an image within that the enemy, religion, the world, or contradictory circumstances cannot shake or withstand. You'll see how quickly your words agree with God then.

 Now don't misled to only speak words of hope and not Faith. For you won't walk in the manifest promise. Hope is the divine blueprint. Faith gives substance to hope. Hope is like the contractor with the plans. The plans may be good and right but there is no building to walk in yet. Again Faith gives substance to hope. So Faith is like said contractor getting workers to construct that building. 

 How can you distinguish words of hope and words of Faith? Hope is positive expectation of what God has said and done through Christ. Faith is the title deed, the confirmation that what God said is in fact ours. Hope says I will be healed, I will be forgiven, I will have what He promised. Faith on the other hand says I am healed, I am forgiven, I have what God said now! Faith says it's mine, I have it now, not someday, now!

 Once again look at Abraham. See Paul's words of him in Romans 4. God literally changed Abram's name in order for him to speak forth the promise. Abram who had no promised son yet had his name changed to literally father of multitudes. 

 When Abraham introduced himself from then on he was speaking and agreeing with God. If anyone called his name they too were inadvertanly agreeing with God. Did you know you can agree with God in the same manner? 

 We can call those things that be not as though they were. When we miss it, blow it, or just plain sin we can call ourselves Righteous and forgiven. If sickness and disease rear up with symptoms we can call ourselves healed because Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law. Part of that curse was sickness and disease. If lack appears we can agree with God and call ourselves blessed because Jesus bore our poverty so we could have His riches. When we agree with God and His Finished Work of Redemption, speaking it forth we will see things changed in our lives for the better.

 We can agree with Grace. If we feel unworthy or unloved we can speak forth what His Grace says about us. He made us worthy, we aren't unloved we are accepted. We aren't lonely we are not only accepted we are accepted in the beloved. We are in the Family of God. We can agree with Grace, we are loved, cherished, forgiven, and a beloved member of God's Family.

 In summation, we understand how Faith works more and more. Faith sees, Faith believes, and Faith speaks. We can speak and agree with all God has said about us and done for us in the Finished Work of Redemption. Beloved, agree with God with your heart and your words. 

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How Faith Works: Faith Believes

  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17 MEV

We've begun a new series examining Faith, what Faith is and how Faith works. In our last post, we saw that Faith sees. That Faith has sight. Faith when fed God's Word and an understanding of God's extravagant Goodness and Love creates an image within our hearts of all God's promises to us.

 Today, we are examining another aspect of Faith. Faith not only sees it also believes. To walk in Faith we must fully believe that what God has revealed to us is ours through Christ, truly is ours, in order for us to experience it.  

 To believe is to be fully persuaded beyond doubt. What then are we persuaded by? What circumstances, conditions, surroundings, or situations appear like? Or are we fully persuaded by the Goodness of a Good Father? Are we persuaded by the Love of the Father who freely gave His only Son? If God gave us His best, surely He will give us the "rest!" 

 Faith believes. We are to be persuaded by what God has said and not what the problem says. Because God is Faithful and so Good, our response should be to believe what He has accomplished in His perfect work of Redemption. 

 We walk by Faith, not by sight. We don't judge another believer's Righteousness and salvation based upon what we see. Sometimes we just encountered someone at their worst. They could be having a "bad day." They could be processing a challenge in their life and have not yet responded in Faith. In those instances, we just walk by Faith and agree with the Cross and what God's Word declared over the believer.

 When it comes to Faith, much has been revealed concerning the power of words. Faith is released by speaking. As powerfully true as this is we must not forget believing is first and foremost. 

 for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10 MEV

We have the same spirit of faith. As it is written, “I believed, and therefore I have spoken.”So we also believe and therefore speak,                                       2 Corinthians 4:13 MEV 

 I wanted to highlight these passages reminding us of the place believing has when it comes to Faith. Believing is essential when it comes to speaking forth Faith. Jesus thought so too.

 For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. Mark 11:23 WEB 

 Jesus confirmed it here. It's not just saying it but also believing what you're saying that causes it to happen. If you don't truly believe, your words will fall flat failing to create the reality you desire. 

 Our belief is rooted in having a good opinion of God. We believe because we know He is a Good Father and that He is always Faithful to His Word. We believe because we know and understand God has accepted and affirmed the Finished Work of Christ. Studying, meditating, and continually reminding ourselves of all Jesus has accomplished on the Cross, ushering in the New Covenant, creates a fully persuaded heart.

 The enemy of Faith is unbelief. The enemy works overtime attempting to get us to become dissuaded in God's Goodness and Love and more persuaded by negative circumstances and situations. The enemy wants to convince us that our problem is too big for God. Through lying symptoms he works his hardest to get us to believe God won't answer, won't come through, won't be there, and will allow us to be overcome. 

 When we agree with God and not our present condition or situation it silences the voices of the enemy, traditional religion, and the world system. This agreement and belief are completely rooted in the Goodness and Love of God. The vitalness of being persuaded by His Goodness and Love cannot be stated enough. 

 Look again at Abraham. Abraham learned Faith and how it works before the New Covenant. Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for Righteousness. Abraham was fully persuaded that God was Good and Faithful. He received the promise because of it.

 Faith believes. Faith is fully persuaded of what God has declared and all Jesus' procured in His perfect work of Redemption. Faith accepts and agrees with all God has said and done through Christ. 

 Faith is resting in a good opinion of God. Faith isn't striving and begging and pleading to get God to do something. The Faith we have is a Faith in His Faith and Faithfulness. Faith is resting in the Goodness, Faithfulness, and Lovingkindness of a Good Father.

We aren't paupers begging for more meager portions. We aren't servants afraid to come forward hesitant to ask for sustenance. We are the children of the Most High. We are the King's kids. He has more than enough for us. He invites us to the banquet table to freely feast upon all He has provided. 

 In summation, Faith works. Faith sees and Faith believes. Faith is being persuaded by the Goodness of a Good Father. Focus on this Love. Meditate on this truth until it overflows your heart and mind. No matter your current situation or circumstance fear not only believe. Believe His Love and Goodness for you now!

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How Faith Works: Faith Sees

 

and that in law no one is declared righteous with God, is evident, because `The righteous by faith shall live;' Galatians 3:11 YLT

 In our last study, we discovered what Faith is. We saw that Faith is resting in a good opinion of God. We saw that Faith is an important and vital aspect of life in Christ. 

 Understanding this it seems good to see how Faith works. To see and understand how we can walk by Faith in our everyday life. To purposefully and actively lay hold of and possess all God has procured and purchased for us in His perfect work of Redemption.

 In order to walk by Faith, we have to examine what we are looking at. I am not just speaking of natural sight but by spiritual and even mental sight. How do you see yourself? 

 Have you ever been given a questionaire from a medical profession? Ever been asked questions such as how would you describe your health? These questions are asking how do you see yourself? My point is that sight is about more than just our eyesight. 

  For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthian 5:7 MEV

 Here Paul is informing us by the inspiration of the Spirit that Faith sees different than what our natural senses tell us. It doesn't matter what it feels like or seems like. It only matters what God says about it.

 In seeing how Faith works we can see the life of Abraham as a great example for us. If we look at Abraham we see Faith demonstrated even before Christ and the New Covenant. Let's look at Genesis. 

 In Genesis 12, we see the initial call and promises God made to Abraham. Understand then that God had spoken. What He said is truth. Now let's look at Abraham's, then called Abram, response to God's Word some time later in Genesis 15. 

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”                            Genesis 15:1-2 NKJV

What is Abram's response? He tells God only what he can see and feel and what his experience is. Yet, He already had God's Word, the guarantee of what he was seeking. Remember, God's Word is true, not because we experience it or feel it or see it naturally. It's true because God said it, and because He said we should experience it.

 Abram's words reveal something. He couldn't see himself as a father, let alone as the father of multitude. In order to get him over into Faith, God had to change his image. God gave him a picture, He showed him the sands of the seashore and the stars in the sky. 

 God gave Abram something to see, something to help build a Faith image on the inside of him. This is an aspect of Christianity that the false new age, witchcraft, and the mysticism crowd have perverted. God's Word builds a good image on the inside of a Godly man. 

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.              Proverbs 25:11 KJV

 This passage speaks of good words giving us a positive image. Abraham had to have the inner image he had of being a childless man changed to the image God had spoken over him. At first, Abraham couldn't see himself the way God did. 

 Faith sees. Faith rooted in the good Words of God builds a right image on the inside of us. God's Word of promise produces a Faith image in the inner man of the Righteous. We can by Faith see ourselves the way God does. Instead of a broken, worthless, sinful image we can possess a image of a Righteous man in whom God loves unconditionally and is always well pleased with.

 Think of it. When you fail or fall or foul up and sin, how do you see yourself? Lost? Broken? Out of fellowship and connection with God? Unforgiven, unrighteous, or unworthy? Or because of the Word deposited within your heart, do you still see yourself as Righteous? Do you still see yourself as accepted, approved, and forgiven? Feeding on the Word will build the right Faith image within.

 If sickness or disease strikes how do you see yourself? Do you say to God, "what will you do seeing I go without health?" Or do you reject the grow worse image and accept and receive the image of the one healed and made whole because of the Finished Work? Hold fast to that Faith image, focus on who God declares you are.

 If poverty and lack strikes how do you see yourself? Again, reject that image of being the broke, penniless beggar. It has been said many times that poverty is a mindset. That is a negative self image that expects lack and want. We are children of the Most High God. We are children of the King. We need not lack in any good thing. Feed on the Word and the promise of provision God has purchased for us in Redemption.

 Feed on God's Word. Build an image on the inside of who God declares us to be. Faith sees what God sees. God is Good, let's feed on that Goodness and receive of it and change the way we see ourselves.

 In summation, let's gain a God's eye view and relinquish a worldly, defeated, downcast image sin and a fallen world produce. Faith sees. Faith sees all the promise and provision of Christ and accepts it regardless of current circumstance or situation. It's not denying the circumstance's existence but rather choosing to focus on the higher truth of redemption. 

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Faith: Having a Good opinion of God

 By faith Sarah herself also received the ability to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Hebrews 11:11 MEV

 What is Faith? Why is it important to study and understand Faith? What role does Faith play in our everyday life practically speaking?

 To answer these questions let's revisit the Word and gain insight and wisdom and truth for our life. The Word of God tells us without Faith we can't please God. This alone shows us the vitalness of Faith.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

 If we desire the fullness of all that God has for us, it appears Faith plays a major role in receiving it. Because of this, we need to know and understand what Faith is and how it works in our life. What is Faith then?

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Hebrews 11:1 AMPC

 What a powerful definition of Faith. Many of us have owned a car or even a home. We know when we had the title deed of that property, we didn't need to use our physical senses to confirm ownership. That title deed proved we owned that car or home. Faith is the title deed that what God said to us is in fact ours.

 Now as powerful, truthful, and thorough as this passage is let's go deeper in understanding what Faith is. How so? By asking why is Faith the assurance? Why is it the proof of what we hoped for? 

 A title deed is only good as the company or person giving it. To be clearer, I could give you the title deed to the Brooklyn Bridge. Does that mean you own it? Of course not. I have no right, no authority, and no ability to give it to you or even sell it. It's not mine to give. 

 So it is with Faith. The nature and character of God are why we have the assurance, the confirmation, and the title deed. So what is Faith?

 Faith is resting in a Good opinion of God. To rest is to put all your trust in something knowing that it is fully accomplished. We rest by trusting in Him and His Goodness and Love alone. Faith is not a struggle, Faith rests in His Goodness. We are trusting in Him and His Love and Goodness not our own.

 Understanding this, we now can see how there exist Faith failures and why some fail to receive all God has for them. Faith's greatest enemy is unbelief. What then is that unbelief rooted in? Or where does it derive its power from? Not the enemy alone, but in us having a negative opinion of God. 

 Where there exists a negative opinion or belief about God Faith cannot operate fully. Faith is trusting in God. If we have a negative opinion of God in some area we aren't fully trusting in God in that area. If we aren't fully trusting God, then we are not fully in Faith and therefore we won't receive all He has purchased for us in redemption. 

 Concerning provision and prosperity, if we have a negative opinion of God concerning finances and our needs being supplied how can we say we are trusting in Him to provide? If we look at the experiences of others saying, they gave, they prayed and they are still struggling, provision must not be God's will, how can we say we trust God to provide for us? We are holding on to a negative opinion of God concerning provision. 

 Let's look at the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5. She had a Good opinion of Jesus. She didn't even ask Him to heal her. She just trusted and believed in His Goodness and Love. Faith, having a Good opinion of God, gave her the assurance and confirmation that what she desired was in fact hers. She reached out and took it and received all God had for her. Jesus commended her Faith.

 So how do we get a Good opinion of God? We go to His Word. We study, we meditate, we feed on the Word concerning His Goodness and Lovingkindness. 

 We see in the Word how He delivered the children of Israel time after time. We see how the Cross has forgiven us of all our sins forever. How we are made irrevocably Righteous by the Blood. We see how He bore all our sickness and disease and pain on the Cross purchasing and providing our healing. We see how He redeemed us from the curse of the Law, procuring new life, provision, and prosperity for us. We look at Jesus and see the heart and will of the Father.

 In summation, Faith is having a Good opinion of God. We trust in His Faithfulness and Love for us. We can rest knowing our needs are met and supplied in full because Christ loves us and provides for His own. We can rest knowing He is our healer because He took all our sickness. We can rest knowing we are loved, accepted, and approved of God because of Jesus. This is walking by Faith. Faith in His all the time Goodness and Love. 

 

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