For my Anchor in God is through Faith. I Subdue by it, I Conquer by it, I am Positioned by it. Faith is my Lifestyle
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Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
What is faith?
Literally, faith can be defined as a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that controls human destiny. It is a complete (absolute) confidence in a person or plan etc.
The literal definition gives us a peripheral understanding of what faith is; as a strong belief that connects humanity with divinity, with the latter having a greater influence in changing the course of the formal by its strong belief system.
It also educates us that faith is a complete, absolute, unwavering, undoubting, confidence, trust in s person or plan etc.
Spiritual /Biblical Definition of Faith
The Bible opens our mind to the realities of faith. According to
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
This definition can further be split into two part for a better understanding.
Faith as a Substance of Things Hope for:
This is the assurance (confirmation, The Titled Deed) of the things we hope for.
An agreement legally, is not valid without a "Titled Deed", therefore faith acts as a Signature, Seal and Delivery channel for what we hope / long for.
Faith confirms/affirms our hope. Faith is the confirmation that the things hoped for are real even though they may yet appear unreal to the natural world.
Faith is what validates our proof of ownership, it confirms/affirms our relationship agreement with God Almighty, based on Christ finished Work.
An Evidence of Things not Seen:
This is the proof of the things we do not see, and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as real face what is not revealed to the senses).
Faith is the strong factual evidence that confirms the reality of things unseen to the natural minds. Faith is that "Authority" expressed by God in calling forth those things that be not as they they were.
Romans 4:17
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Faith therefore validates our claim over things which are not expressed in the physical / natural realm, but has been made palpable to its subject by its influence.
Faith is that ingredient that reflects /enhances the possibilities of God over humanity. We are connected to God by faith. John 20:29
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Our Salvation is sealed by hope, not hope which is seen, but unseen.
Romans 8:24
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
The Greek word for faith is translated as "PISTIS" and the verb is "PISTUEO". Both faith and belief comes from the same root word, but have simililarites and differences (see part 2 of this article for better understanding).
"PISTUO" means: faith, belief, firm persuasion, assurance, firm conviction and faithfulness. Faith is required to please God from the beginning to the apogee of Christianity. Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
as we diligently seek him, we must actively come to the victim that He is, and that He rewards those who seek and sought after him.
Jesus speaking to the woman in John 4:23-24 about the "True Worshipper" said that the True Worshipper are those who worship in spirit and in truth.
To worship God in Spirit and in truth, is to come to God as spirit as He is, wholly, pure, blameless, spotless, without fault, calling on him in faith from the inspired truth of the word.
How is Faith Activated and Stirred Up?
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The scripture expressly reveals to us that faith is activated and built-up from the cradle, by the word, it is sustained till it becomes magnificent by same word of God.
Faith is stirred up when we pray in the spirit. Praying in the spirit is praying in the Holy Ghost through the activated word.
Jude 1:20
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Why is Faith Important?
- It Orchestrates our Salvation: Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
It is practically impossible to be saved without faith. Every aspect of our Salvation is Faith dependent. We have to believe in God which is not seen by the natural eye but becomes real to our other sense via faith.
Therefore, faith is the spiritual energy that overcomes great oppositions and can lift a being through trials and trumps over situations in the natural realm.
- It connects us to God.
- It helps us to access all that have been freely given to us by God.
- By faith we possess and operate in the realms of the Holy Spirit
- We live by faith. Galatians 3:11
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
How Does Faith Influence a Person?
Faith Engages the Mind (Knowledge):
The mind is therefore educated for faith to operate, and this is therefore also dependent on the quality amount of God's word taken into our life. Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hearing from this verse is not dependent on the function of the natural sense of sound (ear), but it talks about our spirit been able to trap all that God's word is saying. In other words faith cometh when our spirit is sensitive to downloading God's word. Faith therefore is the faculty of the human spirit.
Faith is not activated outside the word of God. Faith is based on facts and realities from the word. It is the Holy Spirit that makes God's word real.
Faith Stirs our Emotions (Response):
Faith Stirs up our spirit into expectation of Joy and Hope. Phillipians 1:25, and 1Thessalonians 1:6
Philippians 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
Faith Engages the Will:
Faith goes beyond the intellect, it engages our emotions and then influencing our will, until what our intellect and emotions are interpreting becomes real to us.
For The Next Epistle of Faith v Belief. Don't miss it!!
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