WHAT IS FAITH?

WHAT IS FAITH?

The question is what is faith?

If faith is an all-important subject, then we need to know what it is in the actual sense.

If it makes living so colourful, then we must be bothered and concerned about what it is.

Nothing works without it!

Salvation is impossible without it!

Healing is impossible without it!

Victory is impossible without it!

Now, let me conclude, nothing is possible without faith. Nothing!

Which means, Christianity is worthless without faith.

Faith is the producer of good reports.
Where good reports are found in this kingdom, it is a direct product of faith.

I have found many prayer warriors who are gallant failures. But you can never point to a faith giant who is not a super success!

Look around in the world and in the Bible also. Show me a giant of faith, and I'll show you a giant on the earth.

Faith is the principal determining factor of every man's status. There is no contesting this fact.

Every exploit recorded in Hebrews 11, is a direct product of faith.

So, what is faith?

IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE IN GOD

Faith is the practical expression of confidence in God and His Word.

Hebrews 10:35-36 tells us:

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." God said to Abram, "Get thee out... (Gen. 12:1) And verse 4 of the same Chapter 12 tells us, "So Abraham departed, as the Lord

had spoken unto him..." This is a practical expression of confidence!

God said to Noah, "It will so rain that the earth will be flooded!" And despite the fact that no rain has fallen yet, Noah moved with

fear and built an ark, as God had instructed him. (Gen. 6,7,8).

He built that ark for 120 years! This is a display of confidence in God and His Word!

When God called me into ministry, He told me, "Carry nothing for your journey." I agreed with Him, and I had no re-think such

as, "What if nothing happens?"

He told me I didn't even need two pairs of shoes, nor two coats; that before the one I'm wearing wears out, He will give me another

one.

"And greet no man on the way." That is, "Let no man become important enough to divert your attention. I am up to the

commission."

I believed Him! And I've not needed to beg any man, living or dead, till date. Faith is the practical expression of confidence in

God and what He has said.

I caught something in my study - something I called the song of faith:

"If God can't, nobody else can.

If God can't, no one else should try.

If God can't, it is eternally hopeless to expect anything.

But hallelujah!

He is the Lord, the God of all flesh, and there's nothing too hard for Him!"

Friends, we are going to thread down the mountains and fill up the valleys!

Faith is it!

In Daniel chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar threatened the three Hebrew boys with the fiery furnace, and they said, "Oh! We know

better! Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, and He will deliver us. But should He choose not to, we remain confident!

We will not bow to your image!" (Paraphrased).

That is confidence! The Bible says it has great recompense of reward.

In Hebrews 11:6, we are told:

"...he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Faith, an expression of confidence, establishes reward - great reward!

The Lord spoke to Abraham, after He had waited 25 years to get Isaac, "Bring me your son. I want to 'eat' him. Sacrifice him to

me on the mountain." Gen. 22:2 paraphrased).

And Abraham set out to do exactly as God had commanded him, believing that God is able to raise sons unto him out of stones.

(Heb. 11:17-19) Confidence extraordinaire!

Abraham believed God, and by that act of faith, he became the father of all that is born again and has an inheritance with God. (Rom. 4:3,16).

IT IS AN ACT MOTIVATED BY THE WORD

Faith is an act motivated by the Word of God. It can also be defined as a living force, drawn from the living Word, for a living

proof.

It is by nature evidential. If you can't see the evidence, then what you are referring to is not faith. Listen to James 2:18

"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my

works."

Faith without action is fake! That means, it is dead! (James 2:17)

Faith is a reflective act. You can't operate it without it being know.

It shows in your looks, your walk, in the statements you make, in your countenance.

For example, if it is true that you believe in divine healing, it should show by the evidence of your continual healthy life.

If it is true you believe in prosperity, it should show. Jesus said, "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not." (John 10:37)

Faith is in the doing, the showing and is evident.

Jesus said to those men, "Fill the water-pots with water." And they went ahead and did exactly that. And the water became wine!

(John 2:1-11).

There is no evidence of faith without an act. Action is the authentic evidence of faith. Faith is fake without a back-up action.

The Bible tells us that "Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his

house; by the in which he condemned the world." (Heb. 11:7)

When you refuse to move by the Word of life, faith is not in place.

God spoke and Noah moved. It says, "By faith Noah ... moved" So faith compels action.

A man with a withered hand came to Jesus and Jesus said, "Stretch forth your hand", and the paralysis disappeared!

By faith, when God called Abraham, he obeyed. The Bible says, "So Abram departed..." The act was in place.

Friends, it's time to step out of that passive religious state!

If God says you are healed, stop looking sick! If He said He had carried your pains, stop celebrating pains!

God told me, "With long life will I satisfy you and show you my salvation." So, I don't dream death! I don't think death! Long life

means long life! The one I have now is not long enough, it's still short, because I've read about very long ones in the scriptures.

I know what long means. So I'm not thinking of anything contrary. I'm not writing any will for anybody.

That is the realm of faith!

Faith is an act.

You may sound primitive and unconventional, but the dignity of your victory will be undeniable!

When you stop showing it, then it's no longer there. Faith is reflective. It shows!

It comes by hearing, and it works by acting on what you have heard. (Rom. 10:17).