Back to the Basics- What is Faith?
April 7, 2023
A few weeks ago we started talking about going back to the basics. We are honing in on the fundamentals of Christianity so we can become masters of the faith. Like we talked about the last time, just like professional athletes are masters of the fundamentals/basics of their sports, we want to become the masters and the ones most skilled in the fundamentals/basics of the faith walk! This week let’s take it the whole way down to the core. Let’s talk about faith. Faith is what starts our journey into Christianity. We are saved by grace through faith. God extended grace and our faith takes hold of it. But what is faith? What does it do? We have made it a norm in our lingo to say “walk by faith” or “just gotta have faith”. But what does that really mean? How do you “walk by faith” or “just have faith”? And why does it matter if you have faith, what does that even do for you? We will talk about that this week!
Let’s look at the ultimate faith definition found in Hebrews 11. Read Hebrews 11:1-3, AMPC, “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]. For by [faith–trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report. By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.” Faith is “the title deed”. I love that picture. Just like you have a title deed to your home or your car that proves that that house or vehicle is legally yours, you have a title deed that proves that the total “sozo” salvation of Jesus is legally yours as a child of God. Faith creates in the unseen realm and pulls it into existence in the seen world. We see that as we read in Romans 4 when it talks about the faith experience of Abraham and Sarah. Let’s read Romans 4:16-21, AMPC, “Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants–not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all. As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed. [Gen. 17:5.] [For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be. [Gen. 15:5.] He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah's [deadened] womb. [Gen. 17:17; 18:11.] No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised.”
So what is faith? Faith is the hand that reaches out and grabs onto the promises of God and pulls them into our real lives. It’s the force in the spirit realm that makes happen in our natural realm what God says we have. It makes His Words of promise become real and tangible evidence. God promised Abraham that he would have a son. Despite the natural circumstances that seemed to be standing in the way of that. Abraham’s faith reached out and grabbed onto the promise of God in the spirit and pulled it into the natural realm of his life. The faithful words from God were more real and more powerful to Abraham than any of the circumstances in his life. That is exactly how it has to be for us. We have a Bible full of faithful promises from God. We have to use our faith to believe that those promises are more true and more real than what the problem is we are facing. So when we say “you just gotta have faith” even if we don’t mean it this way, we are telling someone that they need to count the words of God more real and true than whatever storm they are walking through so that their faith reaches out and pulls into their situation the fulfillment of His promise.
Let’s read another scripture in Mark 11:22-24, AMPC, “And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly]. Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him. For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].” Faith is the powerful force that shifts circumstances. As we read above in Hebrews, faith was the force that created all of creation. Faith is a force. When we are faced with a tough circumstance in life, whether it be a bad health report, a financial crisis, depression or anxiety pressing in, a loss of some kind; faith is the force that pulls the promises of God into the situation to provide a life-filled solution that shifts the whole thing. So when you are faced with whatever it is, figure out what God said about that situation in His Word. Then choose to believe His promise higher than the issue. And as you stand believing your faith is pulling into reality the fulfillment of that promise in order to shift the circumstance. This verse says “who does not doubt in his heart but believes” this is key. Doubt can seem strong and it is a distraction that the enemy uses to keep you from being able to have faith to pull the promise into reality. The verse says do not doubt in your heart. It does not say do not doubt in your mind. Faith works from the heart (the spirit). I heard this from a world renowned preacher that set me free in this area “Faith can work in your heart even when doubt is in your head. Just don’t let the doubt go down the elevator and come out of your mouth.” This helped me so much because when we are facing something that has really loud circumstances it seems near impossible to not have any doubts fill your mind. But as long as we don’t speak them out, they remain unborn in our minds and faith is left uncontaminated in our hearts. And I believe the more we walk this walk, the less doubts will fill our minds because as we begin to see the faithfulness of God show up in our situations we will realize He does not fail and if God said it, He will do it.
I hope this cleared some things up for you and helped you refocus on the fundamentals of faith. When the fundamentals are clear to us it makes it easier to master them and see more successes and better aim. Whatever you’re walking through right now, take time to see what the Word of God says about it. Choose to speak and believe the truth of the Word of God and forsake speaking the doubts that the enemy brings to your mind. Then you will see the force of faith pull that promise into fulfillment in your situation. Victory is on the way!
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