Faith in God - Part I

The Definition of Faith

Faith simple means to confide in, so as to be secure without fear, to flee for refuge to or to take shelter in; to put faith in; to stay or rest on; to believe or to take one at his word; to rely upon the promise of another; and to put absolute trust in a person without ANY QUESTIONING or DOUBTS as to His (God's) faithfulness.

The Biblical definition of faith is, "The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Paul, in (Romans 4:17), expresses true faith as an attribute of God, "who quickeneth the dead, and (Calleth those things which be not as though they were)". Faith is a union of assurance and coviction, the counting or reckoning a thing done as though it were already done. Faith does not have to see before it believes. It laughs at impossibilities and all circumstances that may be contrary to it and counts the thing done that it asks of God. Faith is not swayed to believe God only when things seem possible, and it is not moved to waver or question in the least when things seem to go contrary to what has been asked. It pushes right along counting the things that are not as though they were.

Faith is not feeling that prayer is answered. The average person who seeks to excercse faith depends upon what he can see, hear, or feel. Testimonies concerning faith are usually expressed in connection with feelings and emotions, or the various sences. Since faith is based upon physical evidence or upon the emotions and feelings of the soul. All who take this road as the basis of faith will sooner or later be deceived. Faith should be based upon the Word Of God reguardless of any sence-knowledge, or feelings-evidences. Faith has not the slightest relationship with feelings and sence-evidences. At the time when men think they have all the faith in the world because of feelings, they have the least faith in the world, and when they think they have the least they have more than at any other time in their lives.

Faith should be based on what God's word tells us, and should always have first place in our lives instead of the sences. All faith based upon what we have done, how well we live, or what experiences we have had will lead to failure in answered prayer. God does not answer upon these grounds. He answers solely upon the grounds of GRACE and FAITH in Him in His Word.

True faith is not in trusting in the goodness and in the faith of another man. It must be personal faith in God and His word. People continually go about seeking someone who has faith and who can get answers to prayers for them. This may work temporarily while one is learning about God and His Word, but if we do not properly learn and develop a personal faith that refuses to be denied, we shall eventually revert to failure and unbelief, and we shall have to be satisfied with the modern theory that answered prayer is not for everyone.

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The believer that truely wants the substance of THINGS hoped for to come to pass must have a personal faith in God, faith in Jesus Christ, faith in the Holy Spirit, faith in the Word of God, faith in the atonement, and TOTAL consecration personally to believe God reguardless of anything that might happen to hinder prayer. Those who only rely on what they can see, hear, and feel can NEVER experience true faith nor please God, for without faith it's IMPOSSIBLE to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6). However, Scripture also teaches us that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). It takes the combination of both to complete the spiritual law that brings God's Word & His promises to pass and for His glory.

Neither mental nor mere assent to truth and dependence upon feelings is enough. The individual must come to life in Christ, and begins to learn how to walk by faith just as a baby must learn to crawl before he or she can learn to walk. Once a believer learns by experiences in faith they "should" quickly learn the benefits God has blessed them through active "living faith" that refuses to know defeat and failure. A man must learn to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of God and His word. He MUST learn that he is surrounded by an unbelieving world and in a atmosphere of doubts, that demons and fallen angels and men have lived for centuries in unbelief and wickedness creating currents of doubt and mistrust that are very subtle, and that effects of the fall have left in the lives of fallen men deep wounds of doubt and wavering that must be healed.

Believers must learn that he has to wrestle with the powers of darkness and the currents of Mistrust and Unbelief which make it a struggle to exercise active living faith for things that are not seen. Without an ACTIVE LIVING FAITH in a Christians life, accompanied by a life of obedience he or she will never come to know the Abundant life Jesus promised we could have, through all the promises our heavenly Father has given us in His Word.

Serveral kinds of faith are mentioned in Scripture, here is a list of them for us to examine and see what kind of faith we should have.

1).. COMMON FAITH

(Titus 1:4). It is called "the mutual faith" (Romans 1:12). This is the faith that is common to ALL men who claim to be Christians. It is common because of the few commonly accepted truths held more or less alike be all Christians, such as belief in Christ as a Saviour and in eternal life. The uncommon kind is that rare faith in apostolic power and in the fulness of God in the lives of all Christians. It is faith in these truths that brings controversy because the average church member has not taught that he can have all the benefits of the gospel which were experienced be earily Christians. Thus according to Scripture, all men "CAN" have this uncommon faith and power.

2).. WEAK FAITH

(Romans 4:19; 14:1-23; 15:1-14; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13).

This is the kind of faith that constantly limits personal benefits and privileges in the gospel, due to wrong teachings and personal scruples concerning non-essentials of life. There are literally thousands of people who spend much of their time arguing and condemning each other over small details of life that are not essential enough to mention in particular in Scripture. These consist of what one may or may not eat, drink,wear, or do in life and still be a Christian. The kingdom of God does NOT consist of these things...meat, drink, clothes, but rather in "righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17).

If the devil cannot get men to commit great sins that are forbidden in Scriptures, he will urge honest-hearted people to go to the extreme and condemn this or that in personal liberties that are not strickly condemned by God. The law of Scripture concerning anything that is not definitely forbidden by God in Scripture is: "he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not in faith: for WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN" (Romans 14;23).

The Christian law of love to others is: "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may EDIFY another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things are pure; but IT IS EVIL FOR THAT MAN WHO EATETH WITH OFFENCE. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thy Faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is the man that condemneth not himself in the things which he alloweth...We then that are strong ought to bear his neighbor for his good to EDIFICATION" (Romans 14:19=22; 15:1-2).

3).. STRONG FAITH

This faith is the kind that REFUSES to be defeated. It refuses to take no for an answer. It laughs at circumstances, symptoms, all outward appearances, and what is seen, heard, or felt, and doggedly holdsto the fact that what has been asked of God is granted. Abraham had this kind of faith: "Who against hope believed in hope, that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not WEAK IN FAITH, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb (was was about ninety years old) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was STRONG IN FAITH, giving glory to God, and BEING FULLY PERSUADED that, what He had promised He was able to perform. And it was counted to him for righteousness" (Romans 4:18-22).

All men could have this kind of faith if they would only persuade and disipline themselves to believe that God is 100% true to His Word. Most men claim that they have faith in God to this extent, and not one wants to say boldly that He is a liar and that He will not do has He said, but when it comes to excercising faith that will not doubt or waver in prayer, very few will maintain such a strong faith and thank God for the answer even before it is realized. Very few will simply refuse to question or waver in the least when it seems that things are going contrary to what has been asked of God. A believer who will exercise a faith as strong as Abraham, and will wait upon the Lord until He is ready to answer, WILL see those things God promised them come to pass. One who comes to God with UNWAVERING FAITH, He will not refuse, for it is impossible and unheard of (James 1:5-8; Hebrews 11:16). All men are definitely assured of getting from God those things which He has promised if they will "walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham" (Romans 4:12. 23-25).

4).. LITTLE FAITH

(Matthew 6;30; 8;26; 14:31; Luke 12:28). This is the same as NO faith because it is the unwavering kind (Hebrews 10:23; James 1:5-8).

5).. GREAT FAITH

(Matthew 8:10; 15:28). This is the true, unwavering faith that will always move God to answer according to His abundant promises (Hebrews11:6).

6).. UNFREIGNED FAITH

(1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:5). This faith is the kind that knows no hypocrisy, sham, or counterfeit. It is the kind that does not brag or put on an outward show, that is real. It is simply genuine and real and sincere in it's every aspect. It proceeds our of a pure heart and from a good conscience, as stated in Scriptures. It is the unselfish, holy, and godly kind that naturally increases in the life of every TRUE child of God, as he grows in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 1:4-9); 3:18).

7).. TEMPORARY FAITH

This is the kind of faith that believes for a while and springs up like a mushroom, but because of shallowness , lack of root it fails in time of temptation and test. Many people throught the ages have been of this type. They receive the Word of God with great joy, and it seems that they are strong and firm in their faith, but after a few days or weeks they are not heard of again. They never fully come clean with God or make the full surrender of their lives except for the moment. They do not PREPARE the soil (Their Heart), so that the seed (Word of God), can take root and produce fruit. (Christ likeness).

Some teach that this cannot happen, but it does in spite of the so-called impossibility of falling away from the faith and being renewed in repentence again. Some teach that one can cannot fall from from the faith, but Jesus certainly said that some would "receive the Word with joy; and these have NO root, WHICH FOR AWHILE BELIEVE, and in time of temptation FALL AWAY" (Matthew 13:20-21; Luke8:13). Paul speaks of these as those who "concerning faith have made shipwreck" (1 Timothy 1:19), as "having cast off their first faith" by going "aside after Satan" 1 Timothy 5:12-15); and as having "erred concerning the faith" ( 1 Timothy 6:21). Many Scriptures say that men CAN depart from and fall from the faith (Acts 14:22); 1 Timothy 2:15; 4:1; 5:8-15; 6:10, 21; 2 Timothy 2:18; Hebrews 3:6; 12-14; 6:11-12; 10:22-28). Men are repeatedly told to CONTINUE in the faith (Acts 14:22; Colossians 1:23; 2: 6-7). Anybody with common intelligence knows that he can DISBELIEVE anything that he chooses to lose faith in, especially in the things that are not seen.

8).. HISTORICAL FAITH

( 1 John 5:10-13). This is a faith in the history of the record of God concerning the past and concerning His own work for men. One can believe the record of God to the letter and still not be saved. It is simply believing in the record of anything of the past. No consecration to God is necessary to believe history.

9).. MENTAL FAITH

Mental faith is similar to historical faith in that it believes history but goes further and believes every part of the Bible, past, present, and future. as well as all the truths of the blessings of God, but it does not act upon the Word of God. Faith without works is dead, being alone. It is passive faith or mere mental assent to truth. Thousands of sinners have mental faith in God and Bible, but they keep neglecting the definite action of obeying truth.

True faith is NOT mental assent to truth as a fact. Most people have such assent. Men will believe that God is able, that He has promised to do certain things, and that He would if true faith were exercised, but there is little effort put forth to co-operate with God or to get what He has promised. It is merely a mental assent to truth without active faith in it. It is the kind of faith that will turn to every source of help but God, and at the same time maintain that it does believe in God and His Word.

A good example is like believing that food is good without ever eating to get the benefits from it. Mental assent, or passive faith, is one of the most dangerous enemies of true faith in God. It claims all the faith in the world and is satisfied easily with either ANYTHING or NOTHING from God. If it does not get what it wants, it does not care. It would except something from God if He would come personally and lay the answer in the lap and beg one to keep the gift, but apart from this there is little or NO EFFORT put forth to ACT in faith concerning anything God has promised. Mental faith often will speak of great truths from God's word for a day or two, but as mentioned eariler, when the great storms (tests of life) come into ones life and outward circumstances show no immediate answer to God's promises the problem is NOT on God's end. It does not mean that a believer has a LACK of faith, but possibly the wrong kind of faith. The 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews could be called the "Hall of Faith". It gives us a record of men of great faith, and examples to follow. Jesus Himself taught us by Word & Example how to have Real, Active, Living faith in God. All the promises of God in the Bible are Yes & Amen, so who is man to question the one who wants us to walk by faith and NOT by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

10).. ACTIVE FAITH

(James 2:14-26; Hebrews 10:19-38). This is the kind of faith that acts upon God's Word as it is made clear. James put it this way: "shew me thy faith without works, and I will shew thee my faith be my works." All men MUST have this kind of faith to get anything from God. As long a faith is purely mental and passive, no action will be taken to obey the truth. Men must get beyond the stage of hearing and into the act of doing what God says before they get results. Active, living faith moves to obey EVERY truth of God to the letter and to appropriate what God has promised. It acts as if the things that are NOT seen ARE a reality. It is quick to provide works to prove that it is sincere and obedient.

God is NO respector of persons. If you will do ALL He asks of you, He WILL honor your faith. Imagine having YOUR prayers answered; To call those things that be NOT (promises of God that written in His Word that are YOURS, but not yet come to pass) as though they ARE (Christ died a paid the price so you could act in faith and receive all the promises of God. It was spoken, written, and acted out through Christ Jesus. So let us stop wavering in our faith, dabbling with doubt and unbelief, and listening to those who fail themselves to obtain God's best for their lives and those things He promises to those who will simply take Him at His word, without trying to reason everything in our own minds.

Multitudes of people have NEVER had an answer to prayer, and they are missing the greatest blessings of life by such neglect. Most people depend upon others to get answers for them. They pray, as they think, but they want someone else to do the believing. In reality, they are NOT praying. They are merely saying words and going through a FORM of prayer. True New Testament praying is ALWAYS heard of God, and the ANSWER is ALWAYS sure. God has planned that ALL men should have this kind of faith AND results. "These signs SHALL follow them that believe," and "ALL things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; 16:15-20; John 14:12-15).

Faith can be developed into a mighty living force that will know no defeat. You CAN know that you are the master over ALL demon powers and circumstances through Jesus Christ. You now longer need to be a slave to fear, timidity, weakness, failure, sickness, poverty, helplessness, and despair. You can be MORE than a conquerors (Romans 8:37) in in the very things wherin you have suffered defeat. "If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7,16). Again, "He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

You MUST awake to the consciousness of the New Life you have in Christ. As a branch you have His life, His health, His power, His love and His nature flowing through you. You are the fruit-bearing part of Christ in the Earth. You are IN Him, and He is IN you. You have His words abiding in you, giving you faith for whatsoever you ask. You have as much right in Him to be asking and receiving from God as He had. You have a right to expect the same answers from God that He got. You represent God here as He did, so do not be satisfied to go without the benefits that He died to give you.

You are commanded to be a doer of the Word, and this means ask and receive on the Word. It will be confirmed, for it is truth. You are in Christ, and as God's child and heir, you have the authority to act on the Word. You are a fruit bearer, a producer for God, so get busy and produce for Him according to His Word.