Everyone in the world relies on faith, but what differs believers vs believers is what they trust in. People who aren't saved trust themselves and others, while Christians who are saved in his blood trust in Jesus. Hebrews 11 explains Faith with a good summary of all that’s happened in Old Testament (from Noah to David) to strength our faith.
Hebrews 11:1 'Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ‘
Faith Serves as integral part of Christianity without which we cannot come near to God or please God or receive anything from God. Satan knows this and wants to attack the believers faith so that he can take away the will of God planned on the people.
When Paul was in Thessalonica, he showed how they conquered their difficulties (Read the whole passage and the underlined to know how Paul conquered the difficulties)
1 Thessalonians 3:1-7,10 'So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain. But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. ‘
Paul in the book of Romans tells us how to live by “Faith to Faith” Romans 1:17 'For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” ‘
Jesus used the faith of a blind person to heal him . Matthew 9:29 'Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”;
In another instance he did not perform miracle as they did not have faith. Important thing we need to learn is many miracles that’s not happening is not because of God’s lack of Power, it’s because of our unbelief in God.
Matthew 13:58 'And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.'
This begs a question, How do we know for sure we are living by Faith ?
Things that can fool us that we live by Faith
Our own feelings (Our feelings that its possible, some times we get the intuition that will happen)
By our circumstances around us
Or by Satan’s demonic powers.
Four Practical Tests to see if you live by Faith
Four practical test which gives the answer to us if we are living by Faith, We will use Abraham’s life to test to see how he lived by it to learn to measure your own personal situation
Test 1 - “Am I doing this for the glory of God or just to please myself?”
Situation where Abraham was
Romans 4:18-19 'Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. '
What happened to him is described in the subsequent verse
Romans 4:20-22 'Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” ‘
Learning for us
It was not Abraham’s faith “in faith” that worked the miracle, it was the faith in God.
There is a general saying,- have faith everything will work out well. Faith in what ? Faith “in Faith” ? Certainly not.
Abraham and Sarah trusted God and God performed what he promised.
Important to note Faith always gives glory to God Romans 4:20 “…but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,”
Faith always confesses that man is unable to accomplish anything, only God can accomplish that for him and Glory is given to God as he is the source and provider.
Romans 4:22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” ' - The credit from God to us is his righteousness, ties back to what Paul says in Romans 1:17 'For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” '
Before making decisions or taking actions in your Christian life, ministry, work, studies, or any endeavor, verify that they align with your faith.
Am I doing this for God’s glory alone ?
If there is a indication that its got something self , glory stops immediately and wait for the Lord to guide for his directions
True faith is motivated by the desires to glorify God.
Test 2 - “Am I willing to wait or rush ahead rashly”
Faith and patience go hand in hand.
If you say you have faith and act ahead in self quickly its a act of unfaith
Romans 10:11 'As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” '
By faith you wait on Lord to help you, The person who waits will not be disappointed or put to shame, God does his actions on time (never too early or never too late).
Hurry or rushing comes only if there is a dependence on self or situation. You don’t hurry on things when your hope is in God, then comes the fruit of spirit of “self-control” that comes from God to protect you
Galatians 5:22-23 'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. '
Rushing will rob the glory of God and will of God.
If you say you have faith and not wait on God then its a sin. Romans 14:23 'But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.'
God will never disappoint any one who waits and trusts in him
Isaiah 28:16 'So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. '
Learning for us
Test to see if you are impatient with the faith-walk with God,
If there is an act of impatience there is no grace of God’s “Self-control” there and there is no fruit of spirit that’s there to lead you, you are walking by your own.
Faith in God is there but cannot get patience to wait for answers. This can be frustrating many times as God’s timing and our timings are very different, he will do at his time when certain things are fulfilled. Our eyes / brain cannot understand that delay and want to rush
Test 3 - Can I defend what I am doing from the word of God ?
No matter how reasonable the action may be, if it contradicts the word of God you cannot do that.
The Bible gives us promises to claim, teachings to obey, if we violate any of the claims and principles to follow we are acting in unbelief towards the word of God
Romans 10:17 'Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. '
Learning for us
If we are disobeying the word of God, we are not acting in Faith, this means the word of God cannot bless us or use us to bring glory to his name
Test 4 - As I work out the actions, does this bring Joy & Peace within me
Romans 15:13 'May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. '
When there is true Faith there is Holy Spirit in works which produces Joy, hope and peace.
When we act according to God’s will there is peace that rules the heart. Colossians 3:15 'Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. '
When you loose the peace of God, you know you have detoured somewhere to miss his will as well.
When Paul says “Romans 1:17 ‘.. a righteousness that is by faith from first to last” the last element is peace, then you start with the next one to catch and move on. Like a chain loop that we live in Christian life.
Learning for us
When we step out and do things out of our own, the human anxiety and fears overtake us. This is an another mark that our actions are not according to his faith. Whereas if we work in faith of God and take that action, there is peace / joy and the spirit of God will overpower the human anxieties to bless us with his fruits of spirit.
Application of Four Test in Old Testament - Abraham & Sarah - Genesis 16
Read thru Genesis 16 fully before you apply this test.
God had promised Abraham & Sarah with a child, but it didn’t happen soon. As she waited she become impatient, so she decided to “help God” by having her husband “marry” her housemaid, Hagar
This decision was perfectly legal but not based on Faith. Abraham fell for this but had many troubles.
Application of the Four test principles
Test 1 - Did Abraham marry Hagar that he may glorify God ? - No he did marry to please his wife.
Test 2 - Was Abraham & Sarah willing to wait for God ? - No she become impatient to convince Abraham marry Hagar her housemaid, they ran ahead of God and made mess in their homes
Test 3 - Every time Abraham was blessed by God (Genesis 15:3-4 ), the word says “the word of the Lord came“ They were not led by the word, they were led by the self (Genesis 16:3-4)
Gods word - Genesis 15:3-4 'And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” '
Not Lead by Gods word - Genesis 16:3-4 'So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. '
Test 4 - Was there Joy & Peace because of their decision ? - No there was suffering in them, argument between them as Hagar has mistreated Sarah - Genesis 16:5-6 'Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.” “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. '
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