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The subject of faith is a puzzle to many people around the world. This is because faith is a mystery. As a Christian you need to understand what faith is, so you can leverage the wonders it brings. Many people have written about faith from different perspectives ranging from philosophy, religion, human tradition, and culture. In this post, I will be sharing with you important facts you need to know about faith from a scriptural perspective. At the end of this lesson, you are free to ask any question in regards to this post. I will also welcome intelligent contributions and opinions from readers for mutual learning. You will make the most use of this post if you study and read it meditatively and prayerfully. A plethora of Bible verses is provided in this post to buttress every point. Whether you are a new believer or already established in the faith, this post 'Facts About Faith You Should Have Heard' will definitely add value to your Christian life. Now let’s get started.
1. Faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen.
“Now faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb 11:1
Faith is now, not later. It is a present hour reality. God is not going to be God tomorrow, He is God now. Why would you wait till next year when God can do it now? Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. If your faith says now, God cannot say later. Faith is a now force. It brings the future into the present. What is meant to happen next year can be made to happen now by faith. A substance is something that can be seen or touched. Therefore, faith is something you say or do to prove to God that you believe Him, thereby committing God to do His own part. Faith is not just believing or mental consent. Faith is the evidence of unseen realities. If you have a plot of land in Abuja, you can’t carry the land everywhere you go as evidence to prove to people that you have landed property in the city. There is a legal document you can show as your evidence; it is called the Title Deed or Power of Attorney. When you present your power of Attorney, people believe you have land even without seeing the land with their optical eyes. Faith is like the title deed or power of Attorney. Faith is a corresponding proof of what you believe. These are the facts about Faith you should have heard to grow beyond where you are today in destiny. However, it's not late to start living by faith.
2. Faith comes by hearing and understanding the word of God.
“So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” Rom 10:17.
Faith comes from information and knowledge. It was the information the woman with the issue of blood heard about Jesus that stirred up her faith for her own healing. That’s why we share testimonies in church, to boost other people’s faith to believe God for their own miracles. The more you hear the word of God and understand it, your faith grows. It is the revelation that fuels the fire of faith. You can’t believe who you don’t know. The more you know God, the more you will believe Him. Go for the knowledge of God, it turns on your faith.
3. Every Believer is given the measure of faith at the new birth.
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” Rom 12:3
At new birth, every believer is given the measure of faith. No one was given a greater faith than another. The same measure of faith you received from God at new birth is the same measure He gives to everyone at the new birth. At new birth, we receive the gift of faith in a small measure like a mustard seed. Then it is our responsibility to grow and build up that faith to the highest point. By scriptures we understand that no matter how small faith is, if it is put to work, it can move mountains. So our problem is not lack of faith but the inability to put our faith to work. Learn to exercise your faith daily.
4. Faith has 3 Kinds- Little Faith, Great Faith, Strong Faith
There are different kinds of faith mentioned in the scriptures. Each of these levels of faith has its own implications. I may not exhaust everything about them in this post, but I will briefly explain how they affect your life as a Christian.
LITTLE FAITH- This is the faith that shrinks and fails in the face of strong opposition, pressure, and persecution because it wasn’t enough. Little faith will always produce little result. Life is full of challenges and trials, hence you don’t need a little faith if you want to withstand the cruel trials and challenges of life. If you always fail in the time of adversity, your faith is small. Increase your faith!
“Wherefore, if God so clothes the grace of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Matt 6:30
GREAT FAITH- This is the kind of faith that doesn’t give up in the time of trial, pressure, or persecution because it is sufficient enough. You need great faith to command great results in life and business. Great people are men and women of great faith. You need a lion’s heart to have a lion’s share. Chicken-hearted faith can’t take you anywhere. Great results and outstanding accomplishments in life and destiny are traceable to a life of great faith. Please if you must have faith, have great faith. If you serve a great God, you need great faith to enjoy Him.
“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour” Matt 15:28
STRONG FAITH- This is a stubborn faith that expresses itself in a stubborn situation. It is so robust and doesn’t give up in the face of trials, opposition, and persecution. It is this kind of faith that our fathers of faith had, people like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Apostle Paul, and so many others. If you desire to become a strong Christian, you need to have a strong faith in God. Strong faith makes a strong Christian.
“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but he was strong in faith, giving glory to God” Rom 4:20.
5. Faith works by love.
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, but faith which worketh by love” Gal 5:6
The lifestyle of faith will weary you if you don’t have a heart of love for God and your fellow human beings. Your faith can’t work without love. People of faith must be people of love. Where love ends, that’s where your faith will end. Anywhere your love goes, that’s where your faith will go too. The more you love God, the more you will believe Him. The more you love people, the more your faith in them will increase.
6. Faith without work is dead
“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:20
A living faith is an action faith. Therefore, faith is not cheap talk. Faith is hard work. The bible faith is an action faith. Abraham believed in God and went out of his country when God instructed him to do so. Abel believed in God and offered the best of his sheep to God. Moses believed God and refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. All through the scriptures, anywhere you see faith, you will see a corresponding action following it. Don’t sit in your corner, talking faith, do something! Make that call, write that proposal, send that email, write that book, go to the studio and sing that song, preach that message, start that business, open that shop, take action and the rest will be a testimony.
7. Faith is not greater than love.
“And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity” 1 Cor 13:13
In my next post, I will dissect that scripture in a way you have never heard before. For now let me give you the tip of the iceberg. Faith is powerful, but love is more powerful. It doesn’t matter what you know about faith, until you understand love and walk in it, it will look as if the word of God is not working.
Conclusion:
Every time you know the truth and walk in it, you become free. I believe your understanding of the subject of faith has improved through this post Facts About Faith You Should Have Heard. Knowledge without implementation will not deliver result. Go and Practice what you have learnt from this post.
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