“For we walk by faith, not by sight”—2Corinthians 5:7
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him”—Hebrews 11:38
From the Greek meaning of the word “Walk”, it means—to live (figuratively). Hence, to walk by faith is the same thing as to live by faith. So the above two scriptures are saying the same thing.
But before you can walk or live by faith, you must first of all have faith in your heart…
What Then Does it Take to Have Faith?
According to the second opening scripture above, the word of God says; the just shall live by faith. So to be qualified for divine faith in your heart, you must first of all be justified.
So to have the resident faith with which to live or walk by at all times, you must first of all be born again.
That is, you must first of all exercise the saving faith, in order to receive THE LIVING FAITH.
The saving faith is given to a sinner (in the heart) for eternal salvation. And immediately the sinner exercises that faith, by accepting and confessing Jesus as his Lord and personal Savior, he receives THE LIVING FAITH…
So all it takes to have the living faith in the heart, is salvation. So every truly born again child of God, has the living faith in their hearts.
Romans 12:3 says;
“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 has dealt to every man THE MEASURE OF FAITH”
Hence, no believer has any measure of faith more than any other believer. Every true believer has the same measure of faith. Because the above scripture says God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.
The word “The” is a definite article; so I maintain that there is no variation in the measure of faith in the hearts of believers…
So How Come Some Exercise Faith More Than Others?
Some believers exercise faith more than others, for exactly the same reason why some believers exercise godliness— right living—more than others.
Many believers do not exercise faith as they ought to as a result of ignorance and self-limitation. And that is not to say they don’t have THE MEASURE OF FAITH.
It’s akin to two individuals having exactly the same computer, but one is able to do much more with his, while the other does less with his. In spite of the fact that they have exactly the same computer…
The difference between them, is the difference between their depths of computer knowledge.
In much the same way, many Christian do not know they have as much faith as every other believer. So they do not exercise their faith when situations arise.
Many believe they have to be a Christian for a longer period of time before their faith can begin to produce result. Many believe except they have fasted forty days and forty nights, read the entire the Bible at least ten times…
And have totally overcome all their besetting sins, their faith cannot get some certain results.
Yes, you should tarry in Christ, fast and pray often and study the Bible thoroughly. All these and other spiritual activities are very important aspects of Christianity.
And we should desire to do them through the grace of God. But a believer can still get great results from God without them (or before them)…
Because it’s all of grace through faith in God and not of works.
If not how could the two folks that Jesus commended their faith—who were not even Jews—have come about their great faith? I mean, the Roman Centurion and the Syrophoenician Woman (Matthew 8:10; 15:28).
All that is needed to exercise faith with result, is to believe that God loves you. And that he has given you the measure of faith that you ever require to do exploits.
To put it the way Rick Joyner puts it, “Faith is not just believing that God can do it—but knowing that God wants to do it because he loves me”.
Hence, the Bible says faith works by Love—God’s Love—Galatians 5:6.
You exercise faith by walking with the consciousness that if God did not withhold his Son, but gave him up to die for us (me) how will he not with him also give us (me) all things? (Romans 8: 32).
With this consciousness, if you see a dead body, go ahead and pray. Looking up to God for a miracle word. If someone around you is sick, go ahead; pray for his /her healing.
Just go on walking and living by faith in your personal life.
Every situation that comes your way, look up to God for a way out. Believing he will make a way for you because he loves you so much.
So Why Do People Exercise Faith Without Results?
- Double Mindedness: James 1: 6-8 says, a double minded person cannot receive anything from God.One of the reasons believers faith do not produce results often, is double-mindedness. People try to combine God with other options. And as a result, they eventually do not get anything from God.
For instance, someone may be asking God for financial provision for a certain project, but immediately after asking, he begins to think of the next person to run to…
Instead of expectantly looking up to God only; for him to use or direct him to whomever he wants to use to make the provision.
The faith that will produce result must be absolutely on God.
- Impatience: Hebrews 6:12 says, we should not be slothful, but followers of them who through FAITH AND PATIENCE inherit the promises.Many a believer come by faith to receive from him (God). But many of them do not wait enough till God’s right time before throwing in the towel, and seeking other means out of their challenges.
But Abraham after receiving the promise, waited for about 25 years before he obtained the promise.
So living by faith must go hand in glove with patience.
Faith prays till result come, no matter how long. Even up to the point of death.
The story of the widow and the unjust king is our perfect scriptural example (see Luke 18:1-17).
- Divine Sovereignty: In some certain situation, a believer can exercise true faith, even with patience, and eventually do not get the exact result expected, as a result of divine sovereignty.God can out of his own utopian ideal or divine will, refuse to honor a particular faith.
Such was the case of Paul the Apostle, after he had prayed three times to God to take away the thorn in his flesh—the messenger of satan (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
But in such situations, he will supply you the sufficient grace to pass through the plight.
But my take on this is that, like Paul, we must continue to seek God concerning any adverse situation until he tells us, it’s his will for us.
We shouldn’t just accept any contrary situation as being from God’s sovereign will, until we have a strong conviction of the Spirit (in our hearts) to believe so…
So we don’t give room to the devil to take undue advantage of us. Because we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Remain Blessed!
Emeke Odili
