WALKING BY FAITH
(mr 01/03/19)
OLUBI JOHNSON
2Corinthians 5:7 KJV: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Here, the Holy Spirit through Paul tells us that our walk with God is by faith and not by sight.
What then is faith?
Faith is TRUST in the INVISIBLE GOD: His invisible presence, power, provisions and resources.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV: NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, N1 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].
God is invisible because God is a Spirit and the spiritual world is operating at a higher level of energy (above the speed of light Gen. 1.3, 14-18: all physical things were created AFTER light) than the physical world and CONSEQUENTLY is not perceptible to our physical senses.
Now, just like electromagnetic waves (like Radio and Television waves) moving at the speed of light are REAL, BUT not perceptible to our physical senses; spiritual things (God, angels etc.) ARE REAL, but operate at energies faster than the speed of light and so are not perceptible to our physical senses.
Hebrews 11:3 AMP: 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.
In fact, spiritual things CREATE AND CONTROL ALL PHYSICAL THINGS AND EVENTS!
2Corinthians 4:18 NIV: So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
All physical things and events are temporary: subject to change. Spiritual things: God, His blood, life, power, angels (including Satan and his evil spirits who are responsible for death, sorrow and destruction (Jn.10.10)) are eternal and it is God’s power that creates, controls and manipulates physical things and events.
So to walk with God, we MUST WALK BY FAITH.
Words form the link between the spiritual world and this physical world because words contain and release spiritual power.
John 6:63 KJV: It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Proverbs 18:21 KJV: Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
So to exercise faith, we MUST ‘see’ or visualize the reality of God’s presence and power through His Word:
Romans 10:17 NKJV: So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hebrews 11:27 NKJV: By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
Psalms 119:130 NKJV: The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
2Corinthians 4:6 NKJV: For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
It is this spiritual reality that we see and so trust in, that is faith.
This faith is then exercised by speaking God’s Word to release spiritual life and power to CREATE or bring into physical manifestation what God has said or promised.
The Lord Jesus describes this operation in
Mark 11:22-24 KJV: And Jesus answering saith unto them, have faith in God. (23) For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. (24) Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
It is instructive to note that there is a period of time between WHEN you speak God’s Word and WHEN the physical manifestation happens:
- Here when the Lord Jesus cursed the fig tree it took about 24 hours.
- Esther’s fasting and prayer: 3 days (Est. 4-8).
- Daniel’s fasting and prayer: 21 days (Dan.10 .12-13).
- Abraham getting Isaac: 25 years (Gen.12-21).
So WHILE we are waiting for the physical manifestation, we stay STRONG IN FAITH BY:
- Seeing the invisible: keeping the Word of God in our hearts by reading and listening to God’s Word (2 Cor.4.18).
- Speaking God’s Word—-Mk. 11.23; Rom.4.17.
- Praying in tongues and groanings (Rom.8.26-27; Eph.6.11-13, 18).
- Forgive when people offend you or sin (Mk.11.26):
Mark 11:25-26 KJV: And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (26) But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Faith will NOT WORK in an unforgiving heart, because faith works by love (Gal.5.6)!
You CONTINUE practicing these things CONSISTENTLY until the manifestation comes.
Hebrews 6:12 KJV: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 10:35-38 KJV: Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. (36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (37) For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
This is how to walk by faith. Selah!
