Title: Faith in God By Bro Chris Ibia
Date: 6 Jan 14
Beloved, this is talking about absolute trust in God that what He has spoken He can do and will definitely do it without missing His word.
Believer needs faith as well as unbeliever. We have positive and negative faith; positive faith has to do with covenant connections between humanity and divinity. “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). Humanity cannot please divinity without faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him “(Heb. 11:6).
Negative faith has to do with a man’s focus being shifted from God to man. That is, counting on man rather than God “thus saith the lord; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the lord” (Jer. 17:5). Faith in God requires total reliance on Him. “Trust in the lord with all thine hearth; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thine ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Pro.3:5-6). A man that does not have divine direction lacks absolute trust in God.
Now, what is faith? The book of Hebrews explains it in a nutshell; “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb.11:1). That means, faith in God has the picture of a desired future. (1). It can be seen with the eyes of the spirit called “Hope”. (2). It can be fathom through the spiritual sense called “Imagination”. It has Evidence; meaning, it could be touched, seen, proven and justified in the spirit.
Bro Paul through the spirit of God admonished the believers this way; “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Rom.1:17). The only means of survival for the just is the faith in God. Habakkuk in old Testament testified same; “Behold his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith” (Hab.2:4). According to the scriptures, the just ought to be Faith personified and not Law edified. Again, Apostle Paul full of insight in God sounded loudly; “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” (Heb.10:38).
It is better one doesn’t start the work of faith at all, than to start and stop half way. Half spiritual journey equals spiritual failure or miss fit. “And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk.9:59-62). No man, no woman, no boy and no girl having put his or her hand on the work of faith with God and look back that would be fit for the master’s use.
To believe in point “A” and “B” at the same time leads to frustration. God does not need any attachment: He is holy, righteous and perfect. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold nor hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Rev.3:15-16).
Brother Paul with extra-ordinary grace concluded here: “but that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for the just shall live by faith” (Gal.3:11). If the just lives only by faith, it means the just can die without having faith in God. Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians has this to say. “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2Cor.13:1). The just shall live by faith comes through four bible portions witnesses, which connotes the only surviving remedy for the just, hence he dies.
Our lord Jesus, when He was sensitizing the Jews told them: “LET not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, also in me” (Jn.14:1). When the word of God becomes our standard for living, then, we are sure to have faith in Him. Search the scriptures. (Jn.5:39). And you will find the treasures.
May you have a bulldog faith in God, in Jesus precious name, Amen.
With exceeding love, Bro Chris Ibia.