The word of faith

The nature of faith is easily misunderstood. For many Christians, faith is nothing more than the product of positive thinking. For some, it's that sense of certainty that accompanies success, implying that when things are going well, they must be 'in faith'. For others, faith is holding dogmatically to the literal promises of the Bible. However, in reality, faith has very little to do with things that impact upon our senses. Faith comes by hearing. It comes by a word of faith.

There's great benefit for the person who finds faith and continually lives by faith. However, the apostle Paul said that if the word isn't mixed with faith, it will 'not profit'. Heb 4:2. Most obviously, if the word doesn't profit us, it has no benefit to us. Paul wrote, 'He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully'. 2 Cor 9:6. When the word is mixed with faith, the Lord increases the harvest of our righteousness and the profit to our account.

So how do we 'mix the word with faith'? 'Believing' a word is not limited by our capacity to understand God's purpose. The Lord says, 'My thoughts are not your thoughts … so are My ways higher than your ways'. Isa 55:9. When the word is coming to us, we may not understand it intellectually. Nonetheless, it still witnesses true within us. Quite simply, the key to 'believing' the word is hearing, receiving, committing and obeying. Having heard the word, many still didn't receive Jesus. They couldn't commit or obey.

The word coming to us, mixed with faith, makes us substantially more than we are. We're receiving life 'more abundantly' and a triumphant entry into an eternal kingdom. John 10:10. The Scripture says, 'So shall My word be … it shall not return to Me empty without accomplishing what I desire'. Isa 55:11. The word is something that precedes and predates us. Like a steam train coming down a hill, its momentum isn't disturbed by our perceptions. It's going to achieve its goal. We must remind ourselves that we 'walk by faith not by sight'. 2 Cor 5:7. The word of God is constantly calling into being things that are not, and giving life to the dead. As we align ourselves to the word, it's changing our views, perceptions, and opening pathways.

Every machination within us will potentially war against faith, giving us reason to discount the word that comes. Jesus prayed that Peter's faith would not fail, and He does the same for us. He prays for us because if our faith fails, we'll mix the word with unbelief, injustice, disadvantage, our sense of loss, and our unrealised expectations. In contrast, if we believe and obey, even without full understanding, things get clearer and more certain.

The good news is, even when we struggle, all we need is a little faith like a mustard seed. As we cry out, 'Lord, I believe; help my unbelief', we're helped with a little faith. Mark 9:24. And our belief is able to grow into a mighty tree. We don't have to conjure up faith. We simply quieten our hearts and co-operate with the word coming. If we keep mixing the word with faith, it'll bring forth its own fruit and abundance.

Sue Falk

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Feature Articles
February 2009

A measure of faith

Faith for resurrection

Calling upon the Lord

Ready or not

Recognising new creation

Learning to shepherd

The word of faith

The fruits of wisdom

Following the Lamb

Once I was blind

What are fences for?