~ Living by Faith: What does that really mean? ~
In Romans 10:17, It states that Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. In St. John 1:1, we read that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Further down in St. John 1:14, it states in part that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.
Let me say this before we continue: Jesus is the Word of God; Jesus is the Word made flesh; Jesus is the Faith. If we have Jesus, we have the Word and the Faith. If we don’t have Jesus, we are lost and know nothing at all.
Faith is believing, true enough. However, believing in and of itself is not enough. In James 2:19, we find a Scripture that states, “The devils also believe, and tremble.”
I think everyone would agree that the devils do not have any chance for receiving salvation or of ever entering into the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, as stated in James 2:20, “Faith without works is dead.” Like love, faith is an action word.
The Scriptures declare in Romans 1:17, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.”
I think the phrase; “from faith to faith” can also be equated to what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 3:18 that we are to be changed into His Image, from Glory to Glory. In 1st John 3:2, it says that, “When He “Jesus” shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” Therefore, we are changed from Glory to Glory or Faith to Faith.
Praise His Holy Name!
In Romans 14:23, the Scriptures state, “He that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Thus, we can conclude that the person that does not base their eating habits on what the Word of God says is OK, that person is damned.
This is a scary thought. However, let’s consider what John states in the Book of Revelation 21:8, “The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and ALL liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
In Deuteronomy 14:3 we read, “Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.”
As you can see, the abominable person is equated right along with the murderers, whoremongers, and liars and that they are bound for Hell, not God’s Heavenly Kingdom. Thus, it behooves us to take note and keep the Faith, God’s Holy Word.
I like what the Prophet Habakkuk said in Habakkuk 2:4, “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the JUST shall live by his Faith (or perhaps, that should be, His Faith or the Word of God).”
Hebrews 11:6, states, “Without faith (or without the Word of God) 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.”
Praise His Holy Name!
The Word of God is the Rock on which we are to build our house or way of living. In St. Matthew 7:24, we read, “Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock.”
As one song says, “Jesus is the Rock in a weary land.” We further find in St. Matthew 21:44, that, “Whosoever shall fall on this stone (Rock / Jesus) shall be broken (their life shall be changed into His life): but on whosoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder (that soul shall be destroyed).”
In 2nd Corinthians 5:7, we read, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Jesus said, in St. John 13:15, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
I personally do not think this statement of Jesus applies only to foot-washing but to the very nature of how He lived ~
In St. John 8:28, Jesus said in part, “I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught Me, I speak these things.” We too need to follow the example of Jesus to speak and do the things the Heavenly Father says in His Holy Word, the Bible.
We, as children of the Most High God MUST over-come the world or ways of sin, (satan). The Bible in James 4:7, says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Jesus gave us an example of how we are to resist the devil in St. Luke 4:1-13. He, Jesus spoke the Word and said, “It is written;” we too MUST use the Word of God to resist the devil.
We cannot use the Word of God if we do not know what the Word of God says. Therefore, it behooves us to read the Bible from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21 and when we finish reading it, read it again and again.
King Solomon states in Proverbs 4:20-22, “My son, attend to my word; and incline thine ear unto my sayings.” This Scripture ends by saying, “For they (the Word of God) are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”
In Psalms 119:130 King Davie states, “The entrance (or depositing) of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple.”
I like to sometimes use this example to reflect the a-fore-mentioned Scripture in Psalms: “Could you write me a check for $10,000.00 and it be good?” Most folks say that they can’t. I then ask them, “why not?” Usually, there answer is that they don’t have that much money in their bank checking account. I then respond by telling them the reason they don’t have enough money in their account is because no one has made enough deposits to cover the amount requested.
This too is a general problem for many Christians (Born Again Believers / Saints); they do not have enough of the Word of God in them to sustain them in the time of need. Nor are they sufficiently exercised in the Holy Spirit needed to give them the Power or Faith needed in situations that arise.
In Jude 1:20, we read, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your Most Holy Faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.”
If without faith it is impossible to please God, shouldn’t we want to build up our Most Holy Faith?
Jesus said in St. Luke 17:6, “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”
We need the Faith that moves mountains!
The Faith is in the Seed or Jesus, the Word of God. Everything that the mustard tree (plant) will ever be is in the seed. Likewise, everything that we as Believers / Saints will ever be is in Jesus.
Praise His Holy Name!
As it is written in Jude 1:3, let us therefore earnestly contend for the Faith that which was once delivered to the Saints.
In Philippians 1:27, we are admonished by the Apostle Paul that we should with one mind strive together for the Faith of the Gospel.
It sounds to me, if we want to have The Faith as mentioned in Romans 12:3, and the Now Faith that is mentioned in Hebrews 11:1, we must put forth some effort to obtain that Like Minded Faith, that we might over-come the power of the enemy.
In Revelation 12:11 it states, “And they overcame him by the Blood of The Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony.” Therefore, as it is written in, James 4:7, we also need to, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
In St. Matthew 10:22 we read in part, “He that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
Praise His Holy Name!
I think it is very important that EVERY Believer “Saint,” Note: Believers are referred to as Saints more often than Christians, should order their lives in such a way that they ALWAYS have the time needed to read God’s Holy Word.
God’s Word is the DAILY vitamins and medicine needed in order to live a productive life. We also need to pray (communicate) often for the Lord’s favor and guidance in order to live an acceptable life unto the Lord.
One of the biggest problems in the World today is a lack of Effective Communication. So, let’s learn to communicate effectively by reading and studying the Bible, God’s Holy Word that we be not ashamed with any amazement, 1st Peter 3:6.
Believe the Word of God, it’s the only thing that we can count on. The way one verifies that they believe the Word of God is the way they live. Therefore, let the love of the Truth live and abide in you to the Glory of the Lord.
Praise His Holy Name!
Derwood A. Stewart, Minister
House of Prayer Sabbath Ministries
Comments? Email us: hope@preachersteacher.org 