Faith is a word used in scripture over 230 times. It is described in Hebrews 11:1 as “the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.” It is the essential ingredient we must have to begin a relationship with God. It is confidence that what God has promised in His Word is true. Many times in life, we will see our faith come to life. Our faith comes to life when we see someone saved whom we have prayed for. The Holy Spirit gave us the confidence it would happen, and now we see that faith come to fruition. Our faith should increase when we see a newborn baby, a person lying at death’s door that God rescues and breaths life into, or a storm calmed, and lives spared. These are things only God could do. Faith is something we can’t see, but we can see the results from it.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
It is faith that gives hope for the future. Our adversary, the devil, wants to keep us defeated and thinking we cannot succeed in this life. He wants to devour us and ruin our testimony. However, the same passage that teaches us that the devil wants to devour us is followed by one that teaches us we can resist his temptations. We are never to give in to him for any reason. We must remember that there is power in submission to Jesus. In James 4:7, we know that the devil will have to leave if we submit ourselves to total surrender. Now, that is faith in action!
I Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
In Ephesians 6, we have a list of the armor God provides for us that we are to use to live a victorious Christian life. Paul writes, above all, taking the shield of faith. Our faith is essential to our Christian life, just like the shield is to the soldier. This shield covers all our vulnerable areas when held in front of us. It is the largest piece of armor, and when used properly, it will cover all the vital areas that the devil can attack. It can be held in front or turned to cover the back. As long as the soldier had his shield, he felt secure, just as we feel secure in our daily walk when our faith is firmly placed in God.
Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
Our faith will cover and hold us up, and the stronger our faith, the stronger our walk with the Lord will be. There is a song in our hymnal that is titled “Faith Is the Victory.” It’s based on I John 5:4, where the writer teaches that our faith in Jesus is the source or means of our victory. In John 16:33, Jesus declares that He has overcome the world. He came as the God-man and withstood every type of temptation that man has ever experienced. He overcame the grave and rose again to prove He is victorious over death, and because of Him, we can also be victorious.
I John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, our faith.”
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
It is our faith in Him that makes us one with Him. Our faith in Him grants us the presence of the Holy Spirit. When we place our faith in Him, we will never be alone. No battle, no sorrow, and no temptation will overcome us when our faith is placed in Him, and Him alone.
