What is Faith? The typical answer by the knowledgeable is that it is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. This is true but it leads to the question: what does that mean? Although we all have a sense of what it means I have been looking for a comprehensive statement of what comprises faith for a long time. One thing I knew was this: I was not just one thing. As I listened to person after person explain faith I saw that it was being butchered because the explanations dealt with faith as a single commodity that, if added to the life, would make amazing changes. My study has shown me that faith is far mor that a single technique or plug-in that can be applied like one of those plant-food spikes that you stick in the soil of your potted plat and, voila, healthy plant! According to the language that Jesus used it was a comprehensive life approach.
“What is Faith?”
We just had a Sabbath School lesson a few weeks ago that dealt with faith and at the end I still had the question that I have been trying to answer for years: What does Jesus mean when he talks about faith? For example, Matthew 9:22 Thy Faith hath made the whole. Matthew 17:20 Faith as a grain of Mustard seed. Mark 4:40 Why do you have no faith?
Is Faith a feeling; or is it something that we can store up like food or firewood? How much Faith is enough? Today I want to share with you my discovery. After a long struggle, God has revealed to me a picture of what faith is. Listen to what one writer says about Faith: (Sanctified Life, p. 89) It is not a feeling, It is not courage, It is not gritting your teeth and making yourself believe that things are going to happen that you don’t believe are going to happen. Faith is an approach to God I call Steadfast.
Steadfast is a set of three critical life habits or principles that are the bedrock of effective, powerful, fruitful Christian living. Let’s dig into it!
Luke 18 beginning at verse 1: Jesus is focused. He is making his way toward Jerusalem for the last time in his ministry. Jesus is focused like a laser. He is trying to prepare his disciples for the crisis of their lives. He has been hammering home the important themes for the future and wanted each follower to know the source of strength and courage they would need when he was gone from them. Time was short—Jesus wanted urgently to press upon his disciples one of their most critical needs. Let’s look at it: (read passage)
Will he find faith on the earth? Note the purpose for the parable. Jesus zeroes in on the first of three critical principles of faith:
I. Steadfast (resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering), relentless (oppressively constant; incessant) commitment to prayer
Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love. What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much manifest reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God. What can the angels of heaven think of poor helpless human beings, who are subject to temptation, when God's heart of infinite love yearns toward them, ready to give them more than they can ask or think, and yet they pray so little and have so little faith? The angels love to bow before God; they love to be near Him. They regard communion with God as their highest joy; and yet the children of earth, who need so much the help that God only can give, seem satisfied to walk without the light of His Spirit, the companionship of His presence.
The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that God has given them in the divine appointment of prayer. Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path. The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith obtain grace and power to resist temptation.
Quality prayer, Steadfast relentless prayer is indispensable. Understanding of the power of meeting with God along with faithfulness in calling on God to remember his word to us is made possible only by a deep knowledge of the mind of God. Look at Phil. 2:5. This comes about by living the second principle of faith:
II. Steadfast, unswerving (not changing or becoming weaker; steady or constant) fidelity to God’s Word
Psalm 119: 105: Lamp unto my feet and light to my path. Psalm 119: 9, 11 How shall I cleanse my way; by taking heed to your word. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Proverbs 3:1-8: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; Hebrews 4:12, 13: The Word is quick and powerful, sharper that a two-edged sword.
But, what good is the word if we won’t follow it. Jesus said this:
Luke 11:27, 28: Blessed are they that hear the word and keep it; 6:46 Why do you call me Lord and refuse to do the things that I say? These texts lead us to our final principle of faith
III. Steadfast, Belief in Jesus that results in obedient, holy action.
God often combines the concept of trust with obedience.
Psalm 37:3, 34; Hebrews 5:9
A. Three big testing points for our age:
1. Love for our enemies
2. Health--Suicide slow or fast is still a senseless murder.
3. Stewardship—Why be cursed?
B. Obedient Holy action means precisely what it says
1. The time to obey is now: Fill in pledge to be faithful and holy with the funds entrusted to you and keep it as a reminder in your Bible.
2. Do Right Until It Feels Right!
Together these three principles will revolutionize your life. They are not separate though. That’s why I call the set Steadfast!
Conclusion
Now plug Steadfast into Hebrews 11:1 and 6. See how it makes sense? Look at how steadfast fits into Matthew 17:20. That’s why a tiny amount will do? That’s high-density material. Living the principles of faith WILL transform us into the powerful, peaceful, fruitful Christians we desire to be because these principles will connect us to the source of all spiritual power. Jesus will live in us and work through us to will and to do of His good pleasure.
The principles of faith must consume our lives or we WILL surely fail to see God in peace. This takes a bold new commitment unlike any you’ve made before. Someone needs to come to Jesus for the power to live the successful Christian life. It is far more than religion, It is real courageous living that accepts God at his word and puts him in charge of your life—every part of your life. When He comes will he find Faith—pistis—on the earth? Will he find us faithful? (SONG)
If this is your desire then join me as we stand and Steadfastly pray that God will move mightily upon us today to be men and women and children who will have steadfast, unswerving fidelity to his word and that we will have a steadfast belief in Jesus that results in obedient, holy action such as your faith commitment to return to him what is his and give in faith, your offering commitment.
