The life of the believer is marked by a continual gazing upon Christ and the truth of his word. These things however are deducible not by vain imagination but by revelation through His word.
The Bible declares that we walk by faith and not by sight, which is emphatic on the fact that we must continually observe through the eyes of faith.
What however is faith?
Faith is deep rooted conviction in a substantial entity. Faith is the expression of belief upon God through his Word in spite of contradicting or favourable circumstances. Notice that in spite of circumstances, what our faith is meant to be hinged upon is the Word of God. Without an understanding of the Word there cannot be bible kind of faith. Remember, faith cometh by hearing and hearing the message of Christ.
Along these lines especially in view of the topics above let us X – ray the faith of some patriarchs of old
Bible declares that against all hope, Abraham believed God. He was not imagining things. The bible goes on to give us the basis of his faith in verse 21 of Romans 4….he was fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep HIS WORD and to do what HE HAD PROMISED. Consider verse 19 (according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your seed be”)
Do you now wonder when the scripture says He believed God?
Abraham again offered up his Son in verse 19 of the same chapter. Why? Because he reasoned that God was able to raise him up even from the dead. Let us not forget God had been clear enough to explain that Isaac was the one through whom he was to be father of many nations physically.
Abraham 4th person in the Hall of faith joins along with the other patriarchs who looked forward to the city whose foundations are built of God. Verse 10, 13, 14, and 26 of Hebrews 11.
Moses looked forward and away to the reward verse 26.
By this same conviction, Joseph ordered his bones to be taken knowing the promise of Godthat they would be delivered out of the land.
I consider lastly Stephen whose wisdom was so mighty; but how won’t it when all the while he was not seeing the people and their seething anger but beholding in faith to the point he saw the Glory of the lord.
How do you and I see these unseen realities and stop walking in the vanities of our mind or the things seen. This comes by trust in God and his Word.
He that would come to God must believe that he is and a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb 11:6
Don’t imagine or think up faith. Rather establish your heart by pondering diligently on his word for this is where faith is hinged on.
– Dr bolaji akanni
Jesus Christ met a man who had been sick for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda and he asked him, “Would you like to be well?” “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up” – John 5:6-7 (NLT).
This man had Jesus by his side, but his mind was more focused on his difficulty. His reason was simple – ‘I & no one’ couldn’t help. Many believers also fall into this web of trusting in their abilities and in others for help despite the fact that they have Jesus residing in them always.
If you ask a believer, “Do you believe God can divide a sea?” he would probably say, “Yes! He did it for the Israelites”. If you question further, “Do you believe God can crumble a building?”, “Of course, even the walls of Jericho came down flat”, he would say. But ask him, “Do you believe God can help you out of this so called difficult situation you are going through?” He would immediately start fumbling with words. He claims to trust God for big things that are not directly attached to him, but for little challenges that come his way daily, he schemes other sources of solution.
The reason why we say a situation is difficult is because we have looked at it and compared it with our abilities and connections, and we realize they don’t match. But no matter how big any difficulty may look, placing it before Jesus, we immediately see a possibility.
Beloved, we live in an age where the ideas of philosophers are gaining more grounds and we are taught to trust in the various means by which help comes, rather than on the source of help; we are taught to rely on ourselves and connections for help, but Christianity is still saying – “From where does my help comes, my help cometh from God”.
– tope aladenusi