THE DYNAMICS OF IRRESISTIBLE FAITH, BY Dr W.F. KUMUYI

Study 1: THE DYNAMICS OF IRRESISTIBLE FAITH

     Hebrews 11:1-3

There can be no victorious Christian living without profound and unquestioning faith in the living God. He who would live victoriously and do exploits for God must first believe in Him without wavering. The Lord has called on all believers to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22). FAITH is Full Assurance In Trusting Hearts. Since we know that “He is faithful that promised,” we can “hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Hebrews 11:23). True faith is always based on God’s infallible word. The believer first reads or hears some promise of the Lord. He becomes aware that God has spoken to him directly and he knows God cannot lie. With utter confidence in the trustworthiness of the One who has promised, he reckons the promise as sure as if it were already fulfilled. Faith is central and essential in the believer’s life. The believer also receives the commandments of God by faith. He knows: If God commands, He enables. If He bids Peter to walk on the water, Peter can be sure that the needed power will be given (Matthew 14:28-29).

Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends. Faith says, “If ‘impossible’ is the only objection, it can be done!”

1.         THE DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION OF FAITH

 

Hebrews 11:1; 6:18,19; 11:27; Romans 8:24,25; 2 Corinthians 4:13,18; Psalm 139:16; Jeremiah 32:10 -17,44; Romans 4:18-21; 10:17; Ephesians 6:16,17.

Faith in God is trust in God, a firm persuasion that God cannot lie, that if He has promised, He will fulfil His Word. Faith expresses the assurance that hope will be realized because the believer is assured that through the power and faithfulness of God he will possess the promised possession. Faith, trust and confidence are inseparable. Counting on the ability, willingness and faithfulness of God, who has promised, we are confident of receiving the things promised.

“Now faith is the substance of things hope for”. The word “substance” literally means that which has real existence, the actual reality. Faith is the “substance”, the basic essence, the real existence, the sure manifestation of what we ask for and hope to receive. “Now faith is the evidence of things not seen”. Evidence is the absolute proof of the reality and existence of anything. Faith is the visible reality of the invisible. You see the invisible reality with the clear eyes of faith. When you know in your heart that your request has been answered before you see it, your faith is the evidence that you have it. Faith says, ‘God has said it, so it must be true.’ Faith visualizes the unseen, giving reality to invisible things. Faith shuts its eyes to all that is seen and opens its ears to all God has said. Faith is the eye of the soul which looks out and sees the fulfillment of God’s promises clearly.

2.         THE DEMONSTRATION AND DECLARATION OF FAITH

Hebrews 11:2; Genesis 15:6; Numbers 12:6-8; 14:24; 1 Kings 17:22-24; 2 Kings 3:11,12; Daniel 3:26-29; 6:25-27; Hebrews 11:39a, 4-8, 23-27, 32-34.

“For by it (by faith) the elders obtained a good report”. From A to Z, that is, from Abel to Zechariah, from Abraham to Zerubbabel the patriarchs and the prophets obtained a good report, received great commendations for exploits done by faith. Men and women of God, in former dispensations, lived for God and pleased God, laboured for God and did exploits, walked with God and wrought miracles, forsook the world and followed hard after God, endured persecution and conquered their persecutors, all by faith.

Also, men and women in the New Testament, from A to Z, from Andrew, Aquila or Antipas to Zachaeus or Zebedee’s sons all lived and triumphed by faith. By faith they were saved and sanctified, healed and delivered, baptized and empowered, protected and preserved; by faith they overcame sin and Satan, overcame the flesh and the world, inherited the promises. They, too, obtained a good report and received God’s commendation by faith. Until this day, the only way for any of us to obtain a good report from God is by faith. To please God, we must live, love, labour by faith. To be overcomers or to be more than conquerors, we must walk by faith, stand and withstand the enemy by faith, pray by faith and do exploits by faith. The thoughts of faith, the life of faith, the walk of faith, the obedience of faith, the language of faith, the work of faith and the worship of faith are the things that bring God’s approval on our lives.

3.         THE DISCERNMENT OF DIVINE DEEDS THROUGH FAITH

Hebrews 11:3; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 33:6; Isaiah 40:26-31; John 1:3; Hebrews 1:1-3; Acts 17:24; Romans 4:17; Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17.

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God ”. Faith gives us spiritual perception; unbelief makes people blind. Through faith in what God has revealed in the Scriptures, we understand, we know that the worlds, the earth, the planets, the sun, moon and stars were all created by God. The universe, with every minute thing and the mightiest of things, was created by God. He made the worlds by the power of His word. God is the Creator and Maker of all things. “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the hosts of them by the breath of His mouth. For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast ” (Psalm 33:6,9).

Our God is mighty and powerful, His might and power are infinite and unlimited. God, who created the worlds, simply by His spoken word, making all things which are seen out of nothing, can provide for all our needs, even when there is no visible provision or helper in sight. He who called worlds and the vast universe into existence by the word of His power can command abundant supplies for the poorest of His children. “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Our God is the God who specializes in impossibilities (Luke 1:37). There is nothing too hard for Him (Genesis 18:14). “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27). Faith truly glorifies God; it gives Him His proper place as the One who is completely trustworthy. “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).