Copyright Š 2017 Temitope Akinola All rights reserved under the international copyright law. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express, written permission of the author. The exception is reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review. ISBN 978-1-56229-812-8 Christian Living Books, Inc. Largo, Maryland ChristianLivingBooks.com We bring your dreams to fruition! Printed in the United States of America Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, Cambridge, 1769.
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1 wHAT IS FAITH?
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aith is trusting God for the things yet unseen. Faith is trusting in God’s promises that His promises will be yea and amen in our lives. Faith is the assurance we have in God our heavenly Father that He is able to fulfill His word and promises in our lives. We exercise faith when we believe in God’s power and ability to do more than we could ever ask or think. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. (Ephesians 3:20) God, our heavenly Father, exercised great faith when He created the world. He called the world into existence through faith-filled words and commands. God said, “Let there be…” and what He commanded came forth. God called the light, firmaments, waters, dry land and animals into existence through pronouncements of faith. Through faith, God commanded invisible things to come into existence and they manifested. They became visible and the whole universe was formed. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3)
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Faith is trusting in God and hoping for things which we have not seen. Faith is the confidence we have in God that He is able to bring all our dreams and hopes to fulfillment. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) To live a life that is pleasing to God, we must have faith. But without faith, 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. (Hebrews 11:6) Faith in a loving heavenly Father cheers us up when we pass through unpleasant situations like trials and afflictions. Faith in God instills in us the love for God which cannot be moved by any circumstance. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35 – 39)
ILLUSTRATIONS OF FAITH 1. Believing faith: We exercise believing faith when we believe that God exists and that He will answer us when we call upon Him.
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But without faith, 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. (Hebrews 11:6) We exercise believing faith throughout our Christian journey because believing God is an act of righteousness. Anyone who exercises believing faith is blessed. …Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:29b) 2. Trusting faith: We exercise trusting faith in God when we trust Him as our heavenly father. We exercise trusting faith when we know that God cares for us. We exercise trusting faith in God when we realize that He is interested in all the events that take place in our lives. We can trust in God for guidance and direction when we are confused. When we exercise trusting faith in Him, He will order our steps. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5 – 6) 3. Hoping faith: Hoping faith is exercised when we hope in God in the midst of circumstances or situations that look hopeless in our sight. Hoping faith is exercised when we realize that in the sight of God, there are no hopeless situations. Hoping faith is exercised when we acknowledge that He is the Almighty God and there is nothing too difficult for Him to do. Behold I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27) When we exercise hoping faith in God, and we believe that there is nothing too difficult for Him to do, He will prove Himself in our lives as He did in the life of Abraham.
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Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be. (Romans 4:18) When we exercise hoping faith, we have the confidence in God that His promises will surely come to pass, though they may tarry. 4. Childlike faith: We exercise childlike faith when we trust in God completely without any fear, worry or anxiety. We exercise childlike faith when we behave like a baby who abandons himself in the arms of his parent and knows that he is safe there. God is our heavenly father, so we can abandon ourselves completely in His arms and have the confidence that He is able to carry us in His arms throughout our lives journey. When God is carrying us in His arms, we do not have reason to be fearful or anxious about anything. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27) When we exercise childlike faith, we are able to live simply. Fear is expelled and we can experience the peace of God that passes all understanding. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7) “When we remember what He did for us and rest in His loving arms, we will begin to experience the power of the Prince of peace.” – Dave Egner
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5. Overcoming faith: This is the victor’s faith. When we exercise overcoming faith, we have victory over Satan and all his works. We overcome Satan and the world through our faith in God. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the son of God? (1 John 5:4 – 5) When we know the authority we have as believers – that God who dwells in us is greater than the Satan that is in the world – we will be able to exercise overcoming faith. We will have victory in all areas of our lives. Ye are of God, little children and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4) Jesus assures us of victory over the world and its allurements when we exercise overcoming faith. …Be of good cheer I have overcome the world. (John16:33b) 6. Mountain moving faith: Exercising mountain moving faith helps us overcome all problems or difficulties in our lives that are like mountains. When we exercise mountain moving faith, we command all the problems, which are in the form of mountains, to be removed, and they will be removed. …If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, and ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Matthew 17:20b)
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As we exercise mountain moving faith, everything will become possible unto us. All the mountains and hills in our lives shall be made low. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low… (Isaiah 40:4a) 7. Fighting faith: In spiritual battle, fighting faith is used as an armor by the Christian soldier. In spiritual warfare, fighting faith is exercised in prayer when we wrestle to destroy all the works of Satan. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Ephesians 6:16) When we exercise fighting faith, all the darts and arrows of Satan will be unable to reach us. We use fighting faith to defend and contend for the gospel and to fight for righteousness and truth. …It was needful to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude1:3b) As we exercise all these illustrations of faith, our faith will grow, in Jesus’ name.
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