FAITH
THEME: THE DIVINE ORIGIN, CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION, AND SUPERNATURAL OPERATIONS OF THE SPIRIT OF FAITH
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of His countenance.” (Psalms 42: 5 KJV)
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4: 16 KJV)
Like the spirit of life and light, faith is a spirit of Divine origin transmitted into the soul-spirit or inner-being of man at creation—man created in the image of God, that is. We are persuaded that it is from the Divine spirit deposited in man that has made man develop consciousness and yearning for God. This is the foundation of hope and religious faith in God.
Besides religious consciousness and faith in God, there are also belief systems drawn from the inner consciousness of man and human encounters in life over the years. The spirit of faith deposited in or endowed in the human soul-spirit is a source of spirit, energy, power, imagination, creativity, and performance on the part of man.
In this regard, the Christian Faith as a body of belief system is built not alone on the inner consciousness of God, the Divine attributes, virtues, and all but also on direct encounter with the Creator, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God.
The life, teachings, word, and works of Jesus Christ—as well as the demonstration of His spirit, power, and authority in both spiritual and practical terms—have also provided adequate and veritable data and basis for the faith. People have built faith in Jesus Christ because of:
- Who He Is.
- What He Has Taught, Done, Proved to Be,
- And declared to do
- As also the Testimony of the Father, Spirits, Powers, Creation, and all about Him.
(Matthew 16: 13-19; 17: 1-9; Mark 5: 1-13; Luke 1: 23-35; John 1: 23-34; 1st Timothy 3: 16; Matthew 28: 18-20).
That is to say, the Christian Faith—built primarily on faith in the person, nature, personality, life, and works of Jesus Christ (1st Corinthians 3: 11-15)—represents the Divine Creator Spirit manifest in the flesh or in the form of man is also buttressed through the Word that proceeds from the mouth of God, whether in direct, oral, or verbal form or indirect through the written word. The written word of God must be ascertained, proved, and accredited as true.
We have attempted here to define, explain, and elaborate on both faith and the Christian Faith so to indicate a clear distinction between faith as understood by Christians, and the simple faith of man and religious, philosophical, scientific faith, and belief systems built by men and spirits. It must be emphasized here that the uniqueness, power, authority, and beauty of the ETERNAL WORD of GOD and the Christian Faith are altogether distinct from other faiths and/or belief systems of different and diverse origins, human encounters, experiences, and all.
THE OPEN DOOR OF FAITH
Now, the Christian Faith opens the soul-spirit of man created anew by the Spirit of Christ (John 1: 12-13; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 2: 8-10) to receive further supply and endowment of Divine Spirit, Faith, Graces, Authority, and Power for the believer’s life and works (John 1:16; 10:9; 1:33; 1st Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1: 15-17).
There are three main types and demonstration of the rich Spirit of Faith endowment in the Christian Faith: –
- Faith to Live (Romans 1: 17-19; 10: 8-17): From which believers draw and receive salvation, deliverance, healing, power, gifts, life, joy, hope, and all.
- Faith to Work the Works of God (Mark 11: 22-25; John 7: 38-39): Faith of man augmented through the worship, service, word, knowledge, and Spirit of God.
- Faith to Work out and/or Administer Divine Supernatural Power (1st Corinthians 12: 1-11): The workings of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are based on faith.
That is to say, there is a simple faith transmitted into the inner being when we believe and accept the Word of God, receive the Spirit of Christ into our hearts and inner being when we are born again. The faith for salvation is the same faith to live. It is transmitted by hearing, believing, accepting, receiving, adopting, and relying or depending upon the Word of God for life—daily living, challenges, and works in life.
In like manner, faith in Christ and the word of God opens a door for the Spirit of Christ indwelling the born-again person and the Holy Spirit upon him/her to move in the directions of the works of God. This comes through the spoken word—the same instrument by which God created and established all things and set the laws of nature, the solar system, vegetation, the animal kingdom, human life and powers, and all into motion.
We can create and set things in motion and establish them by the Word of our mouths as believers, born of God in Christ Jesus—that is as people in whom the Divine One dwells. It is with and through faith in God who dwells in us and with us that we can move mountains, fill valleys, and set things in place through resort to the word of God and prayer (Matthew 11: 22-24).
The gifts of the Holy Spirit, administered and supervised by the Holy Spirit, open heavenly doors for Divine supernatural operations by believers (i.e. the church). The walk in heavenly supernatural operations is a direct product of faith gained through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, belief, and obedience of the Word of God and Divine call and assignment in the worship and service of God.
Thus, those who do not want to believe in the Holy Spirit baptism and the Divine supernatural heavenly impartations open in the Kingdom of God activities cannot gain entrance into, nor walk and work in the Divine heavenly supernatural operations and the zeal of the Lord.
It is simple faith, love, and hope in God that open the Divine heavenly supernatural door for those desirous, willing, and ready to worship and serve God by the spirit and power of God—not by the spirit, mind, wisdom, power, or knowledge of man. Faith in human spirit and mind power cannot gain access to the key to the Kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16: 18-19).
Faith, love, and hope constitute the spirit, nature, and power base of the saint. “The just shall live by faith.” Faith in God opens the door of Divine graces, holy works, Divine supernatural power endowment, and heavenly kingdom operations by the church. Indeed, Faith is Divine spirit gift obtainable through faith in Christ, the word of God, and the Holy Spirit.
The believer’s life by faith is a critical and fundamental spirit foundation for life, holy living, and holy works in the worship and service of God. It is impossible to please God without faith in Him. Furthermore, it is impossible to live for, walk and work in the will, light, way, and knowledge of God without faith in God. Indeed, without faith and hope in God, life is but one of death, hopelessness, and futility. Have faith in God—not yourself, nor in man nor in any other spirit, power, or system.
God bless you!
June 20, 2013
(Published Friday, June 28, 2013, pg 3 of the Ghanaian Observer)