So, then, it's crucial that we understand the nature of faith. Is faith a funny feeling that we get when we hear an eloquent speaker, or is faith a psychological state of mind that we achieve by the power of positive thinking? Is faith a panacea for all of our problems? Can we name it and claim it? Is it possible to believe and never again be sick as some claim? What is faith and where does it come from? The answer to that question is the secret to victorious Christian living. However, I'm afraid that we've distorted the Biblical teaching about faith that we may need another Reformation that awakens our souls to victory and once again allows the church to be the light of the world.
Faith begins with God, not ourselves. Faith isn't when we psyche ourselves into a state of belief. It's not a funny feeling. The Bible says "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Faith doesn't begin within us. It begins with God. It's impossible to please God without faith, but it's also impossible to have faith without God. Faith is objective. It begins with a source outside of us. It begins with God speaking. It begins with the Word of God. It's an assurance in our hearts that's produced by our hearing the Word of God.
Faith begins with God speaking to our hearts His Word. It's then redirected towards God through Jesus, the Christ. Genuine Biblical faith is always directed towards Jesus. Hebrews 12:2 says, "Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith." Jesus is the initiator and maintainer of our faith. He is "the way, the truth and the life." Jesus is referred to in the gospel of John as the Word of God. Therefore, any faith that doesn't begin and continue with him isn't true faith.
Many Christians find themselves defeated because they've trusted in themselves, their abilities, their financial holdings, or even their experience rather than in Christ alone. Often God has to allow disability within us in order to show us His ability. He may strip us of our financial wealth in order to supply every need of ours through His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). Our experiences can even be deceiving, but Jesus is absolute truth. Victory comes only through trusting Jesus - and Jesus alone.
Faith begins with God speaking to our hearts through His Word and continues by our looking unto Jesus to meet every need we have. But, finally, faith works. Our works don't produce faith, but rather the opposite is true. Faith produces works - the work of God in our lives. Therefore, we can't brag or boast about any of our abilities, resources, or achievements. We can only boast in Christ. He has become our total source of victory and achievement. If we are truly trusting in Christ, then we will know His victory.
Occasionally I'm challenged on that assertion. People will say to me, "Sammy, I've trusted in Christ, but it just didn't help." As I probe them, however, I discover that their trust was more in their own efforts and expertise, rather than in sufficiency and power of Christ. I have been on this journey of walking with Jesus for more than 30 years now, and there's one thing that I can say with absolute conviction - "I've failed Jesus many times, but He's never once failed me." I've discovered this great truth - victory in the Christian life comes only through faith. Faith begins by beholding God speaking to us through Jesus, the Word of God. It continues by looking unto Jesus, and it concludes with victory - not ours but His. We simply enter into the victory that He's already won. It was that Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Paul, Luther, and Whitefield were so great. It was simply that they trusted in a great and mighty God. They looked unto Jesus. It's magnificent to ponder the thought that the God of Abraham, Moses, David, Paul, Luther, and Moody is our God. It's not our great abilities that will usher in the victory, but it's simple faith in a mighty God that brings forth the victory.
