January 30th, 2024
This week, I’ve been dwelling on the power of our faith. Last week, we talked about Sarah, who considered God faithful despite the natural reality of her situation. Physically, it was impossible for her to have a son, and when she considered her circumstances, she laughed at God’s promise. However, when she began to consider God’s faithfulness, instead of considering on her reality, she received power to have Isaac! As Hebrews 11:11 says,
“By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”
Abraham’s faith is also a powerful part of this story, and the book of Romans gives us insight into his journey. Romans 4:19-21 says,
“He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”
He did not “consider” his own body or the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. Instead, He believed God!
Faith is the heartbeat of every believer’s life. We’re saved by faith initially, but we need it to grow up in God and receive what He has for us! Every step we take has to be by faith! 2 Corinthians 5:7 says,
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
I’ve always found it so interesting that Paul doesn’t contrast faith and fear, for example. He also doesn’t contrast faith and unbelief or faith and doubt. He contrasts faith and sight because we have to see to move forward. Faith isn’t a feeling. It’s a spiritual reality we have to live in, if we want to walk in God, like this verse says! Abraham and Sarah could not have received Isaac if they were looking with their natural eyes. They had to see with faith!
Faith sees the spiritual reality while your natural eyes see only what’s in front of you. Think about the story of Peter. He was able to walk on water to Jesus, by faith, until he saw the wind and the waves. After saving him, Jesus said,
“Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)
In 2 Kings 6, there is a fascinating story about Elisha and his servant. At that time, Israel was at war with Syria, and Israel had a great advantage because God would reveal to Elisha what the Syrians would do before they did it. Naturally, this troubled the Syrian king, and he sent a great army by night to seize Elisha. When Elisha’s servant rose in the morning and saw they were surrounded by the Syrian army, he was terrified. 2 Kings 6:15-17 says,
‘The servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.’
Elisha prayed that the servant would see the reality of the situation with spiritual eyes. How many of us become frustrated, afraid, or confused because we’re looking at our circumstances with our natural eyes rather than by faith? It appeared that Elisha was surrounded by an enemy, but there was a greater army in that city! 1 John 5:4-5 says,
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Our faith determines our victory. We can’t walk in the promises of God without faith!
See, many people struggle because they think that faith means they have to pretend their natural reality isn’t happening. However, as I’ve heard it said many times:
“Faith doesn’t deny reality, but it denies reality influence in your life.”
If we choose to look only at what we see, hear, and feel, we won’t consider the truth of God’s word as the higher authority, and we’ll doubt that His promises are for us. James 1:6-8 says,
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
Doubt will keep us from receiving, but faith allows us to receive anything we ask, according to His word. As Jesus said in Matthew 11:23-24,
‘Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.’
God’s word is the greater reality. It doesn’t deny the natural, but it does supersede it! We are spiritual beings, created for eternity. We will dwell with God forever, outside of time. That is impossible for us to grasp in our heads but it’s a spiritual truth we must receive! His promises are the truth and the standard. Romans 8:5 says,
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”
If you are struggling with sickness, for example, you don’t deny that, but as you fill yourself with the truth of God’s Word you will encounter the greater truth. The truth is that Jesus already bore that sickness for you on the cross. The truth is that Jesus came to destroy all the works of the enemy. The truth is that He already paid for your healing. Faith will allow the spiritual truth of God’s Word to change your natural reality!
Are you looking at Jesus or the waves around you? Are you looking at the Syrian army or the chariots of fire? Are you considering your situation or are you considering His Word? We have to choose to walk by faith, not by sight. As we do, we will see the truth of God’s promises in every situation! He is faithful and His Word is true, and He desires to make every one of His promises the reality of your life. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and we’re meant to walk in it, even now!
“By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”
Abraham’s faith is also a powerful part of this story, and the book of Romans gives us insight into his journey. Romans 4:19-21 says,
“He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”
He did not “consider” his own body or the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. Instead, He believed God!
Faith is the heartbeat of every believer’s life. We’re saved by faith initially, but we need it to grow up in God and receive what He has for us! Every step we take has to be by faith! 2 Corinthians 5:7 says,
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
I’ve always found it so interesting that Paul doesn’t contrast faith and fear, for example. He also doesn’t contrast faith and unbelief or faith and doubt. He contrasts faith and sight because we have to see to move forward. Faith isn’t a feeling. It’s a spiritual reality we have to live in, if we want to walk in God, like this verse says! Abraham and Sarah could not have received Isaac if they were looking with their natural eyes. They had to see with faith!
Faith sees the spiritual reality while your natural eyes see only what’s in front of you. Think about the story of Peter. He was able to walk on water to Jesus, by faith, until he saw the wind and the waves. After saving him, Jesus said,
“Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)
In 2 Kings 6, there is a fascinating story about Elisha and his servant. At that time, Israel was at war with Syria, and Israel had a great advantage because God would reveal to Elisha what the Syrians would do before they did it. Naturally, this troubled the Syrian king, and he sent a great army by night to seize Elisha. When Elisha’s servant rose in the morning and saw they were surrounded by the Syrian army, he was terrified. 2 Kings 6:15-17 says,
‘The servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.’
Elisha prayed that the servant would see the reality of the situation with spiritual eyes. How many of us become frustrated, afraid, or confused because we’re looking at our circumstances with our natural eyes rather than by faith? It appeared that Elisha was surrounded by an enemy, but there was a greater army in that city! 1 John 5:4-5 says,
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Our faith determines our victory. We can’t walk in the promises of God without faith!
See, many people struggle because they think that faith means they have to pretend their natural reality isn’t happening. However, as I’ve heard it said many times:
“Faith doesn’t deny reality, but it denies reality influence in your life.”
If we choose to look only at what we see, hear, and feel, we won’t consider the truth of God’s word as the higher authority, and we’ll doubt that His promises are for us. James 1:6-8 says,
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
Doubt will keep us from receiving, but faith allows us to receive anything we ask, according to His word. As Jesus said in Matthew 11:23-24,
‘Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.’
God’s word is the greater reality. It doesn’t deny the natural, but it does supersede it! We are spiritual beings, created for eternity. We will dwell with God forever, outside of time. That is impossible for us to grasp in our heads but it’s a spiritual truth we must receive! His promises are the truth and the standard. Romans 8:5 says,
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”
If you are struggling with sickness, for example, you don’t deny that, but as you fill yourself with the truth of God’s Word you will encounter the greater truth. The truth is that Jesus already bore that sickness for you on the cross. The truth is that Jesus came to destroy all the works of the enemy. The truth is that He already paid for your healing. Faith will allow the spiritual truth of God’s Word to change your natural reality!
Are you looking at Jesus or the waves around you? Are you looking at the Syrian army or the chariots of fire? Are you considering your situation or are you considering His Word? We have to choose to walk by faith, not by sight. As we do, we will see the truth of God’s promises in every situation! He is faithful and His Word is true, and He desires to make every one of His promises the reality of your life. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and we’re meant to walk in it, even now!
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