Fear is the major tool that Satan uses to keep you oppressed, depressed, and defeated. You can't live in victory over the challenges of life when your days are filled with fear. Fear will chain, restrain, and detain you from living the life that God has called you to live.
When the storms of life rise all around you fear will always be present to keep you from drawing upon the power of the Holy Spirit. Living by faith takes courage and will be one of the greatest challenges you will ever have in life. Yes, it is a challenge, but it's not hard because Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
You may ask, "What does it mean to live by faith and why is it a challenge?" Before we can answer these questions we must first define the word 'faith'. There are three main elements essential to the definition they are (1) a firm hope, (2) a personal belief, and (3) an action inspired by your belief. These three are birthed out of what you hear. Let me break this down a little more for you. Words will always paint a picture (hope) in your mind that will lead to a decision on whether or not you will believe the words you hear. Once the decision is made to believe or not to believe, your actions will correspond accordingly.
Let me give you an example of faith. Imagine you are at a restaurant having dinner. You are sitting there enjoying the company of your best friend; the two of you are having a very stimulating and inspiring conversation. Your best friend is sharing with you some golden nuggets of wisdom. Your entree is exquisite and prepared to perfection. The lights in the restaurant are very soft and soothing; adding a bit of elegance to the atmosphere, when all of a sudden from out of the kitchen the chef runs out into the dining room and yells"FIRE! FIRE! THERE'S A FIRE IN THE KITCHEN!"
Based on our definition for faith, here is how it works. First, you heard some words spoken by the chef. As these words penetrated into your thought process they painted a picture in your mind. Next, you are forced to make a decision whether or not you will believe what you've just heard or not. Then, based on what you believe about the fire. You will either move to safety or remain and continue your conversation with your friend. When you put all of this together your faith will be seen. So, then, faith is an invisible power that is seen in your actions.
[14] What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? [17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:14 &1
To live by faith is simplyto live by the Word of God. To hear it, to make a decision to believe it, then after you believe it put some action to what you believe, then your faith will be seen.
The woman with the issue of blood showed everybody her faith (Mark 5:25-34). This woman had spent all her money going to the doctors trying to get healed. Then one day she heard about Jesus of Nazareth. She heard that he had the power to heal the sick.
This little lady was in a desperate situation. She had no money; she was getting worse and worse every day. She was so very weak from loosing so much blood. She was constantly bleeding and bleeding and bleeding. By now she was very close to death. But she heard something that she decided to believe. She was so convicted in her heart that Jesus could and would heal her that she put some leg movement to her belief. She went to where she could be in the presence of the Christ. She believed that if she would touch the hem of His garment she would be made whole. She did exactly what she believed.
The elements of her faith was present (1) a firm hope (being healed), (2) a personal belief, that Jesus Christ, the Anointed One’s anointing would flow out of Him into her, (3) an action, she went forth and touched the hem of His garment.
After this demonstration of her faith Jesus said,"Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace and be whole of thy plague." If this woman would have never acted on the words she heard about Jesus she would of died from that plague. She overcame all her fears and acted in faith.
We can find the reason why living by faith is a challenge in the book of Hebrews. It says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). I want you to pay particular attention to the phrase that says‘faith is the evidence of things not seen.’ This is telling us that faith is an invisible force. Here’s the challenge, in order to live by faith you must not allow your five senses to dominate or control your life.
If the woman with the issue of blood would have listened to her five senses she would have died a sick woman. When you live by your five senses alone you can never walk by faith in Jesus, the Christ. In order to live by faith you must remember that your five senses will always challenge the invisible evidence of faith.
We must learn to live a disciplined life of faith, trusting that God is faithful and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Jesus has empowered you with His precious Holy Spirit to help and to guide you through the storms that arise in your life.
Many Christians are afraid to get out of the boat and stand with Jesus in the midst of their trials. Fear will always desire to rule you then force you under submission to the circumstances that arise in your life. When allowed, fear will control your thoughts, your emotions, and your attitude. Living this way will bring disappointments, defeats, and heartaches in your life.
The challenge before you is to live a life of faith and then discipline yourself accordingly. Jesus has empowered you with His precious Holy Spirit to help and to guide you through the storms that arise in your life.
God made you to walk in victory over the demands of fear. You will never walk victorious over fear until you establish your life on and in the Word of God. When you live a life of faith the trials of life will become challenges to your faith. Confidence will rise up boldly within you instead of heartache and the pain of disappointments. As you stand up and face these challenges you will experience the power of God moving in your life. Establish in your heart that you are not left to your own resources to cope with problems. God has made provisions for your victory and has made you more than a conqueror because He loves you (Romans 8:35-39).
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