FAITH

My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. Psalm 62:5

How Shall We Live?

The world around us seems to be spinning out of control. If you understand that you live in a spiritual realm, the issues are merely an annoyance rather than a devastating existence. Much of the world though, even some Christians, are hopeless. Not so if your focus is on your Divine and promised sonship. “Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us His very own beloved children. The reason the world doesn’t recognize who we are is that they didn’t recognize Him. Beloved, we are God’s children right now; however, it is not yet apparent what we will become. But we do know that when it is finally made visible, we will be just like Him, for we will see Him as He truly is. And all who focus their hope on Him will always be purifying themselves, just as Jesus is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3 TPT) The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:25 TPT: “Because our hope is set on what is yet to be seen, we patiently keep on waiting for its fulfillment.” In this dissertation on faith, I will be using a vast amount of scripture, because I can’t come close to the efficacy and power of the written Word of God. I will also provide proof from my own experience of the validity in the profession of my most holy faith. The Lord taught us to pray “Thy kingdom come, and Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” which tells us we can have now that which our soul longs for as well as a promised eternity with Him. In Titus 1:1-3 (TPT) Paul says: “I’m writing to you to further the faith of God’s chosen ones and lead them to the full knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, which rests on the hope of eternal life. God, who never lies, has promised this before time began. In his own time, he unveiled his word through the preaching of the gospel, which was entrusted to me by the command of God our Life Giver.” We shall live by faith and become the manifest sons of God!

We Live By Faith in the Son of God

Consider Romans 8:22-30, “To this day we are aware of the universal agony and groaning of creation, as if it were in the contractions of labor for childbirth. And it’s not just creation. We who have already experienced the first fruits of the Spirit also inwardly groan as we passionately long to experience our full status as God’s sons and daughters—including our physical bodies being transformed. For this is the hope of our salvation. But hope means that we must trust and wait for what is still unseen. For why would we need to hope for something we already have? So, because our hope is set on what is yet to be seen, we patiently keep on waiting for its fulfillment. And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words. God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, His holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny. So, we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are His lovers who have been called to fulfill His designed purpose. For He knew all about us before we were born, and He destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of His Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like Him. Having determined our destiny ahead of time, He called us to himself and transferred His perfect righteousness to everyone He called. And those who possess His perfect righteousness He co-glorified with his Son!” When hope becomes the anchor of the soul the writer of Hebrews informs us that with sureness and steadfastness, we enter the veil.

Hope and Faith are Inseparable Requisites for Living in the Power of His Might

Now we turn to the interrelationship of hope and faith. Hebrews 11:1 tells us: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” In other words, God wants us to reach out to Him that we may pull in and experience His promises. Please try faith with earnest expectation – I assure you that it works and will provide proof from my experience. We are to move from faith to faith and glory to glory. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “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.” Consider that “Abraham who by faith, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles(tents) with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:8-10). Abraham and others in the Old Testament Faith Hall of Fame “All died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:13-16)

Efficacy of the Word

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) “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” (2 Peter 1:3-10)

What Did Jesus Teach about Faith

Jesus is not a cosmic vending machine, but Matthew 7:7, Jesus does say, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. There are prerequisites of faith and prayer. Matthew 21:22 records Jesus saying, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Additionally, that which is asked for must align with the will of God and be not harmful to you both spiritually and physically. When we focus on the giver as opposed to the gift it brings joy to the Father and usually hits the mark of His will. Consider in Matthew 17:14-20 where Christ’s disciples were unable to exorcise a demon from a young boy, even though Jesus had previously given them the authority to do this very thing (Matthew 10:1). Inquiring of Jesus as to why they were not able to drive the demon out, Jesus replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will move; Nothing will be impossible for you.” Jesus is speaking figuratively of faith by using the example of a tiny mustard seed that grows into a massive tree and the moving of mountains. When our faith becomes absolutely unshakable, the incalculable dunamis power of God is unleashed into the situation. Consider when Jesus cursed the fig tree for not bearing fruit. It withered and died causing His disciples to question His reasoning, Jesus replied, Matthew 21:21-22 TPT, “Listen to the truth. If you do not doubt God’s power and speak out of faith’s fullness, you can also speak to a tree and it will wither away. Even more than that, you could say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and be thrown into the sea’ and it will be done. Everything you pray for with the fullness of faith you will receive!” Make faith a priority and God will move the mountains in your life to accomplish His purposes and reward your diligence in seeking Him.

Faith is the One Foundation of a Victorious Life

The Apostle James states that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Peter tells us the outcome of our faith is the salvation of our soul. Dr Guy tells you in agreement with scripture that there is a lot more to it, in that faith allows us to live a victorious life now and allows for the accomplishment of the purpose for which we sojourn on earth awaiting the promise of eternity with Him. Paul states that his message and preaching is with demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that our faith would not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 John 5:4 reads: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” Dr Guy will also assure you that your faith will never be settled until you believe that the written Word of God is inerrant. You can spend a lifetime trying, but you will never find that it errs in any way. Also, do not procrastinate to plunge into the depth of faith for you will discover, as I did in my latter years, that my life could have been so much more fruitful for the King of Kings, who is all that matters.

My Personal Profession of Faith

I am so grateful for His patience and faithfulness to me. I found nothing in the world but suffering even though I thought I was seeking Him. I spent many years asking God not to take me prior to fulfilling my destined purpose in Him. Even though I had been to Bible School and had received the baptism in the Holy Spirit I had not the overcoming victory until I let go and crossed over into faith, the substance of what I had hoped for. I was in my sixties when this decision was made, and I began to grow exponentially in the things of God. In a short period of seven years, my wife Dr Lindy and I have earned three doctoral degrees, received apostolic ordination, and been given an Apostolic metron of the Continent of Africa where we minister in the nations and spiritually father sons and daughters. We have witnessed many miracles, signs, and wonders in our metron. Dr Lindy and I move in the power gift of healing. In our metron of Africa we always place an expectation on God for miracles, signs, and wonders and our faith is never disappointed. I have become a seer of visions as the giftings increase. On multiple occasions I have commanded storms. I am certainly not bragging about Dr Guy, as it is all Jesus and to Him belongs all the Glory. I share this as personal proof of the efficacy of faith and to encourage you in your most holy faith. Faith and anointing do grow exponentially with proper nurturing. Become broken bread and poured out wine for the King. We have a treasure in our earthly vessel that the power be of God and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:7) Pour out your treasure and by so doing you will find your providential purpose. The victory is ours – it is written. Amen.