Exercising Faith
What do you think it means to be a person of faith? Does it simply mean that you are somehow “spiritual?” Or does it mean that you believe in Christ? Does it have any real and practical value?
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” This does not mean we will receive everything we hope for if we simply believe strongly enough. Believers throughout the ages have been commended for understanding God’s role as Creator, and that He has formed and framed all things through His word/command. Faith is a matter of understanding God’s will and word, and basing our lives upon it. Faith doesn’t need to wait for things to happen, it believes before things happen.
God promised that He would deliver Israel from Egypt. He led them out through mighty signs and wonders, and caused Pharaoh to release them. Yet, when Pharaoh and his army decided to pursue them, the people panicked, and turned in unbelief against God. They said, “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians (as slaves) than to die in the desert.” (Exodus 14:13) They let go of their faith. Moses, however, stood in a place of faith. He believed God at His word. He told the people not to be afraid, but to believe, and that they would see God’s deliverance. The people followed Moses’ leadership, and they rejoiced and sang songs once they were on the other side of God’s deliverance through the Red Sea.
The people had enough faith to recognize God’s deliverance when it came, and so rejoiced. Moses, however, had faith to believe God’s will before it happened. People of faith are marked by this kind of exercising of faith. Noah built an ark at God’s instruction well before the flood came – having never seen anything like the flood to come. At the revelation of God, Joseph stored food in Egypt before the seven year famine ever hit.
Has God given you an inner testimony of things that you believe He wants to do in, through or around you? If you know Him, He has almost certainly made some things very clear to you. They may relate to your sense of destiny, your family, your freedom and/or what He wants to accomplish through you. The faith question is, “What are you doing to exercise faith in these areas of God’s word/promise to you?” Are you simply waiting to see if anything ever comes of those words or impressions, or are you taking hold of them and framing your life in accord with them? This is what it means to exercise faith.
Faith means believing and preparing for what God is going to do. It involves worship, praise, declaration and thanks. Take a moment and allow God to re-stir your faith regarding ways He wants to work through your prayer, preparation and obedient action.
Exercising Faith with you,
Pastor Tom
tgriffith@rolcboston.org
