Natural faith and the faith of the spirit
Many believers seek to know God through their personal feelings. Their faith depends on and varies according to what they feel whereas it should be based only on the Word of God.
A faith that is based on what one feels is human; it’s a natural faith. You cannot achieve spiritual results through such faith. We must, on the contrary, use scriptural faith, that of the Bible, believing what the Word of God affirms independently of our body and intelligence.
We must believe with the mind. But how does our spirit acquire this faith that our intellect cannot? Through meditation on the Word of God. The Lord does not ask us to understand everything in His Word but He expects us to believe it.
The good fight of faith
1 Timothy 6 : 12 « 12Fight the good fight of faith » KJV
By exercising faith, we will be ready for fight. We must be “violent” with the flesh, the intelligence and the enemy and be determined so that faith become the leader.
We don’t have to fight others. The Christian’s struggle is the good fight of faith, that interval between when we ask and when God will answer.
Faith does not dispense from tribulations
God never promised us a life without complications here, but rather to help us in our difficulties. Faith does not give us a “totem of immunity” to problems, but a radically different view on how to deal with them. Having faith does not therefore guarantee an absence of tribulations.
Having faith is to persevere, to keep trust in God despite these tribulations.
Faith does not dispense with wisdom and preparation
Nehemiah and his men believed that victory would come from God, but they still prepared for the fight. While half of the men raised the wall, the other half stood guard with weapons in hand.
Similarly, when David fought Goliath, he knew that God was with him but this did not prevent him from taking five stones for his slingshot.
To faith, we must add our natural resources and the wisdom that God has given us. By combining the natural with the spiritual, we are better equipped to face the various challenges that may be presented to us.
The enemies of faith
If the fight of faith exists, it is because there must be opponents or obstacles to it (otherwise there would be no fight…).
What are the enemies of faith?
Not understanding what it means to be a new creature in Jesus Christ;
Not knowing one’s position in Christ;
Ignore what is the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21);
Not seizing the right to use the Name of Jesus Christ (John 16:23-24);
Not to walk according to the Word of God;
Acts that are not consistent with one’s proclamation of faith (Mark 11:23-24). Our actions must be aligned with what we believe if we want to receive something from God. Doubt is one of the greatest thieves of divine blessings.
2 Corinthians 5:21 « 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. » KJV
John 16 : 23-24 «23And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. » KJV
Mark 11 : 23-24 «23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. » KJV
Unbelief
Faith can be combined with unbelief. Unbelief is opposed to the Word of God. It is a negative force which opposes and cancels faith.
Many believers pray but do not imagine themselves to be answered. They walk in unbelief, which immediately destroys the effects of their prayer.
Bad thoughts, bad beliefs and bad statements always end up making us fail. Often it is not even Satan who conquers us; we conquer ourselves !
Let us proclaim continually, and sometimes in spite of all evidence, that God has heard our prayers because this is what His Word says. Only in this way will our prayers be answered. We must believe that we have received what we have asked for before we see it.
We must believe before we receive.
What fuels disbelief?
Our five senses. Disbelief reigns in the one who is dominated by his senses;
Fear and worry. One can have faith, but still be controlled by fear;
The wrong doctrines that become strongholds and prevent men from believing fully in what God has said.
