The One Essential

Blog – “The One Essential” July 3, 2011

“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

Much has been written and said about “faith,” but some things merit being repeated. To have faith in something is simply to “believe as true.” Every time you get in your car to go somewhere you have faith in it to get you where you want to go; you “believe it is true” that the engine will run, the wheels will turn and it will go where you want to go, safely. You have faith in the chair you are sitting in will hold you, the water you drink is clean, the lamp will light your room if plugged into the power, etc. But when it comes to having faith in what the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God of the universe has promised and in His character and even existence, we have a great fear of trusting Him.

Fear to have faith in God is a tactic of the enemy of our soul, Satan. II Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power and a well balanced mind.” So when we are in doubt that God is going to keep His word, or we are worrying about God’s provision and care for us, just know those thoughts of fear do not come from God Who has promised to provide all our needs (Phil.4:19), and that He is not like man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19). Satan is the liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). Just as in Genesis 3:1-5, Satan subtly lies to Eve, trying to discredit God’s integrity. In the same way he tempts us to doubt God’s Word – “Did God really say that? Did He really mean that?”

Romans 10:17 simply says that faith comes by giving God and His Word an ‘audience’ to consider, then believing who God is and what He says as true. To come into belief of God’s and His Son’s reality is to “trust in, cling to and rely on” Him and His Word – this is saving faith which saves your soul, gives you eternal life and brings you into the family of God. Now you are His spiritual child, He is your spiritual Father and Jesus is your spiritual brother (as well as Savior).

Without Faith it is impossible to please God (Heb.11:6). Those of us who have trusted Jesus to justify them by His blood and forgive our sins must now live by faith (Heb.10:38). Every day we must take every problem, every question and every hurt to Him in prayer and believing that He is God and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb.11:6). He is our best friend, He knows everything about us (even our thoughts) and loves us anyway (read Psalm 139). This has been my favorite chapter in the whole Bible since I was a young teenager. As we “walk in faith” we must read, study and meditate on God’s Word and trust every word to be true and includes us in His promises. Prove Him (Malachi 3:10). What a thrill to put our faith in Jesus and see Him do what He promises. He is faithful, because He is faithful, because He is God! If He weren’t faithful He wouldn’t be God. Faithfulness is part of His essence. Also, His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:20-23).

There is a big detriment to having faith. Sin in our lives is the biggest road block to having faith that God will hear our prayer, because sin separates us from God and His fellowship (Psalm 66:18: John 9:31). If we just “confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). To “confess” means to “agree” with God that the things in our lives He has said was wrong and did not hit His ‘bull’s eye’ He has set for us (to be God-like). It may be wrong thoughts, words or deeds. We fail every day in some way but true confession will clean us up instantly and makes us fresh and new. So don’t live with known sin in your life, it will bring guilt, anger and dysfunction. It also robs you of the joy of having fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus, and it will block faith.

There have been books written about faith so I won’t try to cover it all in this blog – maybe sometime later. Some basic things to remember are: believe God and His Word; don’t walk in fear; confess your sins for God is faithful to forgive you and walk by faith.
Thank Him for His love and “the one essential” – faith. And praise Him for “the power to keep you from falling and present you faultless before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and delight” (Jude 24-25).