What Makes Faith Irresistible

THERE can be no victorious Christian without profound and unquestioning faith in the living God. He who would live victoriously and do exploits for God must first believe in Him without wavering. The Lord has called on all believers to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10: 22). And that FAITH means Full Assurance In Trusting Hearts. Since we know that “He is faithful that promised,” we can “hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Hebrews 10: 23). True faith is always based on God’s infallible word. The believer first reads or hears a promise of the Lord. He becomes aware that God has spoken to him directly and he knows God cannot lie. With utter confidence in the trustworthiness of the One who has promised, he reckons the promise as sure as if it were already fulfilled. This is faith, and it is central and essential in the life of every Christian.  Indeed, we receive the commandments of God by faith. We know that if God commands, He enables us to do it. When the Lord Jesus Christ urged Peter to walk on the water, Peter had no doubt whatsoever that the power needed to accomplish such a feat will be given to him. (Matthew 14: 28,29).

  Faith does not operate in the realm of what is possible, what man can easily do for himself. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Rather, faith begins where man’s power ends. Faith says, “If ‘impossible’ is the only objection, it can be down!” Faith is trust in God, a firm persuasion that God cannot lie, that if He has promised anything, He will fulfill His Word. Faith expresses the assurance that hope will be realised because we are assured that through the power and faithfulness of God, we will possess all that God has promised us. Faith, trust and confidence are inseparable. Counting on the ability, willingness and faithfulness of God who has promised, we are confident of receiving the things promised.

  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for”. The word “substance” literally means that, which has real existence, the actual reality. Faith is the “substance”, the basic essence, the real existence, the sure manifestation of what we ask for and hope to receive from God. “Now faith …is the evidence of things not seen”. Evidence is the absolute proof of the reality and existence of something. Faith is the visible reality of the invisible expectation. You see the invisible reality with the clear eyes of faith. When you know in your heart that your request has been answered before you see it, your faith is the evidence that you have it. Faith says, ‘God has said it, so it must be true.’ Faith visualises the unseen, giving reality to invisible things. Faith shuts its eyes to all that is seen and opens its ears to all God has said. Faith is the eye of the soul, which looks out and sees the fulfillment of God’s promises clearly.

  “For by it (by faith) the elders obtained a good report”. From A to Z in the Old Testament scriptures, that is, from Abel to Zechariah, from Abraham to Zerubbabel, the patriarchs and the prophets obtained a good report, received great commendations for exploits done by faith. Men and women of God, in past dispensations, lived for God and pleased God, laboured for God and did exploits, walked with God and wrought miracles, forsook the world and followed hard after God, endured persecution and conquered their persecutors, all by faith. Also, men and women in the New Testament, from A to Z — Andrew, Aquila or Antipas to Zachaeus or Zebedee’s sons — all lived and triumphed by faith. By faith, they were saved and sanctified, healed and delivered, baptised and empowered, protected and preserved. By faith, they overcame sin and Satan, overcame the flesh and the world, inherited the promises. They too, obtained a good report and received God’s commendation by faith. Until this day, the only way for any of us to obtain a good report from God is by faith. To please God, we must live, love, labour by faith. To be overcomers or to be more than conquerors, we must walk by faith, stand and with-stand the enemy by faith, pray by faith and do exploits by faith. The thoughts of faith, the life of faith, the walk of faith, the obedience of faith, the language of faith, the work of faith and the worship of faith are the things that bring God’s approval on our lives.

  “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God”. Faith gives us spiritual perception; unbelief makes people blind. Through faith in what God has  revealed in the Scriptures, we understand, we know that the worlds, the earth, the planets, the sun, moon and stars were all created by God. The universe, with every minute thing and the mightiest of objects, was created by God. He made the worlds by the power of His word. God is the Creator and Maker of all things. “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the hosts of them by the breath of His mouth. For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast”. 

  Our God is mighty and powerful. His might and power are infinite and unlimited. God, who created the worlds, simply by His spoken word, making all things, which are seen out of nothing, can provide for all our needs, even when there is no visible provision or helper in sight. He who called the worlds and the vast universe into existence by the word of His power, can command abundant supplies for the poorest of His children. “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”.  Our God specializes in impossibilities (Luke 1:37). There is nothing too hard for Him (Genesis 18:14). “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18: 27). When we recognize and believe this, our faith truly glorifies God; it gives Him His proper place as the One who is completely trustworthy. Therefore, whatever your condition in life, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:12).

 Further Reading: Hebrews 11:1-3, Hebrews 11:1; 6:18,19; 11:27, Romans 8: 24,25; 2 Corinthians 4:13, 18; Psalm 139:16; Jeremiah 32:10-17,44; Romans 4:18-21;10:17; Ephesians 6:16,17; Genesis 15:6; Numbers 12:6-8; 14:24;1 Kings 17:22-24; 2 Kings 3:11,12; Daniel 3:26-29; 6:25-27; Hebrews 11:39a,4-8,23-27,32-34; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 33:6; Isaiah 40:26-31; John 1:3; Hebrews 1:1-3; Acts 17:24; Romans 4:17; Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17.