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“Why” is one of the first words a child learning to speak will say. This is because God has created man with a desire to know the reason or cause behind everything he does. This article will attempt to answer the all-important question: why we need faith.
Everything of value in the Kingdom of God comes at a great cost. Part of that cost is the opposition from the enemy who will do everything possible to stop a Christian from increasing his faith.
Faith is of great value; therefore, we should expect that it will come at a great cost and will require a great fight. In order to remain in the fight and persevere in the quest for faith, we must be aware of the benefits and value of faith. We must know why we need faith if we are to pursue it diligently.
1. We need faith to please God.
The New Testament exhorts us to find out what pleases the Lord, “Find out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:10)
The New Testament exhorts us to make it our goal to please the Lord, “So we make it our goal to please Him.” (II Corinthians 5:9)
The New Testament exhorts us to please God and not men, “We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.” (I Thessalonians 2:4)
And then the New Testament lists the primary way to please God – by faith.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)
The author of Hebrews says it is impossible for God to lie (6:18), impossible for the blood of bulls to take away sin (10:4), and impossible to please God without faith (11:6). It is just as likely to please God without faith as it is for the blood of bulls to take away sin and for God to lie.
2. We need faith to live by.
Many of us have a ‘spare tire’ faith. The spare tire is the thing we hope we never have to use – and we are not even sure we remember how to use it.
"For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “'But the righteous man shall live by faith.'” (Romans 1:17)
The New Testament exhorts believers to live by faith in Romans 1:17, in Galatians 2:20, in Galatians 3:11, and in Hebrews 10:38.
Faith should not be limited only to healing and prosperity (as it is in some circles). It is for every area of life. Healing and prosperity are an im¬portant part of faith (especially when someone is sick and broke!), but faith encompasses so much more.
Healing and prosperity are similar to the time of preparation before a great Olympic event. During this time, athletes undergo intensive training and participate in regional championships. These pre-Olympic games are important; they prepare the athletes for the real contest and help them discover their weak¬nesses and strengths. However, their ultimate value is to get the athletes ready for the real event – the Olympics.
In the same way, healing and prosperity can help train us for the real event: using our faith for the Great Commission!
My son plays basketball. Several years ago as a high school freshman, he struggled with his free throw shooting. His percentage was around 55% – not bad for a freshman – but he knew he could do better. During the middle of his season, I commented after a game that his shooting had improved noticeably in his last six games. When we calculated his percent¬age, it was almost 85%. He said, “Dad, before I shoot, I quote the Bible verse: ‘I am more than a conqueror through Christ who makes me strong.’” I replied, “Son, I don’t think that is a verse (it is actually two verses stuck to¬gether).” He responded, “I don’t care, Dad, its working.” The moral of the story is: faith works in the everyday experiences of life.
“…for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5:7)
The original Greek word translated ‘walk’ is ‘peripateo.’ The word refers to both the physical act of walking, and to general conduct or behavior. When Paul said, “We walk by faith and not by sight,” he meant that we are to conduct our lives by the information received from the Word of God and not from our five physical senses. This does not mean we ignore the physical world, but that we reference a higher source of information for deci¬sions. The Bible uses Abraham as the example of walking by faith and not by sight. “Without becoming weak in faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead. But he respected the promise of God and did not waver through his examination of the physical world, but grew strong in his faith.” (Romans 4:19, 20)
To be continued...
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