SEARCHLIGHT
Can you explain what it means to have faith in God?
SCRIPTURE
…Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld: have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 2 Chronicles 20:20-22 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
The story is told about a Midwestern farming community that was experiencing a lack of rain. Farmers were facing a potential crop failure. Days turned into weeks without rain. The pastor of the local church encouraged the town’s people to gather for prayer in the town square that weekend.
A large group of people assembled on Saturday. After an hour of praying, a soft rain began to fall. People began to cheer. But what stood out the most was a nine-year-old boy. His faith was very evident as he opened up his umbrella to stay dry. The boy really knew and believed in God’s ability to answer prayer by demonstrating his expectancy for God to meet the dire need.
What is faith? Faith is made up of three elements: knowledge, agreement, and application.
Knowledge means “I affirm.” Faith requires intelligence. Faith is not a blind act. Faith is not a leap in the dark. Faith does not ask you to “kiss your brains good-bye.” Faith requires an affirmation of God’s existence and some understanding of what He says. The Bible is your source of knowledge. This is where you get to know God and His promises. But knowledge by itself affirms the reality of things, but neither accepts nor rejects them. This is why faith is made up of more than knowledge. As someone said, “Faith is a higher faculty than reason.”
Agreement means “I believe.” Faith requires belief. There must not only be head knowledge but also heart assent. It is possible to have only a head belief. This is incomplete. The Bible teaches that the whole person is composed of intellect, feelings and will. Faith says, “Not only do I comprehend in my head there must be a Divine Creator responsible for life, but I believe in my heart that I can personally know Him.” At this point, your heart is aligned with your head.
Application means “I practice/live.” Faith requires action. Someone said, “Faith is a laboratory course – not a lecture course.” Faith is demonstrated by taking steps. A baby steps out in faith to believe his or her legs and feet will provide mobility. Faith is a principle you live by. It is not totally comprehensible. It takes on it’s own clarity as it is walked out rather than just talked about. Knowledge comes from the head. Agreement comes from the heart. Application comes from the hand. Acting out faith will bring results. Head, heart and hand are the components of faith.
Do not forget. Knowledge by itself affirms the reality of things, but neither accepts nor rejects. Knowledge and the heart can accept things without you surrendering your will. Faith connects your mind, emotions, and will. Faith is lived out. Faith is movement. Faith means action.
In today’s Scripture focus, Jehoshaphat invited the Jewish people to place their faith in God for victory over their enemies. They had been invited to make this God’s battle and not just their battle. They chose to live by faith in God and not rely on their own strength or abilities. Their faith was evidenced by knowledge. Having assessed their alternatives, they chose to believe in their heads and hearts that God would deliver them. But their faith became clearly evident when they worshiped God in song and gave thanks to Him for all that He would do. By giving God their worship, they submitted and committed their lives into the care of God.
Faith is resting your whole weight on something or someone in such a way that if it should collapse, you will fall with it. Every time you sit on a chair you demonstrate faith. Your head, heart and will believe the chair is going to hold you up. You are not just admiring the existence of the chair but have chosen to believe it will do what it is intended to do.
Faith is the link between you and God. It is absolutely necessary. Take faith away and there is no road between your soul and heaven. Faith in God’s grace saves you. [Ephesians 2:8,9] Faith and repentance mean salvation. [Act 20:21] Faith links you to God’s power. Faith makes you march triumphant over your enemies. Faith is the link to all of God’s blessing. The Bible says, “so those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” [Galatians 3:9]
UNDERSTANDING WHAT FAITH IN GOD IS will lead you to live your life at its best.
SOMETHING TO DO
Take time to pray in faith to God to meet needs in your life. Sing or listen to worship songs about God’s greatness and goodness. Give thanks to God for all past blessings. Praise Him!
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Almighty God, thank You that You are both great and good. Thank You for all Your blessings. I ask that You would supernaturally intervene in…… AMEN!