Walking By Faith
By Dr. Tom Walker
McDowell County
2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” The Christian walk is one of faith and not of sight. Hebrews 11 contains quite a list of people who walked by faith. Several heroes of faith are mentioned in that interesting chapter. Faith never failed; it always worked in the lives of those who have possessed and exercised it.
The word for faith is the Greek word (pistis) comes from the word (pitho). The word “pitho” is translated several ways in the KJV. It is translated in other places as assure, believe, have confidence, or trust and in other ways as well. When we see how the word is used in other places in our King James Bibles it gives us a very good picture of what the word is meant to convey to us.
The only way to have a successful Christian walk is to put confidence in the Lord and believe, even when we do not see at times when things do not seem to be going well in life.
It is through faith we see our way through the dark, discouraging times of life and come out living in victory, even though we may face some of the worst times. What does faith do in our lives?
Faith Gets Us In
The Christian life begins with a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” If a person could go to Heaven by living a good life, doing good deeds, or any other way but Christ, then our Lord would not have had to go to Calvary to shed His precious blood for our sins. Calvary would not have been necessary if that would have been the case.
Acts 16:31 tells us, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” That word “believe” is translated in John 2:24 as “commit.” There the Bible says, “Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men.” The time had not yet come for Jesus to die, so He did not put confidence in or trust those men to whom He was speaking. Thus, to believe in someone is to commit yourself to them or to trust them.
Faith is more than an easy belief-ism or some brief emotional experience. It is a commitment of your life and your eternal destiny to the Lord Jesus Christ. In one moment of faith the believer is made a born-again child of God; he instantaneously has a guarantee of Heaven at the end of this earthly journey.
Faith Enables Us to Stand
We can stand against the wiles (deceit or trickery) of the Devil. The word “wiles”
is (methodeia), from which we get our word methods. Satan approaches people in many different ways and through many different channels. Between him and his demon buddies, they know what your weaknesses are and will try to make an inroad to your life by exploring and taking advantage of them. If you give Satan an inch, he will take a mile. The Bible exhorts us to “Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). We need to make sure we do not give Satan any elbow room or a beachhead from which to operate in our lives.
Faith gives strength to our lives. No one can stand in a spiritual battle without divine strength. God promises to give us all the stamina we need to not give in to evil or give up in the fiercest of battles. In Isaiah 41:10 the Lord settles us by saying, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Faith Can Grow
Romans 10:17 tells us, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Your faith may be small but it can grow. The more time you spend in reading and taking in the Word of God, the stronger your faith will be. Don’t let the development of your faith slow down. Keep on reading the Bible daily because it will produce benefits that will add to and enhance your life. When you neglect your Bible, you are starving your faith. All of our faith is based upon what the Word of God says. Without it, we would have no reliable foundation for our faith.
Faith Shields Us
Ephesians 6:16 states, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Faith acts as a shield; it is a means of protection. Ancient warriors often used shields to protect them from the arrows, spears, and swords of the enemy. Because we represent the Savior who they have rejected, they do not like what and who we stand for each day. This is a dangerous world and we have many foes, so be wise and take the weapons to which God has given us access. The Devil is relentless, he never gives up. However, Satan’s fiery darts are of no avail, they are ineffective if we hold up the shield of faith.
Faith Settles Us
Faith relieves fear and anxiety. Do you remember what Jesus said to the disciples on the stormy sea? Jesus said to those disciples, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm” (Matt. 8:26). When we put our faith and trust in the Lord tempestuous seas become calm waters. Life has many turbulent seas we must cross, so that is why we must have faith, and our confidence in God, to settle us as we sail through life. Faith says, “I trust God to do what is right because He is all-wise, all-knowing, and all-powerful.” Faith says, “When I can not see the way, I will still trust God.” Job of old said, “Though God slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15). Job also said, “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” (Job 19:26)
Faith Commends Us
“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8). The church in Rome had such a great faith that it was spoken of around the world. There is nothing that should commend you more than when your faith is so evident, that other people speak about the clear manifestation of it.
One commentator wrote, “The readiness with which the Romans had embraced the gospel, the firmness with which they held to it, was so remarkable that it was known and celebrated everywhere.”
Sometimes the word “world” has a limited scope in the Bible. Here it means the places throughout the Roman Empire where churches were established. Faith is something that makes itself known through human lives and human tongues.
Faith Pleases God
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” That verse is very clear. If you do not have faith, then you absolutely cannot please God. Since faith gives pleasure to God, then I want to exert all of it that I possibly can. You can receive more good things from God when you please Him than when you are in a state of displeasing the Lord.
We all need to walk with the Lord in this life. Make sure you have saving faith in Christ and that you are practicing it and living it out in your daily life.
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Dr. Tom Walker is President of Foothills Bible College and Pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church in Marion, NC. You can read more good Christian News from Dr. Walker HERE.
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