Understanding the efficacy of faith (I)

But there is something more powerful than money, connections, or anything that can make your life comfortable on earth. It is called faith!

We understand the efficacy of money. We are familiar with what money can do. We know how much power we can command with money in our hands. We know what we can enjoy and places we can go to with plenty money in our hands. Therefore, we pursue money with vigour, most often unsuccessfully. But we never give up. We study how to generate and use money because we are aware of its value.

We are also aware of the importance of powerful connections. We do everything in our power to make and maintain important connections. We exchange phone numbers, we call, visit, and even give gifts. We leverage on our connections whenever the need arises. Joseph formed a connection with Pharaoh’s butler in prison. That connection became his link to the King who eventually released him from prison and promoted him to an enviable position.

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But there is something more powerful than money, connections, or anything that can make your life comfortable on earth. It is called faith! We understand the value of financial and social capital but, we do not understand the value of spiritual capital.

The Efficacy Of Faith

Mark 9:23 gives us the summary of the efficacy of faith. “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” This is awesome! Two things to notice here: first, Faith is efficacious in all things. It can do what money or other resources cannot do. Secondly, faith puts you in the God-class! The only other being in the Universe to whom all things are possible is God. Luke 1:37 says, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” That means the most valuable asset you will possess in this life as a human being is faith!

This is illustrated in the conversation between Jesus and Peter when He informed Peter of the devil’s plan to liquidate him. Luke 22:31-32, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: [32] But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not…”

Through faith we can move mountains, solve impossible problems, create abundance, and live life to the fullest. In short, it is your mastery of faith that puts you in command of power, demonic forces, prosperity, situations and circumstances in life. Hebrews 11:32-35, “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: [33] Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, [34] Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. [35] Women received their dead raised to life again…”

Faith is what makes things work in life. You need to understand that God designed us to live by our faith. Habakkuk 2:4b says, “…but the just shall live by his faith.”

It is the way we are divinely ordained to live as Kingdom citizens. Faith is the currency with which you obtain everything you need on earth from heaven.

Results are inevitable when faith is at work. That means the evidence of faith is results. Check your results to know the dimension of faith you are operating in. If you have little or no results, you have not been using your faith. Weak faith produces weak results; strong faith produces powerful and great results.

Faith is your number one spiritual asset for living a victorious Christian life. The Bible says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1John 5:4.

My question is, what have you done with your faith? And what are you doing with it?

Many believers are guilty of wasting their enormous spiritual capital. They neither understand, develop, or utilize it for their own benefit and for the benefit of others. Rather, they keep making excuses for failure.

How Do You Build Your Faith?

Every believer has a measure of faith (Romans 12:3), but you have to develop it.

Faith is built. Jude 1:20, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost…”

It’s built through:

1. Feeding on the Word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

2. Praying in tongues. Jude 1:20

3. Through use. Faith is like lifting weights. You master lifting small things and gradually move to lifting bigger weights. It is dangerous to attempt lifting heavy weights when you have not been lifting small weights.

How Do You Activate Or Put Your Faith To Work?

“Then Jesus said to him, Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” Luke 18:42 (NKJV). Luke 18:35-43 details the account of how a blind man received his sight by faith. You can see the components of his faith:

1. He praised Jesus. He knew and believed the Word of God concerning the Messiah. He recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the son of David. He that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6). He believed by implication that Jesus being the Messiah was capable of restoring his sight. He named the miracle he expected: he wanted his sight restored. He believed Jesus could do this miracle. It is not enough to ask for mercy, be specific in your request. He was full of expectation.

2. He ACTED ON HIS BELIEF by crying out loud to Jesus for mercy. Faith is acting on the Word of God that you believe in. It goes beyond just believing but actually acting on that belief.

3. He PERSISTED and refused to be deterred by voices of discouragement. “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:12. Most people fail to receive because they don’t persevere long enough. The passage of time is the toughest test of faith.

How Did Jesus Activate His Faith?

1. He believed He could restore the man’s sight.

2. He spoke the solution with confidence. Faith believes and speaks. 2Corinthians 4:13, “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak…” A command issued by faith moves mountains and creates amazing miracles! Faith is received by hearing and believing, and it is released by acting on what you believe.

Has God made you a promise? Believe it and act on it, you too can enjoy your breakthrough!

Your faith will not fail from now on! Everything you are believing God for becomes yours now! Receive your breakthrough now!

You will move mountains! You be victorious over your enemies! You will conquer new territories! You will increase and rise! You will prosper and flourish, in Jesus name!!!

Bishop Dr. Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l. Website: www.dayspringcmi.org e-mail: [email protected] Help line: 08035150515