For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
The Christians who are affecting and transforming lives in a dramatic way are those who know that faith is the secret to everything they do. Look at the courageous Christians in China and the Middle East. They “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The threat of persecution is ever-present. In order to survive and spread the gospel, they must live daily on a greater level of faith than many of us in freer countries can imagine. We may not face the same dangers they do, but does that mean we can relax in our faith? No! We need to have faith for miracles right where we are.
You may say, “Faith is important, but it’s not the most important.” I’m not knocking things other than faith; but you have to have faith before you can have anything else. Romans 1:17 says, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” You were saved by grace—through faith (Ephesians 2:8)—and now God wants you to live by faith. If that’s how you’re supposed to live, then faith must be important! It is important to keep your faith active if you plan to be an effective, productive Christian.
Faith is different because it is not in your sensory realm. Faith takes you into the supernatural realm so that you can have God’s supernatural miracles. In other words, faith brings God’s substance from heaven into your earthly life.
Christians in communist and Islamic countries are overcoming much evil through their faith. Because of that, they are successful soul winners who see many miracles. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4). You don’t have to be in the midst of a trial to use your faith. You may just have some goals and dreams for which you are aiming. Those are hopes, and Hebrews 11:1 says that it takes faith to see those hopes fulfilled: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
The key to receiving your substance of faith is through God’s Word, which tells you what God has for you. If I had never read, “The seed of the righteous shall be delivered” (Proverbs 11:21 KJV), I would never have known that God had deliverance planned for my children. If your faith is going to reach into heaven to get substance for your life, then you’d better know what is available.
Set your goal by finding the promises in God’s Word and by using your faith for those things. Do you want to do great things? Do you want to accomplish your goals and see the victories God has for you? Then bone up on faith! Romans 10:17 tells you that faith comes by hearing God’s Word. You need to hear about faith every chance you get. Don’t just read this and walk away from it. Read it with the intention of receiving a rejuvenation of faith in your spirit so that you can overcome whatever trial you are experiencing right now!