ANCHORS OF FAITH - PART 2

(CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY)

      3.  THE WORD

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God…” (Hebrews 11:3)

God created the world through faith, and then He framed it by the word. “…and upholding all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). The world made by faith is held in place by His word.

Notice that after God created everything by faith, He didn’t leave the world “just like that”…He went ahead to frame it by the word. Let us consider two (2) things here; 1. The World, and 2. The frame. The beauty of a picture is both revealed and preserved by its frame. You might have seen some very ancient photos that have been held and preserved by their frames. The frame with the glass makes it difficult for the picture to either corrode or become rumpled. The same way, God having made a picture of the world through faith, He went ahead to frame it by the word. The world, though made by faith, would have been like a frameless picture without the word. After God made the world through faith, He then anchored it on the word…He simply sustains everything by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). So, faith without the word will not work! As a matter of fact, “faith comes (by hearing, and hearing) by the word” (Romans 10:17). And this is why if you say you believe God for something, you have to speak the word to support that faith, because faith on its own might be “helpless”.

On a lighter mood, whether God used a circular or rectangular frame is the reasons scientists are hitting their heads together on whether the earth is spherical or flat. Whether or not it is flat or spherical, the most important thing is that God framed the world by His word, and even the scientist admit there is a frame the shape of which they don’t know…then I just wonder why some of them still deceive themselves that there is no God.

The word is an anchor of faith, and it is written; ““That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (His word)” (1Corinthians 2:5).”

     4.     PATIENCE

“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through FAITH and PATIENCE inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12)

If you must lay hold on the promises, you must anchor your faith on the virtue of patience. “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:3). Does this implies that God is slow? Never! “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise” (2 Peter 3:9a). But I seek to speak the patience which is by faith.

Many people have lost out in the battle of faith because they could not hold on just a little longer. Impatience has crashed many great destinies, ask King Saul. Patience is an anchor that holds your faith in place. I encourage you to specifically get the teaching; WHEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR GOD.

      5.      PRAYER

“And the PRAYER of FAITH shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” (James 5:15).

Prayer and faith are two symbiotic elements that constitute a great life. They are independent, each needing the other to thrive. In my teaching, THE PRAYER KEY TO GREATNESS (1 & 2), I emphasized how Jesus and others lived in greatness by the reason of prayers. I encourage you to get that series. However, I wish to show you something about the life of Elijah in order to demonstrate the place of prayer as an anchor of faith.

“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months… And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit” (James 5:17, 18). My emphasis is on when Elijah prayed again for rain to come. When you read through the full story in 1Kings 18:41-42, 41, you find something revealing; “And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees”. When Elijah spoke to Ahab in faith to go and eat, he (Elijah) did not go back to sleep, but he went back to pray! Why? Faith is sustained through prayers! Like I said, the two are symbiotic in operation, faith feeds prayer, and vice versa.

Finally, friend, when the bible says “for without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6), and you think you have enough faith but it seems not to be working for you, please understand that that word faith is an entity that encompasses LOVE, WORK, THE WORD, PATIENCE, AND PRAYER amongst others. Thus, living in “faith” with a faulty prayer life or love walk is incomplete and that kind of partial faith cannot produce perfect result. There are anchors of faith, and you just saw some. I encourage you to step up your faith life. God bless you.

THE END

(If you would need any of the following teachings; THE FAITH WAY TO GREATNESS PARTS 1 & 2, THE FAITH WAY TO GRACE, THE PRAYER KEY TO GREATNESS, WHEN YOU NEED TO WAIT FOR GOD, or a complete version of this teaching-ANCHORS OF FAITH, you can send a personal mail request to drwilliams4j@yahoo.com, or visit www.drwilliamsbukola.blogspot.com)