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Life of Faith
Here we need to clear up some confusion or misunderstanding over this issue. When we say "we live by faith" we acquaint it by trusting God for finances. We do not specify it in its classic Biblical definition. Faith is not trusting for one area. It is an existence.
Hebrews 11 shows us some fundamental foundational definitions to faith. Hebrews 11:1 starts with the definition. It is the substance of things hoped for and the EVIDENCE of things not seen. Furthermore Romans 4:7 speaks of Abraham calling the things that are NOT as though they WERE. This is the language of one who lives in this dimension.
So where DOES FAITH COME FROM?
The Bible talks of OBTAINING TESTIMONY. This TESTIMONY IN THE GREEK IS THE WORD: martureo. This is a very powerful word because it lends the meaning that it is NOT the testimony WE GIVE for God, but WHAT HE GIVES TO US. It is from this word martureo that we get the WORD WITNESS. Jesus said in Acts 1 that once they RECEIVED the Holy Spirit they would become His Witnesses. This means that HE WOULD GIVE THEM HIS WITNESS...hence the POWER and movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives. So what do we conclude?
This is very powerful. It means that no longer should we accept the old traditional teaching that we MUST GIVE WITNESS for God, rather He gives us His Witness so that we BECOME A WITNESS, without preaching or testifying. Our very life will radiate the presence of God.
This means that Faith will be from the fountain of martureo and it is a specific dimension given for a specific life, specific situation, specific ministry. From this, it is not a vague "I have faith." No, it is very very specific.
So when we hear that someone is living by faith, we must ask them what they mean, and do they realize what the implications of this is? If they do not have this understanding then we must teach them this.
Let us all live by faith!
Hebrews 11 shows us some fundamental foundational definitions to faith. Hebrews 11:1 starts with the definition. It is the substance of things hoped for and the EVIDENCE of things not seen. Furthermore Romans 4:7 speaks of Abraham calling the things that are NOT as though they WERE. This is the language of one who lives in this dimension.
So where DOES FAITH COME FROM?
The Bible talks of OBTAINING TESTIMONY. This TESTIMONY IN THE GREEK IS THE WORD: martureo. This is a very powerful word because it lends the meaning that it is NOT the testimony WE GIVE for God, but WHAT HE GIVES TO US. It is from this word martureo that we get the WORD WITNESS. Jesus said in Acts 1 that once they RECEIVED the Holy Spirit they would become His Witnesses. This means that HE WOULD GIVE THEM HIS WITNESS...hence the POWER and movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives. So what do we conclude?
- We conclude that the Holy Spirit BRINGS the MARTUREO, from which springs all revelation, all power gifts, all paradigm shifting ministry.
- We also conclude that once in the reception of the MARTUREO we move into a level of FAITH AND INTIMACY WITH GOD.
- We also conclude that where Hebrews 11 says we must have faith to PLEASE GOD, means that in this faith dimension of the martureo we move into an area of COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
This is very powerful. It means that no longer should we accept the old traditional teaching that we MUST GIVE WITNESS for God, rather He gives us His Witness so that we BECOME A WITNESS, without preaching or testifying. Our very life will radiate the presence of God.
This means that Faith will be from the fountain of martureo and it is a specific dimension given for a specific life, specific situation, specific ministry. From this, it is not a vague "I have faith." No, it is very very specific.
So when we hear that someone is living by faith, we must ask them what they mean, and do they realize what the implications of this is? If they do not have this understanding then we must teach them this.
Let us all live by faith!
