The Faith That Pleases Him

We have made reference in previous postings about the three ways men apprehend and make sense of this life: the flesh (the five senses), the soul (the emotions, will, and intellect), and the spirit. It is the spirit of man that is meant to “captain the ship”; to take the lead in successfully navigating our course. Yet so often, the vast majority of people default to and rely solely on their feelings and emotions, their own perceptions and intellect, or the “tyranny” of their senses. Until we are born again we are ruled by these senses and impressions and are accustomed to obeying them. Until we learn the new parameters of citizenship in the kingdom of God the flesh and the soul lead us.

But God our Creator has established His kingdom on the authority of His Word. Our Father never did anything without speaking of it first. From the very first “Let there be,,,” in Genesis, to His communication to Israel through the prophets in the Old Testament, through every prophetic reference concerning Jesus – God always sent His Word first.

For He spoke and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast. (Psalm 33:9)

He sends forth His Word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction. (Psalm 107:20)

“God’s way of saving the soul, of healing the body, and of doing everything else He wants to do is to send His Word, His promise. He then keeps the promise wherever it produces faith.” (F.F. Bosworth, Christ the Healer) {Emphasis mine}

To believe, to operate in the faith that pleases God (Hebrews 10:38), is to act on the Word. Jesus never tried to believe or attempted to walk in faith. He acted, quietly and with authority, on His Father’s Word. The unbeliever has yet to do that. And many believers are striving to obtain what God’s love has already given them – what Jesus has already accomplished for them. They are listening to something other than their spirit; something other than our Father’s promises.

The Word teaches us the correct order of things:

…whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24 NIV) {Emphasis mine}

…According to your faith and trust and reliance {on the power invested in Me} be it done to you. (Matthew 9:29) {Emphasis mine}

…Daughter, your faith {your trust and confidence in Me springing from faith in God} has restored you to health… (Mark 5:34)

… If you have faith {that is living} like a grain of mustard seed you can say to this mountain, move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. (Matthew 17:20)

For the unbeliever, the flesh and the soul lead them. For the believer, the flesh and the soul, if not overseen by the born again spirit (Romans 12:1-2), can negatively impact and compromise our faith walk. We are to take our Father at His Word. We are to rely and confidently trust in His faithfulness to His promises (Hebrews 10:23). He tells us how to operate in faith; how His kingdom works. Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus demonstrated these principles.

To the degree that we are more attentive to physical concerns or symptoms than to God’s promises , to the degree that we “lean on our own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5-6); when we seriously consider anything that grabs our attention away from God’s covenant with us in Jesus, to that degree our faith is diminished and we have stepped away from His highest and best for us (Ephesians 3:20). We have determined that what we see and feel takes precedence over God’s Word.

“Fallen nature is governed by what it sees, by its senses. Faith is governed by the pure Word of God, and is nothing less than expecting God to do what He promises. It is treating Him like an honest being.” (F.F. Bosworth, Christ the Healer.

And that is of utmost importance to our Father:

…They always err and are led astray in their hearts, and they have not perceived or recognized My ways and become progressively better and more experimentally and intimately acquainted with them. Accordingly, I swore in My wrath and indignation, they shall not enter My rest. (Hebrews 3:10-11)

Contrast that strong rebuke with:

The Lord appeared from of old to me saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you. (Jeremiah 31:3)

God’s “indignation”, His statement that He “has no delight or pleasure” in His people drawing back and stepping away from faith (Hebrews 10:38) so reveals His heart. He loves us (Ephesians 2:4). He sent His Word for us (John 1:1). He died for us (John 15:13). Through Jesus He established a covenant relationship with His people based on extraordinary promises (2 Peter 1:3-4) that we appropriate through faith in His Word; His Son. Because all of this is true, when His creation chooses darkness instead of Him (John 3:19) – we grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30)

Here is the faith that pleases Him:

{inasmuch as we} refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the {true} knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) (2 Corinthians 10:5)

“God delights in His children stepping out over the aching void with nothing beneath their feet but the Word of God. (Lillian Yeomans)