Focus: The Necessity Of Faith

Text: Heb.11:3

"Through faith we understand…"

Faith is essential when dealing with God and invisible realities. No one approaches God except on the ground of faith. No one can relate or have fellowship with God without faith.

Let me use an acronym to establish my point on the necessity and cruciality of faith in spiritual matters.

F.A.I.T.H is:

*Faculty for spiritual comprehension

The writer of Hebrews says that we understand by faith. God has given us faith as a tool for grasping or understanding divine revelation. In the scientific world, we have two main tools that help us see certain realities. They are the telescope and the microscope. With the telescope we are able to see things in the sky, and with the microscope we are able to see tiny objects on the earth. Interestingly, we can't use the telescope to do the work of the microscope. 

So when it comes to spiritual issues, faith is the key that unlocks the doors for us to access and explore possibilities and realities that exist in God's supernatural world.

The people of Samaria said to the woman of Samaria, "Now we BELIEVE…and KNOW that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world" (Jh.4:42). John declares, "These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (1Jh.5:13). Understanding comes by believing. Faith is a divine faculty by which we are enabled to fathom the unfathomable. We know by faith. We understand by faith. Faith decodes divine mysteries and understands divine revelations.

*Anchor of hope and armor for spiritual defense

Our hope is rooted or grounded in our faith. We have hope because we believe. Against hope Abraham believed in hope. Amid the darkness of hopelessness we believe in hope. Our faith lights up our path as we advance into the distant future. We also wear faith as our armor or shield of defense. In our fight against the enemy, faith is our defensive weapon. It wards off the enemy's fiery darts or missiles.

*Inner light of faith

Faith lights up our inner world. By faith we gain insights into the things of God. Faith is the medium through which the light of the word of God shines in our hearts. The eyes of our heart see through the inner light of faith.

*Torchlight in this world of darkness

In this dark world of ours, faith in Christ is our only torchlight. Our feet are guided by it, for we walk by faith, not by physical sight.

*Hand that touches the intangible and takes hold of what God gives

Faith is our handle to the promises of God and the things that still lie ahead of us. Faith is the hand that lays claims on the finished work of Christ and sure promises of God. By faith we connect with God as well as collect from Him.

Faith is crucial and central in everything that involves God and the spiritual world. It deals with invisible realities and eternal verities. Faith is a divine necessity. Therefore take your faith seriously.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter