"The just shall live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:4 KJV).
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 KJV).
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4 KJV).
There is a very important truth that too many believers have sometimes failed to understand. Some of the promises of God are not "automatic." We as believers and followers of Christ have a part to play. The life of a follower of Christ is not like driving an automatic transmission car - you just get in and drive. It’s more like a standard shift or four-speed - you have to know how to put it in gear. It doesn't "shift" by itself.
Another analogy would be this one. It’s like having electricity in your house, but you do not know where the power switches are or how to turn them on. It might be fine when things are going well. What about when darkness falls? The electric power is there, but you need to know how to turn the light switch on to have the benefit of light and power.
The Lord tells us in Hebrews 11:6 KJV, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” So very clearly, knowing how to walk in faith and how to aggressively put your faith to work in life is extremely important.
Know also whether we win or lose in the daily battles of life has much to do with knowing how to use your faith as the weapon it is. One of the great illustrations of this truth in the Word of God is found in I Samuel 17. David, even as a young man, knew how to put his faith to work, and, by the grace of God, he used it. He did use it and won a great victory for the Kingdom of God and for Israel.
Four ways to turn your faith to full-power
The following are ways we can aggressively put our faith to work in our lives:
1) Speak and stand on the Word of God and His promises daily. Speak the promises of God in His Word and stand on them every day. Even if your circumstances seem to contradict what the Word of God says, speak and stand on God's Word anyway. God loves keeping His Word.
2) Pray the Word of God. To pray the Word of God is to pray the will of God.
3) Obey the Word of God. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22 KJV).
4) Act on the Word of God (Act like you believe what the Word of God says.) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
Daily we are called to aggressively use the weapon of faith along with all the armor God supplies. Ephesians 6:10–20 NKJV says,
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Let us be obedient to the challenge and do this. There is much kingdom work to be done, and without us putting our faith in our heavenly Father to work, it’s not going to get done. We must be about our Father’s business.
Editor's Note: To assist you in your walk of faith, please visit pray.afa.net for daily prayers based on Scriptures. Like Mr. Parker says above, "To pray the Word of God is to pray the will of God."
