Qualifications of Faith

Faith Is Perceivable and Visible

Faith is perceivable, visible, and identifiable.

"Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.'" (Matthew 9:2 NKJV)

Your faith ought to be seen. Faith is not just the state of the mind. It is the medium that is born out of the Word of God that you know. Faith is behavior which can be in actions taken, words spoken, etc.

If you believe it, you ought to be living it. Anything you are not living, you do not believe it. Preparation is a form of living it also.

Biblical Examples of Visible Faith

"By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks." (Hebrews 11:4 NKJV)

Abel did not claim to believe and fold his hands. He practiced and demonstrated his faith.

As much as all of us believe in something or the other, we are always in faith. The question is, what is our faith in accordance with? Your lifestyle is nothing more than the demonstration of what you believe.

"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 NKJV)

Where faith is present, activity will be seen.

"By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." (Hebrews 11:7 NKJV)

"Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:17 NKJV)

Noah moved and prepared. If it is genuine faith, it will dictate what you do. Your lifestyle changes as your faith improves. Your words change also.

Faith Requires Action

"When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, 'If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.'" (Mark 5:27-28 NKJV)

It is not enough to be convinced. You must be convicted enough to act. That is faith.

Faith also has to do with denial of things. Saying no to good things for the sake of God's delight.

"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward." (Hebrews 11:23-26 NKJV)

Cheat ways out of problems displease God.

When Faith Is Seen and When It Is Missing

"When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven you.'" (Mark 2:5 NKJV)

"When He saw their faith, He said to him, 'Man, your sins are forgiven you.'" (Luke 5:20 NKJV)

The absence of their faith necessitated Jesus to make this utterance:

"And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, 'Master, Master, we are perishing!' Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm." (Luke 8:24 NKJV)

You cannot cheat your belief in expression. You will live what you believe. When we check your priorities, your faith will be clearly visible.

"But He said to them, 'Where is your faith?' And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, 'Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!'" (Luke 8:25 NKJV)

Faith is visible. If no one can discern faith in your life, you probably do not have faith.

Examples of Distinguished Faith

"And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch." (Acts 6:5 NKJV)

"Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord." (Acts 11:22, 24 NKJV)

We must let the life of faith distinguish us. It is not about you practicing being different; it is about allowing the Word of God to have command of your life and in turn dictate the way of your life.

"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world." (Romans 1:8 NKJV)

Worth thinking about:

• How visible is my step of faith?
• If my faith is perceived, what will it be seen as?

Nine Adjectives Describing Faith

1. Faithlessness

The absence of faith. It means no compliance, alignment at all, with the Truth, Word of God revealed. In most cases, it stems from being completely ignorant or forgetful of the stance of God on an issue.

"Then Jesus answered and said, 'O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.' And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour." (Matthew 17:17-18 NKJV)

"But He said to them, 'Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?'" (Mark 4:40 NKJV)

Solution: Labor to keep the truth of Word of God in view at all times. Spend more time in the Word of God.

Practical Steps:

• Increase your access to the Word of God
• Read your bible
• Listen to messages
• Attend fellowships where the Word of God is taught
• Meditate on the Word of God
• Develop the habits of memorizing scriptures
• Study the Word: Get a study bible e.g. concordance, center-column references
• Confess the Word of God: The foundation of confession is that something has been said by God IN AGREEMENT
• Do the Word
• Share the Word

2. Little Faith (Weak Faith)

"Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" (Matthew 6:30 NKJV)

"And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'" (Matthew 14:31 NKJV)

"And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb." (Romans 4:19 NKJV)

"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6-8 NKJV)

The person who is weak in faith is not ignorant of the position of God but is finding it difficult to align because of the alternative narratives present. Weakness in faith stems from over consideration of the alternative narratives.

Jacob was foretelling the inevitable consequences of instability:

"Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it—He went up to my couch." (Genesis 49:4 NKJV)

3. Strong Faith (Great Faith)

Great and commendable faith is a great way of compliance to the position of the Word. Demonstration of serious compliance to God and His Word.

"Then Jesus answered and said to her, 'O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.' And her daughter was healed from that very hour." (Matthew 15:28 NKJV)

"When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!'" (Matthew 8:10 NKJV)

4. Abounding Faith

"But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also." (2 Corinthians 8:7 NKJV)

5. Sincere Faith

"Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith." (1 Timothy 1:5 NKJV)

6. Genuine Faith

Jesus is the source/origin of the faith. Jesus is the reason for the faith. Jesus is the focus of the faith. Jesus is the process of the faith. Jesus is the purpose of the faith—it is for His glory. Jesus is the operation of the faith. Jesus is the result of the faith—finisher of our faith.

"When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also." (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV)

"That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:7 NKJV)

7. Sound Faith

"This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth." (Titus 1:13-14 NKJV)

8. Rich Faith

"Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (James 2:5 NKJV)

9. Exceedingly Growing Faith

"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other." (2 Thessalonians 1:3 NKJV)

The Benefits of Embracing Faith

If you embrace the life of faith, inferiority complex will be broken; insecurities will be lost. The call to faith is a call to a changed life. Competitions and rivalries will end.

The only person doing better than you is the person better aligned to God and His ways.

Conclusion

Faith is not an invisible, intangible concept but a visible, demonstrable lifestyle that flows from knowing and believing God's Word. From faithlessness to exceedingly growing faith, there are various levels of faith development, each requiring greater alignment with God's truth and less consideration of alternative narratives. True faith always produces action, changes lifestyle, and makes itself known through behavior that honors God and His Word.