When Faith Speaks

 When Faith Speaks By Darin Sargent

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report” (Hebrews 11:1-2).

Faith is that element in a child of God’s life that looks beyond the circumstance and sees beyond the dilemma. True faith looks beyond the darkness of a night and sees the breaking of a brand new day. Faith has the ability to comprehend the process even when I do not understand what may be going on in my life and give me an assurance God is working!

God Spoke of Faith Often

Take some time to look into the Word of God, and you will began to realize that faith is something God spoke about often. The Bible lets me know that He has given to every man a measure of faith. As Jesus ministered while on this earth, we encounter Him often being impressed by the faith of others. He met those who had great faith and unfortunately He even dealt with those who had little faith. He marveled at the woman with the issue of blood but was disheartened at his own disciples when they cried out for despair in the middle of a storm. Jesus made it extremely evident in Matthew 21:21 that if you have faith and doubt not you can say to the mountain, “Be removed,” and it will be cast into the sea. So this faith thing is pretty important in the economy of God. Hebrews 11, the faith chapter, reveals the dynamics of the people of God who BY FAITH did some amazing things. Men like Moses and Abraham. Patriarchs like David and Joseph. Men and women of faith! So faith is vital. Faith is important. And in the hour in which we live, faith is crucial to survive and thrive, as God would want us to.

Have Faith

I believe God is calling a people in this dark hour to rise up and have faith in Him. The scripture reveals that we go from victory to victory and from faith to faith. It goes so far as to remind us that the just shall LIVE by faith. If you are going to live for God for any length of time at all, you have to come to an understanding of how important faith really is. In fact, I believe that 99.9% of everything in living for God is simply about possessing faith. When you don’t understand, have faith. When it’s darker than midnight, have faith. When you can’t see the end of the day, have faith. When you don’t know what’s coming around the corner, have faith. When you don’t understand what’s going on in your life, have faith in God. I’m preaching to a group of people that must come to a revelation – YOU MUST HAVE FAITH!

Faith Cometh by Hearing

In Romans 4, the Apostle Paul begins to describe the faith that Abraham possessed. Abraham was not a man weak in faith. His faith was strong. How did Abraham gain such strong faith? I believe the answer is found in Romans 10 when the Apostle continues to expound on this important force. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Every single one of us need faith, so I am convinced if I need more faith I must open my spiritual ears and hear the Word of God, because without a doubt there is something about the preaching of the Word of God that brings faith into our life. God is not slack concerning His promise, but He is faithful. God will never let us down; He will never leave nor forsake us. God will never turn His back on your life in a moment of trial. You need to hear that because it will produce faith in your life and in mine. I believe that faith comes by the preaching of the Word of God.

We Must Believe

The Bible says without faith it is impossible to please Him, for they that come to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. That tells me HE is the answer. Someone in this place needs to believe He is the answer to cancer, He is the answer to revival, and He is the answer to disease. He’s the answer to marital strife and struggle. He IS the answer, He is the only answer. If you are going to activate your faith, if you’re going to move in faith, there are some things you’ve got to understand. The first thing you have to understand is that faith comes by the preaching of the Word of God. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Faith comes when a preacher opens his mouth and declares unto you the might, the majesty and the power of God. Something is activated in your life when you begin to hear the Word and mix it with your faith.

Even when it doesn’t feel right, even when it goes against the grain, even when everything you’re going through is contrary to what the preacher’s preaching, you just have to have faith. God is faithful, He is just and He is eternal. If I’m going to have faith, I must have a preacher in my life. Faith believes that God IS when circumstances tell you there is no way out or no way through the dilemma. I am thankful I serve a God that is not governed by what things look like or how dark the night may be or how terrifying the trial has been. That does not limit Him and that does not govern Him. He responds to my faith! He is in control and when I believe – when I put my trust in HIM instead of the darkness of the night — He works all things out for my good. He knows what I am facing, and He knows the way that I must take and He knows that I am going to come through this if I just HAVE FAITH!

Faith Looks Beyond Dilemma

Faith has the ability to look beyond my dilemma. Faith says regardless what it looks like to the carnal eye, my God has the ability to change the outcome. That is what faith is; it’s an unrelenting thing, faith goes and stands alongside of the answer and waits for you to get there and while you’re on your journey, it begins to talk back to you, it reminds you that you’re just a little ways from your miracle. You’re just a little ways from that break through. Faith begins to speak to you. Faith begins to remind you of some promises God has already made in your life and in His Word.

Faith Doesn’t Give Up

Faith says don’t give up yet, don’t give in, don’t throw in the towel. Keep on coming, keep on walking, keep on keeping on. You may not feel like it but just try another day — faith, faith, faith! Faith is the mediator, the go between, the answer to the dilemma, and while you’re drowning in discouragement, faith begins to speak. Faith begins to preach to you and remind you that He is a God that will never leave you, He is a God that understands you, a God that sticketh closer than a brother. He will not put on you more than you can bear; He will bear you up. When you are weary in well doing, He will help you along.

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we do not understand what the outcome is going to be. We may not know what tomorrow is going to hold. If you and I are not careful we can begin to allow our carnal nature to get the best of us, and we will give in to the circumstances. We may be quick to throw in the towel and say, “I see no way through this.” I hope before I am finished preaching this tonight I can drive that out of your mind and out of your heart. I want you to realize that with God all things are possible! He’s called us to be a victor. He has called us to be an overcomer. I am afraid at times we too easily and too passively accept circumstances as they are. We roll over and let our enemy convince us that nothing is going to change so we just accept things as they are. I believe God wants us to quit thinking like vagabonds and begin thinking like children of the King and begin to open our mouth and declare – “If God be for us who can be against us.”

Speak Faith

Hebrews declared it – “He that cometh to God must believe that He is!” That is what brings me to God – My faith that HE IS! But could it be that God is interested in you doing something along with your faith? Look into the accounts of the men of God described on the pages of holy writ. You will quickly discover that God spoke to Noah, but Noah still had to build an ark. God spoke to Abraham, but Abraham still had to pack up and leave. So many times we just accept things as they are, we just roll over, and maybe God is saying, “I want you to do something along with your faith,” and not just saying, “God, I know You’re able.” I know He’s able but when I understand that God IS, then I have the ability to open up my mouth and speak with faith and a belief in a God that is able. The power of life and death is in your tongue. What are you speaking? I’m speaking faith. I’m not going to look at what is, I’m going to look at what can be. I’m not going to look at the circumstances of today; I’m going to look at the ability of God to govern my tomorrows. I see no weakness in my God; I see no frailty in my God. He’s able to bear me up, He’s able to turn the tide, He’s able to further the cause, and He is God. The enemy does everything he can to keep our mouth shut. Satan doesn’t want us to speak faith to our problem. We’ve got to start speaking faith to our circumstance. We must speak how good God is no matter what we’re going through, no matter what the obstacle, we must speak faith! Open your mouth and declare the power of God that is working in you. Speak to your mountain – speak in faith believing and God will come through.

transcribed by Susan Thomas