Word Power
# 5 Words and Faith
Luke 18:8: … when the Son
of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?
As a believer, my first response is yes, of course, “I’m a
believer, I have faith!” And I would venture to say that
most everyone who goes to church, and a lot of people who
don’t, would have the same response.
The whole story is found in Luke 18: 1-8. This passage
talks about an unjust judge, who after being pestered
continually by a woman, grants her justice. After this
parable, Jesus says, “And will not God bring about justice
for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will
He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they
get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man
comes, will He find faith on the earth?"
What does this have to do with words? Everything! Faith is
believing what someone says is true, and believing they
will do what they say. It is sometimes acting on what they
say because you believe it is the truth. Romans 10:17 says,
“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word.” Faith and
the Word are linked!
2 Corinthians 4:13 says, “It is written: "I believed;
therefore I have spoken." With that same
spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.” Faith
or belief in the words we hear or read causes us to speak
words with conviction and power. It is the foundation of
what we will be talking about throughout this series of
articles. We must believe that what God says in the Bible
is true, because it impacts the power of our thoughts and
words.
We found out in
Numbers 12:19 and Titus 1 that God cannot lie. And it is
important to God that we believe what He says. Remember
that saying, “A man’s only as good as His word?” Since
we’re made in God’s image, you might say God’s only as good
as His word. And He cannot lie, therefore His word is good,
never changes, and always remains true. Think about if you
were to tell someone something that is true, and they kept
saying, “Nuh-uh! I don’t believe you.” Imagine how
frustrated you would become. Eventually, you’d probably
say, “Just forget it”, and walk away. Perhaps you were
trying to tell someone “I love you,” and they just wouldn’t
believe you. Or, you were trying to warn someone of
something, like the hole they were about to step
into, or
something a lot worse, and they
refused to believe you and stepped into the hole, etc.” And
you just had to watch them do it. Think how sad or
horrified you’d be to have to stand there and watch it
happen!
Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to
please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe
that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek
Him.” It is essential for us to have faith in God and in
His Words. How much of God’s Word do we really believe,
and/or believe in enough to act on. When He warns us, do we
heed His warning, or does He have to watch us walk headlong
into the “hole” in front of us? Although this is an endless
subject for consideration, let us each look at our own
beliefs and lives, and let God speak to us through His
Word.
Remember Isaiah
55:11?
“So shall My
Word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not
return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I
please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent
it.” If God’s Word is that sure, and He cannot lie, then
let’s be encouraged to have faith in Him and in all His
Word, so we will be able to emphatically say “Yes, He will
find faith in me!”