Faith Is The Victory

Faith Is the Victory

1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance (the basis) of things hoped for, the evidence (the proof ) of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Faith is one of the most crucial terms in the entire Bible – it denotes the trust one has in another – but it also conveys the idea of the trustworthiness or reliability of someone. Faith is not a passive resignation to life like fate; rather, it is a confidence that God will fulfill His promises and as a result causes people to act upon those commands that lead to the promises. Faith means both to believe and to be faithful to the belief.

In this verse two characteristics of faith are given: It is the means by which people gain a good report – It is the means by which believers are able to understand the realm of God’s Kingdom.

Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.

The walls of Jericho fell down—God had promised that the walls of Jericho should fall down, if they followed His instructions - they believed, did as they were commanded, and the promise was fulfilled.

PRINCIPLES OF FAITH

Joshua 6:1-5 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him."

When Joshua succeeded Moses God told him, Joshua 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

We cannot enjoy victory when we do not believe and do what God tells us. Faith means obedience. We cannot say we truly believe if we refuse to obey. Faith without works is dead; it is the devil’s faith.

James 2:14-24 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! 20But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Faith trusts in the living and true God and in his promises. Faith obeys God’s commands exactly, immediately, and with great delight - people with this kind of faith shall experience victory.

God told Joshua to be strong and courageous and be careful to do everything he was commanded. Before God’s people the walls of Jericho must collapse, for this was the promise of God himself. Nothing can stand before God. If you are living a defeated life, then listen to the word of God, believe it, and you shall be delivered. It is the destiny of the church to be triumphant.