Real faith consists of three basic components, without which it is ineffective. They are :a word from God or revelation knowledge :a firm conviction based on the revealed word :an appropriate or relevant action or response based on the conviction, certainty or assurance. We shall now look at each component closely and in detail.
A WORD FROM GOD
Faith is initiated by God Himself on the basis of a word from Him. It is not a product of the human mind or effort (Heb 12:2). This is the reason why faith cannot be worked up. It is based on a “rhema” from God (Rom 10 :10 ). Dr Paul Youngi Cho in his book :The Fourth Dimension, defines “rhema” as :”a specific word to a specific person in a specific situation”. The definition underscores the specificity of the word given, such as when Jesus commanded Peter to “come” to Him on the water.(Matt 14 :22-32 ) and when God commanded Elijah to “…Go and present yourself to Ahab…” (1Ki 18:1 ). In both cases, as well as many others that could be cited, you will notice that God’s word was definite, without ambiguity or equivocation. This leaves the recipient with only the option of obedience or disobedience.
Further more, Dr Cho’s apt definition of “rhema” brings the individuality of its recipient into focus and consideration. For instance, Jesus addressed Peter personally when He issued the command to “come”. Therefore, none of the other disciples could have successfully acted on that word. Though God’s word from Genesis to Revelation belongs to us, “we first begin to possess a promise by faith”, according to Dr Bill Johnson, “when the HolySpirit speaks it into our hearts”. He, therefore, defines rhema in the same book (Strengthen yourself in The Lord pgs 94,95 ) as :”the freshly spoken Word of God”. This means that for you to have faith, the HolySpirit has to illuminate the word to YOU as an individual (Jn 16:13,14 ). The relevant word or promise has to be alive and real to YOU. Hence, we need to familiarise ourselves with Bible and be able to discern God’s voice.
The last part of Dr Cho’s definition emphasizes that a person receives the rhema in a context:”…in a specific situation”. God directs His revelatory word (rhema), not just to a specific person but also to a specific situation in which His power is needed. God does not speak to us to entertain us, but to bring about a definite change in conditions and circumstances. This change may not always be the literal alteration of the situation or circumstance itself but the provision of sustenance and victory in spite of it. For example, Jesus did not initially calm the storm but enabled Peter walk through it with no harm. This leads us to the next component.
A FIRM CONVICTION BASED ON THE REVEALED WORD
This refers to the assurance or persuasion that the witness of the HolySpirit produces in our hearts, concerning His will for us. This is the natural product of “a word from God” (rhema ). The Bible refers to this experience when it says concerning Abraham, “and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform”. (Rom 4:21). Like Abraham, when we are in faith, we experience a heartfelt confidence resulting from an inner conviction based on the promise(s) of God’s word as quickened and applied by the HolySpirit to us. Hebrews 10:22 refers to it also as “assurance of faith”. This, then, brings us to the next basic component.
AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE
Faith will not be complete without this component. This is because God expects us to respond appropriately to His word. Romans 1:5 (NIV) refers this phenomenon as:”…the obedience that comes from faith”. The half brother of Jesus in his book of the Bible puts it this way :”What [does it] profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” Faith is meant to produce results; it ought to save. However, this is possible only if it is expressed through works (an appropriate or relevant response). According to James 2:17, if faith claims to be without works, it is dead.
Therefore our appropriate response to God’s word is our act of obedience to God with regard to the commands and promises He has given us. What we should do in response to what God says to us depends on what His word requires of us at the moment. For instance, the appropriate response God required of the servants at the wedding in Cana of Galilee was to fill the water pots and draw some from them and take to the master of ceremony(Jn 2:7,8). The result was the transformation of water into wine. The blind man in John Chapter 9 was required to:”…Go to the pool of Siloam and wash… (vs11). The result is stated in the man’s words as :”So I went and washed, and I received sight”(vs11). What has God given you a specific word for, on the basis of which, you have a conviction to go in a particular direction or take a definite course of action? DO IT NOW, remembering that, once God has spoken, the only appropriate response is obedience.
Shalom.
