Before we examine the vital principle and mental disposition of Faith, let’s review what we’ve already learned.
In What IS Faith, We established a working definition of faith by examining James 2:15-17.
“What does it profit, my brethren if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and 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? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, it is dead.”
Because James wrote in the Greek language, we looked at the original Greek translations for the words “faith” and “works.” In order to understand someone more clearly, it helps to know their language. We found that in the Greek, the word for faith is “pistis” and the word for works is “ergon”.
We then looked at the Greek definition of pistis and found that it means “conviction or persuasion.” Likewise, we found that ergon means “corresponding action.” We substituted the words faith and works with the Greek definitions and this is what we came up with:
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has conviction or persuasion but does not have corresponding action? Can conviction or persuasion save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and 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? Thus also conviction or persuasion by itself, if it does not have corresponding action is dead.” (James 2:14-17)
In a moment, using James’ definition of faith, I will give you an example of how faith works, but first there are two other pieces to put into place.
Faith has a VITAL PRINCIPLE and a MENTAL DISPOSITION.
Now pay attention, because this is important. The human body has vital signs, such as a pulse, a blood pressure, and a temperature, and loss of any vital sign means death. Faith also has a vital sign or principle, and without that vital sign, faith is dead. The vital sign or principle of faith is: FAITH SPEAKS WHAT IT BELIEVES.
“And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I SPOKE,’ we also believe and therefore SPEAK, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.” (2Corinthians 4:13-14)
Child of God, WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE, YOU WILL SPEAK. Therefore, be mindful of what you believe, because you WILL speak what you believe. We were created that way.
Faith also has a MENTAL DISPOSITION. The mental disposition of faith is: FAITH ALWAYS IS. In other words faith is always in the present tense. Faith is always NOW. Faith is NOT was. Faith is NOT going to be. FAITH IS NOW.
“But the righteousness of faith SPEAKS in this way, Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:6-10)
If I ask you if you believe in God, because of your faith, your answer will be “I believe.” You won’t say I did believe or I will believe. Any answer other than “I believe” in the present tense is not believing that God is, because faith is always NOW. Faith is NOT was. Faith is NOT will be. Faith is ALWAYS is.
So let’s put this all together now.
Faith is a conviction or persuasion plus a corresponding action. The vital principle of faith is: Faith Speaks what it believes. The mental disposition of faith is: Faith is always in the present tense. Faith is always is.
Now let’s see how faith works.
For example, if you sneeze and then say “I think I’m catching a cold,” you have just put your faith in catching a cold. Here’s how. Because of the sneeze, you BELIEVE (conviction or persuasion) that you are catching a cold, and because you SAY (corresponding action) “I think I’m catching a cold”, you have faith in catching a cold. Remember faith is a conviction or persuasion plus a corresponding action. Child of God, this is how faith works. Now take another look at Hebrews 11:1.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
And now with our definition found in James Chapter 2.
“Now faith (conviction or persuasion plus corresponding action) is the substance of things (the catching of a cold) hoped for, the evidence of things (the catching of a cold) not seen.”
You’re probably saying since faith is the substance of things hope for, why would anyone hope for a cold. Good question. I leave you with this. If you’re not hoping for it, don’t say it, because you get what you have faith in.
In the next lesson of faith, we’ll look at how to move our faith to the God Kind of Faith, whereby we can begin to see the promises of God manifested in our lives.
Let me say this again. If there is something about the vital principle and mental disposition of faith that you don’t understand, I promise you that this will all become clear to you. As human beings, we naturally tend to make the getting of the knowledge of God a lot more complicated than it needs to be. Faith is a very simple thing and it is something we use daily. It runs on automatic pilot. We just need to have our faith working for us and not against us.
The Spirit has put it in my heart to leave you with this prayer. If you or someone you know is experiencing challenges in the body, have them pray this prayer.
Pray aloud.
“Now God this thief is trying to steal my health. Your word says that you were wounded for my transgressions, bruised for my iniquities, the chastisement for my peace was placed upon You, and by Your stripes, I AM HEALED. Therefore I ask You and I believe that I receive my healing NOW, because Your word also says whatever things I ask when I pray, believe that I receive them, and I will have them. I thank you Lord for my healing. Amen. (Isaiah 53:5, Mark 11:24)
God bless you. May His Peace rest gently upon you.
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