UNDERSTANDING FAITH WITH SPIRITUAL SIGHT BY PR. KALUNGI DENIS

KIREKA CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

FAITH

Faith is the substance or assurance of things we hope for, but have not yet received. Faith “confidence, belief, trust” is also our evidence of that which is not seen. {Hebrews 11:1-2} “faith is not based on feelings but on God's promises. in true faith, path trials will always be inevitable.”

"Faith is unseen but felt, faith is strengthened when we feel we have none, faith is hope when all seems lost." The smallest seed of faith is better than the largest fruit of happiness.

An example of this definition is found in {Matthew 9:27-30} where two blind men came to Jesus and asked Him to heal them. Jesus first asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” and their reply was, “Yes, Lord.” “Then He touched their eyes saying, ‘According to your faith let it be to you.’ And their eyes were opened.” Their faith and assurance that Jesus could give them sight was the substance or reality they hoped for. It also gave them the evidence or trust that they would receive what they asked for. They believed that they had faith in advance that it would be done.

Another example is that of Daniel’s three friends who refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s image of gold. Those who refused to bow to the image were threatened with being thrown into a fiery pit alive. "The smallest seed of faith is better than the largest fruit of happiness." 

The three young Jewish men {Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego} who refused to bow to the image told King Nebuchadnezzar: “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” {Daniel 3:17-19}.

They did not know in advance how God would deliver them from the fiery furnace, whether at that time by saving their physical lives or later in the resurrection. Their faith or trust was the substance of what they hoped for, and it was the evidence of that which was not yet seen or received.

Their faith or trust was built on serving God and obeying His commandments. They believed God would deliver them because they obeyed His commandments and did not bow down to worship any others, gods. "If you lose faith, you lose all." 

“Simply faith means trust, confidence, assurance, patience, faiths, and belief”

Faith without works is dead

The apostle James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ, uses the example of Abraham, who had both faith and works because he believed God and he obeyed what God commanded him to do.

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works, faith was made perfect?” {James 2:21-22}.

I cannot separate faith with spiritual eyes, I hear many talking about blind faith, but real faith is not blind. Real faith is when we trust in what we see by the spirit. The Bible says to walk by faith and not by sight, but this does not mean that faith is blind. It means that faith is not limited to physical sight.{2 Corinthians 5:7}

Spiritual sight – What do we mean when we are talking about spiritual sight? We are not talking about the use of the physical eye although what we behold with our natural eyes can affect what we see with our spiritual eyes

I can use our father Abraham as an example when God told him to leave his home country to the land which he will show him. Genesis 12:1-5

Our father Abraham had

1, Riches as you might be having them

2, Parents as you have them too

3, Friends as you have them too

Our father obeyed the word of God because he had faith in him and he also used the spiritual sight to see ahead and left his father's and mother's place.

What do you think close friends saw about Abram? We call him Abram because before Abraham he was Abram

1, They saw Abram going mad because they did not have faith and spiritual sight

2, They saw a failure in life because they did not have faith and spiritual sight

3, They saw someone who had lost truck because they did not have faith and spiritual sight

“Do not wait for them they will not see what you see and they lack the faith.”

Me when God talked to me about my wedding I did not have money with me but checked what people around me who did not have spiritual eyes saw.

1, My wife saw someone who was going mad because she did not have faith and spiritual sight

2, My family saw a complete failure because they did not have faith and spiritual sight

3, Friends without spiritual sight saw impossibilities because they did not have faith and spiritual sight

4, Worldly people saw me dreaming because they did not have faith and spiritual sight

“Do not wait for them they will not see what you see and they lack the faith.”

Another example is Lot and Abram

Genesis 13:7-11

When quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left. “Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. “This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah” So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company:

What lot saw in the land he choose in this present-day life?

1, Lot saw the present-day juicy devil  job, which involves your body

2, Lot saw a rich lady who is not God-given.

3, Lot saw ready worked riches

4, Lot saw easy life

5, Lot saw success and Abraham saw death

What do you see in that path you’re taking, I believe most of you, your eyes don’t see. {Take care you may get lost a lot and it might not be easy to come back to the right path, okay you can come back but with wounds.}

1, Lot lost his wife Genesis 19:26

2, Lot lost his property

3, Lot lost his herds

4, Lot lost his friend because of spiritual blindness

Let us look at Noah

Noah took faith and spiritual sight to build the ark it took him about 120 years building it and preaching to people to get saved but do you know what people who had no faith and spiritual eyes were seeing: {Genesis 6:6-11}

1, The criminal goes free at the expense of the righteous.

2, The deceitful man at work keeps his job.

3, The gossiping woman has a better future.

4, Women sale their body for jobs are living better lives

5, The disrespectful teenager has all the latest gadgets.

6, The politician loot/steal the public coffers/funds and get immunity.

7, The general supervises the massacre of thousands and continues to live like a king

8, Women leave their marriages for pushy life {These people are seeing the future with physical eyes}

Let’s have a look at Mathew 24:36-39

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

What kills faith?

Worrying

This is probably the most common one as almost everyone is guilty of it. Unfortunately, nothing good comes from worrying. What you get is diminished faith, instead. {Job 3:25}

James 1:6–8 tells us of the repercussions saying, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Being sarcastic/mocked

Constantly expecting the worst to happen in an attempt to prepare yourself for the worst scenario kills your faith.

Being pessimistic instead of being optimistic eventually results in a faith-less Christian.

As believers, we need to be hopeful, not in our chances or people but God because we need hope to have faith {See Hebrews 11:1}.

Avoiding the Bible

Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” In other words, you destroy your faith whenever you neglect the Bible.

You need God’s Words in order to build and fuel your faith in God. You are what you consume, the more you read the Bible, the more faith-filled/Godly you are likely to become.

Relying on your feelings

As Christians, we should rely on God, who has promised to never change {See Malachi 3:6} and His words, which will stand the test of time. {Isaiah 40:8} confirms this saying, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.”{1 Peter 1:23} add

Complaining 

1, Why me, God?

2, Lord didn’t I pray? Give me what I want!

3, Maybe God is against me

Exodus 14:10-14

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? {Despite all God had done for them that’s what they managed to ask him} no one can manipulate him he works at his right time.

How can we see spiritually?

Revelation 3:18 Anoint your eyes with eye salve/lotion “Cultivate the presence of the Lord through worship, prayer, obedience.” Philippians 4:8 Position ourselves to see. Stop looking at the wrong things and start looking at the right things. Resist the distractions.

Importance of Spiritual sight and faith 

1, Proverbs 29:18 Many people perish for lack of vision

2, 1 John 3:2; we become whatever we look at. If we behold Christ we become partakes of the divine nature, but if we bring idols into our house and look upon them we will begin to take on the nature of those demons behind the idols.

3, Luke 12:45-46 If we are not looking the judgment of God will take us by surprise

4, John 5:19-20 Spiritual sight vital to effective ministry. Jesus said that He only did what he saw the Father doing

Is faith a sacrifice? Yes, it is!

1, Faith takes endurance

2, Some friends who have little faith are sacrificed

3, Time, whenever a seed is planted it dies first and then germinates at a later time.

4, Happiness like clubbing, party after party will be sacrificed

5, The old ways have to be sacrificed you have to be sacrificed

6, Worldly material because God builds from his foundation, not on Satan’s foundation

7, Characters like fornication, adultery, slandering will be sacrificed

Things to look at

1, Jude 20-23 Look for mercy for the lost

2, John 4:35 focus on the Harvest

3, Hebrews 12:1-3 Look to Jesus lest/in-case you become weary and faint in our minds

4, Number 21:8 Keep looking to the cross for healing and deliverance

5, Revelations 4:1-2 Look to the one seated on the throne

6, Mat 6:26 Look at the birds of the air to see God’s provision

7, 2 Corinthians  4:17-18 Look at the eternal things

8, Hebrew 11:24-26 look at the reward

9, Luke 21:28 look at redemption

10, Titus 2:13 Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

11, 2 Peter 3:12-13 look at the new heaven and new earth

Things not to look at

Do not look back at the world "When you have faith in God, you don't have to worry about the future. You just know it's all in His hands. You just go to and do your best."

1, Genesis 19:26 Lot’s Wife

2, Luke 9:62 Hand to the plow/plow and do not look behind

3, Mathew 14: 29-31 Peter on the water

2. Do not look at your circumstances with fear."Believe in yourself, and the rest will fall into place. Have faith in your abilities, work hard, and there is nothing you cannot accomplish."  

3. Do not look at the enemy only."A grateful heart is the beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being."  Kings 6:15-17 Elisha opening the eyes of his servant

4. words do not focus on the faults of others. "You can have whatever you want if you believe in yourself and keep your feet firmly planted in the ground." Mathew 7:3 Log in your eye

What is the difference between faith and belief?

Many Christians today use the word faith and belief interchangeably. But is there a difference between these words in the Bible? The apostle James wrote in his epistle about what he called dead faith. Dead faith is when one believes in God, but does not obey His commandments.

James wrote, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” {James 2:19-22, emphasis added}.

God gives faith to those who seek it

Faith is increased by drawing closer to God through prayer and the study of His Word, the Bible says if you come close to me I will also come close to you {James 4:8}.

Paul,” told the Philippians not to be anxious for nothing "don’t worry", but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”{Philippians 4:6-7}.

The members of the Church of God in Philippians believed in God’s Word, and they obeyed His commandments. As they listened and followed Paul’s instruction on giving their cares to God in believing prayer, their faith “belief and trust” was increased.

Another way faith is increased is by reading or hearing examples of faith in the Bible publicly expounded. This is mentioned in {Romans 10:17}. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

To summarize, faith is trust, assurance, did, and confidence in God and Jesus Christ. Living faith is not just believing that God exists. It is demonstrated by one’s service and obedience to God.

…………FAITH PART ONE……………cancan