Don’t just talk the talk of faith, walk the walk

A Christian’s faith can be little or it can be great. When Jesus Christ walked on this earth we see Thomas, his disciple, had to see Jesus’ nail prints before he would believe Jesus was resurrected and alive (John 20:27). But Jesus remarked about the centurion soldier who asked for healing for a servant, “I have not found such great faith” (Luke 7:9).

The reason for the differences of faith between these two individuals — Thomas had to see before believing and the centurion soldier had great faith — is because the soldier said he believed before he saw what he believed in.

Mark 11:24 says, “whatsoever things you ask when you pray believe you received them and you will have them.”

Faith is believing with the heart, your innermost being.

Jesus shows us that when you have faith to believe with your innermost being, your spirit, you will receive. Some Christians say, “Well, I can’t believe before I see what I prayed for materialize.” Like one minister said, “Well, you might as well forget about receiving then.” This is because faith to receive is believing in your heart before a prayer materializes.

There are ways to build faith, and there are hindrances to faith.

A minister told of a time when he was traveling and stopped at another minister’s school to visit. While these two were visiting in the man’s library, the visiting minister noticed it was the largest Christian library he had ever seen. In the course of the conversation the man who owned the library said, “I wish I had never read some of these books; they affect my faith,” though they were all religious books.

Remember, Christians, we must stay away from some things that would rob us of our faith. Even some religious books need to be avoided if they cannot back up their teachings with scriptures from the word of God.

Yes, we are children of God, but we are in this world. We must understand movies and TV programs that are made up of witchcraft and Satanism should be avoided even though they may appear at times OK. It can be just like poison, because it will affect your faith and rob you of the very things God has for you that will get you through in these times.

Doubt and fear, as any sin, causes faith to fail, and we must stay away from it. One thing that will affect our faith that is very subtle at times is our love walk, “because faith worketh by love.”

If you’re not walking in love toward your fellow man, your faith will not work. That’s what the Bible says, and I’m a Bible-believing Christian. Fact is, I believe that’s the only kind of a Christian there is, Bible-believing.

Love covers a multitude of sin (I Peter 4:8).

Second Timothy 1:7 says, “for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

I like the song that goes, “I’m a blood-washed, born-again, child of the King, I’ve been baptized, sanctified, and that’s why I sing.”

We must walk in love toward our brothers in Christ, never cause them to stumble or feel unworthy to proclaim Jesus in word or letter. Don’t affect someone’s faith.

We see in Hebrews 5:12-13 that there were carnal Christians ruled by flesh. Their flesh dominated their walk, they were not spirit-ruled.

Yes, Christians can be saved for 30 years and be just like a babe in Christ because they let their flesh rule them, because the word of God is not foremost in their lives. Why do I say that? Because verse 13 says, “they are unskilled in the word of righteousness,” where a new Christian, “a babe in Christ,” has not yet developed in God’s word.

A Christian needs to get God’s word planted in his or her heart, for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Hebrews 10:17).

I encourage each and every Christian to allow your faith to rise. Don’t entertain thoughts or teachings of doubt and fear. Open the Word of God, remember the Epistles are the letters to the church to you and me. Study them, get them planted deep within your spirit so that when tests and trials come, the word of God will be there to direct you.

The Epistles from Acts to Jude are there for the children of God. Of course, the gospels are yours and the whole Bible is ours to live by. Remember, we have a far better covenant (Hebrews 8:6). Read the Old Testament, study it, but at the same time study the New Testament. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying anything negative about the Old Testament.

Remember, all Christians have a measure of faith; make a confession of faith throughout your day.

A good confession is: “I’m a child of God, my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his word is established in my heart.”

I heard a minister say he could talk to a fellow believer for a short time and locate that person spiritually. Why is that? I’m sure he would listen to what came out of the other person’s mouth — their confession — was what they were saying lining up with the word of God. Or did they speak doubt, fear and defeat or something contrary to the word of God?

Some may say they are just telling the truth, telling it like it is. What we need to do is tell it like the word of God says it is. I have the love of God in me. I have the joy of the Lord. By his stripes I was healed. I am an overcomer through Jesus Christ.

James 3:2 speaks of a Christian that “does not stumble in word.”

Build your faith and open the doors of blessings, and don’t forget to walk in love.

I know that there will be people who will pick this message apart, but for a child of God, I believe the truth is in the word of God, so let these words cause your faith to rise. And if you have not heard of faith being taught this way, open the word, the Bible, and study.

That’s why each and every believer needs a good study Bible and study about faith and love. You will build up a faith that comes from believing God’s word, which was written by holy men of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

II Timothy 3:16 says that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for correction in righteousness.”

That is why we call the Bible God’s word; it fits the times because it is eternal.

Lavon Barve works with Cup of Life Ministry in Wasilla.