RATIONALISM AND FAITH: JOSHUA VS OTHERS

The word of God, which is the truth, overrules all natural laws and facts. Joshua and Caleb walked by faith in the light of Truth, not by facts. Truth surpasses facts. They viewed God as greater than their problems. Not problems greater than God. They were not controlled by spirit of rationalism and so God rewarded them (Num 14:24). All the Israelites except these two were rationalists (LOWER REALM) and God punished them all to die in the desert. Joshua did not understand the scientific facts about sun and earth, that earth revolves etc. But he commanded by faith. God understood his need, his heart and answered because of his faith. Faith is of the heart and not of mind. And God is not legalistic (Josh 10:12). Woman without womb gave birth to a child. David, Daniel, and 3 Hebrew youth, Job etc. did not get discouraged by unfavorable circumstances or problems in their life.

Realize He is not limited by time or space. Eg. King vs Elisha. King could not see God as He is. He had a limited vision. Thereby limited God to perform a miracle he needed. King of Samaria looked at the circumstance and not on God. Hence he got angry with prophet. He took matters into his own hands, to kill Elisha. Notice Elisha’s response to the circumstance. God revealed him that the King had send someone to kill him. He was not afraid because his eyes were on God only. He knew his God well. He did not question God for the situation. Are you like king or Elisha? When in our hard times, we don’t see God in all his power. We do not see Him as He is. Do not allow fear, circumstances, hopelessness or doubt or even the hard facts to hinder your vision of God. Learn to deal with God on a supernatural realm. God is beyond all the natural laws of nature. God’s ways are not our ways (Isa 55:8-9). Allow God to answer our prayers in the way he likes. Martha had a limited vision of God. She became a slave of facts and circumstance like the king. Others asked why he allowed him to die. Though they did not have faith, Jesus wanted to meet their need and build up their faith.

Deal with people, places and things as they are, not as you wish them to be. There is no situation in your life which is impossible for God. Centurion’s faith sees Jesus as He is (Mt 8:5-13). He allowed Jesus to speak the word and go beyond his human limitations. Jesus has all the authority in heaven and earth (Mt 28:18).

We should know God by our relationship with God. There is the possibility of knowing Him and having relationship with him. Nothing is greater than friendship and love with him. Relationship with God and man is the most important thing for any person. Without proper relationship with God, you cannot have proper relationship with man. Both are interconnected.

2. TAKE YOUR EYES OFF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES – DON’T BE IN BONDAGE OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

Do not look at the bigness of your problem and be defeated, but look at the greatness of your God and be victorious. When you look at your problems you can’t see God. Take your eyes off your circumstances and see God as he is and worship him. He will never forsake you nor leave you (Heb 13:5).

When Stephen was stoned he did not look at stones; rather looked at God and saw Him. Likewise Peter could walk on water as long as his attention was on Jesus. Identify yourself with Joseph in the pit. He just trusted in God, his way to prosperity. God did not take away the problems or circumstances of Joseph, but made him victorious in his circumstances. It is not ignoring the problem, but facing the problem head on without fear. God can use your circumstances for your good.

Satan wants to use your circumstance to defeat you and make you and others to accuse the word of God both living and written, by making you to keep your eyes on your circumstances.

FAITH IS THE ONLY METHOD OF APPROPRIATING EVERYTHING OF GOD

It has no theory. It is a practice. We can write and read volumes about faith, without having any amount of practical faith in God. What we should do is just have faith in God.

WHAT IS FAITH

Faith is God’s method of functioning. True faith is first of all God’s own attribute. God’s method is to speak things which are not, as if they are there, and bringing them into existence (Rom 4:17).The law of faith operates in a higher realm than natural law. Faith which is a higher principle helps one to do what is humanly impossible.  Faith in God means to take shelter or refuge in God so that one can be secure; to believe or trust in His promises without any doubt. Now faith is assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen (Heb 11:1). Faith is the assurance or belief that something is done because of God’s favor. Faith can overcome or disregard any unfavorable circumstance. Hence there is nothing impossible as far as faith is concerned. If there is faith one can trust God for anything. Faith means believing what God is and what He did for us and what He has promised to do for us and “WILL DO FOR US”. Faith must be based in God and His word, not on our feelings, personal merits or background. God’s response is based only on His grace and our faith. Faith must rest upon the knowledge of God’s purpose and will, revealed in His word. It is not a human exercise in striving to believe hard enough to manipulate God. Rather it is based on a surety that one is praying in harmony with God’s will and plan. The faith that rests on Biblical facts never quits.

Faith is simple loyalty to God. It is acknowledging that if God has spoken, it will happen; if he has promised he will do it. We should develop such trust in God and increase our faith. Whatever be the circumstance, believe in God, trust in Him. Do not be convinced by the situations or take clues from the situations, but only from the Word of God. This is because the only thing which will not change in this world is the Word of God. His words will never pass away (Mt 24:35). It is impossible for God to lie (Numb 23:19).

Faith is a gift. Faith is the trust, assurance, rest that comes through relationship with God. Faith is a confident and active relationship with God. A person to person relationship with God is the final stage of knowing God. Rationalistic theological studies will only accomplish the deconstruction of this personal relationship with God. This is why many such theologians have less faith or no faith compared to ordinary believers.

Faith cannot be contained within ourselves. It overflows to others. By the experience of relationship with God and the word of God, he knows what God will do. Then he acts on that knowledge. That is faith. Faith operates out of supernatural knowledge of what God will do. Biblical faith will even stake life for the truth of the promise.

True faith is in exercising or acting upon faith. One has to make a good fight of faith in order to exercise faith. This is because of we all have deep forces of doubt inbuilt in us due to the fall and because of thousands of years of subtle demonic works and sinful systems in this unbelieving world. To exercise faith one has to fight against flesh, sin, world and devil; in short against all the anti-God forces in this world. 

IMPORTANCE OF LAW OF FAITH

Now we are under the law of faith (Rom 3:27). Accordingly God will not break His own law by giving His special blessings to those who do not have faith. We receive all the benefits and blessings of the gospel only in accordance with our faith. Those of little faith receive little. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.(Mk 11:23-24). But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord; a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8).But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb 11:6).

OBEDIENT LIFE, PRAYER AND WORD OF GOD MUST GO TOGETHER.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you (Jn 15:7). Without it no prayer will be answered. God will not be pleased without it. Without it we will be disobedient to God. Without it God does not want anyone to be with Him forever. When there is delay in result to a prayer item which is within the promise of God, then do not withdraw and get defeated, and blame God. It is sin. Such sin of unbelief is perhaps the most widespread sin among the believers. Only understand that there is opposition from the demonic forces. Hence you increase your faith and make good fight of faith. In such cases there is need for aggressive spiritual warfare.

YOU HAVE ENOUGH FAITH

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (Mk 11:22). Believer can have this simple faith in his own initiative. There is nothing impossible to have faith. You don’t have to struggle for the faith to reach God. When you think you don’t have enough faith to believe in God for a miracle, you are actually believing or trusting in your faith. That is a mistake. Simply believe that God is able to perform a miracle. That is faith in God.God has not made it difficult for you to reach him. But man has made things complicated with his theories and educational sophistication. He has made the workability of the promises conditional to many things like ability, greater faith, qualification etc. If you are a believer you already have enough faith for any miracle. Just take the word God has spoken and speak it out in simple faith.

GROW IN FAITH

Fellowship with people rich in faith, listen to messages rich in faith. When you keep exercising your faith, the faith will increase due to reasons both natural and supernatural. Exercise faith in love for all. All the items of the fruit of the Spirit must be exercised in conjunction with each other or together.

NEED OF PRACTICAL FAITH

Faith should be in God not in self. Trusting in God is not easy for man. Life without faith in God is also a difficult one. It is like pulling a lorry by your ability. When you give lead to God, he will drive your life. That will be more efficient and faster. But majority choose to use their limited resources and go their way, rather than depending on God and go His way. Without faith we do a lot of jogging in place often. It is like rowing the tied boat. Doubt is a perversion. Many say they believe, but they do not really believe.Without trusting in God all things are useless.Everything that is not of faith is sin (Rom 14:23). Christ is author and finisher of faith (Heb 12:2).

RATIONALISM AGAINST FAITH

Rationalism denies things which the natural mind cannot understand. Here the rational mind, man’s ability to think, is considered as the final authority and is thus given the status of God (2Cor 11:14-15; 2Tim 3:4-7). Rationalism is the vanity of mind (Eph 4:17). According to the natural mind says that believing is not different from seeing or experiencing. This is clear from Thomas’s attitude to Jesus. But the Bible says that when you believe, then you shall see (Jn 11:40; Heb 11:1-3). That is, there are things in the spiritual world which you cannot see without believing.

CONTENT AND INTENSITY OF FAITH

The degree of faith one places in an object is directly proportional to one’s knowledge of the object. The real value of faith is in its content. Every person has faith. But the difference is in its content and intensity. And faith is only as good as the object of faith.

FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

Faith in God is prerequisite for knowledge of God. The more is your faith, the more is your knowledge of God. The more you know God, the more is faith in Him. When you act upon the knowledge and faith you already have, both grow. Thus you build up faith. Use the faith you already have (Mt 25:28-30).

Knowing theology is not enough, knowing God intimately is the issue. Faith is the foundation and works is the building. Many know a lot of theology, but do not have enough faith to work out what they know to be true. Faith without works is dead. When the child is in fire at the top of the house, its father asks him to jump into his hands. Even though the child cannot see the father, he jumps. The essence of faith is in this kind of jumping.Result will be according to your faith (Lk 7:50; Mt 9:29; Jn 14:12).

EXAMINE YOURSELVES WHETHER YOU ARE IN FAITH

Are we truly living in the NT faith? It is disturbing to hear the believers either hypocritically or unknowingly saying what a wonderful Christian life they have or how they experience the fullness of the spirit, without really living the Christian life. They are taught to say so and it becomes their culture. It is appearance of godliness, not true godliness. They think they are lively and well, but they are actually sick and dying.

How many of us have really died to sin and world? Are we not trying to just control our situation, feel secure and survive? How many of us are really disciples and believers? Do you take credit for good things in your life and blame God for bad things? A defeated person talks about his problems and blames others to shift his responsibility upon someone else. It is defense mechanism. What about you? You want more from others? Realize that giving is more honorable than receiving. How many persons did you hurt because of your pride, greed and selfishness? Short tempered person is mentally sick, what about you? You will find in Jesus the most ideal person for all times and places.

MAKE FAITH REAL AND WORK IT OUT

We know the facts of faith (Theoretical theology), but are unwilling to risk a step of faith (practical theology). Theory without practice is of no use to the person. It is like studying about running without ever running at all.

How real is God for you?Is God as real to you as other human beings? Do you really trust God more than your close friends in your dealings? There were 7000 persons who did not worship Baal. But only Elijah could bring fire from heaven. It is a matter of how real God is for you and intense is your faith. Faith is the key. That is why Christ prayed for Peter, not that he should not fall or suffer, but that his faith fails not. His falling had a purpose of exposing his weakness to himself.

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH FAITH

Is he closer to you than everything else? That is what he expects. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6; Js 1:6). Natural mind cannot know Him (1cor 2:14). God cannot be reached by good works (Eph 2:8-9). There is no natural way to reach God through natural senses. God is fundamentally supernatural. The means God gives for this is a means which is available to all. It is faith.

FAITH SHOULD GROW

The more you use it, the more it grows (Mt 17:20). There is the story of making a bridge. They had a plan to make a bridge over a long space. First they shot an arrow with thread; then they made it thicker. Then the rope was made and then many chains were made and then they hang the bridge.  Similarly at the beginning faith may be weak, but when it grows stronger great things are accomplished. You may be in ministry. But if your faith does not grow, you may come across ordinary believers with more faith than you. When you grow in faith you get higher hurdles to cover according to your faith or ability.