In 1 Timothy 6:12 we are instructed by the apostle Paul to “fight the good fight of faith.” And in Jude 1:3 we find this scripture:
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
From these scriptures we see that walking by faith is a fight. In fact, it is the primary battle we as believers should be engaged in. This is a very important truth and one you should pray about seriously. In Peter, we see the battle of faith being played out. Jesus told Peter that Satan desired to have him so that he might sift him like wheat. Soon after Jesus’ proclamation, Peter succumbed to his fear and denied Jesus three times. It was during this period that Peter was plunged headlong into his battle of faith.
Peter’s battle of faith focused on maintaining his grip on who he was and what he was called to do by his Savior. His conscience was devastated by his flagrant denial of Jesus on the heels of his boastful proclamation that he would follow Him even to death.
With his unworthiness revealed, Peter now faced the stark realization that, if he was to continue, he would need to let go any hold he had on his sense of his self-worthiness and rely solely on Christ’s grace. There was nothing in himself that made him a fit candidate for apostleship. Only his reliance on Christ’s atonement would get him through this darkest period of his life. History shows us that Peter was able to wage a victorious battle and emerge as a great leader in the church.
If you really want to please God, walk by faith. For without faith, as the scripture says, it is impossible to please Him. (Heb. 11:6) And you do have faith. We know this because the scripture says,
Rom. 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
All men have been given a measure of faith. Many theologions believe that this scripture applies even to non-Christians. All men who are born into the world are touched by Jesus before coming into the world
John 1:5 ¶ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
This must be so, because without faith, no one could be saved!
Eph. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
So even non-Christians have enough faith to be saved, provided they don’t squander their faith on other things or throw it away as something worthless. Jesus tells us that the condemnation occurs when men turn away from the teachings of Christ and turn to darkness because their deeds are evil. (John 3:19).
We all have faith, and we know that we can do anything by faith. We also know that without faith it is impossible to please God. So we see that faith is vitally important to our Christian walk. So how do we get more faith? That is a very good question, and one that should be our primary focus and one that must be continually before us.
The scriptures tell us that faith comes by hearing:
Rom. 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing ……
By hearing what? By hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit who is always speaking faith to your spirit. All you need to do is to learn to hear His voice and obey what He is trying to impart to your spirit. When you turn toward that voice in obedience, faith comes.
This concept of “hearing of faith” is repeated in Galations, chapter 3:
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
OK. Then faith comes by hearing. But how does hearing come? Read the rest of that Romans 10:17.:
Rom. 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hearing comes by the Word of God. The more of the Word of God that is in you, the more easily the Holy Spirit will be able to impart faith to your spirit. This is very important! It is very interesting to read what happened the day the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith.
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
On the face of this it might seem that Jesus was avoiding the question. The disciples had asked Him plainly if He would increase their faith. In my mind I would have expected, at this point, for Jesus to lay hands on each of them and impart some additional faith to them. But that didn’t happen. All He did was to tell them that if they had even a little faith they could speak to nature and it would obey them. To me, it seemed that Jesus was almost taunting them in their need. It was like He was saying, “Too bad you don’t have more faith, boys. Because if you did you could really do some great things.” It seemed as though he was ignoring their request to increase their faith.
But Christ wasn’t ignoring their request. He would never do such a thing. He was fulfilling their request the only way it was possible to do so. He answered their entreaty by speaking the word of faith to them! Faith cometh by hearing! And hearing by the Word of God. He informed them that they, themselves, could command the sycamine tree. When He spoke that word, they believed it. Their faith increased as they heard what the Spirit said, accepted it, and begin to walk by it.
And that same faith is possible for us today if we hear the Word and obey it. Our main concern should be how to get more faith and how God expects us to use that faith in our walk with Him. But ground gained herein does not come without a battle. Your adversary, the devil, does not want to you to grow in faith. But as he tried to do with Peter, so, too, he wants to destroy your faith. This is why he has devised so many insidious obstacles to faith which we will discuss in the next chapter. He doesn’t want you to grow in faith, because when you do, he loses. Jesus has given us total authority over Satan and his demons, but only if we walk by faith. Satan is powerless before the word of faith. He has been stripped of all power and authority before the man who is faith-empowered.