Every blessing of God is essentially a spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3) but it takes faith to bring out the manifestation of such in our lives because it is to you according to your faith. In Hab 2:4, the bible said that the just shall live by his faith, this implies that the quality of a child of God shall be determined by the level of his faith.
We understand from scriptures that faith draws its strength from the Word in order to make the Word you have believed to manifest in your life (John 1:12), but most time faith is not a fast food process.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Heb 10:36)
The above verse implies that you need the virtue of patience at work even after you have exercised your faith. The bible made us to understand that the vision is yet for appointed time, although it tarry wait for it.
But Why Tarry?
In order understand why we must be patience in our faith walk, you understand that faith has its timeline or stages. For instance, child birth, no matter how much you want a child, you must patiently wait for nine months before you can behold the baby. Within that period of 9 months, the baby in the womb is taking shape and forming from festus to a baby.
In the same vein, in the things of God, there are processes.
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. (Mar 4:26-29)
Jesus likened the kingdom of God to a seed cast into the ground that with time spring up, first the blade, then the ear and after the full corn. The fact that the seed has not grown into a full corn doesn’t mean that seed is not growing.
In the same vein, our faith in God’s promise triggers the same process, first the blade, the ear and the full corn – which is the full delivery of the desired blessing. Although you might not see the effect of your faith in the beginning, you understand that your faith is working.
Some years ago, when I was in school, my teacher gave the class an assignment to plant a seed and bring into school when it has germinated.
I planted my seed, I watered daily before going to school, after two days, there was no effect, no sprout. I started wondering if this planting is working or am I just wasting my time. In frustration, I started removing the sand in order to know if the seed is growing, in the process I discovered that the seed has developed some roots and shoot but was not yet visible on the surface. Have learnt my lesson, I replanted another seed and patiently waited for it to germinate.
Most Christians give up when they don’t see instant result, but that it is a wrong approach, you must wait patiently and refuse to uproot your faith before it sprout to the surface.
Let me show from Word of God, the timeline of faith in action, why you must give up in the process and how to stay strong in the course of waiting.
In Math 14:27-30: Jesus was walking on the sea to the boat where His disciples were after praying in the mountain. After Jesus identified Himself – “It is I”, Peter said to Jesus “Lord if it be thou, bid me to come UNTO THEE ON THE WATER”
Note the phrase: bid me to come unto thee on the water i.e. command me to come to you on the water. Peter request was not just to walk on water, but to get to where Jesus is standing by walking on water toward Him- that was the destination of his faith- that was what he believed for.
Then Jesus answered “Come” in other words “come unto me on the water” He believed the Word of God and acted on it.
In verse 29, Peter obeyed and started walking on water to go to Jesus
Note: immediately he believed and acted on the Word of the Master, He started walking on water, His faith was working, the power of God was at work for him. But he had not gotten to his faith destination- where Jesus is, that what he believed for- to get to Jesus walking on water.
Friend, anytime you believe God’s Word and act on it, don’t give up, the power of God is already at work on your behalf, your faith is working, and you are getting closer to your destination- what you believe God for. Although you may not see it, but God is working behind the scene for your own good.
This truth was also validated in John 4:51-53.
A noble man went to Jesus and ask Him to come his son who was dying, but Jesus answered “Go thy way; thy son liveth” and He believed the word of Jesus.
And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when HE BEGAN TO AMEND. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. SO THE FATHER KNEW THAT IT WAS AT THE SAME HOUR, IN THE WHICH JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, THY SON LIVETH: AND HIMSELF BELIEVED, AND HIS WHOLE HOUSE. (Joh 4:51-53)
So immediately the man believed the Words of Jesus, that same hour his son began to recover,
For instance: if you are walking to a friend’s house and you are not there yet. This don’t mean that you are legs are not working, no it mean you are not yet there but are getting there. In the same vein when you receive the Word of God and act on it, your faith is working, although you have not seen what you believe God for. Don’t give up; you are closer than when you started. Hold on, it shall come and shall not tarry in Jesus Name.
Satan will Try to Abort It
Whenever you believe God’s Word, satan will always come to abort to your faith through his instrument of doubt. This is because Satan doesn’t want you to receive God’s best for you. Remember his three fold mission is to steal, kill and destroy.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus showed what happens when the Word goes forth
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (Luk 8:11-12)
The Devil don’t want you to believe and be saved – receive deliverance, healing etc.
He also goes after the Word of God in you – which is the Word of faith that has been born inside of your spirit because faith comes by hearing and hearing of the Word of God (Rom 10:17)
Hear this: Satan knows that he cant stop you until he stops your faith.
Jesus said to Peter in Luk 22:31
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (Luk 22:31)
So Satan’s plan was have Peter in his hand and to destroy Peter – to sift him like wheat. What was the remedy Jesus offered
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: … (Luk 22:32)
This implies that provided that Peter’s faith fails not, Satan can’t have him or execute his plan
In Eph 6:16, the Word showed us the power of faith against Satan
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Eph 6:16)
Your faith renders the devil useless and without effect in your life. It is by faith you resist the devil and his operation (1 Peter 5:9)
In fact with faith, your victory is guaranteed.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1Jn 5:4)
So when your faith comes alive in the Word, Satan will always come to abort it in order to stop because He know he cant stop God from confirm His Word, so his best bet is to make you abort your faith before the delivery of your blessing.
The good news is this: Satan can’t abort your faith except you allow him. This because faith is a spiritual force it reside in your spirit and Satan does not have access to your spirit.
If you refuse to yield to his suggestion and attack with the word of God, you faith will remain strong till the end.
How to Remain Strong
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. (Hab 2:3-4)
It is not enough to believe the promise of God’s Word; you must remain strong till the fruit of the Word speaks in your life.
In order to remain strong in the faith till the promise speaks. You must do the following
1. Fix Your Eyes On the Word
In Math 17:26 – 31, Peter was doing well, walking on water, until he saw the wind
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. (Mat 14:30)
That means, he took his focus and attention from Jesus, the Living Word to the boisterous wind.
In order to remain strong till the end, you must discipline your mind to focus on the Word of God, you have received and believed. You must never at anytime consider the report of the world or what people are saying around you or what is happening around you.
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? (Isa 53:1)
You must decide whose report is superior, God’s report or man’s report.
2. Feed Your Faith
In exercising your faith toward the promise of God, you must understand – it a fight, the bible calls it the good fight of faith.
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1Ti 6:12)
You basically fighting your way into your inheritance because the devil doesn’t want you to access the blessing God has packaged for you.
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Mat 11:12)
For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. (1Co 16:9)
The fact is that this is a warfare not funfare and the good news is that your victory and my victory is already guaranteed.
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. (2Co 2:14)
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Rom 8:37)
This triumph is by faith:
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, EVEN OUR FAITH. (1Jn 5:4)
So the only way to guarantee your victory in this fight of faith is by keeping your faith alive and that is by feeding and building your faith through meditation on the Word of God (Rom 10:17) and praying in the spirit(Jude 20)
You must strive to keep your faith alive by feeding on the Word of God and praying in tongues. Hear what the Word say
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. (Pro 24:10)
Faith is what defines your spiritual capability, because it to you according to your faith and also according to Hab 2:4, the life of the saint is faith defined. Great men in the spirit are product of great faith (Heb 11)
So load your spirit with the food of the Word and charge your spirit through speaking in tongue and watch your faith soar.
Till Next Time, Remain Blessed
Jesus is Lord