Recognising True Faith
Faith vs Mental Assent
Faith as a spiritual principle is essential for the believer, as the mechanism to walk out life in dominion and connection with the kingdom of God. However, many believers think they are in faith when they are, in fact, in mental assent. Mental assent is where a person intellectually agrees with the word of God, but doesn’t actually demonstrate what they say they believe through their actions in their lives. True faith is demonstrated by corresponding action. The following pointers will help you identify true faith:
Ask According To God’s Will:
True Faith Is Based On The Word of God
The faith for the thing you are asking for is wrapped up in the word that promises that thing that you are asking for. It is for this reason that faith begins by knowing what the word of God says about a particular issue you are facing. True faith can therefore only be employed once it is clear to the believer what the word of God says concerning the issue in question. For example:
If the issue is that healing is required, then a promise of God concerning healing would be:
…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed.
1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV)
If the issue relates to finances, a promise to for provision is:
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
Faith for relationship issues can be applied to:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)
Or if you are lacking in wisdom, there is a promise for this too:
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5 (NKJV)
Faith becomes effective when believers acknowledge every good thing that is in Christ Jesus. Every promise of God is for the believer. It is already ours. Once these are acknowledged, faith is activated.
…that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Philemon 1:6 (NKJV)
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)
God’s Word Is Our Final Authority
As a believer, you need to be assured that the Word of God is our final authority. It sits as settled in the heavens and should therefore be settled as such in your life. That would mean that anything contrary to the Word of God is a lie, whether that contrary word comes from your doctor, your friend, your family, or even yourself. The Word of God is the final authority and it is absolute truth.
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”
Romans 3:4 (NKJV)
These scriptures should settle within you that God’s Word is final, and He means what He says:
Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.
Psalm 119:89 (NKJV)
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’? 35 “If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)…
John 10:34–35 (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NKJV)
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:17 (NKJV)
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8 (NKJV)
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
Oppositions To True Faith
We have already seen that it takes faith to please God, and that it is the active spiritual law of faith that will make your life effectual. There are oppositions to true faith, and you would do well to know what these are to eliminate them from your lives.
True Faith Has Nothing Doubting
When you pray or request something from God, you should do so in faith.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6 (NKJV)
The word “ doubting” in this verse is the Greek word “ diakrino “. Diakrino means:
To separate
To try
To decide
To withdraw
To oppose
To contend
To hesitate
That then shows you that if you say you have faith for a particular thing, but are inwardly deciding about it, doubt is present. If you withdraw, or oppose or hesitate, then doubt is present. Doubt is an opposition to faith. Doubt will hinder the answer that faith would bring.
There is a difference between “head” doubt and “heart” doubt. The enemy, the devil, will tempt you to doubt by throwing words of doubt into your mind. You can pull these down and not allow them to enter your heart. Keep your heart free from doubt, and only speak faith from your mouth.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…
2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (NKJV)
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Mark 11:23 (NKJV)
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak…
2 Corinthians 4:13 (NKJV)
True Faith Has No Unbelief
Doubt and unbelief may seem to have similar inferences to us as English speakers, but when we delve a little deeper in, there are differences that need to be appreciated.
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God…
Romans 4:20 (NKJV)
The word “ unbelief” in this verse is the Greek word “ apistia “ which means:
Unfaithfulness
Faithless
Weakness of faith
Unbelief is not only “not believing,” as in doubting, it also encapsulates when a person is “believing the wrong thing”. If you are not believing the correct truth from the Word of God relating to your situation, you are in unbelief. Unbelief will hinder the answer that faith will bring.
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Mark 9:24 (NKJV)
In this scripture, the man clearly has both belief and unbelief residing within him. Both belief and unbelief can reside in the same person. For you, as a believer, you must increase belief and decrease all unbelief to zero to experience effective faith.
True Faith Does Not Waver
Faith in God stands firm. It is not moved by what is seen, heard or felt. Faith stands firm on the Word of God. And God’s Word is forever settled.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Hebrews 10:23 (KJV)
In this verse, the phrase “ without wavering” is the Greek word “ aklines “ and it means:
Firm
Unmoved
Not inclining
Therefore, whatever you have faith for, you stand on the Word of God and you just don’t move. Stand, and when you’ve done all you can, you must still stand. Put on the armour of God, stand your ground in true faith and do not move!
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…
Ephesians 6:10–18 (NKJV)
