Faith is not dormant. Ever wondered why people say “step of faith”? It is because there is an action that must accompany our faith. Many believers are ignorant of the fact that faith is doing. It is not inactive. It actually gets to work.
Act of faith is anything that is done to show your belief. The reason why you would sit on the chair in church is because you believe it will not break under your weight. It would be weird to say you believe the chair is sturdy but still refuse to sit on it.
If you believe in God’s word concerning you, there are certain things you will do to show this. If you believe that you have been saved by grace, you will not keep living like a sinner or one who has no knowledge of God. If you believe you have been healed, you will not lay feebly on your bed like one who is sick. If you believe you are prospered by God, you will get to work knowing that whatever you delve into will prosper. If you believe you have the spirit of excellence, you will study knowing that your results will reflect the spirit in you. It is a mistake to believe that all God wants us to do is have faith. We must make this faith active as well. (Jam. 2:14)
It is a mistake to believe that all God wants us to do is have faith. We must make this faith active as well.
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The question is, how can we make our faith active? By taking action –and in doing so, obedience is key.
There are certain actions that must accompany our faith and the first is obedience. Many times, when we are in a situation that requires our faith, there is an instruction from God that must be strictly adhered to. Such cases like the affliction of the Israelites and the bronze serpent (Num. 26:6-9), Jesus’ interaction with the ten lepers (Lk.17:11-19) and even our salvation (Rom 10:9-10). But for the purpose of this study, I will focus on the story of the Israelites at the wall of Jericho.
In the book of Joshua, chapter 6, we see that the children of Israel were confronted with their greatest hindrance yet; the wall of Jericho. The Amplified Version tells us that this wall was very high and the city was indeed fortified. It may have been a suicide mission to attack such a city. The wisdom of God was needed. Instruction came to Joshua that people should quietly march round once everyday for 6 days and on the seventh day, march round seven times and raise a shout on the final march. This was a very strange and maybe even funny instruction. But the people obeyed. Joshua told the people to shout, for the Lord had given them victory. Upon shouting, the wall came crashing down.
The people didn’t shout for victory. They shouted because they had victory. They believed God’s promise in verse 2 and took action based on that. Their obedience to a seemingly strange instruction from God, sealed the deal. Many of us are yet to receive the manifestations of those things we are believing God for because we have not been obedient enough to take action. .
Joshua, along with the people of Israel, had faith in God. Earlier in that chapter, we see that God had already promised them victory but the action was necessary. It wasn’t the marching that brought down those high and fortified walls. It was the power of God. However, the people of God had to take action on their faith. They had to do something that was consistent with what they claimed to believe.
Obedience is very key in acting on our faith. Sometimes, like Joshua, we receive uncommon instructions. But what really reveals our faith in God and His ability to do that which we ask is our obedience.
Scripture tells us that faith without works is dead (Jas. 2:17). If truly you have faith, then it would show in the actions you take. If the children of Israel claimed to have faith in God but refused to march round that wall then that faith would have been fake, dead even.
Other examples of people who acted by faith include Joseph; who instructed that his bones be carried along during the exodus (Gen. 50:25). Abraham, who was going to sacrifice the son through which God had promised to make him father of many nations (Heb. 11:19; Gen. 17:4-5). The woman with the issue of blood, who went ahead to touch Jesus’ garment believing her healing could come from something as simple as that (Lk. 8:43-48). And the list could go on.
Your actions must prove your faith. Those works are proof of faith. If works are lacking, then that faith is dead –that is, false.
Nevertheless, It is important to note –especially in matters relating to our eternity –that our works or actions don’t save us. They only reflect the faith that has saved us.
If you are yet to make Jesus the Lord of your life, a good way to put your faith to action is to do so today, now even. Say this prayer: Dear Jesus, I thank you for loving me and dying for me. Today I make you the Lord of my life. Amen
“Actions unlock the power resident in faith”
Rex Rouis
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