THE LAW OF FAITH

By Emmanuel Mensah Osei

… but by the law of faith. Romans 3:27

Introduction

Most of us do not know that faith is a law, just as any other physical or spiritual law you may

know. Laws are not seen, but their essence could be felt or observed in our daily lives. Such is

faith: it is a spiritual law. And we know that spiritual laws are greater in influence than natural

laws; this was why Jesus could defy the law of floatation in Mark 6:49. He operated by a higher

law.

The more we wipe our spiritual “windscreen” by gleaning more knowledge (Revelation

Knowledge) in the Word, the more we are able to see the approaching obstacles, and dodge

them; and the more our cruise through life would be enjoyable. This short material is a brief but

succinct exposé on this law of faith as presented by Jesus himself, the Apostle Paul, and the

other authors of the books in the New Testament.

I believe your faith would surely get a nudge from these words from the Scriptures, as you

journey along with me. May your faith be imparted with the energy to sky-rocket, soaring at the

highest planes in life only, in Jesus’ name, amen!

FAITH

And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree

afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it,

he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto

it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. And they come to

Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple…And when even was come, he went out of the city.

And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter

calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is

withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 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. (Mark 11:12-23 KJV)

The Amplified Bible rendering gives us the clear picture why Jesus had the nudge to expect a

fruit from the fig tree. So let’s take a look at it: And seeing in the distance a fig tree (covered)

with leaves, He went to see if He could find any (fruit) on it (for in the fig tree the fruit appears

at the same time as the leaves). So Jesus was drawn to the tree because He thought He would get

a fruit from it, but unfortunately, He got no fruit; and He cursed the tree that nobody would eat of

it anymore. But when He had finished cursing the tree, it still remained the same, and the

disciples uttered no word concerning it. The Bible says, “And his disciples heard it,” but said

nothing. But on the next morning, when they passed by the tree, they recognized a change: it had

completely withered. And Peter then reminded Jesus that this was the fig tree He had cursed, and

behold, it has completely died. Let’s see Jesus’ reply: And Jesus answering saith unto them,

Have faith in God. 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.

Peter commented after seeing the words of Jesus materialized, and not at the very instance He

cursed the tree. And Jesus enjoins them to “Have faith in God.” From a proper rendering, He

said, “have faith as God” or “have the God kind of faith.” With this God-kind-of-faith, we don’t

physically see before we declare, but rather, the vice versa: we declare before we see it happen. It

is really unconventional though, but that is the “reality perspective.” Take a look at what Paul

describes of God in Romans 4:17: God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things

which be not as though they were.

The above text should give us an understanding of how God sees things; He calls things that are

not in existence as though they were. What a wonder He is! And the Scriptures declare that we

are the very offspring of God, having the same nature as He is, and we therefore ought to think

like He does; that’s the only way we can overcome the world. 1John 5:4 declares, “For

whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the

world, even our faith.”

WHAT IS FAITH?

To get the true definition of faith, then we have to look no further than the Holy Scriptures: The

Bible. It is always the yard stick or reference point for sound doctrine. Let’s consider Apostle

Paul’s definition of faith from the book of Hebrews:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the

elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the

word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

(Hebrews 11:1-3 KJV)

We can easily extract the definition of faith from the above text. So faith is the title deed, it is

the legal document or proof that ratifies one’s confession or declaration as “already done” or

“established.” Faith is not a channel or a means to help you get something, but rather faith says,

“I have gotten it!” Faith is the proof that you have gotten what you asked for or declared, and not

that it is rather helping you to get your request done.

WHY IS FAITH SO NECESSARY IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK?

We have to know that after the fall of man until now, the system of the world is being run by

Satan. And that is the reason why nature is out of course: plants die, hurricanes, earth quakes,

diseases, the economic breakdown, wars, and the like. That was not the intention of God.

Consider the Scripture below:

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath

subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage

of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole

creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves

also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting

for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:20-23 KJV)

The whole creation groans until now, and until they have been delivered from such corruption,

the groaning would not end now. And we (the New Creations), only have the first fruits of the

spirit (New Creation spirit): we have been born again in our spirits. And the second fruit will be

the complete salvation of our bodies, which will happen at the rapture.

Therefore, since nature dwells in corruption, it would be very difficult to effect any change using

a tool or means which emanates from this earth realm. The whole earth realm is three

dimensional (it is made up of physical things); and the spirit realm is four dimensional (it is

made up of spirits having spiritual materiality). Out rightly, the spiritual realm is far greater in

influence and power than the earth or physical realm. Every dimension is controlled by a higher

dimension, and therefore, to be able to effect a lasting change in the physical realm, then that

change has to be invoked from the spirit realm. Faith is a spiritual law, and emanates from the

fourth dimension. We (Christians) can only overcome Satan and his system by walking this

way; Paul in 2Corinthians 5:7 enjoins us to “walk in faith, and not by sight.”

WHO CAN HAVE FAITH?

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious

faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. (2Peter 1:1 KJV)

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. (Romans 12:3 KJV)

Obviously, we can see that we don’t pray a prayer for faith, but as a matter of fact, God gives to

every believer “the measure of faith” at the very beginning of their Sonship; and Peter confirms

it by calling it a “like precious faith.” But there is a responsibility that goes with this faith: it has

to mature from “amateur or small faith” to “professional or great faith.” Faith does not

automatically grow, it is only “those who by reason of use” jumpstart it to working.

HOW CAN FAITH MATURE?

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

(Romans 10:17 KJV)

1. Evoking Faith from The Word

Paul says here that faith is evoked from hearing the Word of God. And that is a sure truth:

whenever a person hears the Word of God, hope comes, and that stirs up the faith within. But if

after all this, faith was never put to work, then it shouldn’t be expected to grow or mature. Faith

could be compared with a person who wants more muscles; until he works his muscles out by

constantly training, they would never be developed.

Faith is working out the Word of God. Faith is agreeing to what God says by His Word, and not

what our circumstances tell us: whether by feeling something or observing a condition

(Empirical approach).

2. Praying in Tongues (The Prayer)

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.

(Jude 20)

Evoking faith by hearing the Word of God is very imperative, but the main approach to actually

strengthening one’s faith is by strengthening the place where faith emanates from: the spirit.

Faith is a spiritual law, therefore comes from that realm. So the more we yield our spirits to the

Holy Spirit, and allow Him to pray for us through a heavenly language He creates in us, the

more our spirits get energized and stronger to wield faith. This is because, contrary to the first

approach which rather works through our physical senses into our spirits, this new approach

deals directly with the place where faith “tabernacles.”

Praying in tongues is a spirit-to-Spirit affair, and it is the surest way to tap into the spiritual

realm, where our spirits get edified; because he speaks mysteries (1Corinthians 14:2).

The main reason why the Apostles in Acts 6 did not want to get themselves entangled with the

business of sharing food was to get time for The Prayer and Word. And it should tell us how

imperative they are to our Christian walk of faith.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost

and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to

[the] prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 3:3-4 KJV)

This is how the proper Greek rendering should read; and I have personally included the

bracketed insertion for clarity purpose.

3. Fasting

Fasting also plays an important role in building our faith in God. It does that by placing the top-

most priority on the spirit, and not the flesh. And this helps to expose subtle unbelief. Subtle

unbelief is that unbelief that hides at the background, and one may never know it. This was

exactly the diagnosis Jesus gave of His disciples when they could not heal the young man who

had a dumb spirit. Let’s take a critical look at the scenario:

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which

hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and

gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him

out; and they could not. He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be

with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and

when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed

foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a

child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou

canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst

believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child

cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the

people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf

spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent

him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the

house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them,

This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting . (Mark 9:17-29 KJV)

Jesus’ main diagnosis was unbelief; and He further disclosed that “This kind can come forth by

nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” And the implication here is not to go and fast before you

come and cast out the spirit of deaf and dumb; but rather, He gives a clue to dealing with this

subtle unbelief. So it is only a Christian life style that has undergone such treatment of unbelief

that gets results in this regard.

THE KIND OF FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which

worketh by love. (Galatians 5:6 KJV)

We can operate in faith and get results and it may not please God. Faith pleases God only if it

works by love; because God is love. I believe the Scripture below will throw more light on this

subject:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as

sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all

mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,

and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and

though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity

suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth

not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth

all things, endureth all things. (1Corinthians 13:1-7 KJV)