 
Foreword

"Honey, God asked me to write a faith book", these were Kudzai's words to me, one morning in March 2012. I felt my heart skip a beat because that was one of the last things I expected to hear him say at the time. However because of years of experience I knew that whenever my husband says "God said", it's never a phrase he uses lightly to merely preface something he wants us to do and neither does he use it to manipulate situations. The only times Kudzai ever says "God said", God would have truly "said". Whenever God "says" it's non-negotiable in our family, obeying God is primary and we have never been disappointed.

A few days into writing the book, Kudzai came to me and asked me to co-write the book. This obviously proved to be a great mistake because after many nights of toiling and disagreeing often in the process, I asked God what we needed to do. Almost immediately I heard the Holy Spirit say, "God asked Kudzai to write the book and never did He ask that you be the co- author". We both repented and my husband sought God's help.

I believe I'm honoured to have witnessed the way this book was finally written. I can confidently say through God's grace, His inspiration and guidance the book was completed in just under a month.

Kudzai is a man of faith; he lives only by what the Word of God says. He will obey the Word at all cost. From as early as 1990, Kudzai has quoted daily the following scripture, "Seek first the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need". Matthew 6:3NLT. He has diligently taught and exhorted people using this scripture countless times, but what inspires me the most is that he lives by this principle everyday and every minute of his life literally. Kudzai tenaciously holds on to God's voice no matter how strong the opposition becomes. He will never allow anybody or anything to get in the way of his personal relationship with God.

I am truly blessed to be his wife, prayer partner, best friend and love of his life. Our children are equally blessed because they have a father who not only teaches them the word daily but demonstrates God's love to them unashamedly.

As you journey in this book, my prayer is that you will be encouraged to seek God's kingdom above all else. May you be inspired to live out this supernatural God-kind of faith that we have all been ordained to demonstrate; so that the world may come to the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Cleopatra Shoko

Acknowledgement

30th March 2010 has turned out to be an extra-ordinary and truly significant day of my life; early that morning as I took a shower, God asked me to write a book on Faith. His voice was clear and because this was not in the top shelf of my plans at all, I immediately recognised that this was not merely an idea but an INSTRUCTION that required my obedience and corresponding action.

I will not say I didn't struggle with thoughts of inadequacy, what I can confidently say is I eventually asked the Lord for His wisdom, guidance and whatever it would take to accomplish the task. Throughout this assignment I sought His face and His voice with a passionate pursuit on clarity on what He wants communicated and on all the modalities. I have depended on the Holy Spirit to help me all the way. He faithfully woke me up many times in the night and in the early hours of the morning to make sure the assignment was accomplished.

I believe God wants to minister to the Body of Christ through the principles outlined in this book. I didn't think I could write at all but glory to God - we can all say it is done, for God made it possible. To my God, my Lord, my Master, my Saviour, my Everything, I am truly grateful. I am privileged to be called a son and an heir in the Kingdom of the Most High God and to be entrusted with such an assignment.

To my wife Cleo, my friend and life partner, mother to our children thank you for all the proof reading of this work and your patience in doing so. I salute you woman of God. Thank you for your love, encouragement, support, and your fervent prayers for me. Above all I love the way you love the Lord \- and that smile, keeps me going.

To Zoe and Sean, thank you for inspiring and cheering me on, you are destined for greatness, my children. To all the anointed Generals in the Kingdom who are my mentors from whom I have gleaned wonderful insights that have helped me over the years, thank you. Special thanks to Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers of the gospel who have positively impacted my life thus far; your faith has been exemplary, please share with me this personal milestone.

To my Dad Bester Shoko you were prophetic when you suggested that I write a book - here it is dad. Thank you for being there and for celebrating the call of God on my life.

To Mum Susan Silamba thank you for always believing in what Cleo and I can do, you have always been our greatest cheer-leader in this our "faith journey".

To the rest of my family, you make me proud to be a part of you.

To my peers and protégés this achievement is for all of us. As you read on look beyond man and engage God and His anointing.

To all my friends; it has been a privilege to have ministered together since my inception into ministry. Please accept my gratitude for the friendship and for walking this journey with me, we surely have a story to tell. Thanks for believing in me.

Dave Clark and Walter Steelman, your generosity and precious time helped make this book a reality.

I love and appreciate you all. Thank you, Tatenda, Siyabonga, Baie Dankie!

Dear Reader,

We are living in an unusual time and therefore such requires us to respond in an unusual and unique manner. As the world's quest for materialism reaches an all time high, the kingdom of God's quest for giving should look to overshadow such. The thirst for inspiration, help and hope is denied by the inability to access reading material because of cost.

Writing this book was the inspiration of the Holy Spirit whilst time, effort and resources are the sacrifice of man. In this regard, I say thank you to all who gave sacrificially towards this book becoming a reality. The book itself may not be a bestseller, but its contents are shared and made accessible to people from all walks of life.

As I was freely given the mandate to write this book albeit without previous writing experience; I too make the choice to freely give access to everyone who so wishes to read this book. The pages reflect what I have learnt from God, His sent men and women in my life, mentors, leaders, peers and those that I watch coming after me - may all the glory go back to my Heavenly Father.

The pages also reflect God's processing of my life thus far, with the sweet and bitter experiences hopefully laced with humour. I have tried not to be far too serious regarding life. The book has been written mainly to help inspire, transform and encourage that one person who needs its contents the most. Throughout the book, my expression is captured through the limitation of a personal lens and therefore you are welcome to express your valid views as you read on.

In conclusion, please remember that I am still a work in progress, an unfinished article and vessel in the master's hands. I am still making my merry way towards reaching and fulfilling my life's given purpose. So more drama, experience, life's challenges and victories are yet to follow that will allow me again to put pen on paper. It is my privilege to be given your permission to minister to you through this book making its way into your hands or rather via kindle, computer, cellphone and any other gadget working with the e-platform.

Regards, blessings and love

Kudzai Shoko – Integrity for Legacy Ministries International

Chapter 1 – Paul's Valedictory

In 2 Timothy 4:7 the Jewish Apostle Paul says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Thereafter he says, "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." KJV

This Jewish Apostle challenges every born again believer to accomplish their respective purpose in establishing the kingdom of God. Paul not only accepted his life's assignment but accomplished it, and then goes on to confidently say he has fought the good fight, meaning his fight ended well – he accomplished his God-assigned task. Just like Paul, every born again man and woman should make it their life's vocation to accomplish their God-given assignment.

In Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." KJV

Every born-again believer is called to wage war against anything that would want to put a stop to their God ordained race in life. Paul admonishes us to fight the good fight of faith. So in walking the eternal life that comes from the new birth in Christ, faith is a systematic way of living in the kingdom of God. Hence the just shall live by faith.

Life's lessons:

For a longtime I never quite knew who I really was or what God called me to be. I tried passionately to follow in the footsteps of men of God. After much frustration I later realised that although some of their footprints were there for me to follow they were never designed to perfectly match mine. I realised that in trying to emulate my mentors, I kept pushing back the "Christ in me". In trying to please and be a blessing to everyone, I neglected so much of the "Christ in me".

My "aha" moment brought me to my knees where I began to earnestly seek God's direction for my life. It is then I came to fully comprehend that I could become the best "Christ in me" that I know and that I am called to be "Christ in me" by the Almighty God. I still learn from my mentors, but I have realised that they too are called to be the best

"Christ in them" as I am called to be the best "Christ in me".

I have also learnt that God loves diversity and calls everyone differently. Being different just means one takes a road less travelled by others. I have also figured that, "If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking." (George S. Patton) then it suffices to say "If everyone is living alike, then somebody isn't living".

My being different from others is purely a choice to pursue a God-given mandate to fight the good fight of faith, to run the God ordained race of life to the end. Life is good; make the most of being the best "Christ in you". Thank God, he made only one Kudzai Shoko! I celebrate Kudzai because he is the only Kudzai that God made, Halleluia.

Chapter 2 – Just what is faith in God?

How does the bible define faith?

Two bible versions give the following definition:

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith means that we are confident of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see." Moffatt's Translation

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." KJV

Simplified, faith is acting on the Word of God. I use faith here as a verb; a doing word. Faith is an intangible material that exists for the manifestation and or instruction of God's Word for His purpose and glory.

Faith always operates in the present tense, characteristic of its origin, God who is omnipresent. Omnipresent meaning God is undisputedly acknowledged everywhere all the time. Faith never operates in the past or future tense; it operates in the now, the present tense. Faith is an aggressive material that feeds on the Word of God and

is a producer of results.

In understanding faith is always present tense – always in the now, the original biblical text did not include the word "Now". However, continuation of the sentence in Hebrews 11:1 preserves that the text is in the present tense. Meaning it should read, "Faith is the substance..." and not, "Now, faith is the substance..."

Whilst faith is an invisible substance it has the ability to manifest its presence. By instruction, God has a peculiar request on how man must live.

"THE LORD WILL ALWAYS ASK MAN TO OBEY THE UNSEEN (INSTRUCTION) TO OBTAIN THE SEEN (RESULT)".

I have put the following scriptures together just to substantiate my bold statement.

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." KJV

Isaiah 1:19 "If ye are willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:" KJV

Another statement regarding God's way of doing things:

"THE INVISIBLE HAS ALWAYS CREATED THE VISIBLE"

Hebrews 11:3 "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 appeared." KJV

Yet another statement;

"THE BLESSING IS AN UNSEEN SUBSTANCE THAT INFLUENCES THE TANGIBLE"

Galatians 3:14 "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." KJV

Hebrews 11:3 "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." KJV

Genesis 1:1-3 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." KJV

From the above text we see that when the Word of God was released (spoken) through faith, material manifested by instruction. The instruction riding on faith is what framed the world. Based on the authority of the Instructor, the instruction manifested and the response of that instruction caused material to appear.

God is a faith God. He created and ordered the entire universe by faith. He spoke, creation into being, the 'invisible' ordered the "visible". What we can now see and touch was created through words which were spoken by faith.

The biblical definition of faith in the book of Hebrews describes faith as a substance. Substance is material, and in this case this material is heavenly material designed by God. Faith therefore is a subliminal substance, which is evidenced in the supernatural realm of the spirit, which can be known as the "sixth sense".

We understand that our natural senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell when they actively operate effectively in the natural realm. When faith is activated it manifests spiritual things. Faith always starts from the spiritual realm before manifesting in the natural.

Faith is evidence beyond the natural five senses; it emanates from the spiritual realm which is unseen to the human eye; however it exists. Just like oxygen, a substance that is unseen, is required for human beings to live through inhaling it; so is faith an imperative for a born-again believer to spiritually exist. Faith can be viewed as "spiritual oxygen" for the born-again believer, without which the Just (who are the believers in Christ) would not be able to exist.

Since faith is heavenly material, its existence in the Spirit realm is also in the timeless realm. Faith operates out of the bounds of time. It is not governed by its past, present and future. Faith co-exists with I AM in the realm that is timeless. Faith carries the same characteristics as those of its Creator who happens to be the omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient Almighty God.

The fact that faith cannot be seen by the naked eye does not mean we ignore its existence. Faith is always evidenced by its fruit. Faith can be distinguished from hope. Hope says I will get sometime in the future and does not materialize an answer in the 'now'. Hope anticipates what is to come in the future, but one should always remember that faith talks of the present and grabs the "now".

Hope is not doubt and or unbelief, (the "Seeing is believing" syndrome) which we see Thomas operating in the Book of Luke. Biblical hope is that which we have in our expectation of the return of Christ our Lord. No one knows the day or the time. We cannot pray for and believe for the return of the Lord to happen sooner, we cannot effect Christ's return, but we wait for it to manifest in the future - this is an example of "Hope" operating. Hope can never become faith.

With Hebrews 11:1 in mind, faith is simply, acting on what we believe the Word of God says. It is a combination of believing and receiving.

Faith (believing and receiving) can be illustrated by a coin that has two distinct sides, "heads" and "tails". If one side of the coin is missing, and we only have say the "heads" side only, the coin cannot be deemed authentic; we are not able therefore to request the governing authority to pay the amount of gold supported by its value to the bearer. We would have to supply both sides on the coin to place a legitimate request to the governing authority to pay the value.

So believing alone being the one side of the coin is insufficient in defining faith. I will endeavour to further illustrate as follows:

The fact that you know that you need food to sustain the body to avoid starvation, does not mean it's impossible to die of starvation. Simply believing that if you take the food into your digestive system will stop you from starving is not enough. If all you do is look at the food and proclaim that you believe that you will not die if you eat the food, you will die of starvation while declaring this. Unless you act out what you believe, my friend you will starve to death.

In order not to starve and die, you will need to eat (receive the food into your body) to avert disaster. Hence, believing alone is not adequate but must be accompanied by receiving. As illustrated by the analogy of the two sided coin emphasis is made on the fact that faith is an issue of "believing" and "receiving". Faith needs "believing" based on

the Word of God and accompanied by action or "receiving" also based on the Word of God. So as believers we are called to "act on what we know (believe)". If and when we do not know, we cannot act.

Faith for "believing" and "receiving" always produces answers now, not in the future. The future always allows for the manifestation of the spiritual truth of believing and receiving. The gap between having received something by faith in the spirit realm and the manifestation is called patience. That period is designed for the believer's benefit. Patience acts like a twin to faith, it prepares the believers so they are able to appropriate what they receive.

An example of this would be a person believing God for a house. According to Mark 11:24, he or she desires, prays, believes he or she receives it or possesses whatsoever thing requested. Between the request and the manifestation, there may be need to apply for a bond approval, they may be a need for a character shift to become an orderly person who can look after and manage a house. So building capacity to handle the request when it manifests is a wisdom nugget so one can enjoy the benefits on manifestation.

Faith is always based on God's Word and not human feelings contrary to God's will. In understanding believing and receiving by faith means one needs to know the source of this faith. As already discussed, this faith is from God. Just as we know God through the His Will/Word, His Character, His Ability, faith also has characteristics and abilities relying on the Word of God.

Faith is the God patterned or God designed way of living.

God has made salvation available to "whosoever shall believe" in Him. However, beyond just receiving one's salvation there is a living of one's purpose which has to be done here on earth. Faith is that patterned way of living that God has designed for every believer.

God has designed it in such a way that the believer can fulfill their calling, purpose, life's vocation mandated by God. For each and every life given, God has a purpose; plan that if diligently pursued can bring glory and honour to God.

It suffices to also say, faith is a life style. Faith is a Godly way of living that helps the believer to fulfill his or her life given purpose. It is impossible to live a pleasurable life in God without engaging and living by faith. Having said faith is a verb, it is a doing word, it is a "living" word. Without faith the believer cannot act upon nor live what he or she believes.

If faith is a lifestyle or rather God's way of living, it's then reasonable to expect man to live the lifestyle of faith. Living requires action, so faith is an active substance. Faith is not a passive substance, as already said before faith likes to engage life. Faith is called to live and bring about purpose in the believers life.

Why? Because the Just shall live by faith.

Faith is acting on what you believe.

When one believes anything outside of the Word of God fear, unbelief and doubt will result. This terrible threesome; fear, unbelief and doubt is based on any information that is contrary to the Word of God. To put it simply, faith in God will always be based on the Word of God.

Contrary to faith; Fear is faith "believing" and "receiving" on information and or words contrary to God's Word.

Unbelief is an action of "believing" and "receiving" by the omission of the Word of God, meaning there is no credence to conviction of trust because the word is either not known or merely ignored.

Doubt is "believing" and "receiving" of facts that are contrary to the truths of the Word of God. Doubters cannot expect to receive what they speak against.

To further reinforce what faith is, it is important to touch a little on its purpose in the believer's life. Faith in God is based on the Word of God and the Will of God. It is responsive rather than reactive to situations and environments. Faith works when the spoken Word of God is released. It yields optimum levels of results when released in and for the purpose of the kingdom of God.

This kingdom is God's systematic way of doing business. The kingdom of God is a far superior system to the worldly limited system controlled by the devil and his demons. Faith in God has the ability when released to operate and supercede any authority over any situation, environment of the world-system.

A Senior Pastor and great bible-faith teacher says "Faith works where the Character, Ability and the Word / Will of God is known." This statement clearly tells us that one cannot exercise faith without knowing God, nor his abilities and desires which He expresses firstly through His Word and through communing with an individual. To understand faith, the believer should know that the Word is the general Will of God – called the Logos. Revelation of the Word of God through the Holy Spirit becomes the Rhema Word of God. The Holy Spirit is also subject to and will confirm the Word of God.

John 16:13-15 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you." KJV

In working with both the Logos and the Rhema Word of God, faith is an imperative for effectively relating with God. Without faith there is no spiritual direction to reaching and fulfilling a life in God. Faith can also be seen as a requisite to reach and being able to touch God.

This can be illustrated by faith as if it were being filled in containers carrying our words to God. It is through this wonderful medium called faith that God relates and relays information to the believer, so that the believer can receive effective communication that ministers to his or her life on a daily bases. Likewise God expects us to reciprocate in this relationship.

Faith in God is always available. Its effectiveness in the believer's life is based on whether or not the believer is tuned into God's Word. At the same time the believer needs to be obedient to act upon the Word by releasing their God given faith.

I would like to delve a little on the subject of acting by faith. Concerning healing, the Word of God says the following:

1 Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."KJV

This scripture refers to healing, not as a promise but a fact of what Jesus accomplished for the Body of Christ at Calvary. By faith every born again believer has the spiritual right to claim this spiritual reality.

In other words the Word through knowledge given says "by whose stripes ye were healed" clearly denotes a statement of fact. The statement is past tense, meaning that healing has been already been accomplished and not stated as an event for the future.

Therefore, as a believer, sickness is accepted by either choice or ignorance. This is despite the fact that healing has been made available for every believer to appropriate this benefit today. Failure to recognise that this healing has been made available to believers does not mean it is not available. Faith when applied to the Word of God makes healing in this text a reality. The manifestation of faith is incomplete without a corresponding action. So one must act on what the Word says.

In essence faith without a corresponding action to what the Word of God instructs will not manifest a result obedient to that Word of God. Faith will always cooperate with the Word/Will of God, characterised by God's ability to release His power available for the result desired.

Life's lessons:

"Faith makes all things possible.... love makes all things easy".

Faith will always attract showdowns with the challenges of life. The very nature of faith being intangible draws the attention of fear, unbelief, doubt and the enemy, the adversary, the devil. Yet when faith manifests its evidence is undisputable.

One of life's deepest challenges is the continual rivalry between faith and its foes prior to the victory in faith. At times the discomfort one faces during the battle is unbearable. God never promised that life by faith would always be a comfortable ride but He did however promise a safe arrival provided one does not stagger on the promise.

I have faced many contests in my faith walk; the enemy has resisted my walk all the way. I have stood firm in the faith and can confidently say I have endeavour not to compromise the Word of God. This doesn't mean I have never been foolish in some instances. I have tried to gain things through what I believed was faith yet I was in fact operating in foolishness.

In 2003 when my wife and I were pastors of one of the Word Life branch churches based in Harare, Zimbabwe. We decided to take a step of faith concerning buying a house in one of the most affluent Eastern areas of Harare. We began by declaring and confessing publicly that "we are buying a house". We didn't have any money at all. All we had was what we were calling "faith" at the time. I think being young pastors who were brandishing the "faith message" which was still a preserve of a very few Pentecostal churches at the time did cause a considerable amount of pressure to demonstrate this "faith".

After viewing many houses we came across one that was not only beautiful but it was one of the many houses that the owner was eager to dispose of. We went to meet with her a few times, we told her that "the house is ours" and she gave us the agreement of sale forms to complete. We actually completed the forms "by faith" and we kept saying "the house is ours; we believe we have it, we thank God for His blessings".

This lady was not saved, prior to our meeting, but praise God she got saved during one of the deliberations. After we completed the forms, the lady needed us to deposit money into her account. We confidently said "the house is ours" and we took her bank details. She must have called up all her friends and family to tell them about her sudden and immediate success in privately selling her house.

My wife who believes in literally "putting legs" to faith suggested that we get the house keys from the owner so we could go to the house daily for the purpose of "treading our feet in order to possess" (See Joshua). After collecting the house keys, my wife announced that my daughter Zoe who was six years old at the time, sister Nyari who was our child minder then and my little boy Sean who was barely eight months old were to be collected from home for they were also expected to fulfill the task of "treading feet". This ritual was done every evening for close to a week with Sean treading his hands and knees most of the time of course.

At the end of the week Zoe and Nyari expected to see the move into the house since this anointed, faith-filled couple kept saying, "The house is ours, we are moving in". This same statement was repeatedly said to the house seller for almost a month until she literally told us not to waste her time. Thank God she didn't say Jesus was a time-waster too.

I always look back at this experience with some embarrassment because there really was no prior preparation nor plan except the statement "the house is ours, we are moving in". That was not "faith" we were foolishly zealous. I even think at some point we were motivated by the fact that this woman was merely disposing one of her many houses, so we were secretly "hoping" that God was going to tell her to bless these faith-teaching "sacrificial pastors".

I think pastors must snap out of expecting to be rewarded for the call, God rewards faithfulness irrespective of one's calling. I know most don't want to admit this but there is that expectation to receive because "we have laid down our lives"- so we say. Let's expect to receive because God loves us and that He delights in our prosperity and not for any other reason.

Chapter 3 – What faith taught me – Relationship

Faith is not just about receiving things. Faith is about the relationship with God the Father. For me faith has been the means to the most wonderful relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is through faith that I relate with and love God.

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." KJV

I have also realised that relationships take time to build. Knowing a person intimately is an investment of quality time. I have learnt that there is a clear distinction between an acquaintance and an intimate friendship or relationship.

I have noticed that in our local churches there is a tendency to call the acquaintances we merely work with in ministry "close friends" yet we know very little about them. We do not even know their families let alone where they live, and yet we will say they are our "good and close buddies". These so called "intimate friendships and or relationships" are unlikely to go beyond the test of time should the church for some unfortunate reason close down or people go separate ways.

Then what makes a relationship intimate?

I believe there must be an investment of quality time as one of the primary factors. This means one gets to know the person well enough to then claim a close relationship or friendship with that person. These relationships are a product of intimacy. This type of intimacy only results from invested time.

The relationships deemed intimate go beyond the acquaintance-level. They are personal just as I believe God wants us to know Him intimately. Why? An intimate relationship is based on trust, friendship and communication. God is pleased when we invest time in knowing Him, and we can do this by faith.

Our faith relationship with God is based on trusting Him. It is then imperative to know who this God is that can be trusted. Naturally one generally does not trust strangers. However, it is amazing that some want to trust God without investing in knowing Him. What we are merely doing is heaping the responsibility for the relationship on God.

Thank God for his word, because through the Word we are able to know God intimately. We can know His nature, His character, what He likes, what he dislikes and how He wants to relate to us as our Father. The Word also tells us how excited He is when we respond to Him:

Psalms 35:27 "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant." KJV

God cannot lie; therefore we can trust Him wholeheartedly. We also know God's ability, through what He has done through Jesus Christ. His Will for our lives is also known through the Word and also the direction given by the Holy Spirit. God has a plan, a purpose and an assignment for our lives.

Through faith, the believer knows God through a process called relationship. Personally, I have learnt that faith is a process to loving God. By faith I continually learn to walk in my purpose; a process when fulfilled worships God. I continue seeking God as a process in locating myself in Him. Doing the will of God in my life is through another faith process called obedience. Thank God for the message of faith.

More than anything else faith teaches me how to be intimate with the Godhead; being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In a table below I have endeavoured to group words that do justice to describe the meaning of relationship in order to give you the idea of how we intend to relate with God. They are as follows:

Correlation | Bond | Comradeship | Harmony

---|---|---|---

Association | Tie | Closeness | Kindness

Link | Union | Familiarity | Benevolence

Connection | Attachment | Camaraderie | Affiliation

Rapport | Friendship | Company | Amity

Liaison | Companionship | Alliance | Goodwill

Studying and getting to know God takes time to establish a relationship described by the above words. These words are linked to the Word of God enabling us to relate with Him. We can build this relationship through faith in His Word that produces openness and intimacy.

I have put together some scripture references from the Word that talk about our relationships from the Message Bible, highlighting for emphasis as follows:

Romans 14:22 "Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent." Message Bible

This text encourages us to grow, work on, foster and nurture a personal relationship with God. The antonym for cultivating is neglecting a relationship with God. It would portray one deserting, abandoning and disregarding God. This cultivating of our relationship with God is by choice, however that choice is consequential. Choosing God or rejecting Him carries corresponding consequences.

1 Corinthians 11:3 "In a marriage relationship, there is authority from Christ to husband, and from husband to wife. The authority of Christ is the authority of God." Message Bible

God is interested not only in His relationship with you, but goes beyond that to your relationship with others. In this instance He shares His design of a marriage relationship between husband and wife. The nuptials are authorised by Him, also patterned in a manner of His authority. When marriage is correctly pursued it fulfills the purpose, plan and will for establishment of God's institution for perpetuating His kingdom.

2 Corinthians 5:18 "All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between him and us, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other." Message Bible

Here the Word of God shows God as the initiator of relationships. In this respect He is the reconciler of man to Himself. Meaning He has created a settlement and or a resolution for man to reunite with God, self and others. God has always sought to have a large family, so His idea is a resolution of 'bringing together' His children into His kingdom.

Galatians 2:21 "I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rulekeeping, then Christ died unnecessarily." Message Bible

Thank God our relationship is not based on the law; however it is based on the highest level of His grace being made available for you and me. This means God has availed His best for the best. Is this not wonderful news to know that God the Father sent Jesus Christ (His best) as a ransom for us, to rank us with His best, Christ? Through the bloody crucifixion transaction at Calvary, you and I are seated together in Christ at the Father's right hand. What amazing grace!

Galatians 3:11 "The obvious impossibility of carrying out such a moral program should make it plain that no one can sustain a relationship with God that way. The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him. Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Habakkuk had it right: "The person who believes God, is set right by God--and that's the real life." Message Bible

The only way we can live in a sustainable relationship with God, is living by faith. Right standing with God means we can appear before Him because of a relationship initiated by Him of which when we accept Him, becomes a right and a privilege. This right is not wrought by anything we have done but what Christ has done for us. Living in this relationship is the life, the real life.

Galatians 3:21 "If such is the case, is the law, then, an anti-promise, a negation of God's will for us? Not at all. Its purpose was to make obvious to everyone that we are, in ourselves, out of right relationship with God, and therefore to show us the futility of devising some religious system for getting by our own efforts what we can only get by waiting in faith for God to complete his promise. For if any kind of rule-keeping had power to create life in us, we would certainly have gotten it by this time." Message Bible

The law was incapable of creating a right relationship between God and man. The relationship of God and man is a promise only God alone could initiate. Faith is the only provision available that links us with this awesome relationship with God. This relationship although being on God's terms, He has invited each and every living being to be a partaker and beneficiary. This relationship is for a 'whomsoever' shall believe in Him.

Galatians 3:26 "By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God." Message Bible

God through His Word demonstrates His relationship for the believer by faith. He is the Father of a family of faith filled children. This also means that every child of God has direct access to God, something that the law and any other tried and tested means could and have never accessed. Without faith it is impossible to access God.

Galatians 3:28 "In Christ's family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ." Message Bible

Every born again believer is a part of the family of God, making up the body of Christ. Our identity is no longer based on the fallen nature of man, whether being of a particular tribal decent or status in community and neither gender. We are equal in the sense that we have received Christ's DNA. This DNA is the untainted original 'sperm' so to speak that gives you and me the right to be called the sons of God.

Thank God, we can relate on the same level Jesus Christ relates with Our Father. Meaning what has been made available in terms of sonship rights has also been made available to the 'whomsoever' shall believe.

Galatians 4:24 "This illustrates the very thing we are dealing with now. The two births represent two ways of being in relationship with God. One is from Mount Sinai in Arabia." Message Bible

In the King James Version of the Bible, this illustration is an allegory, metaphor symbolic of two covenants. One depicts bondage and the other freedom. Bless God the believers' relationship is not based on bondage but rather on freedom. Christ has freed the believer from being enslaved to bondage. Bondage here, speaks about things birthed after the flesh and freedom speaks of birthing from a promise. In this respect the promise is from God being the new birth made available to those who would engage in a relationship with God.

Galatians 5:5 "Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit." Message Bible

Those no longer living under the law pursue a relationship trusting God. The Spirit is one who comes alongside the believer to help him or her live a much anticipated pleasing and assured life in Christ. A satisfying relationship with the Spirit speaks about complying with the Word of God. In pleasing God in our relationship with Him requires faith, and we know that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. So a satisfying and fulfilling life is a pleasing life lived in the Word of God.

Titus 3:7 "God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more life to come--an eternity of life!" Message Bible

God's gift, salvation for man has been reinstated to man, so he can once again relate with His Creator. Man's fall from grace denied him from his rights as an heir according to the hope of eternal life. Not only does man have access to that right of life in God again, man has 'eternity of life' and time without end relationship with God, how marvelous.

Hebrews 12:11 "At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God." Message Bible

As believers, our walk with God requires a relationship that is circumspect and disciplined. Whilst the chastising of the Lord is uncomfortable it is necessary for maturity. God wants us to grow up in faith; He also wants us to operate at His level in relating to us. It is unnatural for a 60 year old woman to continue to behave as a 6 year old girl. Likewise God wants us to mature in our relationship with Him as we progress in our spiritual walk with Him.

Believers can only grow up spiritually living by faith, not through their emotions and feelings. God wants believers established and fully developed in faith so He can relate with them effectively concerning responsibilities of the kingdom of God. God needs mature saints that can assist Him establish His covenant.

1 John 4:7 "My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God." Message Bible

The love of God is an unconditional love. If God is love then it suffices to say that God is a God of unconditional love. As believers love, we are obligated to love unconditionally. Loving unconditionally means loving wholeheartedly, unreservedly and enthusiastically. This is descriptive of God's love and not only that but His demonstration of love. God wholly give Himself up in Jesus as ransom to restore man back to Himself, what great love! The greatest love story ever chronicled.

Love means we demonstrate. The Word of God details that God is love so every believer born of God becomes a child of God's love. Meaning the believer has the same love as God has. However, having the love of God will count for nothing if it cannot be demonstrated. One of the ways of demonstrating that love is having a daily relationship with God. That relationship experience is found in His Word, the Holy Spirit and prayer. So the true love of God comes when we are born of God, without God there is no true love.

1 John 4:10 "This is the kind of love we are talking about--not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God." Message Bible

God has always been an initiator of the love relationship with man. He has always been a pursuer of a relationship with the 'lost man'. He has been conciliatory on this fundamental issue of restoring man back to Himself. Whilst sin got in between man and Himself, God demonstrated his love by pursuing man. God saw beyond man's fallen nature and 'damage done in his relationship with man'. It takes the love of God with an eternal perspective of man to ignore provocation of an unrepentant devil.

God's most prized creation; man, could only be restored by God who saw no other fit ransom other than Jesus Christ worthy of the restoration of the 'fallen man' back to a relationship as experienced in the garden of Eden. By faith and only by faith was God able to restore man. It takes love, courage and passion to give up Jesus Christ for a lost world, which can either choose or reject God in a bid for relationship.

1 John 4:15 "Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God." Message Bible

First things first, there will never be a relationship between God and man without man's acknowledgment of the truth, Jesus Christ. Confessing Christ initiates a relationship with God. This confession is admission of wrongdoing, the crime of committing high treason against God in the Garden of Eden. This confession is admission to God, through Jesus Christ presenting eternal life as the only way of living. Herein, then only then does an intimate relationship with God commence.

The only way believers can continuously commit to an intimate relationship with God is through His Word, the Holy Spirit and prayer. This type of relationship involves the innermost nature of God. It is first and foremost a spiritual relationship.

Why?

God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. In this relationship we must acknowledge we are also spirit beings relating to a Spiritual God.

The references exhibited above endeavour to show that faith is a requisite for man's relationship with God. The term relationship provides the idea of a connection between man and God. It also solicits the impression of how the believer needs to behave and express themselves before God. Man's relationship also gives the sense of friendship, closeness with God and worship and adoration for Him.

This relationship by faith also relates to our spiritual birth, adoption and marriage in God's covenant, as believers. Whilst these relationships denote our spirituality, God also takes cognisance of special relationships He has created for believers, such as marriage and family relationships.

Life's lessons:

My new birth reality happened some 35 years ago, as a standard 3 pupil in a Catholic Church. I was the top student of my class at the end of the first term that year. Thank God that that level of achievement inspired Mrs Sue Scott (who was my class teacher then) to minister salvation to me during the morning school break. After my confession of receiving Jesus Christ, she presented me with a Gideon's Bible. I further went on to sign my name at the designated page witnessing the occasion dated 13th April 1975. I will forever be grateful to her.

However, thereafter no one ministered and taught me the bible until on the 28th October 1990 when I visited a Pentecostal church for the first time in my life. My true journey of faith began; I am still growing in my relationship with God, through His Word. The journey has never been without blessing and challenges. So I continue to ride the crest of life looking at deepening my relationship with the most awesome being, God. Everyone needs guidance in learning the ropes of relationships.

"Someone must be your path"

The only path to God is Jesus Christ:

John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" KJV

A missionary told a story of being lost in an African jungle, and finally he came across a village. He found a lady who could speak English, who volunteered to take him back to the missionaries' compound.

As they hacked their way through the jungle, the missionary asked, "Are you sure this is the right way home?" The lady said, "Sir, in this jungle there is no pathway, I am the path . . . you must follow." Jesus is the pathway.

The other story I like sharing is about one of the greatest televangelist women preachers who is quite advanced in age and still in ministry. God has used this woman to evangelise not only America but much of the Islamic nations as well, she operates mightily in healings, signs and wonders. She shared a funny story about how earlier in her ministry when she was preaching many years ago at an Assemblies of God Church she commanded a man in a wheelchair near the back of the sanctuary to stand up and walk. The man didn't budge.

So she hollered at him again: "Stand up and walk". But still he did not move. So a third time, she thundered: "Stand up and walk"; but still no movement. At that very time, the pastor of the church stepped to her side and whispered: "he's not going to stand up and walk. He has no legs." This clearly demonstrates that Faith is a walk and a process which is not devoid of all kinds of lessons. We must be willing to learn, grow and also laugh at ourselves sometimes.

Chapter 4 – Why faith in God? And who has this faith in God?

Why faith?

Having submitted to you a response to what is faith? I now look at taking on another major task of explaining why believers in Christ need faith. I believe the Word of God is an awesome teacher, just as well the Holy Spirit. So in responding to why faith? I will engage with scripture indicate below:

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." KJV

First and foremost in this text it is categorically clear that there is an impossibility of pleasing God without faith. Meaning any other way of pleasing God is unacceptable without faith. It also insinuates that even if there were to be other ways of pleasing God, omission of faith among those ways would never please Him. So faith is an imperative, non-negotiable in pleasing God, why? Because He advocates for faith as pleasing Him. Faith brings pleasure to the Father. I believe as I mentioned earlier faith is synonymous with God, it abides with Him.

Even in His state of being omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent, faith is with him. He is the God of faith. Jesus even alluded to the kind of faith, when teaching His disciples in Mark 11:22, when He said to them "have the God kind of faith". So there is a kind of faith that pleases God, it is the God kind of faith that Jesus taught.

Faith is a guaranteed material that allows relationship between Man and God. God has always used faith as a guaranteed way of man relating with Him. Based on His Word which carries His integrity, faith has always facilitated a medium of communication between Him and man. It has also been the means of man knowing God exists. God has always expected man to know Him through His Word and operating by faith, and this has been most pleasurable to Him.

So in respect of the above, faith has been also equated as a covenant connector to relating with God. In establishing a relationship with man, God has always established a covenant. In the believer's current dispensation, God has created a covenant wrought by salvation through Jesus Christ. Whilst history shows the children of Israel living in a limited covenant of the law, today the believer now abides in a covenant based on grace received by faith. Grace signifying it is not man initiated but God by His mercy and love toward man, making this astonishing salvation available to believers in Christ.

Throughout the bible, God's most prized possession has been man. Even after the fall of man, He has pursued man passionately and lovingly. He has exercised diligence beyond any other in His pursuit of man. Motivated by love, He has emphatically demonstrated His love through faith. Ultimately God has provided the regenerated man with a choice of loving Him or not, Christ's crucifixion at Calvary paving the way for such.

This act of love and faith goes beyond man's ability. Today, each and every human being has the opportunity to respond to that love by faith, by accepting God. In making that decision, He has waited for many, and this has required His faith perseverance, passion and patience. What an Awesome God, this God of faith! Faith requires diligence to operate it effectively.

In the believer's relationship with God, faith helps us to download God's defined purpose for the believer and how to process that purpose. It takes faith to process an unbeliever to be a believer in Christ. I believe that God believes all human beings have the ability to choose and receive salvation and come to Him. Simply put He stepped out in faith and made a defining choice of dying for the whole world before it (the world) responds to accepting Him. Faith is a component that helps us walk in our God given calling.

2 Corinthians 5:7 "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)" KJV

Faith helps us submit the believer's "sight" to what God sees and how He sees things. "God's "see" is above the believer's "see"".

Isaiah 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" KJV

In continuing with our study of the bible on why God places a premium on faith, let's look at more scriptures.

Hebrews 10:38 "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." KJV

The Father commands faith in believers. The command being the believers shall live by faith; anything contrary to this, He is not pleased.

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." KJV

Faith pleases God. He places a premium on believers who believe in His existence and rewards those who are diligent in seeking Him. God likes to be pursued by engaging Him in an eternal relationship. It is a love affair of God the Creator and creation being man in this respect.

Since God is a God of faith, and believers are made in the expressed image of God, then the same DNA of faith is in the believers. So believers are like God and have the potential to operate like Him. Living by faith is so important not only to God but the believers. Not only does God allow the believers to have right standing with Him, meaning they can stand before God without condemnation, they are called to live by faith.

Romans 1:17 "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." KJV

"Anything that you are called upon to live by certainly demonstrates its importance." Dr. Frederick KC Price

In answering the question why faith is important to God, who has this faith?

Romans 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." KJV

Everyone needs to know that faith originates from God. Thereafter, God parceled faith to His believers. Faith is given to all that have received God through the new birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus provided salvation so that believers can access the Father, John 14:6.

Everyone who is a believer has access to the measurement of faith apportioned in its potential form ready to be used as designed by the Word of God. So anyone who has received God via grace has access to faith.

Romans 1:17 "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." KJV

Hebrews 10:38 "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." KJV

Faith is God's instruction of His designed way of living for the born again believer. In both the above biblical texts, the Word of God is explicit in its command to the Just that they are required to live the faith lifestyle. This implies that the statement, "The just shall live by faith" is not a request but rather an instruction. Suffice to say that God would never ask the believer to live by faith, if faith is not inputted in the believer's life.

Since the instruction carries an authority of the instructor that expects a desired response to the instruction; God has made it possible by granting this commodity called faith to the believers. In this respect God requires that the born again believer lives the desired lifestyle of faith.

In Hebrews 10:38, the Word of God also insinuates that living by faith is a non-negotiable in the kingdom of God, of which the Lord takes no pleasure in those disobedient to His instruction. It becomes non-negotiable because God has made a provision for faith living.

The evidence from the text shared in this chapter points to the fact that the saints are seen through faith. The justified – innocent, holy (purposed of God) and believers are required to live by faith. When Jesus proclaimed I am the Way, which is a definitive statement; being the God of faith it calls to action that faith is the Way of living for the regenerated man. Faith is a God designed life style intended and fit for mankind's consumption.

God has faith which He has given to the born again believer. Note an important Spiritual Law – God never gives a believer something He does not possess.

  * Romans 12:3(b) "..., according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." KJV

  * Hebrews 11:3 "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." KJV

The Father is the author of faith and He used it in creating the world - Genesis 1:3 & Hebrews 12:2.

  * Romans 4:17 "..., even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were." KJV

God the Author of faith has dealt the born again believer the measurement of faith.

The believer's 'potential faith' must be processed in order to work for him/her.

Life's lessons:

The faith realm is real. It is accessed by those that believe. What makes things real is not what we see. What makes things real is what we do not see. The intangible faith in God is more real than what we see. What we see is the result of the intangible existence of faith. (Refer Hebrews 11:1). Fear, doubt and unbelief solicit to discredit the faith realm. This trio creates the notion "seeing is believing" syndrome, if one cannot see it then what you cannot see is non-existent.

The believers need to live by faith because it is the realm where things that are tangible originate from. Faith is the believers' source of creation. Just like God when He spoke words (intangible but existent) that created the universe, everything that God has availed to the believer comes from the realm of faith. When the believer accesses this realm and faith manifests, God is a happy person. One minister of the gospel put it this way, "God has a smile on His face".

In motivating the reader, I trust the following quotes will give the reader insight whilst meditating on them:

"Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death." ~Author Unknown

"Faith can move mountains, but don't be surprised if God hands you a shovel." ~Author Unknown

Chapter 5 – How does faith in God work?

Galatians 5:6 "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." KJV

Faith always works according to the Word of God. It is will not work because of one's status in society, or one's gender or one's race. However, faith in God works by love. Faith works because it is motivated by love.

Since God is love, so faith works because it is motivated by God. Faith works where there is love, not unbelief, doubt, ignorance, hatred, sin, un-forgiveness; these will prevent faith from working.

1 John 4:16 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him." KJV

As previously mentioned, faith is acting on the Word of God which one believes. Faith is an activator and love is a motivator. Faith has no guarantee other than the Word of God. Faith never guarantees the situation but it guarantees the Word of God only. Faith is never motivated by emotions and feelings.

How faith works

Hebrews 11:3 "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." KJV

Faith works where there is the presence of the Word/Will, Character and Ability of God. There is a clear understanding of the relationship between faith and the Word of God. There is also a Godly precedence where the 'unseen' manifests the 'seen', or the 'invisible' manifests the 'visible'.

In order for faith to be effective in the believer's life it first and foremost needs to be established or developed in the life of the believer.

Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." KJV

In building or developing the believer's faith, the Word of God is a prerequisite for faith to operate. Putting this in another way, where there is no Word of God there is no accompanying faith. In building up faith, hearing is the gateway to faith being developed in the believer's life. Faith is spiritual food, nourishment to the born-again believer.

Understanding certain faculties in man's head is critical for the intake of the Word of God that develops the believer's spiritman. The eyes help us to read the Word of God, intelligently assimilating what God has to say. The eyes also help us observe and also perceive what is in the Word of God.

Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." KJV

The ears help believers hear and listen to information. This organ called the ear also functions beyond hearing and also helps with balance. In hearing the Word of God there needs to be a balance that brings clarity and understanding.

Naturally, the ear is divided into three parts, the external, middle, and inner ear. The external ear collects sound, the middle ear amplifies and transmits it, while the inner ear maintains balance and detects sound. One can notice how comprehensive the process of hearing the Word of God can be.

2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." KJV

Studying the Word brings about a balance which causes the believer to discover facts about the Word of God. Findings of such studying can effectively be applied to how faith works through thorough research. Such studying is a process of learning through reading and thinking. Believers need to be investigators with inquisitive minds that seek the Word of God and bear comprehensive reports of subjects studied.

Let us quickly look at a story in the bible that will help illustrate, how faith works. I love the story in the bible regarding the twelve spies that were selected on behalf of Israel on an assignment to spy (search) the land of Canaan.

Numbers 13:16 "These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua." KJV

The bible mentions the word "search" meaning to examine something thoroughly. It also means to examine something that concerns concealed matters; further expansion of this is to discover something by examination. So this spy mission was to be thorough. I wish believers could also be thorough in searching the scriptures.

Numbers 13:21 "So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath." KJV

The search was not a treasure hunt on a Sunday afternoon at a 10 year old birthday party. It was lengthy and thorough; it required diligence in studying the land. It required daily focus and recording of information, which at the end would be compiled into a report.

This searching seems to indicate that previously there was a lack of knowledge about where God was taking the Israelites to. They had to apply faith to the knowledge that there was land up for grabs ordained by God.

Numbers 13:25 "And they returned from searching of the land after forty days." KJV

All the spies seemed to have one common report regarding the description of the land. They all had seen and taken detail of what was in Canaan, and had even brought back evidence to suggest the land was prosperous.

Numbers 13:27 "And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it." KJV

They also made an observation that there were strong people who possessed the land. The report began to hesitate regarding the enemy they would have to encounter in order to take over. The enemy was not an ordinary looking bully this time the enemy was in the form of an army of giants. They were collecting 'empirical' based on facts and not theory.

Numbers 13:28 "Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there." KJV

In interpreting his report, Caleb having considered the cost, stood and proclaimed a balanced, well weighted statement from out of his mouth. His faith was developed such that Caleb confessed/professed/spoke words of life. He was keen to act out his faith after having studied, observed, heard and listened to all considerations of their findings in Canaan.

What was fundamental was that Caleb submitted himself to believing in God to possess the land and his ability from God to overcome the giants. His God was greater than the giants.

However, contrary to Caleb's belief, the majority reached a consensus different from Caleb's. Having studied and observed the possibility, they were crushed by their own perception of the impossible. They saw themselves defeated against the giants but could not see themselves backed up in victory by a Great God more powerful than the giants.

Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." KJV

Romans 4:17 "... and calleth those things which be not as though they were." KJV

Caleb's faith was released by speaking words.

Numbers 13:30 "And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it."

Numbers 13:31 "But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we." KJV

The majority of the spies further condemned themselves regarding their negative report. Their facts based on sight overshadowed their facts based on their God. They basically decided on their own accord to walk by sight and not by faith. Unfortunately what they had meditated on resulted in consequences, circumstances, situations based on what they saw physical.

Caleb pondered seriously and careful weighed in his mind the situation and God's Word regarding the ability to conquer his enemies. He saw himself having possessed his land before engaging the enemy. That is faith!

Numbers 13:33 "And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." KJV

Faith moves when a believer is willing to move. That is how faith also works. When the believer decides to take action based on what the Word of God instructs, then faith also changes its position to follow the believer's position or location. Faith will always locate your position in the Word of God.

It is therefore imperative that in believing God by faith for and or in anything, requisite scripture backing what one is believing God for and or in is required. For example if it is finance one is believing God for, then one needs to stand on known scripture that holds the promise of finance.

Faith answers are found in doing. These answers come as a result of the act of performing or carrying out an instruction from God's Word. This action can be termed responding to God's Word with God's assured ability working on the inside of a believer. This action or doing is accountable to somebody and for something, being God and faith

respectively. So faith manifests when we do the Word of God.

Here is a list just to re-cap that faith works when:

  1. We know where it comes from

  2. We know how to receive it

  3. We know we have it

  4. We study it and learn it

  5. We know how it is developed

  6. We know how it is released

  7. We can expect to experience its success.

Hebrews 4:2 "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." KJV

It is also important to know that having faith in God brings about understanding the authority in heaven. Through faith God has empowered the believer with authority, the right to enforce God's Word and His command regarding a situation and or things. That authority is based on legitimate power. Concerning this authority, faith allows us access to everything God has made available to the believer.

Faith is released when we speak to things. God spoke to things with authority. He spoke the creation of man into existence in Genesis 1:26.

In Genesis 1:28 He commands via His authority the make-up of man. He blesses man with the ability to be fruitful, to multiply, and to replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion. Man has the authority to function these abilities given by God expressed through faith.

It then suffices to say man's faith in God is a "demanding kind of material". Man can demand what has been made available to him. Since principles of heaven operate on demand, the believer is to speak (demand), because the believer knows he or she has access to the Source of all demand.

The believer can speak out his or her demands because he or she has the mandate to do so. The mandate to speak with regards to these demands operates in the realm of dominion.

So faith can say "no" to "no" and "yes" to "yes". Dominion faith is an attacking faith. This dominion is power that carries responsibility. It is not an "abuser" of power, but rather rulership with control. Dominion is the believer's given sphere of influence or control.

Faith also works in an environment where the Word of God is released by preaching and teaching. Whilst the Holy Spirit is the ultimate Teacher of the Word of God in our lives, God has set men and women to minister His Word by the Holy Spirit to man.

In bringing closure to this chapter, faith works by feeding on the Word of God. This 'feeding" on the Word comes through various media. It can come by studying, observing, reading, hearing the Word. The application of what has been understood is released through speaking and action demonstrating faith.

Life's lessons:

Anyone can believe in something. Is it faith to believe only, partly yes, but belief alone will keep one in a passive state on just knowing what one believes in. Faith is acting on what one believes.

"Faith is not belief. Belief is passive. Faith is active." Edith Hamilton

The fact that one can doubt something does not mean that something does not exist.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." Martin Luther King, Jr.

Faith is a "keep on keeping on movement" of acting on what one believes based on the Word of God.

Chapter 6 – Developing faith as a life style in God's Kingdom

I believe that developing one's faith in God is not a one day wonder. I believe that this development requires a process. This process is a daily walk with God, as He exhibits His infinite wisdom, by showing believers "what to do", "how to do", "why do what to do", "when to do" and "where to do". Such process requires an investment of quality time, diligence in obeying God, and acting on His Word. It also requires that believers understand and identify with God's desired purpose in their respective lives.

Such a process requires that faith be an imperative in fulfilling the believer's life purposes. Faith that is based on the Word of God initiates the process where God works within the believer. This helps in fulfilling their respective purposes. Scripture is full of guarantees that show when the Word of God is pursued diligently by faith; God's power is made available. Here are a couple of texts that exhibit that guarantee:

Acts 19:20 "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." KJV

Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. " KJV

Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." KJV

Faith is also a process of spreading the Word that grows God's kingdom – what a strategy! A fundamental review regarding the processing of the believer unto maturity is found in the following text from the Bible:

Ephesians 1:17 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:"

Ephesians 1:18 "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,"

Ephesians 1:19 "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power," KJV

Paul articulates the importance of the believer's purpose (calling) in life aided by God's wisdom and revealed knowledge. He further indicates that personality (character) and His power (charisma) as crucial factors in living fulfilled lives. This process is based on believing and receiving from God.

Examples of purposeful people in the Bible are so many. I believe they have been included so as to help answer the question, "Why we exist and for what?" David existence coincides with God's kingdom lineage plan that led to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Without Hannah there would be no Prophet Samuel. What more without Jesus, the Savior of the world?

What is your purpose? Selah! Whatever one's calling or vocation of life, process remains an imperative of faith. Faith helps us to download God's definition of our purpose and how to process that purpose. Faith is a component that helps us walk in our God given purpose (calling):

2 Corinthians 5:7 "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)" KJV

Processing our faith through the Word of God helps us submit our "sight" to what God sees. I coin this phrase again, "God's "see" is above our "see"".

Isaiah 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." KJV

God does not have a way but rather has His Way (John 14:6) of doing things. His Way is above any other way including the worldly way (systems) of doing things. God is systematic in His approach of processing faith in His kingdom.

His approach in processing faith in the believer helps the believer to:

• Know God – relationship is a process

• Love God – demonstration of love is a process

• Worship God – walking in one's purpose is a process

• Locate himself in God – seeking God is a process

• Do God's will for his or her life – obedience is a process.

The believer's "faith walk" with and in God is a process so as to accomplish His will for our lives (This is to His glory). God's purpose for mankind resonates in Genesis 1:

Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

Genesis 1:28 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." KJV

God through Jesus has processed Man back to His original intention, prior the fall of Man. Sin had caused man to lose his purpose here on earth. I believe the following statement epitomizes God's purpose of the believer:

"Your purpose functions effectively when you operate in His image."

Such a key understanding means anything that came after God's creation demands process. Scripture below shows that even creation was processed:

Genesis 1:11 "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."

Genesis 1:12 "And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good." KJV

The process was as a result of God speaking words that then manifested as instructed by God.

In further understanding this, pro-creation of mankind was a result of a faith process resulting in Adam and Eve starting a family:

Genesis 4:1 "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD."

Genesis 4:2 "And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground." KJV

God's process for human-creation is a "Generational Process". The Genealogy (family tree) of Christ was vital in restoring the fallen Man back to God's image. This required a process called the Human Reproduction. The process requires sexual intercourse between man and woman, where seed (sperm) is deposited into a womb respectively, resulting in conception initiating pregnancy. After the gestation period there is delivery of a baby. This process is perpetuated by faith ordained by God. The God of faith perpetuates such processes in extending the purpose of His kingdom.

When talking about processing a life, one can look at Jesus Christ's earthly ministry; Jesus experienced a traditional Jewish cultural upbringing, working as a carpenter, up until 30 years. His ministry was a result of a process that brought about the execution of His assignment at the cross of Calvary. As a result of this, salvation was wrought and made available for the world. God is a God of process. Process is an imperative in how the kingdom of God functions.

What is this faith process for the believer today? Growing in the Word, growing in prayer, growing in walking with the Holy Ghost and power (taking up one's cross and following Him). This will result in the growth of the believers in their respective God given assignments.

Another antidote to understanding miracles in the believer's development, in context of faith as a process, can be explained as follows:

"Miracles are the dinner bell for sinners to come to Christ, and at times they kick start your faith walk in God." FF Bosworth.

This statement insinuates that miracles help initiate the process of living by faith. It gives the light that this "faith walk in God" is a relationship. The following scripture indicate this:

Hebrews 10:38 "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." KJV

2 Corinthians 5:7 "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)" KJV

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." KJV

Miracles are part and parcel of the believers' faith walk in God; however, miracles are not a replacement of faith. Therefore God's process in believers' lives is an integral factor of the faith walk with God, which is laced with miraculous experiences in that journey.

In developing the believer's faith, there must be biblical answers. The believer must discover such answers in the Word before he or she can embark on the journey to acquire and possess relevant solutions. Faith guarantees believers have the potential to embark and fulfill their life given purposes; however this is not assurance that believers will not experience 'turbulent' journeys. In coining this phrase again, faith has no guarantee other than the Word of God; no matter what the believer will encounter in life, the Word of God remains the ultimate authority over life encounters.

Whilst dealing with the subject of developing the believers' faith, I would like to focus on dealing with living in crisis times. The Greek word Zoë means the very (existence) life of God being made manifest. This Zoë indicates God's intended purpose for mankind. So this should suffice to say that God's kind of life can be experienced even in crisis.

John 10:10 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." KJV

Today the world experiences crisis indicating that the systems of the world are manifesting their purposeless nature of chaos, which I believe signifies a coming to the end of this world. Thank God the answers are found in the Word of God not in the world.

Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." KJV

Whether crisis or not, the world does not carry comprehensive true solutions. However, God's ordained church carries the mandate to commission solutions to the world. Yet at this time of world chaos and crisis, the church seems timid to take advantage by leading the way. Paul admonish that the church be bold and not fearful to testify to the world.

1 Corinthians 2:1 "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God."

1 Corinthians 2:2 "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

1 Corinthians 2:3 "And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling."

1 Corinthians 2:4 "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:"

1 Corinthians 2:5 "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

1 Corinthians 2:7 "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:" KJV

Any time and more specifically in times of crisis wisdom should not be sort from the world but God. God is the source of ultimate wisdom and He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Faith being the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, we see God creating and manifesting the heavens and the earth by faith – 'speaking the things that be not as if they are'.

Actually in Him creating light as in Genesis 1:3, God paved His way of creating "light" as an enabler for clarity for mankind. Thereafter we see Him put order in creation. I believe that this "light" gives clarity regarding order in the kingdom of God, thereafter the unfolding of the process of creation. God is a solution initiator beyond mankind.

Truth also becomes an important in developing the believer's faith. Scripture shows God as the originator of the truth of life:

John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." KJV

John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." KJV

John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." KJV

John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." KJV

John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." KJV

All and absolute truth originates from God. Truth is a liberating factor from God. The liberator of truth is Jesus assigned by the Father. The source of all truth is the Word [Jesus human incarnate] in God. The incarnate Word is Jesus and this truth [absolute unadulterated, un-dissolved] is in Jesus. Truth brings legitimacy in bringing order in crisis.

What is the position of believers in times of crisis?

1 Corinthians 3:23 "And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." KJV

The believers are in Christ even during crisis. Although believers live on this earth, believers should not be influenced by the systems of the world, meaning they are not to be ruled and governed by it (worldly systems). Believers are ruled and governed by the Word of God.

2 Corinthians 10:3 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:" KJV

Believers are not to be "world influenced"; they are not to be control by their fleshly desires.

Acts 17:28 "For in him we live, and move, and have our being;..." KJV

Being in Him is a spiritual position, the believers need to realise their total existence is founded in God. There should be no compromise regarding this. Since God is Spirit, believers are also spirit like their Father and must live in the spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." KJV

The believer is no longer alienated from God; the believer has been purchased by the blood of Jesus. The believer belongs to Jesus.

Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." KJV

Believers have been crucified in Christ. The old nature has been done away; the believer has a new nature, which is of God. Therefore the believers' new life is in Christ. This new life can only be received by faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ motivated by love.

John 17:16 "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

John 17:17 "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." KJV

Paul said believers are not governed by the world but He commands that they be set apart from their previous nature of the devil by the truth of the Word.

Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." KJV

Believers are admonished not to be influenced, fashioned, patterned and shaped by the world's way of thinking. How are the believers to be influenced?

Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." KJV

Believers are led by the Holy Spirit as sons of the Most High God.

John 15:26 "But when the Comforter [intercessor, advocate, counselor, strengthener, helper, standby] is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [submitted, obedient, subservient, in order, commissioned to a mission] even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, [in rank with the Father] he shall testify [witness] of me: [Jesus]" AMP

In the development of the believers, the Holy Spirit will manifest Himself as One who comes alongside and help the believers to live life to the fullest and fulfill God's mandate here on earth. The Spirit of God is witness or testament to the Word of God being manifest in the life of believers.

The wisdom of God is initiated by the Holy Spirit. He will illuminate in the believer's heart showing the believer the best way of living the Zoë kind of life. It takes yielding to the Spirit by faith, for the believer to fulfill this kind of life of victory in God. Here is what the Word of God says about this:

John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come."

John 16:14 "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." KJV

Romans 8:37 "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." KJV

Romans 5:5 "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." KJV

Every believer is to be motivated by love, even in crisis – how?

1 Corinthians 13: 4 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up..." KJV

Living by faith is a life process for believers. This process is developed aided by the Word of God, the leading and direction of the Holy Ghost, and the pursuit of the calling of God over their lives. Faith of the believers is fed by the Word of God. However, there is a reality that if the spirit man is starved of the Word of God; faith will not be established hence it will be impossible to live victoriously in Christ.

Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

Colossians 3:17 "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." KJV

This particular passage of scripture admonishes believers to look into their personal development. A daily diet of the Word of God is vital for the effective believers' faith walk. Feeding the spirit man must be substantive to warrant daily nourishment in much the same way as man is sure to feed the natural body with three meals a day under normal circumstances.

2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." KJV

The believers' development has a standard approved by God not any other source. With the help of the Holy Spirit, one can attain balance in accurately and correctly appropriating the Word of truth in life.

The believers' walk of faith requires a healthy deposit of the Word of God that will in turn yield a return commensurate to a lifestyle designed for God's kingdom.

Life's lessons:

"Have faith in God; God has faith in you." Edwin Louis Cole

Developing a faith relationship with God is always a two way process. When you take time to commune with God, and during such time one can sense the need to "fast"- that is the need to forgo certain pleasures so as to put the body under. You may need to forego food, maybe forgoing certain company or television.

"A fast is not a hunger strike. Fasting submits to God's commands. A hunger strike makes God submit to our demands." Edwin Louis Cole

I clearly remember how in my earlier days of learning about faith – this was in the early nineties how I believed that fasting made me more spiritual. Fasting at the time brought a sense of achievement - as if to say "Yes I've conquered another day without food." It made me believe that God acknowledged my spirituality and was obligated to fulfill my requests. I clearly had no biblical understanding of fasting.

You guessed right, I was doing a lot of "hunger strikes" trying to arm twist God into submitting to my life's agenda. I had a habit of not eating at all during the day for a minimum 3 days of literally every week- and I called it fasting. I thank God that revelation and help eventually came when during one of my "fasting rituals", my lovely wife, Cleo asked why and how I actually fasted, she insisted on knowing what my understanding of fasting was based on. I really couldn't explain what I was doing neither could I answer the "why" part of the question.

My ego was crushed as I came to the admission that I needed knowledge and understanding on the subject. I later realised that Cleo actually had greater insight and understanding on fasting than what I thought. She fasted with understanding because she had taken time to search the Word concerning fasting and she had read and studied the principles in the book "A common sense guide to fasting' by the late Rev Kenneth E Hagin. I highly recommend this book as one of the best guides to fasting.

I chose not to remain an ignoramus so I also searched the scriptures and read relevant books in order to get understanding. I also thank God for my wife - two are surely better than one. Getting understanding of the Word of God released me to pray and fast with knowledge. Instead of the hunger strike rituals, my fasting is mainly for the purpose of sharpening my spiritual ears while dulling the flesh so I can hear the things of the spirit quicker than I hear my natural senses.

Without the Word there is no basis for a relationship neither is there a basis for receiving anything from the Lord. Fasting is not for purposes of receiving necessarily, fasting is only for the purposes of putting the flesh "under" – meaning you fast mainly to increase your appetite for the Word and prayer hence causing yourself to be spiritually sensitive to the Word and the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 7 – Patience an ingredient that enhances faith in God

One of the major ingredients to enhancing faith is patience. My observation regarding this ingredient is in the light of patience being the aftermath of faith.

Hebrews 10:35 "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."

Hebrews 10:36 "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." KJV

What is "patience"?

Patience is passionate cheerful endurance. It is being passionate constantly. It also speaks of the passion of enduring. Patience is a perpetuating "continuance" meaning actively waiting for something or someone. Objectively it can also mean forbearance. Subjectively it can mean fortitude.

Patience can be longsuffering and endurance. It is persuasion without giving up. It is also being long spirited. The nature of patience is "lack of complaint". In other words believers who engage patiently waiting for the manifestation according to the Word of God will find praising the Lord easy during that time.

On the contrary a distorted perception of "patience" is designed to help one suffer failure gracefully. A classic example of impatience results in debt. In fact the proof of impatience is debt. Impatience is deadly and it aborts the plan of God. It is an enemy of faith, it shows unwillingness to wait.

Impatience is when we go ahead of the plan of God. Therefore patience is a crucial factor that works with faith. Remember impatience can be likened to debt which is buying something you do not have the money for at that present time. It is a result of spending money before you get it. It is using tomorrow's money on today's pleasure.

In enhancing one's faith, one needs to understand that frugality is the seed for multiplication regarding finance. Frugality means one does not make use of finance that is obligated for future use. Believers who are not careful in being patient can easily err from their faith and suffer many sorrows.

By understanding impatience, to the contrast, patience is being consistently constant with God's Word no matter the situations and circumstances. Patience is the "power twin" of faith.

Let's illustrate the working of faith and patience as a twin force. A person needs a job. The Word of God clearly shows the Father's promises to provide for that need:

Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." KJV

This scripture insinuates that the Father takes responsibility in the believers well being. That person has a desire of a job which he or she has asked for in prayer. He or she believes and receives the job by faith and now waits for the manifestation of the job.

A reality check; he or she encounters challenges to their faith tomorrow. They go to interview after interview and are continually turned down. They can easily become discouraged. What will their next course of action be? Selah... pause and think.

I mentioned earlier that faith has a verb called "acting" (remember faith can be used as a verb). It is at this juncture that I believe patience takes over. He or she needs to act as if nothing has changed but stay constantly focused on the promise of the job he or she has received by faith. The facts may appear contrary to the Word of God.

Fact is based on gathered information through the human five senses; truth is based on gathered information based on the Word of God. The Word of God is the ultimate truth that supercedes fact. Truth carries legitimacy of God's Word to man.

It is a key factor that he or she understands the following: the believer's source of truth is God, if he or she bases their confidence on the Word of God (Philippians 4:19) nothing has changed. God cannot lie and so He is obligated to perform what He has said according to His Word.

Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" KJV

The "gap" between having received the job by faith and the manifestation of that job is called patience. Patience is an active force that works alongside faith. Patience keeps doing things that are consistent with the Word of God until that job manifest. Patience helps fend off doubt, unbelief and fear.

Lately in my life, I have noticed that "gap" called patience; helps mould character that is commensurate to the manifestation of whatever one is waiting for. It may sometimes have to do with repositioning oneself in order to be at the right place, time when things manifest.

It is amazing that the prophets of old spoke saying the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Inconvenienced or not Mary and Joseph obeyed to go Bethlehem under challenging circumstance to fulfill a God mandate. I believe that was faith and patience, the super twin powers influencing a God mandated manifestation.

The Word of God is the same yesterday, today and forever. It has been tried and tested since time immemorial and it is a proven winner. So what he or she confessed, believed and acted on (based on God's Word Philippians 4:19) is the same yesterday, today and forever – Jesus is the Alpha & Omega.

When one puts "patience" to work, one can now know what to say after unsuccessful interviews? I suggest one shouts "Hallelujah, I have a job", just like he or she did before attending the interview. One needs to aggressively stay in it because "patience" is an active force that will see one through to the manifestation of God's promise based on His Word.

Remember faith opens the door to God's promise for the believer. Patience keeps it open until that promise manifests and is fulfilled. Patience protects and works alongside faith until the manifestation of the promises of God. Therefore it is important to keep sight on the promises in the Word of God. I encourage believers not to be discouraged by a promise they have been waiting on for some time.

Why?

Habakkuk 2:3 "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." KJV

Therefore put patience to work because the Word guarantees believers will overcome and be rewarded.

Hebrews 6:10 "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister."

Hebrews 6:11 "And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:"

Hebrews 6:12 "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

Hebrews 6:13 "For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,"

Hebrews 6:14 "Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee."

Hebrews 6:15 "And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." KJV

Life's lessons:

In the part of the world where I come from, quite a notable number of parents have named their baby girls, Patience; I think it is good to declare such a virtue in the life of a child. One of my favourite statements is "Patience is more than a girl's name", its more than just naming a child and then leaving it at that. Let me show you why I say so.

Hebrews 6:12 "...be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."KJV

Patience is a requirement if believers are to remain in the "walk of faith". Without patience believers cannot remain steadfast in "believing" God. At times the manifestation of faith may seem slow in coming. Patience rescues the believer from the temptation to give up.

Patience is in partnership with faith. It will keep the believer focused until faith manifests the result of believing. It is what makes the difference between success and failure. Patience is the encouragement that the believer's faith will manifest results in line with what the believer believes God for.

Patience is a source of power for the believer's faith to tap into. It provides the environment for boldness to act by refusing any testimony contrary to the Word of God. It is the constant reminder that the Word of God is at work. Patience will always testify that God's Word never fails. Patience is a resistance to doubt, unbelief and fear of failure.

As I write I believe God for the manifestation of the vision He has given me. It has been at times challenging in anticipation of the unfolding of this vision. I am also learning that the Word of God has an appointed time for this vision (Habakkuk 2). Patience and faith partnering together help me keep my sanity as I take each precious step of this vision as unctioned by the Master. Not always easy but it is just that way my friend.

My patience motto is "never quit"!

In our endeavour of never quitting in life we also encounter the fear of failing. Everyone has failed at some time or another. I am sure we all can share some personal failures that have brought pain in our lives. Failure should never threaten one's life. We can choose to see failure as an attitude rather than an outcome and or destination. We are definitely not created to be failures in life but to the contrary success should be our portion.

We can learn from our failures, they can teach and train us to find better ways to carry out God's plan for our lives. As believers when we fail we can learn to come to terms with the failure and look at it as a positive experience. I have recently had to confront a failed issue in my life and realised I must never be afraid to declare something I attempted a failure. Why? Because I was afraid that failure might reflect on my short comings meaning that I am not good at what I was attempting.

The truth is that failure can free you to take risks in life. A life of faith is a life of risk. All the great men of God are big risk takers. I believe the "Successful Student" can learn important, life-changing truths from a failure! However, I do not advocate that failure is the prerequisite to success, but because we are not perfect when we do fail we can learn how not to do something incorrectly by opting to find a successful way of doing things. So in learning from failure we can make the experience wonderful and powerful.

Failure isn't final; God's promises are. Failure can teach us to see past what is before us, that can look chaotic and out of sync, so we can stand on something much more lasting and powerful—the Word and promises of God.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" KJV

Today, "Are you discouraged?" If so, the solutions to life always bring encouragement. Your life is not yet over; the best is yet to come. God has a plan for you. If you have failed dismally as I have, come on and pick yourself up, determine to learn and move on! Don't allow failure or your interpretation of it to depress you.

I have heard the saying, "Faith is merely fear that has said its prayers." I have been also taught that "courage is the absence of fear". In dealing with fear you need to rely on what the Word of God says about the circumstance you need to overcome. Thereafter take steps initiated by the truth of the Word, note these steps will accumulate and result in success. Each step is taken by the courage you exhibit in believing and acting on God's promise. Any person of purpose will have to face their respective fears and one of those I know is the fear of failure. I have been afraid to look foolish when I fail. Why? No one wants people talking about them, and no one wants to endure the criticism or misunderstandings.

Fear is a debilitating emotion, it has influenced wrong decision making in my life. If not dealt with it will create a history of unresolved trauma and failures. There is a need to grow from fear to trusting God. We must learn to focus and deal with what we fear – it maybe failure, poverty, parents, leaders and the unknown.

It never ceases to amaze me that we are so afraid to fail. One paradox however is a baby learns to walk by falling down more than several times. I am not suggesting that we live by trial and error but walking is paramount to human development. In my faith walk I have fallen many times, for example regarding believing God for property in particular.

Proverbs 24:16 "For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity" KJV

Must I then stop believing God for his favour and grace with regards to owning realty? When you fall down, face your fears, pray and then get back on your horse called life. As Proverbs proves, only the wicked can be brought down by failure.

Many mentors have spoken, "A life lived in fear is a life half lived." As believers it is treason to live half-lives because Jesus came to make available life to be lived to the fullest. At times I personally have been so afraid of missing God that I actually missed Him regarding my life's direction and His instructions. I was so afraid of doing the wrong thing that I did nothing, in fear of doing the wrong thing. There is a message from the Word of God that admonishes us regarding fear.

Jesus said: Revelation 21:8 "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars — their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death" (emphasis added)

Being fearful and living without faith will result in being thrown into the lake of fire.

Have I mastered this area of fear of failure in my life? Comprehensively not yet, but daily I continue working on overcoming fear and unbelief. Exercising what the Word of God says regarding faith will help you stop the fear of failure robbing you of your success. Remember what you do must be what God has put in your heart to do supported by His Word. The walk of faith overcoming fear needs a biblical based balance that requires you not to be reckless and not become over cautious either. What do you do if you fail again? Well, then pick yourself up and go again. Just don't let fear rule your life any more.

Rather than push and bury your failures in life, learn to confront and deal with them before moving on in life. My recognition of personal failures in life has helped me change my perception of failure. I have learnt failure is not an event unless I allow it. Failure is an assessment of my progress, it helps me review the decisions I must make with the view of bringing success. I thank and recognise the Alpha and Omega of my life as the Authority concerning my success. Not everything in failure has failed, so keep on keeping on!

Chapter 8 – Jesus taught the Disciples the God kind of faith

Mark 11:22 "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God."

Mark 11:23 "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 11:24 "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

Mark 11:25 "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

Mark 11:26 "But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." KJV

In the above text from the bible, Jesus taught His disciples to have faith in God, or another way of saying this "having the God kind of faith." Jesus taught them with the understanding that they were to have a relationship with the Provider of their faith. Jesus taught them to focus on God as their faith provider and developer. So having faith in God is based on a relationship with God.

Just to side track a bit, I believe Jesus also wanted the disciples to get a full understanding of who God is to man. God in this context being the Godhead consists, the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. God is the Creator, Provider, Lover, Friend, Teacher, Saviour, Leader, Protector and Spirit. When believers know they have faith in God, they can know the ability of God as described above. Believers can find solace in a well able God.

In Mark 11:22 "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." KJV

Jesus indicated to the disciples that God was the "go to" to person regarding their faith. This insinuates that having faith in God spills over into believers knowing God by having an intimate relationship. Since scripture says, "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God"; the believer's relationship is initiated by the Word of God. In other words believers get to know God through His Word.

Since this faith is the God kind of faith, it is based on His Word. This makes this type of faith authentic as it carries the integrity of God. This faith carries God's endorsement for the believer to make use of. It has been perfected, it is perfected and it will always be perfected by God.

This faith is void of fear, doubt and unbelief. So Jesus directed the disciples' focus to faith in God which would help them live as He lived. Jesus also wanted the disciples to understand that His relationship with the Father was based on faith.

In, Mark 11:23 "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." KJV

Jesus advises the disciples that living by faith was not limited to Him and themselves but would go beyond to the "whosoever" believers in God. This "whosoever" includes you and me, today. He wanted the disciples to know that God is not a respecter of persons. So the "whosoever" is not limited to the disciples alone. This would allow the disciples to teach faith also to the "whosoever" believers. Whosoever means "whosoever" is willing by engaging in acting on God's Word by faith.

Jesus dared the disciples to speak to things that seemed to challenge their situations and circumstances. Jesus taught the disciples that God was bigger and greater than their surroundings, circumstances and situations. He taught them to express their God given faith through words when addressing issues contrary to the Word of God. Jesus advocated that there is power in the words that the disciples would speak.

Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." KJV

In respect of the above and with context to Mark 11:23, speaking words carry power and authority. Whether the words express death or life, they will manifest the power they carry. In other words, words act like containers of power when realised by faith or any other force contrary to faith such as doubt, unbelief and fear. If believers speak words of fear, fear will manifest.

I believe Job released words that supported his fear in the situation he encountered, resulting in the scripture below.

Job 3:25 "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me." KJV

I like Jesus' method of teaching; He did not teach them from a negative or defensive point of view but rather from an aggressive and positive manner. He dared His disciples to speak to issues that were against all odds using their faith in God. Jesus also taught them regarding the possibility of God, where things would be impossible with man.

Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. This kind of speaking carries an anointing" KJV

Just how possible is it to speak to mountains and get them to move? Jesus taught that using words released by faith believing God, mountains can be moved. Today's world is full of impossibilities which when faith is applied can become possibilities in God.

Impossibilities talk about issues that are without solutions, ridiculous in appearance, unachievable, unattainable and out of the question, however, thank God that He is a God of solutions. Having faith in God is all about possibilities. Potentially possibilities talk of the doable, viable, workable, achievable and promises based on the Word of God manifested through faith.

God has never been put off by the challenges of this world. So Jesus explained to His disciples that no matter how difficult the situation or circumstance, faith in God can shift any resistance against the Word of God. God's Word carries the assurance that when believers release their faith in their lives anointed words by faith will do exactly what is spoken.

Why?

When believers release words in faith, these words carry the anointing. This anointing is the power of God on assignment and or instruction (In His Word). So Jesus taught His disciples that as believers they could instruct situations by releasing faith in God through words. God will honour the words that believers speak more so when the believers speak His Word.

Isaiah 55:11 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." KJV

From the above text, when the Word is spoken, it carries a corresponding result to its instruction and or purpose. Believers need to also realise that the anointing is engaged when a matter is spoken. The anointing also follows instruction, and instruction is initiated from the Word of God.

I believe Jesus taught these principles that are imperative to having faith in God. He would have also taught faith based on what the Godhead demonstrated in Genesis, when they (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) spoke creation into existence.

Jesus also factored in the point of speaking with authority to things. Just merely thinking that things can change without releasing faith through speaking will not carry authority. Speaking is an initiator of faith. Faith is always released by being verbalised. Faith also addresses issues. Faith demands that believers put into words what they desire to happen in line with the Word of God.

Since faith initiates action, action is a product of expressed words. When words are released by faith it causes fluency to corresponding action. Therefore when the Word of God is well expressed by speaking it, faith is a reality. The use of words by faith must be believable, credible and convincing. They must be true to the life of Jesus. These words must carry a resounding and undefeatable authority, which brings the desired results.

However, Jesus also taught the disciples that doubt is an adversary of conviction. Doubt hesitates and creates reservation that faith exists. It carries skepticism and uncertainty that faith is not to be believed. Doubt carries a qualm and suspects the truth about having faith in a powerful God. Doubt is a public enemy to faith, and believers must treat doubt as such. Doubt is sin.

Romans 14:23 "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." KJV

Doubt is unacquainted to the truth of God in the spirit realm. Doubt rides on and manipulates the human senses contrary to the truth of the Word of God. Doubt is faith in anything contrary to the Word of God. Doubt is enmity to the Word of God. Believers must desist in hostility and antagonism towards the Word of God.

Why?

God is not pleased in believers who doubt His character, ability and His Word. God and His Word are one, being inseparable and exhibiting integrity.

Jesus continually taught His disciples that faith in God, is believing and receiving based on God's Word. Remembering the illustration of the coin, that believing is one side of the coin the other being receiving making it a complete coin. Believing is based on trusting information and acting based on executing that trusted information. Faith acts on information based on the Word of God.

Believing is an expression of conviction. However, believing alone without corresponding action will result in zero (unfulfilled) manifestation. As a point of illustration;

Speaking, believing and action = movement and manifestation of faith.

Let me reiterate faith is not a formula, but rather a process used in the kingdom of God as the way of living.

In continuing with the faith study the following refers:

Mark 11:23 "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." KJV

Jesus continued teaching His disciples, and this still applies to the believers today, He said, "You shall have whatsoever you say". Consistency in what humans speak will always be commensurate to manifestation of the words spoken. Putting it in another way, humans are the result of what they say and act regarding themselves and their respective lifestyles. So if one does not like themselves and or their lifestyle, one must change the way one speaks and acts respectively.

God's desire for the believer expressed in His Word says in;

1 John 3:2 "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." KJV

As a believer one can choose through stubbornness or be ignorant of what the Word says about them. If the desired Word of God is not habitually believed and acted on, the statement is true that says, "You become what you say you are". Put aptly, someone has remarked, "You are currently the sum total of what you have being saying". It is possible for one to change their lifestyle by changing what they are currently speaking. One should never underestimate that words are powerful.

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." KJV

Jesus initiated instruction by demonstrating the "how to do" of believing and receiving something by faith. When Jesus mentioned the "What things soever", "What things soever" meant and still means all, any, and everything. Jesus also taught that the disciples' quest for something was to be seen through their desire for it. He mentioned

that their desire be expressed through the prayer of petition.

I believe believers need to exhibit a pursuit, perseverance and patience evidenced by their desire for something. Jesus wanted their desire to be expressed through words in faith. So for the disciples to request something there had to be a desire of which there was need for consensus between themselves and the Word of God that that desire can be satisfied and or fulfilled. They could not believe for something they could not receive.

Since their desire needed to be expressed through prayer, in this instance prayer means to petition or make request. Thereafter they were to "believe that ye receive them" resulting in faith. At the same time faith requires one to possess one's desires.

The last part of the text, Jesus taught His disciples an issue regarding character.

Mark 11:25 "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

Mark 11:26 "But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." KJV

Forgiveness is a key component to one's faith working effectively. Jesus was not moved by a formula for faith to work, but rather He was concerned by believers' relationships with God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), other people and themselves as individuals. He taught that un-forgiveness is a hindrance to faith. Matters of the heart are a major issue with God, if there is no forgiveness for those around the believer and God Himself will not forgive that believer.

Then un-forgiveness is like shooting oneself in the foot. Un-forgiveness will always hurt the one carrying unforgiveness, whilst the un-forgiven person continues life "scot free". Someone once said, "un-forgiveness is like someone drinking poison expecting the person who has offended them to die". Obviously from this statement, people need to grow up regarding the issues of un-forgiveness.

The general principle regarding forgiveness requires that everyone should walk as a forgiver and should not walk un-forgiven. Part of Jesus' mandate is reconciling man to God, is forgiveness. This is the biggest "forgiveness transaction" of all time. Therefore, it stands to say if Jesus can do this, the believer is obligate to do the same, since the believers has also been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation.

If the truth be told unforgiving people are hurting people. They are victims of the devil subjecting them to the past trying to steal their today and their future. Hurting people hurt people. The past may well have to do with offenses, hurts and grudges. If this is not nipped in the bud, by operating in forgiveness, this may well result in "hurting people hurt people". Thank God, the Word is designed to disallow un-forgiveness since it paralyses the believer's faith in God.

Life's lesson:

So much emphasis is placed in man's pursuit of knowledge that can be acquired through an education system. The human mind is trained to "cram" information that can later be used meaningful to create value somewhere in life. That investment can be anything beyond 13 years of theory before practicing that theory. This system is commonly known as school.

It is amazing that the school system demands that kind of investment and yet when it comes to the Word of God, an hour of "cramming" a few verses and one wants instant results. Believers sometimes lack the investment of the Word of God in commensurate of the faith lifestyle they desire from the Word of God. I earnestly believe that the believers' relationship with the Word of God needs to go beyond 13 years and becomes an ongoing lifetime investment.

The believers' minds need to be developed in such a way that they go beyond just scratching the surface of scripture. The life training should look at maturing the believers so that as messengers of the message they are one. They become bona fide citizens of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

My challenge in this aspect is do I want to grow? How much do I want to grow? Do I have a plan for this growth? Am I willing to put in the time? No doubt I believe that these are some of the questions that are constantly challenging the believers. Someone said "we are the sum total of the choices we have made". As the reader, can I interrupt by asking whether you like what you are right now? My encouragement is make the smart decisions by acting on right choices that will help you grow by having an intimate relationship with the Word of God.

My mentor has privately taught me, "Never allow anyone or anything to get between you and God". Recently, Cleo and I have gone through a life transforming transition of leaving a ministry that we have belonged to for two decades. I must say this transition tops my spiritual "Richter Scale" considering anything that we have gone through.

We fully believe that God asked us to shift position as part of His purpose for our destiny. We continue to seek Him regarding our assignment moving forward and this is truly an exhilarating ride. We are hungry and eager to know what He wants us to do next. We are truly expectant but this does not mean we are having an easy ride at all. This is time to demonstrate the faith walk.

We are learning a lot of things and one lesson we could have avoided to learn is dealing with rejection and loneliness. When people say their farewells especially moving from where they think they are known and understood they never expect the rejection that follows. Many things are said out of emotions at the time of departure and yet the reality that follows can present shock waves. Brethren whom we believe are family suddenly become strangers over night. They do say they will be on the lookout for you, calling and checking on you. I guess once the farewell event has passed the one who has departed becomes yesterday's memory of a good dream.

It can be an issue of letting go relationships to embrace new ones. Be it God's design or to the contrary, all I can say is, it is not easy mate!

The question is after leaving will there be affirmation and blessing that is unconditional? Or there are conditions to the expectation? The ideal is that people should want what is best for you i.e. whatever God has planned for you regardless of what they believe you should be doing. I believe by faith that when there is consensus and mutual agreement in parting ways the blessing should be unconditional. The brotherly love should definitely be unconditional. It takes faith to move on from what you have always known; it takes faith to move on in life.

Matthew 3:17 "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." KJV

God affirmed Jesus by communicating His pleasure of His Son because of relationship there was no condition at all. He just loved His son.

I seek to address this issue at greater length in another book if God wills. However I pointed this out to say the only solution in our case and for those who know what I'm talking about is that "faith" will help you to get to grips with today in order for you to shape your tomorrow. The past becomes a pale shadow of fond memories that cannot shape one's future. So "Get over the past and get on with life". There is a lady who said if she could invent the eleventh commandment it would be "Thou shalt get over it" I agree with her.

Chapter 9 – Winning faith in God

Every believer should endeavour to live victoriously in life. I believe that faith is one of the keys to achieving that. I have selected 3 quality decisions for winning in faith. These decisions are wisdom keys based on principles found in the Word of God. Wisdom, more often than not brings us to a place where one has to make decisions.

Deuteronomy 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:" KJV

Decisions will determine what happens in one's life, either living victoriously or in failure. The good thing about decisions is that God always gives the believer many opportunities to make choices that will determine successful living. Moreso God has given His Word and the Holy Spirit to positively influence any yielded believer's life.

Walking and winning in faith requires that believers make the following decisions:

  1. Decide: The Word of God is the final authority in life.

Hebrew 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." KJV

Believers need to line up their thinking with whatever the Word says. The Word of God is also described as a sword. A sword is an offensive weapon worn at the side and used by the hand either for thrusting at or cutting up opponents. This means figuratively the Word of God is a weapon of destruction in war.

The Word is also used to bring vengeance and or justice. The Word carries God's authority and power. The Word also carries the triumph and protection for the believers. The Word is also likened to a sword that brings excellence, mentioned in Deuteronomy 33.

  2. Decide: To live life by faith as prescribed by the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." KJV

Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." KJV

This choice of serving God effectively will require that believers live by faith. The establishment of living effectively by faith will require that believers feed their faith with the Word of God. If faith does come by hearing and hearing the Word of God, then it suffices to say, without the Word of God, faith is ineffective.

  3. Decide: To live by the love of God because faith works by love.

Galatians 5:5 "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."

Galatians 5:6 "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." KJV

The unconditional love of God is motivation for believers to win in faith. Unconditional love is a matter that motivates even the kingdom of God to function. Without love, faith will not function. Without the Word, one cannot have faith.

What is important concerning these 3 decisions is that the believers appropriate them by diligently acting on them. Believers need to invest in quality time to get alone with God in His Word and prayer. This should help establish a meaningful relationship not as a means to extract things for our personal lust from God.

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments." KJV

Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." KJV

In putting these things into perspective, believers need to realise that this walking and winning in life by faith is not a personal agenda to acquire things from the Creator. It is about God and His purpose for the believers. The interest of the believer should always be to glorify God and not self.

The believers' pursuit of life should be the same as their Father's pursuit of His interest, which I believe is the kingdom of God. In the believers' search of God, all decisions must be based on the Word and be submitted to God. Faith affords us the opportunity to relate with God by;

• Living by the Word of God

• Living by faith

• Living by the love of God.

Whilst on this topic on winning in faith, let's deal with the issue of "blind faith". What I am about to mention might upset some people; ""blind faith" is not a spiritual term at all". Faith cannot be blind, has never been blind and will never be blind. Faith always has the ability to see.

The term blind means sightless, it can also be described for example as a visor that screens direct light to provide shade. The term blind faith insinuates this faith is dim and gloom. There is a distinct contrast between light and darkness. Faith is a product that comes from the Father of light.

The originator of faith is God. Would it be correct to say that "blind faith" originates from God? I believe God has always created things that illuminate His glory, not to hide things in darkness. So would blind faith be in darkness? Anything that is unknown and becomes a grey area (shade or darkness) the enemy is likely to create deception because of ignorance. God does not need believers to be blind to faith if anything He wants their eyes enlightened that believers may know Him in His true light.

Winning faith is not a control issue. Faith is not a formula; rather it is based on a relationship with God. Faith is about working together with God, the believer doing his or her part and God His part. If God was not looking for a relationship with His children, He would do everything for Himself. However, God loves His children and wants to work together with them by sharing His purpose. This is an awesome opportunity and blessing for believers to work together with the Creator of the universe on His eternal life's assignment. What a privilege!

So the believers are not to try and control their respective destinies but to work alongside the King of kings. God is the master-builder of the believers' destinies.

1 Corinthians 3:9 "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."

1 Corinthians 3:10 "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon."

1 Corinthians 3:11 "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

1 Corinthians 3:12 "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;"

1 Corinthians 3:13 "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is."

1 Corinthians 3:14 "If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward."

1 Corinthians 3:18 "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise."

1 Corinthians 3:19 "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."

1 Corinthians 3:23 "And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." KJV

I submit to the believers that the Word of God does not have room for "lone rangers" in the kingdom of God. God has designed that the believers' walk of faith requires them to work with the Chief Master-Builder. The believers belong to Christ and in turn Christ in God (Godhead). Winning in faith will require that believers walk and work with God. It is not in the believers' interest to walk alone.

Walking and working with God-head, means the believer is yielded and submitted to God's plan and purpose for his or her life. So building a life that will win in faith is orchestrated by the Chief Master-Builder, God. The bible says whatever is built up in the believer's life will be tested by fire. If found wanting the believer will miss out on God's reward. Living a "lone ranger" life is deceptive.

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." KJV

Believers need to cooperate with the Word of God, by doing their part. This part includes being obedient, prayerful (enhancing a personal relationship with God), and putting one's trust in God. Just on the tangent of prayer, it is arrogance as a believer to neglect communicating with God and expect personal assignments to be fulfilled by God. Prayerlessness is saying, "God I do not need you, I can do things on my own, thereafter endorse them when I am finished".

Believers must not be under pressure so as to try to arm twist God into doing things be they legitimate or not. They should not create personal agendas then expect God to endorse the activities there-of. God's agenda for the believer should become their expressed desire to glorify God. Remember God cannot be frog-matched into endorsing one's whimsical requests.

Jesus said that a man left to his own device will destroy his own life, but should the man give it (life) to God he will live (Paraphrased from Luke 9:24). Oh, how so true. So the believer must trust God. The Word of God admonishes the believer to do that.

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

Proverbs 3:6 "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Proverbs 3:7 "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil."

Proverbs 3:13 "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding."

Proverbs 3:14 "For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold." KJV

Winning in faith means we are victorious. Winning gives the sense that there is a prize for the winner, and yes God is a rewarder of the believers that diligently seek Him. I pray that all believers will fight the good fight of faith, they will run the race and complete it and that they will have kept their faith till the end. I look forward to receiving my "Faith Award" for the best run race designed by God for Kudzai Shoko, and trust there will be yours too! Walking and working with God is the key to winning in faith.

Winning in faith in God carries certain responsibilities. There is a part the believer must play to enjoy the triumphs that come with this victory. In this respect believers need to do the following:

• Build strong faith through obeying God's Word

• Live with a positive attitude walking and working with God

• Aggressively pursue and possess what one confesses in the Word.

Hebrews 4:14 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." KJV

Christianity is sometimes known as the "Great Confession". If believers are going to have to live by faith, then that faith is going to be influenced by the Great Confession. There has never been a movement that has ushered change without speaking, proclamation, and declarations. The walk of faith is no different. It requires that its constituents, the believers speak out what they believe.

Hebrews 3:1 "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;" KJV

Thank God, the believers have their Commander-In Chief, the Apostle and High Priest of their profession. The believers have been given the right to speak out their beliefs of walking in faith, through the great commission.

Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." KJV

Preaching of the gospel suggests that believers will methodically narrate God's mandate to the world through sermonising, addressing, lecturing, advocating and urging people worldwide. As believers the mandate is based on understanding the premise of confessions (here not talking about declaration of guilt):

• Absolute integrity of the Word of God

• Redemptive work of Jesus Christ

• New Creation, receiving the Life and Nature of God

• God is the enabler of the believers' lives.

Contradictions of confessions based on the above are influenced by knowledge. This knowledge is not based on the Word but rather is sensed ruled. Sense ruled knowledge holds fast to the confession of physical evidences. Faith based knowledge holds on the confession of the Word of God.

Life's Lessons:

In winning in life, it is an attitude. This, I am learning through wisdom that is revealed by the Holy Spirit. He is a teacher of note! Infact He is the Teacher of teachers. He is the One that comes alongside to assist me in all that I do. Here is something I learnt after attending a 21st Birthday party for a colleague's daughter. A friend of the birthday girl gave the following parable; that can be applicable to our walk of faith with God:

The parable of the pencil

  * You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone's hand

  * You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you will need it to become a better pencil

  * You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make

  * The most important part of you will always be what's inside of you

  * On every surface, you are used on; you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.

Need I say anything regarding the above? Take some time and meditate.

Chapter 10 – Faith, Finance and Fellowship

I heard a prominent man of God mention once to the effect that he does not desire anything that he is not willing to give back to God. This statement caught my attention and I have since pursued this attitude and fundamental truth.

I notice that everything that I have received from God belongs to Him. I am a custodian of everything given to me from Him.

Why?

I believe the first and fundamental purpose is so that I can help enhance the kingdom of God, thereafter the purpose is that my personal needs are met.

The real reason that God wants me rich is so that I can pursue His interests. I love this because He wants me to share the privilege of establishing His kingdom. So God can call anything that He has given to me for the purpose of establishing His kingdom. Faith is required if one is to relate with God at this level.

One has to go beyond seeing with their canal eyes so that they see wealth, especially financial prosperity with the eyes of faith. Failure to do so can easily result in greed. By greed I'm referring to a situation whereby one keeps something that does not belong to them, something that God has not assigned for retaining. When one resists passing on something that carries a purpose elsewhere they are operating in greed.

Below are two key scriptures that are instrumental in walking in faith regarding the believer's finance whilst walking (fellowshipping) with God:

Deuteronomy 8:18 "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." KJV

Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." KJV

Faith always places a priority on the Word of God. The above scripture clearly gives God's intention and purpose regarding prospering man. God also prioritises the kingdom of God ahead of the things that men seek after.

Actually, man is not supposed to seek after things but must seek the kingdom of God and the things will be made available to man. This is the faith "modus operandi" of God in His kingdom. Any other way is not going to bring the desired results that please God.

Whilst in this discussion of faith, finance and fellowship, I would like to bring to readers' attention the issue of blessing. Too many times the term "blessing" is restricted to financial prosperity; yet blessing far exceeds this limitation. Not that finances are not important but must be put in context of God's purpose for finances.

For example living in divine health, being born again and spirit filled is a manifestation of blessing that goes beyond the limitation of financial prosperity. However, believers need to differentiate "blessing" from the "result of blessing".

The result of blessing may include having money, a business, and a ministry; however it is not the blessing. Blessing is God ordained empowerment for the believer to succeed in life. This empowerment is snugly fitted in the Word of God. It manifests when believers act on the Word of God by faith. The manifestation is influenced by the power of God on the assignment regarding the blessing, that power is called the anointing.

The blessing is not a thing per say, it is the nature of God that causes His order of how man should live here on earth. So when the Word proclaims a blessing, the Word is the order, priority, purpose of God that brings about the result that fulfils God's desire for man. Contrary to the blessing, the Old Testament speaks about curses as afflictions.

Curses are described as trouble as a result of failure to follow the blessing is concerned. Curses were more spoken of under the law in the bible. Curses are not God derived. They are a result of man acting outside the Word of God. God has always sought to bring the empowerment for believers to succeed and for them not to fail. However, failure by believers to adhere to the Word of God regarding blessing, will result in trouble.

Financial prosperity is part and parcel of God's blessing to man. God wants man to prosper in every facet of his or her life including finances. I believe believers have been blessed by God:

Galatians 3:9 "So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." KJV

Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" KJV

Revelations 22:14 "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." KJV

This blessing that comes from God originates from faith and not from the law in the bible. It is important that this fundamental truth is understood. Todays, born-again man can experience the reality of this blessing:

Galatians 3:11 "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:12 "And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them."

Galatians 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" KJV

This reality is expressed no better than the authority of God, His Word as follows:

Galatians 3:23 "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed."

Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

Galatians 3:25 "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."

Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

Galatians 3:27 "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

Galatians 3:29 "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." KJV

Having discussed the blessing, this sets a firm foundation to discuss the believer's finances. God has a way of dealing with the believer's finances under His covenant with man. God's way seeks to bring about results consistent to His Word regarding the blessing.

Tithes and Offerings are God's design regarding resource utilization that benefits God and man. This is a covenant between God and man. Tithing and offering are in material form; either it can be cash, farm produce, and livestock to name a few examples so that one gets the picture.

As mentioned from scripture discussed earlier in this chapter, Tithe originates from the Abrahamic covenant and not the law. I am basing this on the law of first mention, regarding the Tithe (Genesis). The following scriptures help in realizing where the believer is in relation to faith, regarding the blessing.

Galatians 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"

Galatians 3:14 "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." KJV

The believers are in a covenant with Christ that emanates from faith, even as far back as Abraham:

Galatians 3:29 "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." KJV

If the believers are in Christ, then the Tithe that started with the Abrahamic covenant is not of the law but is a faith relationship between God and man. Even the bible has evidence that Abraham tithed and was blessed 450 years before the law was crafted.

Since the issue of blessing was before the law. Tithing is a blessing covenant between God and man. Abraham expressed this covenant in the book of Genesis:

Genesis 14:18 "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God."

Genesis 14:19 "And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:"

Genesis 14:20 "And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." KJV

I love the way God deals with man. God cannot give man something that He does not possess. God is willing to give man anything that will help establish His kingdom. God will never allow or give man something that He cannot receive back from man. God gives man things and expects man to give back so that He can establish His purpose, the kingdom. That is the way God operates, and what an amazing partnership, relationship and covenant between God and man.

So man needs to realise tithing and offering are more about value not money. It is the value of God's purpose that is used as a means of exchange called money. God also deals with man on a "means of exchange" relationship, similar to the Cross at Calvary reality. Man's fallen nature was exchanged with salvation being made available.

Matthew 6:19 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:"

Matthew 6:20 "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:"

Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." KJV

God wants man's heart to be in the right place. Tithes and offerings create the opportunity to participate in God's purpose, which is where the believer's heart should be. The idea is clear that the believer's heart should not be in pursuit of anything that ascends the knowledge of God. Money must never be worshipped at any cost, especially at the expense of God. Money must not become a god to man.

Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." KJV

God has a financial plan called tithing and offering. It is a faith based covenant. The covenant is enveloped by a relationship, which is a partnership between God and man. It is important to understand tithing so as to understand this relationship.

The tithe is a covenant based on obedience. In this respect it is an agreement between God and man, with man submitting to God. Operating outside this covenant offered by God, the purpose of finances on earth is futile. Obedience to the Tithe covenant is effectual in partnering with God as it establishes His eternal kingdom.

Isaiah 1:19 "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:"

Isaiah 1:20 "But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." KJV

Acts 6:7 "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." KJV

Hebrews 5:8 "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;"

Hebrews 5:9 "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"

Hebrews 5:10 "Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec." KJV

The texts above indicate that believers need to be willing and obedient in covenant with God. This is achievable as the believers abide by faith.

In the Tithe covenant, what are believers obedient to?

Believers' are obedient to God's Word beyond natural situation and circumstance even if it is challenging. Believers must know that the Word always prevails over everything else. Believers are obedient by bringing to God ten percent of their increase. This obedience is instrumental to the establishment of "kingdom finance". Responding to God's instructions regarding obedience is the believers' responsibility concerning the upkeep of His church.

God also gives man an opportunity to trust Him regarding financial prosperity. The relationship regarding trust is based on faith. Man can believe God that what He has promised in His Word regarding tithing will always manifest. The trust relationship between God and man is for the purpose of establishing what the Word of God sets out to accomplish. Therefore in man being loyal to God, God assures man's best interests in the relationship are guaranteed.

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

Proverbs 3:6 "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Proverbs 3:7 "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." KJV

Psalms 146:3 "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help." KJV

Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." KJV

Trust is a relationship between two parties or more, who believe in the same value system or having faith in a person, thing, principle or statement of evidence. Trust is the fidelity of the Word of God which is based on truth.

Tithing is a discipline.

It brings about order regarding the believer's finances. It also brings about the order regarding resources that are required to establish the kingdom of God. It also brings about the order in prioritizing God in the lives of the believers.

Tithing keeps a check on man's possible self-indulgence in his or her finances. Finance regarding the covenant God has with man is a twofold effort. The beauty of this is that God exercises His Word for His purpose, being the kingdom:

Deuteronomy 32:30 "How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?" KJV

There is power beyond one person, the synergy of two is better than one person. Tithing as a discipline means there is an agreement between the one who is "discipling" and the one being "discipled". It is pretty much the same as Mentors and protégés.

Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" KJV

The power of agreement is a covenant with God that cannot be underestimated. God always honours agreement. He is the initiator in His covenant agreements and offers the believer the opportunity to be a beneficiary. Not only is the believer a beneficiary but a partaker of what He is establishing in His kingdom.

Matthew 18:19 "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." KJV

Tithing teaches discipline with God's kingdom purpose in mind, it is not a punitive measure against man at all, rather it God's way of manifesting a beautiful partnership with man. There are however consequences of not tithing:

Job 36:10 "He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity."

Job 36:11 "If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures."

Job 36:12 "But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge." KJV

Luke 6:40 "The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master." KJV

John 19:38 "And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, ..." KJV

The scriptures above suggest that discipline means to instruct someone with the intent of fulfilling a desired purpose. It is not always necessarily a form of correction, punishment and chastisement but it can be educating so as to apply understanding. Discipline also suggests the exercising of fundamental principles unto maturity. It can be drills that bring about habits in pursuit of a changed lifestyle.

The purpose of discipline is to prepare people for life transforming decisions and managing such decisions. It is also to train believers to demonstrate the desirable; remember the adage "practice makes perfect and permanent". In the context of tithing it regulates believers so they can conform to the lifestyle designed by the Creator.

God has an amazing strategy of establishing His kingdom. He ordained the body of Christ, which is the church, as the institution that would spearhead the great commission. The commission is for the believers to go into the world to win the lost and also disciple them for His kingdom. Tithing is a "resource" strategy to support God's church and people.

Tithing teaches support of God's church and people:

Malachi 3:10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." KJV

Leviticus 27:30 "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD."KJV

Numbers 18:25 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"

Numbers 18:26 "Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe." KJV

Tithing champions a cause of establishing God's covenant:

Deuteronomy 8:18 "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." KJV

The scriptures used in this chapter look to espouse God's strategy for financing His kingdom. In the process of doing this God does not discard the believer but rather incorporates the believer as an integral part of His kingdom; offering the believer an opportunity to participate as a valued and purposeful partner. Together they forge a formidable partnership that purposefully seeks to garner provision and sustenance for God's house.

Whilst I did not focus much on the offering, the same pattern and attitude placed on tithing would similarly account for offering. Offering is not obligatory like the tithe but rather a volunteering of the heart to give to God. Whilst the believer is not under compulsion to give, offering offers the opportunity to be a blessing in God's house. Offering allows believers to behave like their Father, God.

God initiated giving to perpetuate His blessing in mankind. Offering does allow the believer the opportunity to be a giver. The term giver is a lifestyle of a perpetual provider for the purpose of others to benefit. No more so has there being a greater demonstrator than God:

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." KJV

God's offering of His Son, Jesus Christ serves as a reminder that the same spirit of giving is also in the believers. God expects the believers to play their part by being instrumental in taking on the responsibility of bring offerings to Him. Giving of offerings ought not be intermittent but become a way of life. When believers offer God their best it allows God to release His best. Giving will always precede receiving, the two are inseparable.

That is how God designed it:

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." KJV

2 Corinthians 9:6 "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

2 Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

2 Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" KJV

Giving of offerings and beyond is a wonderful opportunity to be a blessing and a blessor at the same time. Giving manifests the nature of God in the believers. Giving becomes the absence of greed and becomes the distribution of resource, time and finance to those in need.

A giver is a wonderful instrument in the hands of God for Him to achieve His kingdom purpose. God has needs too; the believer has the opportunity to fulfil those needs. The greatest need God has is WORSHIP. The believers have that opportunity of worshipping God with substance.

Proverbs 3:9 "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:"

Proverbs 3:10 "So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." KJV

In closing off this chapter, I believe more justice can be done regarding faith, finance and fellowship with God. My discussion with the reader is not exhaustive but rather seeks the readers' attention to pursue issues of financial prospering from God's perspective. Currently, the financial meltdown being experienced worldwide calls for answers as the worldly financial systems collapse.

Where are the answers going to come from concerning finances? I believe God's institution called the Church has been mandated to provide such solutions. The Church is a system that propagates God's agenda being the will of God here on earth. The Church must arise in this finite hour and manifest the order of God regarding His kingdom.

Matthew 5:13 "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."

Matthew 5:15 "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." KJV

Living in this exciting end-time prophetic hour, it is faith in God that will bring the believers through. Without faith this feat will prove impossible, but thank God the believer can take solace that "mission possible" is a reality.

Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." KJV

Life's lessons:

God's "valueaires" beyond millionaire and billionaire status.

Whilst I acknowledge millionaire and billionaire status as an achievement of money accumulation, I believe there is more to it than the status. In the kingdom of God the millionaire and billionaire status is a limitation to God's way of establishing His kingdom. Today there is mushrooming in the body of Christ, millionaire and billionaire training. Should these not be called "Valueaires"?

God is not a respecter of persons. In establishing His kingdom, He has made partnership available through tithing, offering and any other giving as mandated in His Word. This partnership arrangement between God and His family is based on value. This value can be represented by money, resources and services used to establish His kingdom. I believe if the body of Christ was to obey this mandate there would be no need of cajoling and coercion by appealing to the saints to tithing and offering and or any other giving.

Since God created this resource partnership I am still convinced the same will establish the kingdom of God, as referred by Deuteronomy 8:18. Any other plan and pursuit is a strategy beyond God having requested that the believers bring to the house of God their Tithes and Offerings. Training the whole body of Christ to be "Valueaires" goes beyond the merits of training millionaires and billionaires, if it is a means to an end.

"Stickability" to the mandate of tithing and offering remains the status God gives to every believer. Giving and receiving remains the perpetual way of kingdom living. The kingdom of God is not going to be established by millionaires and billionaires, rather by all believers obedient to God's way of establishing the kingdom. This group of precious people may and may not be millionaires and billionaires in God's kingdom. Those that are obedient and faithful to His Word regarding the establishment of His kingdom will accomplish this feat.

Money has the ability to answer a lot of questions here on earth. Just what is money? Money is a means of exchange. From a worldly system context it is a means of exchange for goods and services rendered. From a kingdom of God perspective it is a means of exchange for value for faith rendered. This value uses faith in exchange for value that rides on money, goods and services for kingdom business. God's system of the tithes is based on faith and value. God has placed in the believers the choice of determining value as a means of exchange.

An example of this would be:

In the worldly system, if a person decides to exchange their body for money, that transaction is based on the person's value system. The value they place on their body is represented by money. Unfortunately, that person believes that their body is worth the going rate of corresponding value represented by money. However, the kingdom of God has its own value system.

Tithing is a system where the believer's value can also be represented by money. This exchange is based on a premium of establishing the kingdom of God. The believer has the opportunity to give money, resources and services character creating a value to where it is going to. In other words, the believer places value in establishing the kingdom of God by the character placed towards money. The value system is based on the Word of God regarding the establishment of the kingdom of God.

Character placed on money for value is determined by the activity that brings money in and consumption of it. As you know, prostitution is an illicit transaction where human bodies are exchanged sexually for money. So money represented after such transaction is acquired by the character of prostitution. Bringing such value to the house of God as a tithe would go against the value system based on the Word of God. However, when a believer tithes, the character placed on the value resulting from goods or services exchanged, it is accepted within the value system based on the integrity of God's Word.

In the kingdom of God, I believe money merely represents value. Value is more important to God than money it represents. With regards to the poor widow, Jesus observed her giving at the treasury as her value represented by the money she gave. It was her all, equaling her willingness to "literally throw herself in the treasury" for the purpose of the kingdom of God. She placed value in the purpose of the kingdom; she was willing to give what represented what was left in her life.

Mark 12:41 "And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much."

Mark 12:42 "And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing."

Mark 12:43 "And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:"

Mark 12:44 "For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." KJV

I also believe man has a choice to decide where he places value regarding life. In placing value in God and the things of God, man can enjoy a partnership with God in establishing together the kingdom of God.

Should man look to place value elsewhere, man will have partnership and or relationship with whatever thing that consumes that value. In essence that thing will inevitably become the ruler of that man. Great and small will establish the kingdom of God, not only millionaires and billionaires; again God is not a respecter of person. To get a further understanding of this, here are scenarios that can help to emphasize this point:

Those that deal with the millions and billions are challenged to bring in the tithes, which can look substantial. The same challenge is also faced by those who may at present be dealing with much smaller amounts and in some cases amounts that are minute.

Both are commanded to bring in their respective tithes and offerings. Failure to comply with God's instruction results in greed. Greed is keeping something that has not been assigned to you, but is purposed for something else beyond your personal use.

Greed is not merely hoarding substantial amounts from the purpose of God, even hoarding the smaller amounts result in greed. Greed in this context is a display of arrogance towards God and His way of doing things.

The church must guard against being partial when it comes to tithing and offering. It must guard against preferring the rich over the not so rich, there are people whose reputation of giving is stunting their spiritual growth mainly because they are focusing on maintaining the reputation at all cost. Some are disregarding honesty and integrity, because their focus is to bring large amounts of money to the church.

Personally, I have been enquiring from the Lord regarding where the resources will come from to establish His kingdom. I sincerely believe that in every God-ordained local church established by God, He sends people to provide for the needs. Meaning anyone sent to a particular church is carrying part of the resource required to fulfill that church's purpose. So everything the church needs is basically packaged in the people sent to it. Be it resources, skills, callings and assistance.

I said this to say givers are great and small in stature and in relation to the amount of money they outlay in churches. However, this must not become an issue as God focuses on value not necessarily the amount. God is more interested in the value and commitment to His Word regarding what is due to Him.

To put this in context, a person who earns R1000 and tithes 10% resulting in a tithe of R100 is not lesser than a person who earns R100 000 tithing R10 000. In God's eyes they are the same, they have both placed value and faith based on His Word regarding tithing. The danger comes when the church exhibits partiality by discriminating those whose tithe is smaller.

James 2:1 "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons."

James 2:2 "For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;"

James 2:3 "And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:"

James 2:4 "Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?"

James 2:5 "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?"

James 2:6 "But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?" KJV

Kudzai do we need millionaires and billionaires in the kingdom?

Yes by all means let's have them and let's also have those who are not millionaires and billionaires, and the poor.

Why?

God doesn't practice discrimination when it comes to people's giving. Anyone is entitled to exercise their giving in God's kingdom. We must be wary of despising God's people while preferring those that are conspicuous in their giving. I sincerely believe God knows that in His kingdom He has placed people with varying giftings and capabilities, and that His plan of financing through tithing and offering is a master-plan and in essence an equalizer in itself.

The other reason the Apostle James admonishes that we guard ourselves against being partial in the church, is the "deception of reputation preceding character". Here is a scenario that can help illustrate this. A person may earn millions and or billions and only remit a tithe that in not commensurate with that earning, say they earn a monthly increase of R1 million and yet remit a tithe of R50 000 against someone who earns R1 000 and faithfully remits a tithe of R100.

Before God which one is exhibiting character? Which one is the "robber"? - yet the church may pull out the preferential treatment for the "robber" because in the church books he or she is bringing a larger amount of money on a monthly basis which the church accepts as his/ her "tithe", when it is actually not the whole tenth of his/ her increase. Does this please God? I truly believe that God is more interested in the character rather than the reputation that this person has with people - or with the pastor in this case.

Some pastors and leaders give special accolades to those that are termed "big givers" without checking how the money has been acquired - this is creating a great mockery on the body of Christ as a whole. What has happened to the integrity of the men and women of God? We must rise above selling our souls for bread. God will always reward faithfulness according to the abilities and talents He has invested in each one of us.

Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." KJV

One of the major lessons and or attitudes when it comes to money, particularly its context to the kingdom of God can be displayed by the following text:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

Ecclesiastes 12:14 "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." KJV

Obedience in fearing God is a key factor when dealing with money matters in the kingdom of God.

Closing

In explaining what faith is, I have also looked at other components that enhance its value to the believer. Faith is a tool for the believer's life that helps in pursuing God given vision. When diligently pursued it can help expedite the plan, purpose and pursuits of God's will. It allows the believer to demonstrate the plan, purpose and pursuits of God's will. It is an imperative for Godly living. One day you and I will stand before God and give an account of the life we lived here on earth. Will the God kind of faith that please God be found in you?

Since faith is of essence for Godly living, the following text from the Bible is apt to bringing closure to this chapter.

Psalms 138:8 "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands." KJV

There is a grace and mercy of God that has been released in faith for believers to live successfully here on earth. This faith wrapped up in the Word of God can be a wonderful opportunity of using God's Principles to pursue His

Will in our lives.

Learning faith has helped me get God's instruction for how to execute His will in my life. At times I have gotten ahead of myself before knowing how to execute His Will in my life by knowing;

  1. The assignment (God purpose for life)

  2. The anointing (God power on assignment)

3. The strategy (God's method of achieving His purpose).

Clarity of the above factors is an imperative prior execution of one's purpose in life. This cannot be attained through human effort but by faith, the Word says this, "Not by might nor by power but by my spirit says the Lord".

Faith has also taught me to always begin and do everything with God. The challenge has been being trained that I do this all the time. There is also a need to speak to God prior and after execution of tasks in assignment, so that you can evaluate the instructions. So faith also requires that you go back and check that you have done what is required in the assignment. Obedience is key to living a faith filled life. Faith is the privilege God gives me to be responsible for finding out His purpose for my life. This allows my pursuit of God's will to reveal what He has for my life.

In my conclusion of this book, faith has helped me recognise God has made you and I predestined beings. God planned His own world for us and not the world system influenced by the devil. If you are not living God's way, this is disobedience. Remember God is unstoppable regarding accomplishing His purpose. God is not just a beginner but an achiever of His plans and purpose. I believe I am still God's work-in-progress as long as a continue walking with Him by faith. He will complete in me what He started, so that I can say, "I have run the race, I have fought the fight, and I have kept the faith."

Prayer of Salvation

I invite you to pray this prayer for salvation. As you read this prayer, make it your personal prayer as you speak these words from the very depths of your heart. On completion of this prayer, you will be born gain into the family of Almighty God:

Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus, I come to You. I thank you that you said that if I come to you, you will not cast me out, and that you said "Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). I call upon you to save me Lord Jesus.

According to Romans 10:9-10, I confess with my mouth that you are Lord and believe in my heart that you were raised from the dead. Forgive me of all my sin, cleanse me and make me whole, come into my heart, be Lord over my life. I believe right now that I am saved, I say it now: "I am born again and I am a child of Almighty God in the name of Jesus." Amen

Prayer to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Now, thank God for making you His child and ask Him to baptise you with the Holy Spirit.

Pray this prayer, "Heavenly Father, I am a believer. I am Your child and You are my Father. Jesus is my Lord. I believe with all my heart that Your Word is true. "Your Word says if I ask, I will receive the Holy Spirit".

So in the Name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, I am asking You to fill me to overflowing with Your precious Holy Spirit. Father baptize me in the Holy Spirit. "Because of Your Word, I believe that I now receive and I thank You for it. I believe the Holy Spirit is within me and, by faith, I accept it".

"Now, Holy Spirit, rise up within me as I praise God. I fully expect to speak with other tongues, as You give me the utterance."

Now begin giving sound to the expressions in your heart. Speak and hear the Holy Spirit speaking through you.

Rejoice! You've just been baptized in the Holy Spirit! You've been endued with power—hallelujah!

Scripture References:

• Luke 11:10-13

• Acts 2:4

• Jude 20

• 1 Corinthians 14:4

Profile of the Author

Kudzai Shoko is born Zimbabwean. He is privileged in that he engages both the ecclesia (church) and the corporate environment. Earlier in his life he pursued a sporting career and a career in insurance broking before taking up administrative and pastoral work in the church. He was certified and ordained a Pastor.

Kudzai is a multi-faceted business administrator who has acquired valuable experience in sports and church administration, coaching, sales and marketing within the executive search and automotive industry, including short-term insurance broking over the last 20 years. Through sport he has been privileged to have travelled extensively to Europe, the Far East, Australia, Asia and the US, representing Zimbabwe at national level as a professional sportsman, coach and administrator in various sporting disciplines.

He is married to Cleopatra. They currently reside in Johannesburg, South Africa with their two children Zoë Danielle and Sean David. Their passion is to minister the Word of Faith and biblical principles for prosperous living; and to garner resources for the kingdom of God.

Kudzai is to some a Transformational Leader, Inspirational Speaker, Mentor, Change Agent, and a Life-Skills Coach. Together with his wife, Kudzai is an itinerant minister to the Body of Christ.
