“Why sit we here until we die?” (2 Kings 7:3)

Faith is more than a mindset. Anyone can possess some degree of optimism. It may lead to improved performance, but it cannot promise victory or produce supernatural result. Faith is a disposition of confidence that comes from God’s action in our spirits. This confidence is not a mere attitude that removes self-imposed limitations and that releases our human potential. Faith is far beyond this. Faith breaks into another dimension of solutions and possibilities, and releases divine potential. Faith counts on a God whose nature is to work signs and wonders, a God who promises to perform miracles for those who look to him.

This faith separates us from sinners, who have been made in the image of God, but who think and behave like unreasoning animals. This faith distinguishes us from the Faithless. They include religious people who claim to worship God, but who renounce his promises of success. They claim to have faith in Jesus Christ, but they condemn those who have faith for the miracles that he promised. They ordain themselves to teach Scripture, but they teach against what Scripture says. The Faithless are worse than unbelievers. They are religious and hypocritical sinners.

Faith comes from the promises of God, but it also comes from a knowledge of what kind of God he is. In the Bible, we see many individuals who received from God whatever they wanted even without a specific promise from him. They had boldness to ask from God, to take from him, and to overcome obstacles and subdue kingdoms by his power. This confidence came from a general knowledge of the nature of God and the word of God.

He is a God who can do all things and who delights in working miracles. Because you know this, you can pray for a miracle and receive it. Because you know this, you can receive healing from him. Because you know this, you can cast out demons and diseases from other people in the name of Jesus. Of course faith comes from the promises from God, but a general knowledge about God is just as important and powerful. This is because what is true about God in general cannot be contradicted by specific situations. What is true about God is always true. For example, since God is all-knowing, you do not need a specific revelation that he knows about a situation you face. He knows about it. Do not underestimate what a general knowledge about God can do for your faith. Think about God’s broad attributes and actions. Then apply that to every case.

The heroes of faith in Scripture performed mighty deeds, even though they lacked the specifics and details that we now possess in the completed Bible. What little they knew about God was more than enough for them to take for granted that God would stand on their side, that he would answer their prayers and work miracles. On the other hand, Christians often disregard what is always true about God, but impose very specific and nuanced standards on themselves as they search the Scriptures for something that would address their needs. This is unnecessary and foolish. The difficulty is self-inflicted, and they cause themselves to stumble. More revelation should work for us, not against us.

When Jesus taught about faith, he often spoke in generalities. He made broad statements and sweeping promises that encompassed every situation. He said that if we have faith, we could command a mountain to throw itself into the sea. Presumably, we would never need to move a mountain, but the statement covers all the situations we do face. The statement is literally true, that a command of faith can move a physical mountain, but it is not meant to limit the power of faith to moving a mountain. Joshua commanded the sun and moon to stand still, and God made it happen.

Jesus also said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you shall receive.” He made large and general promises. It is popular to teach that we should always find a verse in Scripture that promises what we desire, or that we should always be specific in prayer. This is false, and it contradicts the teachings and examples in Scripture. It does not require a specific promise from God to receive what we ask, and there is no need to state our prayer with exact precision to receive what we desire. Prayer is not a magical incantation. God knows all things. Jesus said that God knows what you want before you pray.

When we have faith, we can move forward and obtain victory. Faith is the beginning of action. You say, “God can bless me even if I sit here. I can pray with faith and welcome God’s blessing.” This is true. Never let anyone tell you that this is impossible or that God never operates this way. God can act before you act. But it is also true that you can take action and reach for miracles. God will stand with you and support you. God will go in front of you to arrange your success. God will multiply your efforts. When you do something, God will do something. And when God acts, miracles will happen.

We see action as empowerment, not requirement. It does not have to be strenuous and daring action. There were four lepers who said, “Why sit here until we die?” So they stumbled toward the opposing camp. God made their footsteps into thunderous noise and shaking, and chased away the enemies. Even a word of prayer or a cry of help toward God is an action, when there is nothing more we can do. When we refer to action, we do not mean that you need to help yourself after all, as if God will not do enough to help you. By itself, the action you take might be far from sufficient to seize victory, but you count on God to take action with you.

Faith is the end of despair. It moves you to action regardless of your feelings. You can act even when you feel afraid. You can open your mouth to say something even when you are sad. You can make your body move and do something even when you feel hopeless. You are not expected to save yourself. You are not expected to work a miracle by your own effort. But faith moves you out of the place of hopelessness, out of self-pity, out of passivity, and out of a defeated attitude. So you do something.

As with many aspects of faith, the ministry of healing provides a vivid illustration. Jesus said that those who have faith will lay hands on the sick, and the sick will recover. When a Christian reads these words, he grasps the meaning and he envisions it happening. The teaching implants the possibility and the confidence. Previously, he might be immobilized by fear and despair in the face of an incurable disease, but now the words of Jesus invade his heart and dispel the hopelessness. God is the one who commands light to shine in darkness. Faith enters when God commands light to shine in our hearts.

Then the Christian stretches out his hand and places it on the sick. He reaches out for a miracle, and then it happens. When the Christian reaches out, God also reaches out. God endorses his action. He turns the man’s small effort into a miracle. Even when our feelings fluctuate, the word of God does not change, and we can still take action. If feelings of fear come, I can still reach out my hand. It is not ideal to have such feelings, but faith itself is not a feeling, and the word of God empowers me to act anyway, to break through the fear, and to reach for that miracle.

Put your faith into action. Are there feelings of fear? Are there feelings of defeat? The Faithless love to teach that such feelings are natural, and that you should be honest about them, even embrace them. This is theological projection. They are faithless, weak, perhaps even reprobate, and they are eager to convince you that their condition is acceptable. They want you to agree that people like them are spiritual, honest, even heroic.

Obviously, I disagree that feelings of fear, doubt, and despair are acceptable. But your feelings should not stop you from taking action. You still have your will. You can decide to act. You can act whether you are feeling confident or fearful. You can act whether you are feeling excited or worried. You can walk toward your destination whether you are feeling optimistic or discouraged. Nevertheless, courage will make more effective use of your action. Indeed, God is not pleased with fear, but when you take what faith you have and take action, God can still make a miracle out of it.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news. The good news is that God has come to save you, and there is hope in every situation. If you have hope that you will succeed because of what you have learned from the word of God, then you have faith regardless of what you are feeling at this moment. You do not have faith just because you feel good about yourself. And if your feelings fluctuate, it does not mean that you have no faith.

Again, it is popular for religious people to say that it is natural to feel fear and worry, and that this is something we should embrace. They claim that God is compassionate and that God understands we are only human. However, Jesus rebuked fear and worry in his disciples even in the face of death. God is compassionate, and that is why he infuses us with faith to deliver us from the torture of fear and worry. God understands that we are human, and that is why he infuses us with his Spirit to make us more than human. We ought to reach a place where there is only faith, and no fear and worry.

So I do not excuse unbelief, but I am pointing out the way of faith by moving forward. What I mean is that even before we reach that place of perfect peace and unmovable confidence, we can act according to the promise of God, and as we act, God will act. And when God acts, miracles happen.

As you continue to grow in faith, your feelings will become consistent. They will agree with your faith. Fluctuations will decrease. You will not go up and down. Circumstances will not control you. They will not influence whether you are happy or depressed. Stability is the natural consequence of faith.

Meanwhile, even when your feelings seem to be against you, there is no need to become helpless and lost. You have been educated by the word of God. You know the correct course of action regardless of what you feel. The more faith and courage you possess, the less your feelings can hinder you. But start with what faith and courage you have. If you have faith like a seed, you can move a mountain. If you have some courage, you can do something. You can move toward victory.

Confidence in God will produce confidence about yourself. As Caleb said, “Let us go up at once and occupy the land, for we are well able to overcome it.” He did not say, “God is able to overcome.” Of course he could have said that, but it was because God was able that Caleb said, “We are able.” The Faithless cannot accept this. To them, any form of self-confidence is wrong. They think that self-esteem is arrogance and implies a sense of independence from God. But we have confidence about what we can do because we have confidence in what God can do.

Faith is the beginning of action. Faith is the foundation of progress. Faith is the proof of leadership. Take action. Do something to solve that problem. Do something to take what you want. Seize it with action. Listen to God. Then do something. Think about God’s attributes and promises and how they relate to your goals. Then do what it takes to get what you want. Do something to get that better job. Do something to improve your health. Do something to restore your marriage. Do something to spread the gospel.

Remind yourself that the God of the Bible blesses his people with success and happiness. Remind yourself that the God of the Bible delights in performing miracles and wonders. Then ask for that miracle. Lay hands on that sick person. Teach him again, and pray again. Never give up. Refuse to allow the Faithless to convince you. If you want something, take it. Put your faith into action. Chase after it. God will multiply your efforts.

Declare your faith by your action. Declare that there is hope. Declare that the impossible can become possible. God will give you success. You are a Christian. You are a follower of Jesus Christ. When you grow, the kingdom of God grows. When you prosper, the church of Christ prospers. Your success is part of God’s plan. Your healing aligns with God’s program. Your happiness glorifies the name of Jesus.

I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I have a contract with God. There is always something I can do. Even if I stumble toward my goal, God will walk with me and cause the earth to tremble. God will teach me. He will hold me up. Then I will stand straight and walk. Then I will run. I can reach for what I want. I can find the solution. I can overcome the disease. I can make my life better. I can, because God can. I can take what belongs to me as a child of God. It is never a dead end. I have a future and a hope. I will count on God to give me success and victory. Do not wallow in hopelessness. Do not remain in defeat. Do something. Say something. Pray something. Reach for that miracle.