The Audacity of Faith

God... calleth those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4:17).

What does that mean? Why Abraham did this thing: he dared to believe God. It seemed an impossibility at his age that Abraham should become the father of a child; it looked incredible; and yet God called him a "father of many nations" before there was a sign of a child; and so Abraham called himself "father" because God called him so. That is faith; it is to believe and assert what God says. "Faith steps on seeming void, and finds the rock beneath."

Only say you have what God says you have, and He will make good to you all you believe. Only it must be real faith, all there is in you must go over in that act of faith to God.
--Crumbs

Be willing to live by believing and neither think nor desire to live in any other way. Be willing to see every outward light extinguished, to see the eclipse of every star in the blue heavens, leaving nothing but darkness and perils around, if God will only leave in thy soul the inner radiance, the pure bright lamp which faith has kindled.
--Thomas C. Upham

The moment has come when you must get off the perch of distrust, out of the nest of seeming safety, and onto the wings of faith; just such a time as comes to the bird when it must begin to try the air. It may seem as though you must drop to the earth; so it may seem to the fledgling. It, too, may feel very like falling; but it does not fall -- it's pinions give it support, or, if they fail, the parent birds sweeps under and bears it upon its wings.

Even so will God bear you. Only trust Him; "thou shalt be holden up." "Well, but," you say, "am I to cast myself upon nothing?" That is what the bird seems to have to do; but we know the air is there, and the air is not so unsubstantial as it seems. And you know the promises of God are there, and they are not unsubstantial at all. "But it seems an unlikely thing to come about that my poor weak soul should be girded with such strength." Has God said it shall? "That my tempted, yielding nature shall be victor in the strife." Has God said it shall? "That my timorous, trembling heart shall find peace?" Has God said it shall?

For, if He has, you surely do not mean to give Him the lie! Hath he spoken, and shall He not do it? If you have gotten a word -- "a sure word" of promise -- take it implicitly, trust it absolutely. And this sure word you have; nay, you have more -- you have Him who speaks the word confidently.

"Yea, I say unto you," trust Him.
--J. B. Figgis, M. A. 

For some time now, it has become the practice of believers to search for empirical and pragmatic evidence that what God has promised will take place. Believers have become driven by circumstance and blocked in by uncertainty. God has made precious and powerful promises to the believer and His impeccable character and integrity ensures that His word will never fail (Isa. 55:11).

When God promised Abram that He would be the father of many nations, He changed his name to Abraham (Father of a Multitude). Names had power in those times. Every time someone called Abraham by name, he was reminded of the promise. Every time Abraham introduced himself, he was reminded of the promise. God has given you a name as well. He has named you conqueror (Romans 8:37), royal priest, a chosen generation, a peculiar (uniquely special and gifted for purpose) people, and a Holy nation (1 Peter 2:9), beloved (Daniel 10:11; Songs of Sol. 2:16), sons & daughters (2 Corinthians 10:18), friend, (John: 15:15), masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10), and Treasure (Deuteronomy 7:6).

The Bible says that Abraham did not “stagger” (waver in unbelief) at the promises of God, but grew stronger in faith, giving glory to God. One of the greatest ways you glorify God is by properly engaging your struggles. When people are looking at you and asserting that you should be moaning and crying, but you a smiling and praising, you glorify God. When people think that all of the pressure that you are under should have caused you to lose your mind, but you remain at peace, you glorify God. When everything says give up there is no hope, but you stand anyway, you glorify God.

God has given a testimony of your faithfulness to the enemy (Job 1:1-12) and now He wants to know: Can He trust you with TROUBLE? You see, He knows that you will give Him praise when the new car is in the garage. He knows that you will smile when the marriage is rolling along smoothly He knows you will speak highly of His name, but what will happen when the vicissitudes of life roll into your paradise? What will you do when delay seems perpetual? How will you respond to the incessant attacks of the enemy? This is what will determine the magnitude at which you glorify our God.

One the greatest testimonies about Abraham, if not the greatest, was His faith. He believed God for the impossible and God accounted (credited him with Divine righteousness) is as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). Understand this; some of your greatest and most powerful testimonies will not be where you stood victoriously on the mountaintop. No, it will be the recollection of how you endured delay, withstood the pernicious attacks of the enemy, coped with abandonment and loneliness, and persevered through heartache and disappointment.

Dr. Rick Wallace 

It is when you understand that God is your Shield and exceedingly great Reward (Gen. 15:1) that you will realize that there is no struggle or obstacle that God will not bring you through. As they say, “If He brought you to it; He will bring you through it.”

Faith does not require empirical evidence, it is not daunted by delay, it is not exhausted by external pressure, it does not become confused by false testimony, and it does not become frustrated in the face of resistance. Faith says simply, “If God has said it is so, then it is so!” Faith stands alone, believing. Pastor Steven Furtick says that faith is audacious. Faith dares to believe God for the impossible. In fact, I believe that those believers that truly ascend are those that search for the impossibilities in their lives so that the power of God can be revealed through them. Yes, faith requires that you step out on what seems to be nothing, but God is the master of the universe, which He created from nothing. He will take your faith and your nothing and perform the supernatural. ~ Dr. Rick Wallace

The Discipline of Faith

"All things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23).

The "all things" do not always come simply for the asking, for the reason that God is ever seeking to teach us the way of faith, and in our training in the faith life there must be room for the trial of faith, the discipline of faith, the patience of faith, the courage of faith, and often many stages are passed before we really realize what is the end of faith, namely, the victory of faith.

Real moral fibre is developed through discipline of faith. You have made your request of God, but the answer does not come. What are you to do?

Keep on believing God's Word; never be moved away from it by what you see or feel, and thus as you stand steady, enlarged power and experience is being developed. The fact of looking at the apparent contradiction as to God's Word and being unmoved from your position of faith make you stronger on every other line.

Often God delays purposely, and the delay is just as much an answer to your prayer as is the fulfillment when it comes.

In the lives of all the great Bible characters, God worked thus. Abraham, Moses and Elijah were not great in the beginning, but were made great through the discipline of their faith, and only thus were they fitted for the positions to which God had called them.

For example, in the case of Joseph whom the Lord was training for the throne of Egypt, we read in the Psalms:

"The word of the Lord tried him." It was not the prison life with its hard beds or poor food that tried him, but it was the word God had spoken into his heart in the early years concerning elevation and honor which were greater than his brethren were to receive; it was this which was ever before him, when every step in his career made it seem more and more impossible of fulfillment, until he was there imprisoned, and all in innocence, while others who were perhaps justly incarcerated, were released, and he was left to languish alone.

These were hours that tried his soul, but hours of spiritual growth and development, that, "when his word came" (the word of release), found him fitted for the delicate task of dealing with his wayward brethren, with a love and patience only surpassed by God Himself.

No amount of persecution tries like such experiences as these. When God has spoken of His purpose to do, and yet the days go on and He does not do it, that is truly hard; but it is a discipline of faith that will bring us into a knowledge of God which would otherwise be impossible.

***

The discipline of faith is an element of faith not very many consider and even fewer adequately execute, yet, it carries great efficacy. Many speak of the tenacity of faith, that inexorable force that refuses not to believe. I have heard many speak of the patience required in faith, the ability to remain centered in your belief despite delay. The courage of faith to dare to believe the impossible is an often discussed, though less executed element of faith. Yes, faith and its multitudinous elements are often discussed, but rarely does anyone discuss the discipline of faith. Discipline is that element of faith that under-girds the other elements.

The discipline of faith considers the promise of God and determines the course of action. It is the discipline of faith that reinforces patience during delay. Patience is not simply waiting, but waiting effectively, which means that delay has not produced despair, nor has it created any deviation from the appointed path. In other words, discipline of faith requires you to remain centered and focused.

The discipline of faith rests in the promise and purpose associated with the life of the believer. This element of faith refuses to be moved in any direction other than that laid out by God. It is not fancied in addressing perceived wrongs, because it recognizes that as distraction. Discipline in faith reinforces your stance, it considers only one thing, that which God has promised. Discipline steadies the vessel when waves of uncertainty begin to crash against the bow. Discipline of faith holds the heart in place when it would otherwise faint from the weariness of promises unfilled.

Dr. Rick Wallace

It is the discipline of faith that reminds you that even delay is prayer answered. The answer is, "Not Yet." This discipline of faith calls self to surrender to the process. When the natural proclivity to resist the process and seek comfort begins to rise, discipline settles the troubled souls and points to the cross, as to say the victory is yours, don't give in now.

The discipline of faith tightens the reigns of expectation and anticipation; it refuses to allow you to consider that which is contrary to its hope.

So as you travel through the storms of life and you can find nothing that resembles the promise or the vision that once seemed so vivid, settle under the discipline of faith and know that the promises are not laden with expiration dates. Though it tarries, wait. ~ Dr. Rick Wallace

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

What ever happened to that bold faith that dared to believe God? Where did the audacity to take God at His Word dwindle away to? Hebrews 11:6 reveals that it is impossible to please God without faith. God functions through the faith of believers. It’s time for Christian believers in the US to walk boldly in their faith and make stands on Christian Principles that they are not willing to waver on.

I took the following pledge several years ago, as I renew my commitment I invite you to join me.

“I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit
Power. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,
regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by
patience, lift by prayer and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my
way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of
mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed
up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a
disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear for ‘I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.’ (Romans 1:16)”
By Dr. Bob Moorehead

I invite you to become a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. This is where I dare to walk in my divine purpose without consideration of external approval. This is where I decide to boldly pursue the vision that leads to the fulfillment of my destiny. This is where I choose to execute a radical faith that refuses to be constrained by circumstances. This is where I decide to step out of the boat and walk on water. This is where I begin to pray prayers that are not confined to my limited perspicacity of God’s omnipotence. There is where I begin to be defined by my identity in Christ instead of being imprisoned by the random opinions of others.

I refused to be bound by the mandates of mediocrity and mundane living. I refuse to be captivated by a culture that is conformed to the ways of the world. I refuse to be shackled to the table of compromise and complacency. I refuse to be dominated by the need for social acceptance or relegated to the post of subpar living.

I have made up in my mind to walk this walk with an unabashed faith that refuses to receive anything contrary to the Word of God. I have become committed to living at the height of my gifted potential. I choose to walk in the power of my anointed purpose, living each moment for God and trusting his power and love to act on my behalf. I choose to pray with audacity and to expect the impossible on a daily basis. I will not be deterred by delay. I will not be hindered by hatred, and I will not be bound by bigotry.

This is the time for the true believer to step forward to take up his/her cross and march boldly toward their destiny.

I dare you to move into the “realm of the radical”. I dare you to be radical in your mission, radical in your pursuit of your vision, radical in declaring your dreams, radical in your prayer life. The God we serve is a radical God and he performs the impossible through radical faith. The clarion is sounding for believers to march forward and take the land. Will you be one of the few that answer the call?

May God bless and keep you.

Dr. Rick Wallace