Faith to Live by by Derek Prince (1997, Paperback)
Price: $8.95
Table of Contents 1. Faith versus Sight
2. Faith versus Hope
3. Faith as a Gift
4. Faith as a Fruit
5. Faith to Live By
6. How Faith Comes
7. Faith Must Be Confessed
8. Faith Must Be Worked Out
9. Faith Must Be Tested
10. The Measure of Faith
11. Faith Undoes the Fall
About the Author
Excerpt:
Chapter
1 Faith versus Sight
Faith! Who can fully measure or express the potential represented by
that short, simple word? Perhaps the clearest way to bring faith¿s
potential into focus is to examine two statements made by Jesus: With
God all things are possible.(Matthew 19:26)
All things are possible to him who believes.(Mark 9:23)
In each of these statements, we find the words "all things are
possible." In the first passage, they are applied to God; in the
second, they are applied to the one who believes. It is not too
difficult, perhaps, to accept that all things are possible to God. Can
we equally accept that all things are possible to the one who believes?
This is what Jesus told us.
In practical terms, what does this mean? It means that, through faith,
the things that are possible to God are made equally possible to the
one who believes. Faith is the channel that makes God¿s possibilities
available to us. Through faith, all that is possible to God becomes
equally possible to us. No wonder that, from beginning to end, the
Bible consistently emphasizes the unique and supreme importance of
faith.
Problems of Translation
Before we go further with our study, it will be helpful to clear up a
linguistic misunderstanding that often causes difficulties in
understanding faith. In English, we have two different words for faith:
a noun, faith, and a verb, to believe. The connection between these two
words is not always obvious. As a result, preachers sometimes try to
make a distinction between "believing" and "having faith." However,
there is no basis for this distinction in the original Greek of the New
Testament.
In Greek, the word for faith is pistis, and the word for believe is
pisteuo. We see that the verb is formed directly from the noun. The
stem of each word is made up of the same four letters- pist. As far as
the Bible is concerned, believing is exercising faith. Conversely,
exercising faith is believing.
When we look at the words that express the opposite of faith, we again
find a difference between English and Greek. In English, the opposite
of faith is unbelief. We have no such word as "unfaith." But, in Greek,
there is a direct connection between faith and its opposite. Faith is
pistis; unbelief is apistia. (In Greek, the negative prefix "a"
corresponds to the English prefix "un") The same four-letter stem pist
occurs in both Greek words: faith, pistis; unbelief, apistia.
Also connected with this four-letter stem pist, we have the adjective
pistos, which means faithful, believing. From this, the negative prefix
"a" gives us the opposite adjective, apistos, which means unfaithful,
unbelieving.
For the sake of clarity, we will set these five words side by side in
two parallel columns:
Greek English
Noun:pistis faith
Noun:apistia unbelief
Adjective:pistos faithful, believing
Adjective:apistos unfaithful, unbelieving
Verb:pisteuo to believe
We see that all five Greek words are visibly linked by the stem pist
that occurs in each of them. Altogether, these five words occur almost
six hundred times in the original text of the New Testament. On this
basis alone, it is clear that these words represent a theme that is
central to the Bible¿s total revelation.
Faith Defined
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews deals exclusively with the theme of
faith. Its opening verse provides us with a definition of faith, as the
term is used in the Bible: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped
for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).
This verse tells us two main things about faith. First, "faith is the
substance of things hoped for." Faith is so real that it is actually
called a substance. The Greek word used here for substance is
hupostasis. It literally means "that which stands under" something else
or "provides the basis for" something else. The same word, hupostasis,
occurs in Hebrews 1:3, where we are told that Jesus is "the exact
representation of His [the Father¿s] nature." The word here translated
"nature" is hupostasis. The meaning is that God the Father is the
eternal, invisible, underlying reality, of
which Jesus Christ the Son is the visible expression. Applying this
meaning to Hebrews 11:1, we may say that faith is the "underlying
reality" of things hoped for. Faith is real; faith is a substance.
Second, faith is "the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).
The New American Standard Bible says, "the conviction of things not
seen." Regardless of which translation we prefer, the vital point is
that faith deals with things we cannot see. Faith relates to the
invisible.
Two verses later, the writer again stresses faith¿s relationship to the
invisible:
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of
God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
(Hebrews 11:3)
The writer here points out a contrast between the things that are seen
and the things that are not seen, between the visible and the
invisible. Our senses connect us to the visible world, to "what is
seen." But faith takes us behind the visible to the invisible- to the
underlying reality by which the whole universe was formed, that is, the
reality of the word of God.
Thus, faith relates to two eternal, invisible realities: to God Himself
and to His word. Biblical faith has only these two objects. In secular
speech, of course, we speak of faith in many other contexts. We can
talk about having faith in the economy, in a medicine, or in a
political leader. But faith is not used that way in the Bible. In the
Bible, faith is related solely and exclusively to two realities we
cannot see with the natural eye: to God and to God¿s word.
By Faith, Not by Sight
The opposition between faith and sight is brought out by Paul in 2
Corinthians 5:7: "For we walk by faith, not by sight." If we walk by
sight, we do not need faith. If we walk by faith, we do not need sight.
Each excludes the other.
This is contrary to our natural way of thinking. The world says,
"Seeing is believing." But the Bible reverses the order: first we must
believe, then we will see. This principle is so important that we will
look at some passages of Scripture that illustrate it. In Psalm 27:13,
David said, "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would
see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." Which came
first, believing or seeing? Believing. What was true for David is true
for all of us. If we cannot believe that we will see the goodness of
the Lord, we will despair. The thing that keeps us from despairing is
not what we see, but what we believe.
This agrees with the statement made about Moses in Hebrews 11:27: "By
faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured,
as seeing Him who is unseen." Nothing in Moses¿ visible circumstances
at this time could have given him any hope or encouragement. But in
spite of all that was against him, he endured because he was able to
see the unseen. How did he do this? By faith. Faith enables us to see
the unseen and thus enables us to endure when the visible world offers
us no hope or encouragement.
Now we turn to the record of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in the
eleventh chapter of John. We read, Jesus said, "Remove the stone."
Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "Lord, by this time
there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days."
Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you, if you believe, you will see
the glory of God?"
(John 11:39-40)
What Jesus asked here of Martha, He asks of all who desire to see the
glory of God. We must believe that we will see. We do not see first,
then believe. We believe first; then, as a result of believing, we see.
Faith comes before sight.
Here, then, is the basic conflict between the old nature and the new
nature. The old nature demands to see, since the old nature lives by
the senses. God has to deliver us from that old nature and that old way
of life and bring us to a new nature and a new way of life. Then we
will say, "I am content not to see. I do not walk by sight, but by
faith."
In the book of 2 Corinthians, we are challenged once more by the
contrast between the visible and the invisible: For momentary, light
affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond
all comparison, while we look not at the things, which are seen, but at
the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are
temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians
4:17-18)
Paul¿s language in these verses contains a deliberate paradox. He spoke
about looking at things that are not seen. How can we do this? There is
only one way- by faith!
There is great significance in the word "while", while we look not at
the things which are seen." It stresses the same lesson that Moses
learned in his test of endurance. He learned that, in the providence of
God, affliction serves a useful purpose for believers. It forms and
strengthens our character and prepares us for the eternal glory that
lies ahead. But the lesson that the word ¿while¿ teaches us is this:
affliction serves us only while we keep our eyes on the invisible
realm. If we lose sight of it and become preoccupied with the world of
time and of the senses, we are no longer able to receive the benefits
that affliction is intended to provide for us.
So we are caught between two worlds: the temporal and the eternal. The
temporal is what we can see; we contact it with our senses. But the
eternal is the world God wants us to be at home in. And we can be at
home in that world by only one means: faith. Faith is the one thing
that connects us to the unseen realities of God and His word.
Summary
Faith lifts us above the realm of our own abilities and makes God¿s
possibilities available to us. Faith connects us to two unseen
realities: God and His word. As we maintain a relationship with God
through faith, we are enabled to endure and to overcome the tests and
the hardships that confront us in our daily lives. These, in turn,
become opportunities for God to reveal His goodness and His glory.
There is an ongoing tension between faith and sight. Our old nature is
at home in the world of the senses, and it demands to see. As
Christians, we need to cultivate the new nature, which is able to trust
God and His word without demanding other evidence.
Blurb:
The
dynamics, the promises, the power of faith--all are explored in this
insightful book. Derek Prince answers your questions about faith and
explains how you can immediately receive what you pray for, obtain
spiritual gifts, enjoy abundant life, and hear what God is saying to
you. Discover techniques that will build your faith in God and empower
you to do what would otherwise be impossible. Easy to read and based on
the Scriptures, Faith to Live By is a resource for every Christian who
wants to receive the promises of a faith-filled life.
Shipping & Delivery
Where Do We Ship?
Ordering an item? We can ship anywhere in the continental United states.
How Much Does It Cost?
We offer Flat rate shipping on all of our books. It is usually $3.99 unless the item is exceptionally large. We do offer discounted shipping if you purchase multiple items.
How Do We Ship?
We ship all books via USPS Media Mail.
When Do We Ship?
When you place an order, we ship within 48 hours on business days. Business days are Monday through Friday.
Where's Your Stuff?
After you've placed your order, you can check on the shipping status in Your Account.
On Jul-15-09 at 23:26:47 PDT, seller added the following information:
