Faith, Foolishness and Fantasy (August 2011).

These three concepts make the difference between answered and unanswered prayers, making spiritual progress vis a vis stagnating, etc. It is imperative to define and look closely at these three concepts because often times people interchange one for the other. For example, a man operating in fantasy may think he is demonstrating real faith. Showing what faith is not will also help us immeasurably to determine what real faith is.

Faith: The Bible in Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. The Message translation interpreted the latter part as our handle on what we can’t see. That handle or hold into the supernatural realm is the Word of God. It is demonstrating confidence in the Word of God, and holding the Word of God as the handle into the invisible and supernatural realm. For instance, the Bible declares that by the stripes of Jesus we are healed. A true believer in the Word of God will hold and grasp that scripture firmly until it delivers the required healing. Genuine faith is based entirely on the Word of God which is why it is a tangible force that has the capability of removing mountains (Mark 11:22-24). Real faith is also known by the action it generates in the person demonstrating it. Because Abraham believed God genuinely, he acted and his action completed and perfected the whole process of faith (James 2:21-24). Real faith holds the Word of God as final and also acts on the Word of God.

Foolishness: This is being out of the will of God and at the same time expressing confidence in Him. Paul defines foolishness in Romans 6:1-2 when he declared, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!” A young lady who was living with her boyfriend approached a Pastor to ask for God’s intervention to conceive and have her own baby with her unmarried partner. She claimed to have some gynecological problems and said she believes if the Pastor join his faith with hers, God will heal her and she will have her baby even though unmarried. It’s amazing how many people are out of the will of God and still express confidence in Him. The Bible says God is not mocked, that whatever a man sows is what he will reap. Calling for divine intervention when we deliberately and consciously choose to operate out of the will of God is displaying folly. The only sensible prayer to pray when someone is out of the will of God is the prayer of repentance and mercy.

Fantasy: This is when a believer is confessing and claiming what hasn’t been promised to him. Some believers under the guise of you can have what you say operate out of lust to claim what hasn’t been promised to them and may actually belong to someone else. A particular brother many years ago in a college fellowship went ahead to print wedding invitation cards with a sister who was already engaged to someone else. The sister had told him repeatedly she was engaged, yet in the name of claiming it and having it forcefully, this brother acted presumptuously to claim what has not been promised to him. Another display of fantasy is also when someone is demonstrating faith in God without a corresponding action to back it up. A student who is just claiming success in an exam he/she is not preparing for is operating in Fantasy Island. The Bible says faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. The Message translation of the Bible says God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense (James 2:17).

Conclusion: We are saved by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Many non-believers in Christ will miss heaven because of their foolishness of not accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (1 Corinthians 1:18). Many believers who think they are on their way to heaven but fail to keep God’s commands of forgiving others and living holy are also living in Fantasy Island(Hebrews 12:14). Are you operating genuine faith, foolishness or fantasy? Receive grace to operate genuine faith in God. Have a blessed month!

Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
www.rccgpittsburgh.net