POWER OF FAITH FOR IMPACT (1)

“BY FAITH the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days” – Hebrews 11:30

God always responds as His people activate the POWER of FAITH for IMPACT: “BY FAITH the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days” (Heb.11:30). By Faith, walls fell and lives were preserved (vv.30-31). People “through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions...” (vv.33-34). Faith is the foundation of all that is positively impactful in God’s Kingdom. Faith is the undercurrent of everything we do as followers of Jesus. No Faith; no real life: “The just shall LIVE by FAITH...” (Heb.10:38). Without faith we cannot access all that Christ died to offer here on earth: the peace, joy, purpose, and love that come from a restored relationship with our heavenly Father.

We’ve meditated broadly on the Power of the Spirit for Impact. In reality, the Holy Spirit loves to move with Power in response to Faith: “Without faith it is impossible to please God...” (Heb.11:6a). Jericho’s walls fell, not because of any mechanical manipulation by the people who encircled the walls for seven days, or the acoustic amplification of the trumpet or shout, but because of their Faith in God’s Command and Promise: “...See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days...But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets” (Num.6:2-4).

The Lord promised explicitly: “It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; THEN the WALL of the CITY WILL FALL DOWN FLAT...” (Num.6:5). The people believed and acted in obedience to God’s Word, with phenomenal Impact! Essentially, Faith is the activator and catalyst of God’s Power, whether it is Faith in His Word, Faith in the Name or Faith in the Blood of Jesus.

Throughout Scripture, God uses His Power in response to the Faith of His people. Whether it be the walls of Jericho tumbling down into rubble by faith in God’s Word, or the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful leaping to his feet through faith in the Name of Jesus, God moves powerfully when His people live by Faith (Acts 3:1-8). Our Lord Jesus promises: “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Mt.17:20). That’s why, “this is the Victory that has overcome the world – our Faith” (1 Jh.5:4b).