Faith to Prosper

Rhema TeamMay 2019 WOF2 Comments

When we choose to live by faith, we are choosing more than to be called faith people. It’s more than a title. It’s more than a faith necklace, wristband, or hat we wear. There’s nothing wrong with those external things, but faith goes far beyond them.

Faith reaches into the innermost part of our lives. It reaches into our words and actions. How we walk in life—how we humble ourselves to God. Faith should reach into every aspect of our lives.

Sometimes when people accept Jesus as Savior—especially if they have not been taught—they think nothing is involved in the Christian life except saying, “Thank You, Lord.” But there’s more to walking in faith and victory than that.

Micah 6:8 says, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee?” God requires things of us—things He expects us to do.

The Bible is full of instruction and responsibilities where our faith is concerned. Let’s look at a few of faith’s duties in Joshua chapter 1.

In this passage, God talked to Joshua after Moses died. Joshua was now responsible for leading over three million people into the Promised Land. They were unhappy and complained. He had quite a problem on his hands!

But God gave Joshua instructions—duties pertaining to his faith—to get him across the Jordan River, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land with the Israelites. He told Joshua to be strong and courageous and promised to be with him as He was with Moses (Joshua 1:1–7).

Joshua 1:8 lists our first duty of faith. God told Joshua, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth.” What does it mean? It means God wants us to confess His Word all the time!

“What will people think?” someone may ask. What difference does it make? If they don’t think you’re fanatical about the Bible, they’ll think you’re squirrelly about something else!

Faith should reach into every aspect of our lives.Charles Cowan

Verse 8 continues with our second and third duties: “But thou shalt meditate therein [on God’s Word] day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.” We are to meditate on what we have heard—meditate on the Word day and night! In other words, God doesn’t want our attention to be on the circumstances. He wants His Word on our minds all the time. More than that, He wants us to do everything that is written in it. This is talking about our faith behavior, or how we act.

Why are these duties important? God wants us to have the highest level of faith in what He has already done for us. Then, as the end of this verse says, “thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Prosperity and success are the byproducts of carrying out our duties of faith! Do you see that? God never mentions our adversary. He never brings up hard times or trouble. Nor does He talk about despair, discouragement, or dismay. We are told to speak His Word, meditate in it, and act on it. Then we’ll be successful.

Our Heavenly Father doesn’t drop everything into our laps without any effort on our part. But His blessings will come to those who assume the duties of faith.

Just look at Joshua. When he was in the worst circumstance he could face, the Lord told him to be successful. God is saying the same thing to us.

In difficult circumstances, we often ask God to see things our way. But He asks us to see it the way He does. No matter what life brings, He wants us to stand and perform the duties of faith. When we do, He will make us successful.



[Editor’s Note: Charles Cowan is pastor of Faith Is the Victory Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a frequent Campmeeting speaker.]

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