by David Falk | Download PDF | Purchase Hardcopy

The nature of faith is easily misunderstood. For many Christians, faith is nothing more than the product of positive thinking. For some, it is that sense of certainty that accompanies success, as if to imply that when things are going well, they must be ‘in faith’. For others, faith is holding dogmatically to the literal promises of the Bible. However, in reality, faith has very little to do with things that impact upon our senses. Faith comes by hearing. It comes by a word of faith.

There is great benefit for the person who finds faith, and continually lives by faith. However, the apostle Paul said that if the word is not mixed with faith, it will ‘not profit’. We read in his letter to the Hebrews, ‘The word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith’. Heb 4:2.  Most obviously, if it does ‘not profit you’, it has no benefit to you. However, more than that, it is the measure of how bountifully God deals with you. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, ‘He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully’. 2 Cor 9:6. When the word is mixed with faith, the Lord increases the harvest of your righteousness. He increases the profit to your account.

So, how does faith work? What does it mean to ‘mix the word with faith’? The Scripture refers to those that were ‘believing’ in Him. Or alternatively, it speaks of those who were ‘not believing’ in Him. Those who heard Him may have known who He was, or they may not have known who He was. Some may have understood His message. We suspect that most did not. However, these things are quite incidental. ‘Believing’ is not limited by our capacity to understand God’s purpose. The Lord says, ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts … for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways’. Isa 55:9. It would be a mistake to expect God to engage us in the way we think would be proper or appropriate. According to our judgements and expectations, we could be disappointed. According to our perspective, our commitment might waver.

When the word is coming to you, you may not understand it intellectually. Nonetheless, the word witnesses true within you. And while we may not always understand it, there is always an obligation to ‘believe’ it. How do we do that if we do not firstly understand? Quite simply, ‘believing’ the word is hearing, receiving, committing and obeying. That’s the key. That's what it means to mix the word with faith. You are hearing it; you are receiving it; you are committing to it, and you are obeying it.  We can stall at any of these stages. Having heard the word, many did not receive Jesus. Some could not commit. And others did not obey.

The word coming to you, mixed with faith, will make you substantially more than you are. It is adding to you. You will begin to abound, because you are receiving life. And even more than receiving life, you are receiving it ‘more abundantly’. John 10:10. You are beginning to avail an abundant entry into an eternal kingdom.  

However, this wonderful assurance comes with a sober warning. If the word is not mixed with faith, there is a negative outcome. When the word comes, there is no neutral ground. We either mix it with faith, or we must resist it. The word will keep coming to you and the more you resist the word, the more the word will have an effect upon you. The Scripture says, ‘So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to me empty without accomplishing what I desire’. Isa 55:11. The word has intent; it's going to do something. It is like a steam train coming down a hill. It has its cargo, its intent, and it’s going to achieve its goal. There is an effect, an activity of the word. And the momentum of the word is not disturbed by our perceptions. It is something that precedes and predates us. It's coming down from above. In all areas of our lives, we have to understand the activity of the word coming down from above. And we have to become commensurate with the word coming and mix it with faith.

Remember, we ‘walk by faith not by sight’. 2 Cor 5:7. Jesus said many times, in various situations, that He perceived certain things in people’s hearts. Something was happening as His hearers engaged the word. As the word was coming, they were hearing it, receiving it and they began to perceive something new. The word had an effect. Things were not as they appeared. The invisible was becoming visible. Things insubstantial were suddenly becoming substantial. The word of God is constantly calling into being things that are not, and giving life to the dead. We have to be receptive to this ‘other’ way of seeing things. We must align ourselves to the word coming to us. It is changing our views, changing our perceptions, and opening pathways.

We recall the words of Jesus to Peter, ‘When you were younger, you used to gird yourself, and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old … someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go’. John 21:18. When the word of God comes to you, it will confront you. It is going to change your path. It will not accord with the way you had planned for yourself. It's going to change your direction and your thinking. For some, this is an intimidating consideration. For one person a change of course, a change of direction, is something to rejoice in. For another person, it will shatter their whole world view. It all depends on the perception of the receiver.  

The prophet Isaiah likened the word to the rain coming down from heaven. If the ground of your life is going to drink in the rain of the word, then the fallow ground of your life must be ploughed. Hence, the prophet Hosea declared, ‘Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes to rain righteousness on you’. Hos 10:12. And this is exactly what happens. The Lord puts the plough into the ground of our lives and breaks it up. All our familiar, comfortable, historic traditions are met with the plough. These things hinder us from receiving the word of faith. To follow the analogy, when the ground is fallow and hard, the rain only washes the topsoil away. It washes away the fertility, and leaves an impervious surface such that the earth cannot drink in the rain. This is the outcome of resisting the word. You become impervious to it, and that word which you resisted will make you a sign and a wonder for judgement! The breaking up of fallow ground in our lives doesn’t need to be a trauma. In fact, it should be a time of rejoicing and expectation, for we know that the rain of the word is coming!

Jesus prayed that the faith of Peter would not fail, and He does the same for us. Why? Because if your faith fails, what are you going to mix with the word? You will mix unbelief; you will mix injustice, disadvantage, your sense of loss, and your expectations of the outcome. In contrast, when you mix the word with faith, often times you have no idea what’s happening. You just believe and obey. So, even without full understanding, things get clearer. There is certainty and confidence when you are in faith. There is no need to wonder if your faith is real. If you obey the word then you are evidently mixing it with faith. Do you know how you're mixing the word with faith? You hear it, receive it, commit to it, and obey it.

Every machination within you will potentially war against faith. It gives you reason to discount the word? When the word comes, do you dip down to unbelief, anger, or frustration? Do you slip into moroseness or exhaustion? In the moment of uncertainty, when the birds of the air might quickly snatch away the seed of the word, you must be ready. In that moment, you must immediately mix the word with faith.

And here is the good news! Even when you struggle to hear, to receive, to commit, and obey the word, there is help. Because all you need is a little faith like a mustard seed. Remember how the father of a sick boy cried out to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief’. Mark 9:24. If we cry out in this manner, our belief is helped with a little faith, able to grow into a mighty tree. All you have to do is cooperate with the word. You don't have to conjure up faith. Just quieten your heart and cooperate with the word coming. Keep mixing the word with faith. Then the word will profit you. It will benefit you. It will profit you, because it will begin to grow. It will begin to bring forth its own fruit and abundance. It will begin to bring forth its own increase, making you substantially different!

Author: David Falk | Toowoomba Christian Fellowship TCF
Published by Vision One at Toowoomba Christian Fellowship TCF
Christian Resources

Download PDF

Purchase Hardcopy