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Understanding the Essence of Faith

The document titled 'What is Faith?' by Oluwatosin Emmanuel explores the concept of faith as essential for living a fulfilling life and maintaining a relationship with God. It emphasizes that faith is about taking God at His word and trusting in His promises without doubt. The book includes chapters discussing the nature of faith, its proofs, and its applications in areas like healing, fruitfulness, and supernatural provisions.

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Djian Danny
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© © All Rights Reserved
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
512 views136 pages

Understanding the Essence of Faith

The document titled 'What is Faith?' by Oluwatosin Emmanuel explores the concept of faith as essential for living a fulfilling life and maintaining a relationship with God. It emphasizes that faith is about taking God at His word and trusting in His promises without doubt. The book includes chapters discussing the nature of faith, its proofs, and its applications in areas like healing, fruitfulness, and supernatural provisions.

Uploaded by

Djian Danny
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

WHAT IS FAITH?

WHAT IS FAITH?

WHAT IS FAITH

Copyright © 2018 by:


Oluwatosin Emmanuel

ISBN 978 - 978 - 964 - 010 - 2

Designed & Printed by:


Z & E Design Ltd.
Plot 1245, Sapele Street,
off Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Garki 2,
Abuja - FCT, Nigeria
zedesignltd@[Link]

All rights reserved. No portion of this book can be


reproduced in whole or part without written permission.

For further information, contact


Oluwatosin Emmanuel
tosyemmy@[Link]

All scripture quotations are from the King James Version


of the Bible, except otherwise indicated.

-2-
WHAT IS FAITH?

CONTENT

Introduction 4

Chapter One
What Is Faith 10

Chapter Two
Proofs of Faith 45

Chapter Three
Faith and Healing or Health 65

Chapter Four
Faith and Fruitfulness 92

Chapter Five
Faith and Supernatural Supplies 117

Conclusion 134

-3-
INTRODUCTION

But without faith it is impossible to please


him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him.
Heb 11:6

Faith is not just a spiritual currency for transacting in the


spiritual realm to meet our physical needs; faith is actually
the reason for our living. Everyone that must live (not just
exist) must have faith. When faith is lacking, man begins to
sink into failure, sickness, frustration, stagnation and even
death.

Daniel lived because he chose the faith to live, even when


thrown into the Lion’s den (Dan. 6).

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego lived inside a terrible


fiery furnace because they had faith.

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to


deliver us from the burning fiery furnace,
-4-
INTRODUCTION

and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O


king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king,
that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship
the golden image which thou hast set up.
Dan 3:17-18
This means that with faith actively at work in you, you
become unkillable.

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not


upright in him: but the just shall live by his
faith.
Hab. 2:4

Who through faith subdued kingdoms,


wrought righteousness, obtained promises,
stopped the mouths of lions,
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the
edge of the sword, out of weakness were
made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned
to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to
life again: and others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance; that they might
obtain a better resurrection:
Heb 11:33-35
-5-
WHAT IS FAITH?

Anything that will succeed to kill your faith has power to


kill you as well.

Understand that it is by faith we relate with God; so anyone


or anything that disconnects you from God (perhaps by
making you lose interest in constant fellowship, prayer
and study of the word) is about to destroy you completely.

Many Christians are fed up with hearing anything about


the subject of faith. But the truth is that, we cannot but talk
about faith always and even daily, because without faith,
life itself becomes worthless; because:

­ We live by faith (Hab 2:4; Rom 1:17; Heb 10:38; Gal


3:11)

­ We walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7)

­ Whatever becomes of your destiny is by your faith


(Matt 9:29)

­ God’s word profits us by faith (Heb 4:2)

­ We stand (on victory) by faith (2 Cor. 1:24)

­ We overcome by faith (1 Jn 5:4)

­ God performs wonders for us by faith (Lk 1:45)

­ Faith is above all mysteries of the kingdom (Eph


6:16)

-6-
INTRODUCTION

­ Christianity itself is called THE FAITH (Acts 6:7b)

­ Our prayers are answered by faith (Heb 11:6; Mk


11:24)

­ We fight by faith (1 Tim 6:12)

­ To live a righteous life is by faith (Rom. 3:22)

­ We see God’s glory by faith (Jn 11:40)

Even the bible declares that whatever we do without faith


makes us sinners.

For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.


Rom 14:23

This means that everything about us should be ruled by


faith, which is the reason we cannot over emphasize the
subject of faith. As a matter of fact, the more you talk about
a thing, the more your way of life adjusts to that thing.

The subject of faith covers every area of man’s life (health,


career, academics, business, e.t.c.). Therefore, in this book,
some aspects of our lives have been carefully packaged by
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, on how we can apply our
faith to become victorious in such areas. Because I discover
that many believers desire so much from God today, but
have no spiritual currency; which is FAITH to get, so they
resort to the religious statement of “I am waiting for God
to do it.”
-7-
WHAT IS FAITH?

Do follow me on this life-transforming journey in this


simple piece.

-8-
WHAT IS FAITH?

-9-
WHAT IS FAITH?

CHAPTER ONE

WHAT IS FAITH?

And Simon answering said unto him,


Master, we have toiled all the night, and
have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy
word I will let down the net.

Luke 5:5
From this scripture; Faith can easily be defined as:

Taking God at His word!

This simply means accepting whatever God says to you


or about your situations as THE TRUTH, without any
questioning or analyzing, that is, when God speaks, just
take Him at His word, not as Abraham did at a point in his
journey of faith with God:

And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I


know that I shall inherit it?
Gen 15:8
Well, God did not get angry at Abraham for not holding
- 10 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

Him at His word, as He won’t even get angry at you either.


God came down to the level of Abraham to prove Himself
to him (Vs 9-17). I perceive God did so to set an example
for us all Through Abraham (The Father of faith) that God
will never change His word, no matter what (He abides/
watches over His word).

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither


the son of man, that he should repent: hath
he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he
spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Num 23:19
In hope of eternal life, which God, that
cannot lie, promised before the world
began;

Titus 1:2

In this New Testament generation, we are not expected


to ask God for ‘fleece’ for confirming God’s word, because
we now have the Holy Spirit inside each of us, witnessing
within us or consenting to the word of God as truth.
Therefore, never expect God to come down to your level
of faithlessness in order to prove Himself to you as He did
to Abraham.

He staggered not at the promise of God


through unbelief; but was strong in faith,

- 11 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

giving glory to God;

And being fully persuaded that, what he


had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:20-21
When God says you are rich for instance, do not say but
I do not have money (as Jeremiah did) when God called
him a prophet, he said; ‘I am a child’ – Jer. 1:5-7. Likewise,
Zacharias called himself an old man when God told him
he would have a son. He couldn’t see how possible or true
God’s word was, considering his age (an old man) with a
wife well stricken in age too. But God saw him as a young
and fertile man. Remember, God does not see things the
way we see things (1 Sam 16:7).

See the response of the angel Gabriel (God’s representative)


to Zacharias, showing that he is not deceiving him:

And the angel answering said unto him, I


am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of
God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and
to shew thee these glad tidings.
Lk. 1:19

Another man like Zacharias was Gideon:

And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go


in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel
from the hand of the Midianites: have not I
- 12 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

sent thee?

And he said unto him, Oh my Lord,


wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my
family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the
least in my father’s house.

And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will


be with thee, and thou shalt smite the
Midianites as one man.

Judges 6:14-16

Like Zacharias, Gideon could not just see what God saw in
him.

What is Faith?

Faith means resting absolutely on God’s word, without


wavering.

Be strong and courageous, be not afraid


nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor
for all the multitude that is with him: for
there be more with us than with him:

With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is


the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our
battles. And the people rested themselves
upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8
- 13 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

The people rested in the word of their king (God’s own


representative to them at that time), as the final authority
(bus stop) concerning their situation.

When you know who is talking to you sincerely, you will


really take His word serious. So many Christians do not
take God’s word seriously because they do not really know
the person of God. They know many things about God,
have heard of His mighty works and miracles (as Gideon
told the angel)

And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if


the Lord be with us, why then is all this
befallen us? and where be all his miracles
which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not
the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now
the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered
us into the hands of the Midianites.

Judges 6:13

And such as do wickedly against the


covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but
the people that do know their God shall be
strong, and do exploits.

Dan 11:32

We cannot know God fully, as the bible says, we only know


in part. But the following can tell you who God really is:
- 14 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

GOD IS:

→ All Powerful

(Gen 18:14; Jer. 32:22/27; Ps 66:3-7)

No wonder He is called The Almighty. He has so


much power beyond that your ‘powerful enemy
or problem’. Remember, Paul and Silas were held
in ‘powerful prison, powerful chains and doors
powerfully shut’. But when the Almighty God came
down, their ‘powerful chain and prison doors’ came
down.

→ All Knowing

(Isa 40:28; Isa 55:8)

God knows what your situation is; in fact, He knows


you more than you know yourself. So, when He
speaks, listen to Him and obey. Peter knew this of
Jesus, from our opening reference (Luke 5:1-5). He
knew that “even though Jesus was a preacher, He
must know fishery more than I do for Him to talk to
me so confidently on how to get fish in this water”.

→ Ever Faithful

(2 Tim 2:3; Titus 1:2; Thess. 5:23; Isa 46:11; Isa


49:14-16; Isa 34:16; Matt 24:35)

- 15 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

God is a God of integrity, He does not joke with His


word, in fact, “He means whatever He says, and says
only what He means”. No matter what happens,
God keeps His promises, never changing. At a point,
Sarah thought perhaps God has changed His mind
about what He told her husband about them having
a son together. So she convinced him to have the son
with her maid; to the extent of Abraham consenting;
but God had to remind Abraham, He never changes
and does not forget His word:

And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast


given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house
is mine heir.
And, behold, the word of the Lord came
unto him, saying, This shall not be thine
heir; but he that shall come forth out of
thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
And he brought him forth abroad, and
said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the
stars, if thou be able to number them: and
he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
And he believed in the Lord; and he counted
it to him for righteousness.
Gen 15:3-6
Eventually, Sarah could see how faithful God was, and it
- 16 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

was then she conceived her son:

Through faith also Sara herself received


strength to conceive seed, and was
delivered of a child when she was past age,
because she judged him faithful who had
promised.
Heb 11:11
Hold on to His word, He is ever faithful, you can trust and
rely on Him.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow


from heaven, and returneth not thither, but
watereth the earth, and maketh it bring
forth and bud, that it may give seed to the
sower, and bread to the eater:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of
my mouth: it shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I
sent it.
Isa 55:10-11
We sing this song very well, but do we actually believe in
the song as the truth?

- 17 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

SONG:

My God is a miracle God. ×2ce

He has NEVER failed

He will NEVER fail.

He will do what He says He will do ×2ce

→ Ever willing and ready to help (

Ps. 46:1; Pro 3:27-28)

God is ever willing to get you out of that predicament;


and also ready always to do so; He is the present
help in trouble.

When he was come down from the


mountain, great multitudes followed him.
And, behold, there came a leper and
worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt,
thou canst make me clean.
And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched
him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And
immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matt 8:1-3

God is reliable, dependable, and capable of doing just


anything for you His dear child. Remember what He says
- 18 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

in Matt [Link]

If ye then, being evil, know how to give


good gifts unto your children, how much
more shall your Father which is in heaven
give good things to them that ask him?
When you know God to this point as enumerated above,
and even beyond (His Ways are our Path finders), you will
be able to know that God and His word are inseparable
and then can you take His word seriously:
In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.


All things were made by him; and without
him was not any thing made that was
made.
John 1:1-3
Now that you know God, the next question is, how much
or how deep of His word do you know?
If faith means taking God at His word, then there is need
for you to have adequate knowledge of God’s word (i.e
what has God said about you and your situation). This
is important because until you know it, you cannot hold
on to it. Remember, faith comes primarily by the word of
God:
- 19 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

So then faith cometh by hearing, and


hearing by the word of God.
Rom 10:17

The second hearing talks about understanding of the word;


and until you understand the word, you can’t be convinced
to the point of believing it. A lack of the knowledge of God’s
word is a great hindrance to faith.

Until you really know what belongs to you, how then do


you take it by faith. The prodigal son knew what belonged
to him (knowledge of the word), so he could go for it by
faith and got it:

And the younger of them said to his father,


Father, give me the portion of goods that
falleth to me. And he divided unto them his
living.
Luke 15:12

The power of God is completely beyond human


understanding (Isa 55:8-9). This is why you need to
believe what God says and hold on to it, even when you
don’t know how He will do it, as Mary did – Luke 1:38

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the


Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:38
- 20 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

→ God’s word is incorruptible

(2 Cor. 13:8; Ps 119:89)

Nothing, no force or destructive element can ever


corrupt the word of God; not even TIME!

→ The word of God is infallible (

Matt 24:35; Luke 22:33; Heb 6:16-18)

God’s word is the end of all strife (final bus stop)


that can settle any argument. His word has divine
capacity to settle my matter (Ps 119:89), whatever
His settled word settles, that thing is forever settled.

→ The word is curative

(Pro 4:20-22)

God’s word is highly medicinal, with divine capacity


to cure any sickness or disease (Matt. 8:16).

His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot


be seen; and his bones that were not seen
stick out.

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave,


and his life to the destroyers.
If there be a messenger with him, an
interpreter, one among a thousand, to

- 21 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

shew unto man his uprightness:


Then he is gracious unto him, and saith,
Deliver him from going down to the pit: I
have found a ransom.
His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he
shall return to the days of his youth:
Job 33:21-25

Interpreter of the truth (the word of God), brings cure to


man; from sickness, depression, or whatsoever.

→ The word is creative

(Gen 1:1-31; John 1:1-9)

Everything God ever created was created by His


word, as He spoke them. For instance they told you
your case is beyond cure/repair, God can recreate
it for you. Women with no womb (medically) have
carried their miracle children; how do you think that
was made possible? God recreated the damaged or
destroyed womb.

Kenneth E Hagin was once told he had incurable


blood disease; but how did he live after his
encounter with God on the sick bed at the age of
17? God simply flushed out the incurable blood
and created a fresh blood for him, that the man of
God could say, ‘for over 50 years, I don’t know how
- 22 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

headache feels’. A sickness-free/pure blood.

→ The word of God is prophetic

(2 Pet 1:19-22; Ezek 37:1-10)

The word is not just prophetic, it is called, a more


sure word of prophecy:

We have also a more sure word of prophecy;


whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as
unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
until the day dawn, and the day star arise
in your hearts:

2 Peter 1:19

That means, it can never fall to the ground; it must


accomplish its task:

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow


from heaven, and returneth not thither, but
watereth the earth, and maketh it bring
forth and bud, that it may give seed to the
sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of


my mouth: it shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I
sent it. Isa 55:10-11
- 23 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

It has divine capacity to bring life to any dead situation (as


the case of the valley of dry bones – Ezek 37:1-10).

Remember also the four-day dead and abandoned case of


Lazarus! When the ‘more sure word of prophecy’ came,
Lazarus came out alive:

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise


again.
John 11:23

And see the prophetic word fulfilled:

And when he thus had spoken, he cried


with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

And he that was dead came forth, bound


hand and foot with graveclothes: and his
face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus
saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Vs 43-44

What do you do with the prophetic word? Take heed unto


it, it is sure to deliver its goal.

→ God’s word is in control of all things

(Heb 1:3)

Whatever thing/situation of your life you can

- 24 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

think of can be controlled by the word of God, to


give you your desired result. God was controlling
the situation in Genesis 1, all by His word, and
everything came into shape.

All the mother of Ben Carson needed to do for her


intellectually dummy son was to speak the right
words (truth of God’s word) and she controlled the
situation. I bet you know the outcome of it (from
Ben Carson’s story).

If then the word of God controls everything, there


is need for you therefore to trust Him, not doubting
God and His word, because God feels insulted when
you do not trust Him and His word, God becomes
grieved, as in the case of Zacharias:

And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not


able to speak, until the day that these
things shall be performed, because thou
believest not my words, which shall be
fulfilled in their season.

Luke 1:20

Do not allow any opportunity for doubt in your heart of


the word of God, as doubt denies you of your blessings.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.


For he that wavereth is like a wave of the
- 25 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

sea driven with the wind and tossed.

For let not that man think that he shall


receive any thing of the Lord.

James 1:6-7

EVIDENCE OF FAITH

Faith is not just what you claim you have, just like you
cannot say you love without proving it. If you truly have
faith, it will show or express itself in these two major ways:

1. CONFESSION

We having the same spirit of faith,


according as it is written, I believed, and
therefore have I spoken; we also believe,
and therefore speak;

2 Cor. 4:13

There is a spirit behind every word of God you access in


the Bible (through which faith comes – Rom 10:17). This
means that, behind every word of faith you access, there
is the spirit of faith; and what the spirit of faith does is to
make you speak or rather speaks through you. The word
of faith is stored in the heart (Rom. 10:10), but the spirit of
faith expresses faith through the mouth.

No matter your level of faith, until you speak what you

- 26 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

believe, one may never know what you have; words are
power (The word of a king is his power) .

The reason many find it hard to declare what they claim


to believe is because they have only heard the word, they
have not seen it. And you know, you can doubt what you
hear, but you cannot doubt what you see. Get beyond just
hearing the word, begin to see the word. When you are
able to see it, you cannot but declare it, no matter who
believes you or not.

For we cannot but speak the things which


we have seen and heard.
Acts 4:20

Joseph had a dream regardless of the anger in his brothers


against him, he refused to be silenced, he kept declaring
what he saw.

It is as you keep speaking what you have seen and believed,


only then can you partake of the wonders the word carries
(continue to speak it until you see it happen):

Long time therefore abode they speaking


boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony
unto the word of his grace, and granted
signs and wonders to be done by their
hands.

Acts 14:3
- 27 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well


seen: for I will hasten my word to perform
it.

Jer. 1:12

Many are afraid to declare what they believe because of


fear of the devil or even worse, the people around.

When you constantly declare what is written in the word


of God, what is happening negatively around you will
soon fade off (Ps 18:4) and you begin to see what you are
speaking in reality:

And God said, Let there be light: and there


was light.

Gen 1:3

You can also read Mk. 11:23

But for your confession of faith to work for you, you have
to believe that the word of God is so. See things from the
spiritual realm; do not look at things from the physical
point of view. Agreeing with God’s word and confessing
that it is so is the only way the truth of God’s word becomes
real to you. The more you say it, the more real it becomes
physically (but remember, it is real spiritually).

Faith sees things in the impossible realm and declares it.


Until you are willing to declare it, you don’t truly believe it.
- 28 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

When you speak in faith, the following things happen,


among others:

→ God confirms your word (Isa 44:26; Mk 16:20; Ps


81:10-14)

→ Angels pick your word to God to confirm it for


you (Ps 103:20; Eccl 5:6)

→ Enemy bows to you (Isa 54:17; Ps 18:44-45; Luke


21:15)

→ You have whatever you say – good or bad (Pro


18:21; Pro 6:2; Mk 11:23)

This is also why you must be careful of the words you


speak, as these four things happen to your words, whether
positive or negative speak only what you desire to see
happen to you. Never be careless with your words, as
whatever you say is counted serious in the spiritual realm.

The operation of faith is supported by what you say. Your


declarations determine the manifestations. if you can’t
declare what you believe, it is simply a sign of doubt
or complete unbelief; real faith speaks, without any
consideration for the situations on ground.

Bishop David Oyedepo said; “If your faith cannot be traced


in your words, then it is fake.” This is very true. Remember,
it is as you speak what you believe in your heart that your
faith grows.
- 29 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

2. PROFESSION/ACTION

The sequence of faith can be summed as:

Receive God’s word + Believe it + Confess it + Act it!

This can easily be said that, when action (which is the


overall in the sequence) is out, the end product may never
be attained. It is your action that provokes God’s reaction
towards you; as the law of science states that “action and
reaction are equal and opposite.”

Faith is of the heart, expressed from the mouth and ends its
process with action. God is moved majorly by our actions
which is a proof to Him that we believe Him;

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not


arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the
Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him
actions are weighed.
1 Sam 2:3

It is your action of faith that makes faith visible, faith can


be seen.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the


sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven
thee.

Mark 2:5

- 30 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

The man of God, Kenneth E. Hagin said: “it is not enough


to talk the faith talk, you must also work the faith work
(action/profession)

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I


have works: shew me thy faith without thy
works, and I will shew thee my faith by my
works.

James 2:18

Every time you truly believe God’s word to you, the spirit
of faith moves you to act in the direction of that word you
believe, as Noah did (he moved):

And Noah did according unto all that the


Lord commanded him.
Genesis 7:5

When Peter believed the word Jesus spoke to him, he and


his friends did not just sit down confessing it, they acted
on it, and their miracle showed up:

And when they had this done, they inclosed


a great multitude of fishes: and their net
brake.
Lk. 5:6

Many Christians try to believe or try to have faith, but it is


better to act on the word you believe

- 31 -
WHAT IS FAITH?

His mother saith unto the servants,


Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

John 2:5

God’s word is never real to you until you act on it. And
until you act on the word, you don’t get results. Endeavour
to match your words (confession of faith) with the
corresponding action, you must support your confession
with your works.

“Faith is simply acting on God’s word – Raymond T. Richey”

“Faith is an act _ Smith Wigglesworth”

Many Christians today are usually afraid to act on what


they believe; it is simply unbelief:

And to whom sware he that they should


not enter into his rest, but to them that
believed not?

So we see that they could not enter in


because of unbelief.

Heb 3:18-19

Take for instance, the encounter of Jesus with a man with


the withered hand; Jesus knew his hand was withered, yet
He said to him, ‘stretch out your hand (Mk. 3:1-5):

And he saith unto the man which had the


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WHAT IS FAITH?

withered hand, Stand forth.

And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do


good on the sabbath days, or to do evil?
to save life, or to kill? But they held their
peace.

And when he had looked round about on


them with anger, being grieved for the
hardness of their hearts, he saith unto
the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he
stretched it out: and his hand was restored
whole as the other.

Mark 3:3-5

If this man had refused to act on that word, he would have


missed his miracle.

Therefore, when you say you have faith, your next action
must show that you truly have faith.

Bishop Abioye said: “The process of faith is incomplete


without practical steps from the practitioner. No matter
how small, your input is needed to make your miracle a
reality. Until you make an effort, God cannot bring about
the effect.”

Do not just keep confessing until you get confused because;


“Any faith that makes God absolutely responsible for the
outcome of your life is an irresponsible faith – Bishop
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WHAT IS FAITH?

David Oyedepo”.

Profession of faith is simply what you do to support what


you are confessing.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith


without wavering; (for he is faithful that
promised;)

Heb 10:23

Your work (action) of faith is what speaks for you, not just
your words of faith:

I know thy works: behold, I have set before


thee an open door, and no man can shut it:
for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept
my word, and hast not denied my name.
Rev 3:8

The widow of Zarephath believed the word of God from


Elijah and simply acted on it (not busy just confessing it);
regardless of the contrary situation around her (i.e. fear
of death staring her in the face if she gave Elijah the food).
Her action bailed her out (1 kings 17:8-16)

And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth,


I have not a cake, but an handful of meal
in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and,
behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I
may go in and dress it for me and my son,
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WHAT IS FAITH?

that we may eat it, and die.

And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and


do as thou hast said: but make me thereof
a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and
after make for thee and for thy son.

For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The


barrel of meal shall not waste, neither
shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that
the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.

And she went and did according to the


saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her
house, did eat many days.

1 Kings 17:12-15

It is children that busy themselves talking and talking,


without doing anything. But adults talk few words and act.
No wonder God’s word enjoins us to graduate from being
baby Christian to mature Christians. But this can only be
made possible if we build on our faith (Heb. 5:11-14/2
Pet. 3:18).

BUILD YOUR FAITH

Faith can grow. Just as this definition of faith states:

“Faith is a living force, drawn from the living word of God


to produce living proof – David Oyedepo.”
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WHAT IS FAITH?

Faith is a living force; which means that it can grow, as it is


with every living thing. One of the characteristics of every
living thing is ‘growth’.

Faith is like our natural body, it requires food daily to grow.


When you feed the body with the right nutrients, it will
increase and will be able to withstand different opposing
forces. But when fed with wrong or no nutrients, the body
can get lean, reduce and may even die; same is our faith.
But the growth is primarily our individual responsibility,
not God’s. If you refuse to grow your faith, you keep God
waiting for you, and if you refuse to grow your faith, you
can lose so many inheritances.

Just as no man can eat food for your body to grow physically,
so also no one can help you grow your faith, you have to
take personal responsibility to do it yourself.

For every man shall bear his own burden.


Gal 6:5

No matter the size or level of your faith now, (may be; no


faith; little faith or great faith), it can increase; remember,
everything big today began small. This I believe why
Jesus had to recommend “the mustard seed” faith for His
disciples, as the starting point (Matt. 17:20). But when
mustard seed is planted and fed with right nutrients, the
smallest seed ends up the tallest tree.

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WHAT IS FAITH?

Having ‘mustard seed faith’ is good, but go ahead and


grow it. Consider the widow with the cruse of small oil,
who hired many (big) drums, at the instruction of the man
of God, Elisha. She began to pour the small oil until there
were no more drums to fill; small oil became very ‘big’ oil
(2 kings 4:1-7).

The following ways can help you build your faith to the
level you desire.

1. The Word of God

And now, brethren, I commend you to God,


and to the word of his grace, which is able to
build you up, and to give you an inheritance
among all them which are sanctified.

Acts 20:32

The word of God is the principal raw material and source


of faith (faith comes by the word – Rom. 10:17) and you
will need the same word to build the faith.

My son, attend to my words; incline thine


ear unto my sayings.
Prov. 4:20

You can also read 2 Tim. 2:15

If your faith must grow to the point of having proofs, it


must be approved for growth, through the building block
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WHAT IS FAITH?

of the word.

If you want the fish in your pond to grow, you continually


feed them; so also you must feed your faith through
continuous intake of the word:

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to


exhortation, to doctrine.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which


was given thee by prophecy, with the laying
on of the hands of the presbytery.

Meditate upon these things; give thyself


wholly to them; that thy profiting may
appear to all.

1 Tim 4:13-15

You cannot act on God’s word beyond your knowledge of


the word. Faith grows with understanding the word. “If
you are not growing in faith, then you are not developing
spiritually.” – Kenneth Hagin

2. The Prayer Altar

Effective prayer life is another force required to build the


force of faith. When Jesus encouraged His disciples on
how to build their faith to match their expectant level of
manifestation, He recommended prayer (with fasting):

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WHAT IS FAITH?

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and


said, Why could not we cast him out?

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your


unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have
faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall
say unto this mountain, Remove hence
to yonder place; and it shall remove; and
nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by
prayer and fasting.
Matt 17:19-21

Prayer is a spiritual building force (spiritual stamina


builder).

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on


your most holy faith, praying in the Holy
Ghost,

Jude 20

To change unbelief to belief (faith), you need prayer


which becomes stronger when coupled with fasting. The
prayer to build faith is better done in the spirit as Jude
recommended.

As you pray in the Holy Ghost, two major things, among


others happen:

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WHAT IS FAITH?

→ The Holy Ghost expands your understanding of the


word, to see the word of God as active, alive and
ever true (faithful).

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor


ear heard, neither have entered into the
heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him.

But God hath revealed them unto us by his


Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God.
1 Cor. 2:9-10
“Understanding makes you outstanding, that is, when
your understanding of the word comes alive, your faith
naturally comes alive – Bishop Abioye”.
Remember the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-39). When
understanding came (through the help of Philip, inspired
by the Holy Ghost), his faith increased, and you can see a
proof of it in Vs 39 (…..and he went on his way rejoicing).
Faith rejoices.
→ The Holy Ghost connects you with the right
scriptures that are relevant to your situations and
circumstances, as the scripture says; ‘comparing
spiritual thing with spiritual’.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,


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WHAT IS FAITH?

whom the Father will send in my name,


he shall teach you all things, and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
have said unto you.

John 14:26

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come,


he will guide you into all truth: for he shall
not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall
hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew
you things to come.

John 16:13

He shows you the right word to handle what challenge you


are faced with, and when you see such scripture, your faith
is boosted.

3. Connect to Like-Faith People

This statement is true: “Your location determines your


allocation and who you follow determines what follows
you – Bishop Abioye.”

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect,


be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be
otherwise minded, God shall reveal even
this unto you.

Nevertheless, whereto we have already


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attained, let us walk by the same rule, let


us mind the same thing.
Brethren, be followers together of me, and
mark them which walk so as ye have us for
an ensample.
Phil 3:15-17

Remember, no association/relationship leaves you the


same, it influences you, positively or negatively, depending
on where or who you associate with. Lot became very great
by associating with Abraham (a great man) – Gen. 13:5

Again, the association of the disciples with their master


Jesus, increased their faith – Acts 4:13

The young Bishop Timothy operated a great dimension of


faith through like-faith connection (1 Tim. 1:2 and 2 Tim.
1:1-5)

No matter the level of faith you have or operate in at


the moment, it can grow by staying around faith people,
perhaps people of higher faith level. And if you stay around
‘NO FAITH’ people, your little faith can die. The twelve
spies are good examples (two full of faith and ten no faith),
which led to division in the camp.

He that walketh with wise men shall be


wise: but a companion of fools shall be
destroyed. Prov. 13:20
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WHAT IS FAITH?

4. Keep Using Your Faith

Another way to build on your faith is by using the little you


already have, no matter how small it is.

The scientific law of ‘use and disuse’ buttresses this point.


The more you use it, the more it grows, when you don’t
use it, it degenerates. Remember, everything big today was
once very small.

I could envision a spiritual anger/reaction in the disciples


after Jesus spoke about their unbelief (Matt. 17:19-21),
which made them to start building on their faith until they
all emerged ‘faith giants’.

And he said unto them, Look on me, and do


likewise: and, behold, when I come to the
outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do,
so shall ye do.

Judg. 7:17

You have stayed around faith giants, and imparted with the
spirit of faith, you have got to do what they do (practice
the faith as they do). Bishop Oyedepo said he once told
himself; “You have stayed around greatness long enough,
now step into greatness.”

I see your faith changing level from this moment, in Jesus


name. Amen.

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WHAT IS FAITH?

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CHAPTER TWO

PROOFS OF FAITH

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these


three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Cor. 13:13
From this scripture, we agree that even though faith is
a very powerful force in the universe, which can move
any mountain, in fact it was recorded about faith that it
is above all (Eph. 6:16), yet it cannot produce the desired
results alone. No matter how great a man may be, there
must be some people who contributed to his greatness at
one point or the other.

In this chapter therefore, we shall be looking at some


factors that will make our faith outstanding, Which I call
“proofs of faith” that is these following factors will make it
clear that you really have faith.

LOVE

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision


availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but
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faith which worketh by love.


Gal 5:6
I call love the chief cornerstone of faith. That is, without
love, faith becomes impotent. If you check through the
Bible, all the men and women of faith were first lovers of
God. Love is the basic foundation for faith to work. And
if the foundation is out of place, nothing else can work
effectively (Ps 11:3).

And though I have all faith, so that I could


remove mountains, and have not charity, I
am nothing.
1 Cor. 13:2
Consider Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; they did
not only express their faith (trust) in their God to deliver
them, they talked so confidently because they were lovers
of God (Dan. 3:16-18). The same happens, if a man truly
loves his wife, he will show up for his wife at the face of
any challenge. This is why Jesus said:

He that hath my commandments, and


keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:
and he that loveth me shall be loved of
my Father, and I will love him, and will
manifest myself to him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a


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PROOFS OF FAITH

man love me, he will keep my words: and


my Father will love him, and we will come
unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 14:21&23
Can you see, ‘manifest myself to him’ and ‘make our
abode with him’.

Their love empowered their faith, which made the ‘fourth


person’ to manifest himself and made abode with them,
and the outcome was faith producing miracle. Being in
love with God is the antidote for fear (1 John 4:18), and
you know that fear is the opposite of faith. When fear
goes, faith is what you have, but it is love that casts out
fear.

The truth is this, it is very difficult to believe in someone


you do not really love, you won’t take his words serious.
Let love be the reason/motive for which you claim you
have faith. This is an error of most Christians in church
today. They claim they believe God for miracles, and when
the miracles don’t come, they get off church; because their
reason for believing God was wrong, not love motivated.

When your faith is love-motivated, you become


unshakeable about what God does or does not do for you,
you still remain with Him (Dan. 3:17-18):

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to

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PROOFS OF FAITH

deliver us from the burning fiery furnace,


and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O
king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king,
that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship
the golden image which thou hast set up.
Dan 3:17-18
The faith of Abraham was built on love for God, not because
of what he wanted to get from God.

No wonder he believed (had faith in) God so much, even


to the point of knowing that even if he sacrificed his son
Isaac, God would raise him again. When you see a lover of
God, he can part away anything for God, because he knows
that God is faithful to give him more.

It is love that guarantees you a good conscience of your


faith;

Holding faith, and a good conscience;


which some having put away concerning
faith have made shipwreck:
1 Tim 1:19

Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure


conscience. 1 Tim 3:9

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WHAT IS FAITH?

If you don’t love God, you can’t know Him; and you can’t
really believe or have trust completely in a stranger to you,
which makes your faith fake.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for


God is love.
1 John 4:8
Doubt also can set in when there is no love in you, just like
the absence of love exits faith and retains fear. That is no
love and faith in you, fear and doubt rule you entirely.

HOPE:

As potent and powerful as faith is, it will still become


ineffective without hope in place. It is hope that produces
the egg for faith to fertilize, thereby bringing the results.

The more of the word of God you have within you will
determine how hopeful you are. This is because the word
of God does not only show us what God has done, or is
doing, but also shows us what God will do in future (hope).
Hope helps you to see the future (vision) and when you
are able to see what your future holds for you, you become
strengthened, full of life (faith is the inner strength). When
you are hopeful, you become joyful (and a man of faith is
always joyful), no matter what goes around him.

When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips


quivered at the voice: rottenness entered
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PROOFS OF FAITH

into my bones, and I trembled in myself,


that I might rest in the day of trouble:
when he cometh up unto the people, he will
invade them with his troops.

Although the fig tree shall not blossom,


neither shall fruit be in the vines; the
labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields
shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut
off from the fold, and there shall be no herd
in the stalls:
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the
God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength, and he
will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and
he will make me to walk upon mine high
places. To the chief singer on my stringed
instruments. Hab 3:16-19
Every time you allow your condition to weigh you down,
and make you sorrowful, it is a sign of hopelessness.
Habakkuk refused to be cast down, he knew there was a
place at the top for him, and that kept him rejoicing.

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say,


Rejoice. Phil 4:4
Consider our father of faith – Abraham; he could not get
his miracle as long as his hope was out of place; no wonder
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he needed to renew his hope (when his hope died).

Who against hope believed in hope, that he


might become the father of many nations;
according to that which was spoken, So
shall thy seed be.
Rom 4:18
Hope is what will help you to hold on to whatever you
believe God to do for you and never to give up on God
and His promise. Hope is simply the anchor of faith. Any
hopeless man is doomed for failure and frustration. Never
shut yourself just yet in hopelessness, do not give up yet,
renew your hope and your faith also will be activated.

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down,


that it will sprout again, and that the
tender branch thereof will not cease.
Job 14:7
How do I renew my hope? Or how do I even get hope? You
may ask. Just the way faith comes, is the way hope comes
– The Word of God

For I know the plans I have for you,” says


the Lord. “They are plans for good and
not for disaster, to give you a future and a
hope.
Jer. 29:11 (NLT)
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PROOFS OF FAITH

Hope is like a foundation for faith; and no building can ever


stand without a foundation. This is why you must keep
your hope alive always, because if you allow your hope to
die, your faith will equally crumble.

OBEDIENCE

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt


hearken diligently unto the voice of the
Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his
commandments which I command thee
this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee
on high above all nations of the earth:
And all these blessings shall come on thee,
and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken
unto the voice of the Lord thy God.
Deut 28:1-2
The most important requirement or proof of faith in
God and in His word is Obedience. Reading through this
scripture down to verse 13, you discover that, obeying
God’s word or instructions delivers virtually all you desire.
You will not need to struggle and all your toiling to make
things work will be terminated. As the case of Peter, as
stated in the anchor scripture for this book – Lk. 5:1-8.

It was Peter’s obedience to the instruction of Jesus that


gave him the breakthrough he got.

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WHAT IS FAITH?

He needed not to pray for it. Most of the things we struggle


to get today or even pray and fast for may not be necessary if
our obedience is intact. Imagine a woman who desperately
needs peace in her marriage; praying, fasting and doing all
sorts of things for it and not getting it; whereas, God told
her not to marry the man she married (so she went into
the marriage in disobedience).

Abraham became the father of faith all by his obedience,


nothing more.

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get


thee out of thy country, and from thy
kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto
a land that I will shew thee:
And I will make of thee a great nation, and
I will bless thee, and make thy name great;
and thou shalt be a blessing:
And I will bless them that bless thee, and
curse him that curseth thee: and in thee
shall all families of the earth be blessed.
So Abram departed, as the Lord had
spoken unto him; and Lot went with him:
and Abram was seventy and five years old
when he departed out of Haran.
Gen 12:1-4

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PROOFS OF FAITH

Can you see that; ‘so Abram departed’; no argument, no


analysis of God’s instruction. When you begin to analyze
God’s word, you may get paralyzed.

And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your


foreskin; and it shall be a token of the
covenant betwixt me and you.
And he that is eight days old shall be
circumcised among you, every man child
in your generations, he that is born in
the house, or bought with money of any
stranger, which is not of thy seed.
And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all
that were born in his house, and all that
were bought with his money, every male
among the men of Abraham’s house; and
circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in
the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.
Gen 17:11-12&23
Again;

And it came to pass after these things, that


God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him,
Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only
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WHAT IS FAITH?

son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee


into the land of Moriah; and offer him
there for a burnt offering upon one of the
mountains which I will tell thee of.
And Abraham rose up early in the morning,
and saddled his ass, and took two of his
young men with him, and Isaac his son, and
clave the wood for the burnt offering, and
rose up, and went unto the place of which
God had told him.
Gen 22:1-3
He obeyed God, even at the expense of his wife, who is also
a parent of the same boy (the mother for that matter); not
minding what crisis would evolve at home at his return
from his three days homicidal journey; yet he rather
obeyed God and faced whatever consequences. And was
counted to him as faith.

Imagine also the servants at the wedding in Cana of Galilee;


how their obedience paid off for them, not minding what
the governor of the feast would do to them if it turned out
that he drank water and not wine as they wanted.

The key word that terminated their shame was;


‘whatsoever he saith unto you, do it’ (Jn. 5:1-10).

Until there is total obedience from man, as it regards the


subject of faith, the desired miracle may never manifest.
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PROOFS OF FAITH

Obedience is not obedience until it is instant; as we


have seen in Abram (And Abram departed; and early in
the morning). When obedience is delayed, it becomes
disobedience. You may even end up not carrying out the
instruction again. Imagine if Abraham waited to discuss
with his wife about sacrificing Isaac, would he have
embarked on the journey, would he have received the
sworn blessing? He left his father’s house, where he had
lived for 75 years of his life, not asking God question nor
even direction to the place.

Remember Philip the evangelist; a man of prompt


obedience. At his return from a power-packed crusade,
God told him to go to the desert. No question, no subjecting
of the voice to test (as some would do) – Acts 8:26-28.
When God gives instructions, some will even bind Satan,
as the one behind the voice (just because they can’t even
recognize their father’s voice properly). Their knowledge
of God and His voice is shallow. This happens mostly
when it comes to giving/sacrificing things; or even about
marriage, after you have made up your mind to marry a
rich man or a very beautiful lady, and God says ‘NO’. I bet
you will bind, loose, cast out, cast off, cast away and even
destroy Satan by the blood of Jesus and the fire of the Holy
Ghost.

PATIENCE/REST

That ye be not slothful, but followers of


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WHAT IS FAITH?

them who through faith and patience


inherit the promises.
For when God made promise to Abraham,
because he could swear by no greater, he
sware by himself,
Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee,
and multiplying I will multiply thee.
And so, after he had patiently endured, he
obtained the promise.
Heb 6:12-15
Whatever it is you are expecting or asking from God with
your faith intact; there will be need for patience on your
side (endurance or long suffering). You have got to be
anxiety free, no rushing or hasting or hurrying of any kind
(Isa. 28:16). Why must I need to wait if the scripture says
‘faith is now’? This is because God’s ways are not our ways.
Abraham, the father of faith needed to wait 25 years to
obtain the promise. Anxiety is a sign of faithlessness.

Many people stop praying or even stop going to church


because they have not received their miracle after their
so called 2years or 5years. They are simply impatient, so
they miss the miracle when it eventually comes. They can’t
wait.

If a man die, shall he live again? all the

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days of my appointed time will I wait, till


my change come.
Job 14:14
Understand that, in God’s agenda, there is a time allocated
for everything.

To every thing there is a season, and a time


to every purpose under the heaven:

Eccl 3:1

You will also realize that God’s time is not the same as
yours, God makes all things beautiful in His time not
your time (Gen. 21:1-2). Some of these impatient (sharp-
sharp) people are following God for things, not because
they love God or even trust Him. Abraham walked with
God, became God’s friend, not because he needed Isaac;
he waited patiently for 25years. Noah waited patiently for
about 100years from the time God spoke to him about the
flood (Gen. 5:32; 7:6).

The world we live in today is a fast world, digitalized world,


nobody has time to wait for anything, and sad enough, it
has eaten deep into believers, which has led to the high
increase of commercial/fake prophets, who are ready to
give you your desired miracle at your own time frame.
Your patience is highly needed for your faith to produce
result (Heb. 10:36-37).

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WHAT IS FAITH?

A man of faith is calm/patient, even in the face of challenge,


trusting in the saving and never delaying power of God (as
in Dan. 3:17-18). You will maintain your peace (Isa. 26:3)
as Jesus did on that troubled/stormy sea (Mk. 4:37-40).
When you claim you have faith, never stop believing, no
matter what happens on the way;

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any


man draw back, my soul shall have no
pleasure in him.
Heb 10:38
You can also read 1 Pt. 1:9

At the red sea, the Israelites needed to maintain peace/


calmness ,if God must intervene in their predicaments
(Exo. 14:14). Every time you are worried and anxious or
troubled over any situation, God is taking absolute rest
(remember Jesus and His disciples on the sea). But when
you maintain a restful state, God moves into action for you.
Because the two of you cannot be working at the same
time; it is either you are at rest for God to work or you
work for God to rest.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will


be exalted among the heathen, I will be
exalted in the earth.
Ps 46:10

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PROOFS OF FAITH

A restful state is a proof/evidence of faith; while a state


of anxiety indicates unbelief and doubt. Until you assume
that state of rest in your journey of faith, (where you stop
to do things yourself, thereby allowing God do them for
you), your faith will never produce result.

For we which have believed do enter into


rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my
wrath, if they shall enter into my rest:
although the works were finished from the
foundation of the world.
Heb 4:3
You take your rest in the word of God, as the people did to
Hezekiah (2 Chro. 32:8)

I once heard Pastor Adeboye share his experience on


a journey to London. And at a point, the aircraft had a
challenge, perhaps engine problem. This made everyone
on board panic, that some began to move to – and – fro the
toilet. But he was calm all through. And in his calmness,
God told him to sleep, as Jesus did on the troubled sea,
because at his arrival, there would be no time to talk, so
He would like to talk to him that moment. The outcome of
the troubled aircraft; safe landing.

Be restful!!!

To every troubled area of your life, I decree peace, be still,

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in Jesus name.

THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE

Who against hope believed in hope, that he


might become the father of many nations;
according to that which was spoken, So
shall thy seed be.
And being not weak in faith, he considered
not his own body now dead, when he was
about an hundred years old, neither yet
the deadness of Sara’s womb:
He staggered not at the promise of God
through unbelief; but was strong in faith,
giving glory to God;
Rom 4:18-20
Thanksgiving and praise is one way to prove you have
faith, especially in the face of challenge. It is a way of
demonstrating your faith, trust and confidence in the
unlimited ability of God. Abraham was not giving glory
(thanksgiving and praise) to God for anything else, but for
God’s faithfulness (Rom. 4:12/1 Thess. 5:24).

Remember, faith is taking God at His word; then thanking/


praising God, especially when you have not seen or received
the promise practically in your hand means you judge Him
and His word faithful, as Sarah did (Heb. 11:11).
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PROOFS OF FAITH

In God I will praise his word, in God I have


put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can
do unto me.
Ps 56:4
Faith overlooks (looks away) what is happening, but
focuses on what is written (God’s word) and it is that
written/spoken word of God to you that you thank and
praise God for.

Going through the experience of prophet Habakkuk, you


will see practical demonstration of faith (Hab. 3:16-19).

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the


God of my salvation.
Hab 3:18
And as he gave glory to God in the midst of that frustrating
situation, God showed up (Vs 19).

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 Cor 4:18
Looking deeply at the subject of thanksgiving; it is a
commandment of God for us to do (Mal. 2:1-2/1 Thess.

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WHAT IS FAITH?

5:18) and God’s will simply means God’s word. So, you are
not to thank God only when He has done what you expect.
At the face of death and stinking condition of Lazarus,
Jesus gave thanks, in demonstration of His faith/trust in
God, having prayed (waited) two days; which triggered the
speedy release of the miracle (Jn. 11:41). Similarly, in the
midst of hopeless condition, Paul and Silas sang praises, to
demonstrate their faith/trust in the never-failing God and
His word (Acts 16:25-26).

When you praise God, you are telling God your hands are
off the matter, and God will take over the situation, and
what you get is testimony (2 Chr. 20:17/21-22). Praising
God is a way of handing over your matter to Him.

Everything making you sorrowful, not being able to see


reason to thank and praise God is cursed this moment, in
Jesus name.

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WHAT IS FAITH?

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CHAPTER THREE

FAITH AND HEALING/


HEALTH

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou


mayest prosper and be in health, even as
thy soul prospereth.
3 John 2
From this scripture, we understand that God’s original
plan for man is not HEALING but HEALTH! Yes. You may
wonder why then do people fall sick? Sickness never came
and will never come from God (Jam. 1:17). God’s man
(Adam) lived in the garden with his wife, and no record
of sickness for them, until man fell; which gave Satan (the
oppressor) to have access to inflict man with sickness.
Remember, Jesus came so He may destroy the works of the
devil (which includes sickness) – 1 Jn. 3:8.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with


the Holy Ghost and with power: who went
about doing good, and healing all that
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WHAT IS FAITH?

were oppressed of the devil; for God was


with him.
Acts 10:38
Every sickness is an oppression of the devil. Health is a
state of wholesomeness/no sickness, which was God’s
original purpose for man. Healing comes to play when
health has been tampered with. Whichever the case, if
your health has been affected and sickness now rules, God
has also made provision for your healing.

For I will restore health unto thee, and


I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the
Lord; because they called thee an Outcast,
saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh
after.
Jer. 30:17
But even though God has made everything we ever need
in life available freely (2 Pet. 1:3), we need faith to receive
them (Heb. 11:6). If it is healing you desire for your sick
body, it will require that you have faith. If you are sick and
need healing but refuse to believe God for it, God can never
intervene for you.

Healing is a gift from God, not what you beg and struggle to
get, especially as a covenant child (who has been redeemed
by the blood of the Lamb).

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But he answered and said, It is not meet to


take the children’s bread, and to cast it to
dogs.

Matt 15:26
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the
voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that
which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to
his commandments, and keep all his statutes,
I will put none of these diseases upon thee,
which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for
I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Exodus 15:16

This is what Jesus came to do for us, to destroy the work


(sickness) of the devil in man’s body (Isa 53:4-5; 2 Pet.
2:24).

Let us therefore see the foundation of sickness.

Sin; The Root of Sickness

Most sickness and diseases today have their roots in sin.


I suggest if you mistakenly fall sick today, the first thing
to check is The Sin Question! That is, examine yourself if
you still stand right with God. Once this is settled, healing/
deliverance process becomes easy.

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,


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WHAT IS FAITH?

and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he


have committed sins, they shall be forgiven
him.
James 5:15
Can you see, God knows that with sin out of the way,
healing becomes instant.

Jesus illustrated the similarity between praying for healing


and praying for forgiveness of sins.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the


sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven
thee.
Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the
palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say,
Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
Mark 2:5/9
Consider also the man Jesus healed after 38years of his
oppression. From what Jesus said, we can say, that his
affliction was connected to sin (Jn. 5:1-14)

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple,


and said unto him, Behold, thou art made
whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come
unto thee.
John 5:14

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This is the principle of Jesus, and it is therefore scriptural


to follow same. If any Pastor (elders of the church – James
5:14) who is willing to pray for you to be healed or to be
delivered, knowing that you live in sin, as much as you
know yourself, the Pastor is deceiving you. And if all you
want is prayer to be healed and you are not ready to pray
to be saved first, you deceive yourself.

I once turned a young man away from my office without


praying for him, because he only needed prayer for
deliverance from an evil oppression; but when I offered
the word of salvation to him, he told me he was not ready,
I also said I was not interested in deceiving myself praying
for him.

At another instance, I had an encounter with a man; as one


of our deacons in the church took me to the house of one
of his young converts (whose son was sick). The man has
been on sick bed, could not walk nor eat food. As we got
there, I preached to him (as my custom is) told him his
need for salvation, which will help his quick recovery, as
well as his need for faith. He agreed and the sin question
was taken away, after which we prayed for him. As soon as
we ended the prayer, this man stood up from the bed and
said to me, ‘I will try to walk’. And he actually did (praise
God).

You can read the encounter of Jesus and the paralytic man
– Mk. 2:1-12.
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WHAT IS FAITH?

Having settled sin matter, let us therefore consider some


ways of escape from sickness.

1. The Word of God

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you


through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus
our Lord,
According as his divine power hath given
unto us all things that pertain unto life and
godliness, through the knowledge of him
that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2 Peter 1:2-3
Your knowledge from the word of God concerning your
health gives you total liberty from sickness. That is, having
the knowledge that the price for your total health or
healing has been fully paid for by Christ.

For ye are bought with a price: therefore


glorify God in your body, and in your spirit,
which are God’s.
1 Cor. 6:20
Again, healing is part of your redemptive package as a
child of God (Ps. 103:1-3).

But, beloved, we are persuaded better


things of you, and things that accompany
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salvation, though we thus speak.


Heb 6:9
Even though faith is vital in securing access to healing,
remember it is the revelation of the word that provokes
healing (Luke 5:17).

Even if you do not agree that the price for your healing and
health has been fully paid for (Sometimes, you may feel
unwell and in serious pain,all you need to do is to continue
confessing the word of God and not the pain because the
price for your healing and health has been fully paid). All
you need do is to continue to look into the word of God
(the truth) and not the pain or the sickness.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and


put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that
if a serpent had bitten any man, when he
beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Num 21:9
Your focus determines the outcome of your condition. Stop
looking at the sickness and start looking into the word.

When God wants to heal you, he simply sends His word to


you (Ps. 107:20/Lk. 5:17). Your healing is delivered to you
when you receive the word of healing He has sent to you.

If you receive the word as truth and you believe it, then
begin to speak such word into your body. When you speak

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WHAT IS FAITH?

about your healing, ensure it is the word of God in your


heart (i.e. let your heart agree with your mouth). You find
people today who tend to fall sick often, how is that so?
From the words of sickness that flow effortlessly from their
mouth ,this happens because their hearts are not filled
with the word of God. You notice that from their words
(words of sickness flow through their mouth effortlessly).
This happens because their hearts/lives are not filled with
the word of God.

And the inhabitant shall not say, I am


sick: the people that dwell therein shall be
forgiven their iniquity.
Isa 33:24
Never you speak about the sickness, just commonize it,
only speak the word you have received and believed (Joel
3:10).

Keneth Hagin was told by doctors to wait for his death


when he was a teenager, having been told by the doctors to
wait for his death at his teen. But while on the sick bed, he
contacted the word of God (Mk. 11:23-24), he received and
believed it. He then began to speak that word of healing in
faith, and eventually, he got his healing.

It is with your mouth you either reject or accept sickness.


Once you speak healing, sickness knows you do not want
him around, so he flees
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Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing


that the same afflictions are accomplished
in your brethren that are in the world.
1 Peter 5:9
Hear what this man of God has to say (Joseph Prince) about
the word of God (Bible): “Your Bible will do you no good
if you leave it on your bedside table, gathering dust. It will
do you no good if you hold it like a teddy bear when you
are facing your ‘giants’. But God’s word will do you a lot
of good when you receive it as truth and speak it as truth!
Then, you will see your healing and deliverance from every
evil condition that has been sent to destroy you!”

Kenneth Copeland shared a testimony of a renowned man


of God Creflo Dollar who was diagnosed with cancer. He
refused to speak the name of it. He wouldn’t answer the
doctor. He only thanked the doctor. He therefore went
home and listened nonstop to Gloria Copeland’s healing
school message; and would not mention the disease. All
he said was, ‘Jesus bore that disease, it is GONE’. He kept
confessing, ‘A man lives in me, Jesus, and there is not
enough room in there for that man and a disease’.

He went back to the doctors after sometimes and they were


doing the scan on him, and they could see his body on the
monitor. That doctor’s mouth flew open; Creflo Dollar’s
mouth flew open and his son who was with them. There
was the face of Jesus Christ on that monitor!” – Kenneth
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WHAT IS FAITH?

Copeland.

Can you see how the man of God looked down on cancer
by speaking the words he believed from God’s Word which
frustrated the disease? Note that whatever you do not
reject you are simply accepting it. This is why God instructs
us to resist (reject) the devil (sickness) and he will flee.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist


the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
Bishop Oyedepo has said; “whatever you don’t like, you
don’t watch; and whatever you don’t resist has the right
to remain”.

2. Your Contribution (Action)

There is a part to play; you have your own responsibility,


while God has His. You may be wondering, “what can a sick
person do apart from remaining on a sick bed?” I tell you
he needs to act and not only speak. As you put the word
of God you have received and believed in your mouth,
speaking same, then begin to act so. Remember the word
says, ‘Let the weak say I am strong’. Then if you believe
what you are saying, begin to act so, no matter how hard
it may look.

In your quest to be healed, you will need to demonstrate


violent faith (which is all about action).
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And from the days of John the Baptist


until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth
violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matt 11:12
If you are desperate to get your healing NOW (because faith
is NOW – Heb. 11:1), then you will need to do desperate
things, such as, your prayer must be different from the
regular/normal one, as well as your actions.

At the pool of healing in Jerusalem by the sheep market


(called Bethesda), only violent people were taking their
healing:

After this there was a feast of the Jews; and


Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep
market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew
tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
In these lay a great multitude of impotent
folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for
the moving of the water.
For an angel went down at a certain season
into the pool, and troubled the water:
whosoever then first after the troubling of
the water stepped in was made whole of
whatsoever disease he had. John 5:1-4

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WHAT IS FAITH?

But one man who was not violent/desperate to get out of


sickness was just there waiting, for some man to take him
inside the pool. But the Bible didn’t say whosoever they
put inside, but that whosoever stepped into the water (that
means, you do it by yourself) – Vs 4. Thank God he didn’t
die before his healing came. Even when mercy located him
at his 38years frustrated and stagnated spot, he was still
not showing desperation.

We see another desperate/violent faith demonstrated in


the case of the man sick of palsy, carried by his four friends:

And they come unto him, bringing one sick


of the palsy, which was borne of four.

And when they could not come nigh unto


him for the press, they uncovered the roof
where he was: and when they had broken it
up, they let down the bed wherein the sick
of the palsy lay.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the
sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven
thee. Mark 2:3-5
Your faith is seen by your actions, not just by your words;
Jesus saw their faith in their roof-tearing action.

God responds to our actions more than our words, so it


is not enough to be a bold speaker (declaring faith) for

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healing, the proof of your faith is in your action. Until God


sees your action, He will not move for you (1 Sam. 2:3).
Some people are too comfortable with their situation,
rather than making effort to get out of sickness.

Consider the case of the woman with the issue of blood.


Definitely, she would be having some kind of weakness
over the period of twelve years of blood flow. But in her
weak body, she acted her faith, having established faith
in her heart, and confessed same; she pressed her way
through the obstacle of multitudes thronging at Jesus, the
public embarrassment, but got her healing.

And a certain woman, which had an issue of


blood twelve years,

And had suffered many things of many


physicians, and had spent all that she had,
and was nothing bettered, but rather grew
worse,
When she had heard of Jesus, came in the
press behind, and touched his garment.
For she said, If I may touch but his clothes,
I shall be whole.
And straightway the fountain of her blood
was dried up; and she felt in her body that
she was healed of that plague.
Mark 5:25-29
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WHAT IS FAITH?

Remember also the blind man whom Jesus “added to his


blindness” by plastering his already blinded eyes with
mud and then instructed him to go wash at the pool called
Siloam. We are told that the man went his way; take note,
we were not told someone led him to the pool; ‘he went his
way’. – Jn. 9:1-7

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the


ground, and made clay of the spittle, and
he anointed the eyes of the blind man with
the clay,
And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of
Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.)
He went his way therefore, and washed,
and came seeing.
John 9:6-7
Instead of sitting down weeping and waiting for someone
to help you,make an effort by yourself.

3. Maintain a Joyful Mood

In securing healing or living a healthy life (sickness free


life), there is need for you to be joyful. Joy is a natural
therapy.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:


but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Prov. 17:22
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FAITH AND HEALING/HEALTH

A merry heart maketh a cheerful


countenance: but by sorrow of the heart
the spirit is broken.
Prov. 15:13
When you are still sad in sickness, your system gets
weaker, but with joy (swelling from your heart) your body
gets strengthened. You can do this by keeping joyful people
around you, not people whose sadness is more than yours
(like the friends of Job); let them not fill your life with
words of pity.

When Habakkuk heard bad words/report, his bones got


weakened; but thank God he switched over to maintaining
a joyful mood, which eventually got him strengthened, as
stated in Hbk. 3:16-19.

Never even allow the report of your medical test, X-ray


or whatsoever make you sad. Maintain your joy, through
the word of God, and then God will manifest His healing
power in your body.

Who hath believed our report? and to


whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
Isa 53:1
4. Spiritual Weapons

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not


war after the flesh:
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WHAT IS FAITH?

(For the weapons of our warfare are not


carnal, but mighty through God to the
pulling down of strong holds;)

2 Cor. 10:3-4

Most sickness, if not all have their roots in the spiritual.


No wonder Jesus referred to them as ‘the spirit of
infirmity’. This means that there is the spirit of Cancer,
spirit of Tuberculosis, e.t.c. This is why most sicknesses
defy medical attention (resistant to drug or medical
treatment); as the situation with the woman with blood
flow (Mark 5:26).
Knowing this therefore, it is important to address any
form of sickness from the spiritual stand point, using
some of these spiritual weapons (among others), to pull
down the strongholds of sickness.
a. Prayer
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is
any merry? let him sing psalms.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the
elders of the church; and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil in the name of
the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he
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have committed sins, they shall be forgiven


him.
James 5:13-15
People naturally ask if you have prayed, when you have
challenges. But in most cases, you pray and pray, till
you get tired, and nothing seems to work. Does God not
answer prayer anymore; the answer is NO!

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to


have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war,
yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask
amiss, that ye may consume it upon your
lusts.
James 4:2-3
When you pray to be healed, ensure it is the word of God
you are praying (go to God in prayer with your strong
reason of His word). The Bible says the prayer of faith
(that is, faith in the word) – James 5:15.

Hezekiah prayed the prayer of faith and was rescued, as


God reversed the death verdict against him.

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death.


And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz
came unto him, and said unto him, Thus
saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for
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WHAT IS FAITH?

thou shalt die, and not live.


Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the
wall, and prayed unto the Lord,
And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech
thee, how I have walked before thee in
truth and with a perfect heart, and have
done that which is good in thy sight. And
Hezekiah wept sore.
Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah,
saying,
Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the
Lord, the God of David thy father, I have
heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears:
behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen
years.
Isa 38:1-5
What made his prayer so effective was because he
approached God with faith in His word that “……..the
number of our [Link] will fulfil-Exodus 23:26”. So he
knew his number of days hasn’t been fulfilled yet and that
God keeps His word (He is ever faithful).

I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall


go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived
of the residue of my years.
Isa. 38:10
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Are you already thinking or even saying may be this


sickness would kill you? It is not true. Even after Lazarus
had died, Jesus said:

When Jesus heard that, he said, This


sickness is not unto death, but for the
glory of God, that the Son of God might be
glorified thereby.
John 11:4
Remember also, God told Isaiah that Hezekiah’s sickness
was unto death, but he still did not die (Isaiah 38:1)
Why?;because he was able to take God at His word that He
would fulfill the number of our years.

With these two instances, do you now believe that the


sickness cannot kill you, if only you can go to God in prayer
of faith, using His word.

b. The Communion
Taking the communion regularly renews our health, as
Jesus Himself affirms; because it is a means of transference
of the very life of Jesus into yours (John 6:48-58).

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I


have given it to you upon the altar to make
an atonement for your souls: for it is the
blood that maketh an atonement for the
soul.
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WHAT IS FAITH?

Lev 17:11
It is a spiritual Rod that swallows sicknesses and diseases
(Exo. 7:11).

It is a spiritual meal that neutralizes sickness and even


death (2 Kgs. 4:40/Jn. 6:57-58).

It always leaves you with something (testimony) to show


(1 Cor. 11:26).

But you must take it by faith (understanding what the


communion is all about); as the word says we should
discern the body of Christ (talking about knowledge)

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily,


eateth and drinketh damnation to himself,
not discerning the Lord’s body.
For this cause many are weak and sickly
among you, and many sleep.
1 Cor 11:29-30
This does not necessarily mean that you are a sinner and
cannot partake of the communion. This passage above
is often misconstrued that a sinner cannot partake of
the communion; they become afraid to come before the
Lord’s table and therefore robbed of their health-giving
power in the communion. But Jesus died for sinners, He
has therefore qualified us who take him as righteous to
partake of every blessing His death gave.
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The cup of blessing which we bless, is it


not the communion of the blood of Christ?
The bread which we break, is it not the
communion of the body of Christ?
1 Cor. 10:16
It is for a blessing, do not deny yourself the blessing of
healing the communion offers. Just release your faith at
the communion table for healing and health, as you discern
that His body was broken for you to have a healthy body.
The communion is therefore for ‘whosoever’;

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my


blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him
up at the last day.
John 6:54
Sinners can take it and be empowered to live a righteous
life.

He brought them forth also with silver and


gold: and there was not one feeble person
among their tribes.
Ps 105:37
If partaking of the lamb (a shadow of Christ) gave them
perfect health and strength, how much more then will you
who now partake of the precious blood and body of Jesus
(the true Lamb of God) guarantee you total health and
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strength. Even if you are not sick, you can take communion
daily (as we do in my family), remember that prevention is
better than cure.

c. The Anointing Oil


Is any sick among you? let him call for the
elders of the church; and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil in the name of
the Lord:
James 5:14
The anointing oil is a proven mystery of the kingdom of
God for our total health and liberty from sickness.

Everybody in my family is anointed daily. If by any means


anyone feels anything in his/her body, the place is anointed
and a little of the anointing is swallowed (as my children
administer it) and would say, ‘peace in Jesus name’. Having
done this we believe the matter is settled, and it has always
worked, and I believe it will continue to work.

Inside the oil is the Spirit of God, as it is written:

Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and


anointed him in the midst of his brethren:
and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David
from that day forward. So Samuel rose up,
and went to Ramah.
1 Sam 16:13
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And it is this Spirit of the Lord that brings about the healing
and deliverance.

This is why I think Jesus was never reported sick, because


He was anointed:

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with


the Holy Ghost and with power: who went
about doing good, and healing all that
were oppressed of the devil; for God was
with him.
Acts 10:38
It was the overflowing of the anointing upon Him that was
healing the sick and delivering all that were oppressed of
the devil.

The Holy Spirit that works in and through the anointing is


the power of God.

And he called unto him the twelve, and


began to send them forth by two and two;
and gave them power over unclean spirits;
And they cast out many devils, and anointed
with oil many that were sick, and healed
them.
Mark 6:7/13

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WHAT IS FAITH?

Jesus believed in and used the anointing oil, gave it to His


own twelve. No wonder Apostle James could talk about it
confidently, because he used it (James 5:14).

d. The Name of Jesus


That at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of things in heaven, and
things in earth, and things under the
earth;

And that every tongue should confess that


Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
Phil 2:10-11
The name of Jesus, when used by faith, carries healing
power. No matter the type of sickness, if it has a name,
then it must submit to the Almighty Name of Jesus. It is a
powerful weapon in the hand of believers,

Who seeing Peter and John about to go into


the temple asked an alms.

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him


with John, said, Look on us.

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to


receive something of them.

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I


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FAITH AND HEALING/HEALTH

none; but such as I have give I thee: In the


name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up
and walk.

Acts 3:3-6

But the name must be used in faith, for whatsoever is not


done in faith is a sin. That is, you must believe in the power
the name carries, before it can work healing/deliverance
for you.

And his name through faith in his name


hath made this man strong, whom ye see
and know: yea, the faith which is by him
hath given him this perfect soundness in
the presence of you all.

Acts 3:16

All demons tremble at the mention of the name of


Jesus (including the demon in charge of Leukaemia,
Hypertension, Diabetes, e.t.c.). The name is not ordinary,
it carries power, as we see in this scripture:

Then certain of the vagabond Jews,


exorcists, took upon them to call over them
which had evil spirits the name of the Lord
Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom
Paul [Link] there were seven sons
of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests,
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WHAT IS FAITH?

which did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus


I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

Acts 19:13-15

The disciples prayed for the manifestations of healing and


diverse miracles, through the name of Jesus; no wonder
they saw it.

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and


that signs and wonders may be done by the
name of thy holy child Jesus.
Acts 4:30
I decree that whatever makes you uncomfortable in your
body be destroyed now, in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen.

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WHAT IS FAITH?

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CHAPTER FOUR

FAITH AND
FRUITFULNESS

Through faith also Sara herself received


strength to conceive seed, and was
delivered of a child when she was past age,
because she judged him faithful who had
promised.
Heb. 11:11
The issue of barrenness/childlessness has reduced many
societal, civilized and highly educated people to crawl
before all kinds of things and people in search of answers
to their predicament. But the answer is actually nowhere
but in God (Matt. 11:28; Ps. 127:3). You can be whatever
God wants you to be if only you believe Him, and judge Him
faithful to His word, as Sarah did in our opening scripture.
Just understand that God would never ask you to be what
He has not made or empowered you to be.

And God blessed them, and God said


unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and
replenish the earth, and subdue it: and
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WHAT IS FAITH?

have dominion over the fish of the sea,


and over the fowl of the air, and over every
living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Gen. 1:28
God’s word is the final authority over any issue of life (Jn.
8:32); so if God said then that you be fruitful, take note, He
has not changed the statement, it is still and will forever
remain valid (Mal. 3:6). You are created to be fruitful, and
that is who you are, nothing else (Deut. 7:14). If Jesus
remains the fruitful vine, then you as a branch of the vine
cannot be barren.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He


that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me
ye can do nothing.
John 15:5
This means that fruitfulness is a manifestation of God’s
nature, in all areas (i.e super successful/productive).
Barrenness means dryness and emptiness (shame/
reproach). But we are created and empowered by God for
fruitfulness so as to terminate shame (Joel 2:23-27).

By God’s standard (His word), we were certified fruitful at


creation – Ps. 139:14/Gen. 17:6&26:22

Moreover, God our father, is the eternal baby maker (not


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FAITH AND FRUITFULNESS

doctor or drugs), then you can’t be a baby beggar, because


God is a good father who will always and surely provide
for His own, as He stated.

But if any provide not for his own, and


specially for those of his own house, he
hath denied the faith, and is worse than an
infidel.

1 Tim. 5:8

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he


that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his
pasture.

Ps. 100:3

If all listed above is true, you might have asked yourself,


why are some not fruitful in the body or in the works
of their hands? You will see “WHY” as I highlight some
obstacles below.

I will like to highlight some few obstacles, which in Jesus


time, He called stone (which would not allow Lazarus
come out of the grave) – Jn. 11:39. Except these ‘stones’
are taken away, the miracle may not come. Remember also
how the angel had to roll away the stone (obstacle), at the
grave of Jesus, before He could resurrect.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake:


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WHAT IS FAITH?

for the angel of the Lord descended from


heaven, and came and rolled back the
stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Matt. 28:2
These ‘stones’ too need to be rolled away for fruitfulness
to manifest. What then are these “stones” that need to be
rolled away for fruitfulness to manifest?

1. Unbelief

This is simply lack of faith in God or in His word (or ability)


to make you fruitful.

And he could there do no mighty work, save


that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk,
and healed them.
Mark 6:5
God’s word will never be performed without a faith
connection; for without faith, nothing can be done.

And blessed is she that believed: for there


shall be a performance of those things
which were told her from the Lord.
Luke 1:45
You can also read Heb. 11:6

No matter how long/frustrated the case may be, FAITH

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will bring a change/solution (Ezek. 37:1-10)

2. Old Age

Many conclude or give up on God so easily on the fact of


their age. This is a lie of the devil to deceive people from
getting their miracle (children). Remember I said earlier
that God gives babies, not doctors; that means the medical
belief of menopause has nothing to do with one bringing
forth a baby (God’s word is superior).

Sarah was ninety years old when she brought forth her
baby (that, to me is menopause square, since menopause
begins at age 45) – Gen 17:17 and her husband, Abraham
one hundred years. Perhaps, his erection was weak and
may be ejaculation was zero, but because God said it, Isaac
came.

Elizabeth and Zacharias were another great couple and


good example here. Well, I do not know their ages, but
the bible says they were stricken in years (worn out/
advanced) – Luke 1:7. By now you know the end of their
story; John the Baptist was born.

Another good example in the Bible was the Shunammite


woman and her husband (2 kings 4:8-17).

In divine intervention, age is no relevant factor; all you need


is the revelation of God’s word concerning your situation
(as it was with all the examples above). I perceive that God
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WHAT IS FAITH?

would have given them all new and young bodies so as to


get their babies. Just trust God, do not look at your age.

3. Medical Verdict

Put side-by-side with God’s potent word, no medical


report is strong enough to make any child of God barren.
The bible refers to it as falsehood of science:

O Timothy, keep that which is committed


to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain
babblings, and oppositions of science
falsely so called:
Which some professing have erred
concerning the faith. Grace be with thee.
Amen.
1 Tim. 6:20-21
This means that, whatever report you have been given
by your doctor or clinic; compared to the word of God, it
is FALSE! If you believe medical report as against God’s
report, you become what the report states concerning you
(Isa. 53:1), what you believe is what you become.

As valid as her case was, Mary chose to believe the word


of God, rather than science of her virginity (as a barrier to
fruitfulness) and Jesus was born.

Whatever cannot be proven is not scientific; that means


baby-making has nothing to do with science at all, it is
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mystery (Eccl. 11:5). This shows that we are purely not


products of science, BUT OF FAITH (Jer. 1:5).

When our first child was to come, doctor told me and my


wife that it was fibroid in the tummy, at the point of scan.
I thanked him, collected the paper and we went home. But
I told my wife, the baby in her tummy was a boy, whose
name is Samuel; and in place of fibroid, a fine boy came,
eight years have passed now, we do not know or see the
fibroid. In fact, two other children came after him. Make
your choice who to believe (God or medical report).

A woman stopped menstruating three months to her


wedding, after her wedding, still no show; but chose to
believe God and said in her testimony; “menses or no
menses, I am getting pregnant”. Eventually, she gave birth
to a baby boy (contrary to scientific law of menstruation
and ovulation).

Another man was told by doctors of his inability to


impregnate his wife, due to his seriously low sperm count.
But at the time he was sharing his testimony on the altar
of God in church, that day was the birthday if his THIRD
child; yes you heard me well, child number THREE. So
what happened to his low sperm count? Faith quenched it.

The creature can never be superior/greater than the


creator (i.e. God created that your doctor, his knowledge
and science); believe God instead.
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WHAT IS FAITH?

4. Wrong Behaviour

What is your attitude concerning your present situation


(negative or positive)? It will also determine if your
miracle will come or not. Following the English alphabets
if numbered from 1-26, you will find out that Attitude =
100%. This means if your attitude/behavior or thought
pattern about your situation is negative, you can deduce
what the outcome would be.

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat


and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is
not with thee.
Prov. 23:7
You can also read Eph. 3:20

Remember Hannah; as long as she had a wrong perspective


about her situation (sad, wouldn’t even eat, nor laugh), her
miracle was delayed, but when she changed her attitude,
her miracle came.

Then said Elkanah her husband to her,


Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest
thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am
not I better to thee than ten sons?
And she said, Let thine handmaid find
grace in thy sight. So the woman went her
way, and did eat, and her countenance was
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FAITH AND FRUITFULNESS

no more sad.
And they rose up in the morning early, and
worshipped before the Lord, and returned,
and came to their house to Ramah: and
Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the
Lord remembered her.
Wherefore it came to pass, when the
time was come about after Hannah had
conceived, that she bare a son, and called
his name Samuel, saying, Because I have
asked him of the Lord.
1 Sam. 1:8/18-20
5. Alternative

Bishop David Oyedepo has said that, ‘when you look for
alternative, alternative will terminate you’.

Whenever you add anything with God or His word


concerning your situation, God backs off; do you know
why?

I am the Lord: that is my name: and my


glory will I not give to another, neither my
praise to graven images.
Isa. 42:8
This statement by Bishop Oyedepo is very touching:

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WHAT IS FAITH?

“whatever God cannot give me, may I never have it” that
shows absolute dependency on God alone.

Who or where do you go to, in search of your miracle baby,


as alternative to God? Professional/Commercial Prophets
or Mallam; asking you to bring all sorts for sacrifice. Jesus
sacrificed Himself, no need for any of these sacrifices, as it
will only bring more sorrows later:

Their sorrows shall be multiplied that


hasten after another god: their drink
offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take
up their names into my lips.
Ps. 16:4
Make God alone your focal point. Whatever He cannot do,
let no man attempt it. Trust Him!

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my


expectation is from him.
Ps. 62:5
You can also read Ps. 34:5

God is more than enough to give you the baby you want,
He is too faithful to fail.

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will


do it.
1 Thess. 5:24
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FAITH AND FRUITFULNESS

The reason you run after alternative is because you are


not patient enough, which makes you think or even say
God is too slow. If God is all you want, then you wait for His
intervention time.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye


have done the will of God, ye might receive
the promise.
Heb. 10:36
You can also read 2 Pt. 3:9

Another reason you look for alternative is because of


doubt (double mindedness); which the bible says you will
never get anything from God (James 1:6-8)

Now we have discovered some “stones” that need to


be removed, let us consider some covenant keys to
supernatural fruitfulness.

1. Faith

But without faith it is impossible to please


him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him.
Heb. 11:6
Until you please God, your desires are not delivered to you;
and the above scripture tells us how to do so; BY FAITH. It
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WHAT IS FAITH?

is with faith we overcome our challenges.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh


the world: and this is the victory that
overcometh the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:4

As we have been discussing; you must have faith in the


covenant provision for your fruitfulness in the word of
God; because our fruitfulness is a covenant God enacted;
and God is a covenant – keeper.

For I will have respect unto you, and make


you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish
my covenant with you.
Lev. 26:9
You can also read Deut. 7:12-15 and 28:1-4

My covenant will I not break, nor alter the


thing that is gone out of my lips.

Ps. 89:34

When you become armed with the covenant mentality and


believe in it, then begin to declare your fruitfulness (by
speaking faith–filled words – Lk. 21:15/Matt. 12:34). As
you declare your fruitfulness, take a step further to prove
your faith with your action, by getting name for your baby
(Rom. 4:17); get baby materials (clothes, shoes, baby cot,
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FAITH AND FRUITFULNESS

e.t.c.). Remember, God weighs our actions more than our


words (1 Sam. 2:3).

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead,


being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I


have works: shew me thy faith without thy
works, and I will shew thee my faith by my
works.

James 2:17-18

I and my wife agreed to have three children (2 boys and


the last girl). She began to buy baby boy’s materials even
before she conceived. After the first boy, I told her to keep
the clothes and shoes for the next boy. Someone told her,
“what if it is a girl?” I said it can’t be, because long before
the first conception all their names were ready, and God
is pleased and honoured by our faith. And when God is
honoured, He honours you in return (1 Sam. 2:30). The
second boy came. So as the boy was growing, I said she
should start giving out the clothes since the last one would
be a girl; and so it was.

Get back to chapter one to get the process of building your


faith to match your desired miracles.

2. Kingdom Service

And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and


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WHAT IS FAITH?

he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and


I will take sickness away from the midst of
thee.

There shall nothing cast their young, nor


be barren, in thy land: the number of thy
days I will fulfil.
Ex. 23:25-26
God is a covenant–keeping God; His part of the deal
cannot fail. When you enter the covenant of service, He is
compelled to perform His own part; he faithfully rewards
service.
Serving God commits Him to your well-being
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he
that hateth his life in this world shall keep
it unto life eternal.

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and


where I am, there shall also my servant be:
if any man serve me, him will my Father
honour.
John 12:25-26
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Ps 127:3

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FAITH AND FRUITFULNESS

Part of your reward is children, they become an addition


to other blessings.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and


his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you. Matt. 6:33
One of the things that facilitated the fulfillment of the
prophecy of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah was the service
they rendered (Gen. 18:1-10).

Similarly, it was the service the Shunammite woman


rendered to the servant of God (Elisha) that procured her
fruitfulness (2 kings 4:8-17).

If God is asking for a strong reason for you to receive your


miracle, service is one of such ‘strong reasons’ to present.
It was what bailed Hezekiah out of death; it can bail you
out of sickness, barrenness or whatever.

Get involved in a dedicated service to your God in whatever


church you attend.

I pastored in a church years ago, where we had this very


woman who only came to church and left as soon as service
is closing, never wanted to associate with anyone or do
anything. At one point, my wife got into discussion with
her and found out she had no child yet, after four years
of marriage. So she encouraged her to join the children
church and be serving God; telling God as I am teaching
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WHAT IS FAITH?

and taking care of these children, give me my own. We only


spent one year and six months in that town and before we
left, she gave birth to a baby boy, which I conducted his
naming ceremony.

Your service to God may also be in the form of material


sacrifice to your God (through your church or your
pastor);but must be as the spirit of God leads you, not that
the man of God is asking you to give him things so you can
be pregnant. It must be a willing decision. The Shunammite
woman or even Abraham were not compelled or mandated
to give things to the servants of God. They were sensitive
in the spirit to do what they did, which triggered the
realization of their miracle. Read this testimony:

“I have been married for 18 years and was not able to conceive.
Doctors said that everything was normal and nothing was
wrong with me, and I was living under serious oppression
coming both from my family and my in-law, telling me to
go to meet with traditional practitioner for solution, but
I refused. I kept on reminding them that Christians do not
attend native doctor’s houses.

When the Wonder Double Agenda (soul winning exercise


in our church) was announced, with 7 weeks of harvest of
souls, I engaged fully in praying for the lost, reaching out to
them and bringing them to church.

God surprised me at the time I did not expect, I conceived


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FAITH AND FRUITFULNESS

after 18years of waiting. I thank the God of this commission


for visiting me”. – Sis. Florence N.

3. Testimonies

And they overcame him by the blood of the


Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;
and they loved not their lives unto the
death.

Rev. 12:11

Testimonies (the acts/doings of God) are our heritage in


God (Ps. 119:111). They are faith boosters, by which we
overcome all challenges. Testimonies are prophetic in
nature (it has ability to come to pass).

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he


said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy
fellow servant, and of thy brethren that
have the testimony of Jesus: worship God:
for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of
prophecy.
Rev. 19:10
At the instance of testimonies, God’s integrity is put in line
to reproduce the same for you.

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WHAT IS FAITH?

And what I say unto you I say unto all,


Watch.
Mark 13:37
Testimonies show us what is available for us in God,
especially as God has done it for someone, He can do it for
you because He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).

Pick up testimonies, hear them shared; read them to


yourself, rejoice in them (as you believe in them as the
acts of God) as it relates to your situation and God will
reproduce same for you.

David simply moved on the wings of testimonies of his


killing of a lion so as to gain victory over Goliath.

Look at how this family got their baby by connecting to the


weapon of testimony:

“We got married October 9, 2010. After one year of believing


God for the fruit of the womb, we decided to change our
approach. During one of the services, we heard the testimony
of a family who believed God for babies. When none came,
they asked God to give them souls for the kingdom, since no
baby came, and God blessed them with baby. We plugged
into that testimony and did same. All through the 21 day
prayer and fasting of 2012, we prayed for salvation of souls.
Then Bishop Oyedepo said that God told him to conduct 7
prophetic miracle babies’ services. Immediately, I told my

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wife, ‘God has us in mind; that is why He told the Bishop to


start these services this month’.

That same month, my wife got pregnant and delivered a


bouncing baby boy on December 12, 2012 and his name is
King David, Oladele, Oluwatobi Ajayi.

Praise the lord! – Mr. & Mrs. Ajayi

4. Joy and Rejoicing

You are created a fruitful vine (Ps. 128:3); but fruitfulness


comes through first sowing seed, and the seed, when
in a good environment, brings forth fruits. There is
therefore need for you to create the right atmosphere
(environment) for your fruitfulness. Create and maintain
a joyful environment for yourself, from your heart.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out


of the wells of salvation.

Isa. 12:3

This is also one of the secrets Hannah applied, for her


‘Samuel’ to come forth (1 Sam. 1:18).

A merry heart maketh a cheerful


countenance: but by sorrow of the heart
the spirit is broken.
Prov. 15:13

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WHAT IS FAITH?

You can also read Pro. 17:22

Disconnect yourself from joy-killers and moody people or


environment. When joy is lacking in your life, everything
goes wrong.

Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O


ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the
barley; because the harvest of the field is
perished.
The vine is dried up, and the fig tree
languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the
palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all
the trees of the field, are withered: because
joy is withered away from the sons of men.
Joel 1:11-12
But when you are joyful, praise will naturally be triggered
from within you, and fruitfulness is guaranteed.

Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the


people praise thee.
Then shall the earth yield her increase;
and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us; and all the ends of the
earth shall fear him.
Ps. 67:5-7

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Without a joyful heart, your praises become dry, and


cannot move God. It takes being joyful to be truly praiseful.

Your praise expresses your faith and confidence in God


and in His word.

He staggered not at the promise of God


through unbelief; but was strong in faith,
giving glory to God;
And being fully persuaded that, what he
had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom. 4:20-21
You may be wondering, what or why would a barren
woman be singing and praising God for? This is because,
that is God’s prescription:

Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear;


break forth into singing, and cry aloud,
thou that didst not travail with child: for
more are the children of the desolate than
the children of the married wife, saith the
Lord.

Isa. 54:1

Just as you committedly and religiously take your drugs as


prescribed by your doctor (even when you have not noticed
any change); so you should take this prescription that
cannot fail. It is a commandment for everyone expecting
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WHAT IS FAITH?

children to sing. If you think it is too difficult for you to do,


then it will be too difficult for you to carry the baby.

There may be no physical sign of pregnancy, but maintain


your joy and praise, focusing on the infallible word of God,
never be offended in God; but judging Him faithful.

If a man die, shall he live again? all the


days of my appointed time will I wait, till
my change come.
Job 14:14
Through faith also Sara herself received
strength to conceive seed, and was
delivered of a child when she was past age,
because she judged him faithful who had
promised.
Heb. 11:11
Remember, prayer takes your request to God, but praise
is what brings down the answer to you from God. To be
praiseful then is to be fruitful.

5. The Holy Ghost

And the angel answered and said unto her,


The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and
the power of the Highest shall overshadow
thee: therefore also that holy thing which
shall be born of thee shall be called the Son
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FAITH AND FRUITFULNESS

of God.
Luke 1:35
The Holy Ghost is the master mind behind every
supernatural fruitfulness on earth. How does He do it?
Just the same way He did it in the beginning;

And the earth was without form, and void;


and darkness was upon the face of the
deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the
face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there
was light.
Gen. 1:2-3
The Holy Spirit moved upon the face of the waters (a
typical representation of the word of God – Eph. 5:26).

So when He moved on the word, the formless world


became supernaturally fruitful. He has not changed, still
the same and still moves (empowers) the word today to
cause supernatural fruitfulness (He did for Mary, and Jesus
was supernaturally born).

Until the spirit be poured upon us from on


high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
Isa. 32:15

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WHAT IS FAITH?

When you receive the word, believe it (i.e. mix it with faith
– Heb. 4:2), then the Holy Spirit effects your supernatural
fruitfulness.

This is your hour and your time for supernatural


fruitfulness is now, in Jesus Mighty name.

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WHAT IS FAITH?

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CHAPTER FIVE

FAITH AND
SUPERNATURAL
SUPPLIES

Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I


will rain bread from heaven for you; and
the people shall go out and gather a certain
rate every day, that I may prove them,
whether they will walk in my law, or no.
And the children of Israel did eat manna
forty years, until they came to a land
inhabited; they did eat manna, until they
came unto the borders of the land of
Canaan.
Exo. 16:4/35
God fed the children of Israel in the wilderness from
heaven for forty (40) unbroken years, He with just 5
loaves and 2 fishes, fed 5,000 men (apart from women and
children) – Jn. 6:1-13. He is very well able to supply your

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needs, because nothing is hard for Him to do (Mk. 10:27/


Jer. 32:27)

But my God shall supply all your need


according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus.

Phil 4:19

But your faith/trust in God is needed to get Him to perform


His word of supernatural supply for you.

And blessed is she that believed: for there


shall be a performance of those things
which were told her from the Lord.

Luke 1:45

In Christ Jesus, from the moment you are born again till
eternity, God has made every provision available for you
(Eph. 1:3). Remember the elder brother of the prodigal
son and what his father told him?

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever


with me, and all that I have is thine.
Luke 15:31
But sad enough, he never knew that. This is also the
situation with most believers today (having no knowledge
of what is made available for them in redemption). No
wonder many suffer and many become beggars, thereby
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reproaching the name of their God.

My people are destroyed for lack of


knowledge: because thou hast rejected
knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou
shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast
forgotten the law of thy God, I will also
forget thy children.

Hos. 4:6

You can also read Isa. 5:13

The Place of Divine Direction

And they thirsted not when he led them


through the deserts: he caused the waters
to flow out of the rock for them: he clave
the rock also, and the waters gushed out.

Isa. 48:21

With divine direction, I mean God leading you and you


obediently following, you lack nothing, because He is ever
committed to providing every bit of the way. Remember
our opening scripture of this chapter; they spent 40years
in the desert, yet God supplied every single thing they
needed (food, meat, water, warmth, clothing, shoes, e.t.c).
They lacked nothing.

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WHAT IS FAITH?

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.


He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for
thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies: thou anointest
my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Ps. 23:1-5
But one major requirement to enjoy His leading and
supplies is OBEDIENCE. Faith simply means obeying God’s
word. And God leads us by His word.

Let us see some scriptural instances where obedience led


to supernatural supplies.

1. The Prophet Elijah

And the word of the Lord came unto him,


saying,
Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward,
and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that
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is before Jordan.
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the
brook; and I have commanded the ravens
to feed thee there.
So he went and did according unto the
word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by
the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
And the ravens brought him bread and
flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh
in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
1 Kings 17:2-6
By his prophecy, there would be no rain for some years,
which also means that he would not see rain too. But look
at how divine leading, coupled with his obedience bailed
him out of famine.
He did not hesitate or question God as to His word,
especially that a raven was to bring him food daily, yet he
took God at His word.
Raven is a bird that is usually and extremely hungry
(loves meat a lot). But raven was mandated to bring food
to Elijah (morning and evening). This means that God
can use anything and anyone to meet your needs, even at
their own expense.
Again, we see how angel brought food for Elijah which

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WHAT IS FAITH?

sustained him for the next 40days (1 Kings 19:1-8).


2. Widow of Zarephath
Reading through the woman’s encounter, as stated in 1
Kgs 17:10-16.
What looked like the very last hope of the woman and
her only son, suddenly multiplied, by simple obedience. I
could imagine how small the cake would have been, that
all she needed to cook it was ‘two sticks’ only. But look at
Vs 15 again
And she went and did according to the
saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her
house, did eat many days.
Vs. 15
She believed the word of God through His servant and did
as commanded, she sowed the meal as a seed and reaped
a harvest of meals for many days. What if she disobeyed
Elijah, what would have happened to this woman and her
son?
3. The Prophet’s Widow
Also, reading through the encounter of this woman, as
stated in 2 Kgs 4:1-7

By simply obeying the instructions of the man of God, the


lives of her two sons were preserved and she also suddenly
became a business woman (never to lack or beg).
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“Obedience may be costly, but the end result is priceless”.


– Bishop Oyedepo.

4. Celebrants at Cana of Galilee

Reading through the story, as recorded by John, in Jn. 2:1-


10, we discover that, suddenly, in the midst of celebration,
their wine got finished, and no hope of getting any other,
because it was late already (sure all sellers must have
gone to bed). But a plea to Mary the mother of Jesus, led
them to the source of all supplies for man – Jesus Christ.
He only spoke the word to them – instruction. But earlier,
Mary told them the master key to their automatic bail out.

His mother saith unto the servants,


Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Vs. 5

That is, the instruction might sound ridiculous, annoying,


confusing or what have you; if it is from Him, just do
whatever He says to you. And they did all He told them,
and they got their need supernaturally met.

In most cases, supernatural supplies answer largely to


actions (obedience to instructions on what to do), it is
after an action that confession can yield results.

Consider what God said in Deut. 8:18. God gives us power


to get wealth, not power to confess wealth. It is after
action that confession can yield results in this subject of
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supernatural supplies.

Science defines ‘power’ as the ability to do work. Not


ability to confess.

In the kingdom, there are various avenues of actions to


align yourself to ensure a continuous open heaven for
supplies.

Such is Tithing, Offering, Giving (i.e. to the kingdom,


parents and needy).

When you are able to get involved in these, faithfully doing


them, then your confession of faith can produce results in
the day of need.

One other important thing under this subject is your


ability to engage in doing something (working). Because
God blesses the work of our hands.

Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well


with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their
doings.
Isa 3:10

The scripture clearly states that the righteous must be


doing something, which will then serve as a channel for
God’s blessings/supplies to flow through – Ps. 90:17.

Naturally, some people find it difficult to give to a man who


has no work; such a person looks like an irresponsible
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fellow. Faith works when you are on the go (Mk. 16:20). For
instance, for one who needs supernatural job provision;
go out and look for opportunity of submitting your
applications, then as you do this, God will supernaturally
meet your need on the way (Lk. 17:14, as they went).

GIVING

Several places in the bible, God asked people to give what


they had (some their last asset). This is just to prepare
them for the incoming blessing. God is not in need, He is
the “meeter” of needs. He specializes in using what we have
to multiply it back to us, as we let it go to Him. Remember
that whatever it is that you let go to God never returns
back to you the same way, it returns in a multiplied fold,
beyond what you gave.

For instance, when you plant just a seed of corn (maize),


at harvest, you reap many seeds on just one cob of maize:

The scripture reads in Matt. [Link]

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are


heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matt 11:28

God is simply asking you to give Him your worry, cares,


burdens, e.t.c. and in exchange, He will give you REST
(from trouble, worry and concern). Remember the widow
of Zarephath, she believed God and put her last meal in
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WHAT IS FAITH?

God’s hand, which returned to her in a multiplied fold. For


the period of starvation in town, she was only getting fat;
she did not need to go to the farm or the market; she had
rest from all the things worrying people in town (2 Kings
17:8-16).

Consider also the little boy who willingly let go of his lunch
to Jesus (so He could feed many people). More than 5,000
people were fed to satisfaction, with 12 baskets full of
leftovers (Jn. 6:1-13). Imagine if the 12 baskets were to be
given to him, in return for parting with just 5 loaves and 2
fishes; wow, abundance of food!

A man of God said; ‘If what you have is not enough, sow it
as a seed so you can reap plenty harvest’. This is exactly
what the people in the two examples above did.

Our God is a God of abundance, He supplies our needs


abundantly, He is not a God of little – is – enough (Jn.
10:10).

Consider this scripture in the amplified version

For you are becoming progressively


acquainted with and recognizing more
strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious
generosity, His undeserved favor and
spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was
[so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became
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[so very] poor, in order that by His poverty


you might become enriched (abundantly
supplied).
2 Cor. 8:9 (Amp)
If Jesus became poor so we can be rich (financially,
materially, spiritually, e.t.c.); how then can we say it is
better to be ‘poor for the Lord’, when He already became
poor for you!

Little will only be enough for you if you are a selfish person
(only thinking of yourself and perhaps your family). But
God has said concerning us that we will lend to nations,
yes NATIONS (Deut. 28:12).

We are not to live for ourselves but also for many destinies
tied to us to be sustained/preserved by us; like the case of
Joseph:

And God sent me before you to preserve


you a posterity in the earth, and to save
your lives by a great deliverance.
So now it was not you that sent me hither,
but God: and he hath made me a father to
Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a
ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Gen. 45:7-8
This is also validated in the New Testament.
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WHAT IS FAITH?

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather


let him labour, working with his hands the
thing which is good, that he may have to
give to him that needeth.
Eph. 4:28
Look at that, ‘… that he may have and also to give to him
that is in need’ not just for yourself alone.

It is popularly said that; “you eat alone, you die alone,”


as the story of that foolish rich man, narrated by Jesus
Himself, according to Lk. 12:16-21.

The Giving Grace/Power

Giving is not possible (especially when what you have is


not enough) except you are empowered with the giving
grace. Many have heard the message of giving, they are
willing to give but find it hard (simply because they lack
the giving grace).

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is


weak.

Matt. 26:41b

The level at which God blesses us is determined to a great


extent by our level of being a blessing to others.

Give, and it shall be given unto you;


good measure, pressed down, and shaken
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FAITH AND SUPERNATURAL SUPPLIES

together, and running over, shall men


give into your bosom. For with the same
measure that ye mete withal it shall be
measured to you again.

Luke 6:38

This kind of giving is triggered by faith (the understanding


of the giving covenant), knowing that you are not giving
away, but you are sowing seed to reap multiple harvest
later.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly


shall reap also sparingly; and he which
soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in
his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly,
or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful
giver.
2 Cor. 9:6-7

Many people just want to be on the receiving end, without


being givers (that is breaking God’s law). If you want God
to give to you, then give to God and if you want men to give
to you, give to men too.

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would


that men should do to you, do ye even so to
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WHAT IS FAITH?

them: for this is the law and the prophets.



Matt. 7:12
It was the giving grace upon the Philippian church that
compelled Paul to pray to God to supply their needs
supernaturally (Phi. 4:15-19).

Some people will even say but I don’t have what to give,
or perhaps what I have is not enough. You remember the
widow of Zarephath again, how she was willing to give
from her very small and last meal.

There is also an example of a church in the scripture. Who


in their ‘deep poverty’ was also deeply liberal. Will you not
ask, what then were they giving, considering their deep
poverty!

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the


grace of God bestowed on the churches of
Macedonia;
How that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep
poverty abounded unto the riches of their
liberality.
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and
beyond their power they were willing of
themselves;

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Praying us with much intreaty that we


would receive the gift, and take upon us the
fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
2 Cor. 8:1-4

This must be nothing but the giving grace bestowed upon


them at work:

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in


faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and
in all diligence, and in your love to us, see
that ye abound in this grace also.
Vs. 7
Without a giving grace or power, giving becomes
impossible, even when you have plenty. But with the
giving power, nothing is too small or too big for you to let
go (not even your life, as in the case of Jesus).
Therefore doth my Father love me, because
I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it
down of myself. I have power to lay it
down, and I have power to take it again.
This commandment have I received of my
Father.
John 10:17-18

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WHAT IS FAITH?

This power to lay down is called the giving grace.

God is ever committed to the covenant of giving, which is


the gateway to a world of supernatural supplies.

But until your giving is acceptable to God, it yields no


return (Phi. 4:18). If therefore whatever you give must be
acceptable; then give in faith (Heb. 11:4-6); give cheerfully
(2 Cor. 9:6-7); give willingly (2 Cor. 8:12); give in love (1
Cor. 13:3) and never get tired giving (i.e. give continuously)
– Gal. 6:9.

All of these factors hold same when you give to the needy
or your parents or servants of God or to the promotion of
God’s kingdom (church).

Never give to impress people or to stress yourself, give


according to what you have (Acts 3:6/ 2 Cor. 8:12).

Just as the Macedonian church gave their way out of deep


poverty, and the widow of Zarephath gave her way out
of lack, want and death, you are coming out as you apply
these principles too. This is your season of abundance and
surplus, in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen!

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WHAT IS FAITH?

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CONCLUSION

Faith, as we have seen so far in this book is a vital force in


the kingdom; without which we cannot please God, and
the whole essence of Christianity is to please God.

But faith is in levels, just as grace and glory is in levels. The


level of faith you operate per time determines the level of
God’s glory or grace you enjoy. As it is written:

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee,


that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shoul-
dest see the glory of God?

Jn. 11:40
According to the bible, you can change these levels of faith:

• No Faith (Mk 4:40)

• Little Faith (Matt. 6:30 & 16:8)

• Great Faith (Matt. 8:10)

• Exceeding Faith (2 Thess. 1:3)


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WHAT IS FAITH?

As we know, there are also different manifestations of


faith:

• The Word of Faith

• The Gift of Faith, and

• The Spirit of Faith

Whichever level or manifestation of faith we operate per


time is determined by our desire (1 Cor. 12:31); but we
must understand that God’s desire is that we keep grow-
ing and changing levels per time (Pro. 4:18; 2 Cor. 3:18).

I pray that by your encounter in this book, you will desire


to please God with your life through the operation of your
faith in Him, as you know that having no faith in God itself
is a sin (Rom. 14:23).

But as you put your faith in line always, may you continue
to see and enjoy the glory of God in all areas of your life, in
Jesus name.

Everyone who operated in faith moved from shame or re-


proach to glory, you are next in line to manifest God’s glo-
ry, in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen and amen.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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WHAT IS FAITH?

Christ is the Answer


to the crisis of life!

Have you ever asked Jesus to come into your heart?


That is, are you Born Again? If your answer is “No”, or
you are not sure, please pray this prayer with all sin-
cerity and confidence:

Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner; I can-


not help myself. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me
with Your precious blood. Deliver me from sin and
satan, to serve the Living God. Today, I accept you as
my Lord and my Saviour. Thank You for saving me!
Now, I am born again. I am a child of God!

Jesus is Lord!

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