It probably goes without saying but there’s a definite negative effect on our faith when we sin. Sin is degrading to the life of the Spirit. It’s a negation of our experiencing the reality of the kingdom of God.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
That in is corrosive to faith is understood. But we should consider the effect that action in faith has on us. It’s an affirmation of the stuff we actually believe. Just like we believe the chair will hold us up when we sit down, we’re affirmed in that belief when we sit down. It becomes so natural to believe it that it’s an embarrassing and total surprise if the thing folds up underneath us. (You have to be careful about what you put your faith in)
Again, sin – when we act against faith – makes the things of faith dim to us. Action – when we act in faith – makes the things of faith realized.
But there’s one more thing – inaction. Inaction is a passive rejection of the things of faith. When we believe something and don't act on it, it has the same effect that sin does. It degrades faith, making the things of faith, the eternal Kingdom of God, even God Himself seem distant. This is why it’s so important to do as James tells us…
“But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.” James 1:22
Prolonged inaction is a deadly foe of the experience of faith and we should take frequent stock of our lives to make sure that we’re not prone to it.
That brings me to the recent all night prayer meeting – the 999. (March 9th, from 9pm to 9am.) It was a sweet gathering of people who prayed throughout the night, worshipping, interceding, drinking lots of coffee, taking runs around the hallway. Now, apart from the great things we can expect from God answering His people’s prayer and seeking Him, there was the unexpected blessing of it being fun!
Sure, there were those nodding off moments, and one person actually fell asleep while praying (me)! And it was, of course a challenge that the human nature hates. But there was something so energizing and blessed in doing it. In making that stand in your life – saying something we all believe – that prayer is worth it! Worth more than a good night’s sleep. Worth more than just talking about - worth doing it.
That’s the challenge here…to do what you believe. There’s opportunities for it all the time…to experience the life of faith – really experience it. The opportunity comes to us in loving the unlovable because God is love. It comes to us when we have an opportunity to share our faith, when we take the opportunity to share it. It comes to us when we not only believe that the bible is the Word of God, but, because it is, we read it. Conversely, if we continue to do nothing we may miss out on experiencing faith, albeit “through in a mirror dimly”, and have to get used to not seeing at all.
