The Age of Faith

I freshly enjoyed the matter of faith as I was assigned to share on the same topic in a serving one's training we had last weekend. To speak or to select a portion to speak was not my choice. The message was assigned to me and I need to choose a point from the message. But a brother had already chosen one point out of the two points the same message assigned to both of us. So I had no choice. The portion for my study and speaking was, "The Age of Faith".

The age we live in right now is the age of mystery. The God we believe in is a mystery. The mystery of God, the embodiment of this mysterious God, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is also a mystery. The mystery of Christ, the church, is also a mystery. Every spiritual thing today is a mystery. Yet these mysteries are made known to us by faith! Faith substantiates, assures, and proves that all these mysteries are real, true, knowable, experienceable, and enjoyable. The mysterious things of God are made real by faith! 

In fact, our Christian life and church life are mysteries too. Our Christian life and church life began by faith. We live by faith, we serve by faith, and we walk by faith. From the beginning of our Christian life till the end, is being lived out by faith. Therefore, the Christian life is a life of faith. Our Christian life is a life of things unseen. The Lord's recovery is the recovery of the Church from the things seen to the things unseen. The unseen has been made real by faith. 

Now faith is the substantiation of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Heb. 11:1

But without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to Him, for he who comes forward to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Heb. 11:6

Whom having not seen, you love; into whom though not seeing Him at present, yet believing, you exult with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Pet. 1:8

Faith is the unique way to carry out God's economy. 1 Tim. 1:4. Faith is God's requirement for us related to everything in the New Testament. Faith is also the divine requirement for overcomers to meet the Lord Jesus in His coming again and to receive the reward of the Kingdom in the coming age. Faith brings us into organic union with the Lord where we can experience and enjoy Christ. Genuine faith is Christ Himself infused into us to be our faith. Praise the Lord for this faith infused into us!

As we began our Christian life by faith, the Lord will grace us to finish this life by faith as the apostle Paul did. 

I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course; I have kept the faith. 2 Tim. 4:7

Looking away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 12:2

Day by day, we must look away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith. The more we look way unto Him, the more He will dispense Himself into us to become our faith. The faith that He began in us to begin our Christian life, He will also complete it, to make us overcomers.

A few other points on faith that impressed me are:

Remember the ones leading you, who have spoken to you the word of God; and considering the issue of their manner of life, imitate their faith. Heb. 13:7

That you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and long-suffering are inheriting the promises. Heb. 6:12

So that the proving of your faith, much more precious than of gold which perishes though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1 Pet. 1:7

Night and day petitioning exceedingly so that we may see your face and complete the things that are lacking in your faith? 1 Thes. 3:10

In fact, I declared that I am not ashamed to confess that I imitate the pattern of faith set before me by some brothers including Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and other brothers who are still alive and some who were already taken to glory. They imitate Christ, I imitate them, and in fact, I am initiating Christ in imitating the pattern. Even if the Lord allows, in His sovereignty, to pass through sufferings because of my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, this will be the proving of my faith and He will grace me to overcome every hardship on my pathway of faith. As many are pattern to me, I should be a pattern in turn to others and the generations to follow. Therefore, I should even be able to declare like Paul, to complete the lacking in faith in the saints that Lord grace me to shepherd.

These were all the points I released when my turn came to minister the word to all the brothers. I enjoyed the truths and I released the very truths I enjoyed. 

May the Lord increase my faith and the faith of the brothers as we look away unto Him, day by day, moment by moment as we live in this age of faith.