Focus: The Key of Faith

Text: Mt.9:29

"Then touched he their eyes, saying, ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH be it unto you."

Faith is the basic key of access to God. We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ. Everything we do with God is on the basis of faith. Paul tells us that whatever is not of faith is sin. So sin is the direct opposite of faith, not fear. The author of Hebrews says, "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). That is plain Scripture; it's not difficult to understand. You can't contemplate of approaching or accessing God without faith. Faith is a 'must' for anyone who wants to have anything to do with God.

We worship by faith. We walk with God by faith. We work for God by faith. We war against evil forces by faith. We welcome God into our lives by faith. We receive from or give to God by faith. We live by faith. As far as relating with God is concerned, faith is the key. We are told by Paul that faith is generated by hearing the word of God. That is to say that faith originates from God. Faith comes by the word, feeds on the word, grows by the word, matures in the word, and lives by the word.

Our worship is sin without faith. Our good works are sin without faith. Our prayer is sin without faith. In fact, it is the prayer of faith that heals the sick. Nothing we do is ever approved of God if it is not done on the ground of faith.

Our text is about two blind men who approached Christ, seeking for His help. Jesus asked them, "Believe ye that I am ABLE TO DO THIS?" Their reply was, "Yea, Lord." Then, touching their eyes, He said to them, "According to your faith be it unto you." That was it! They went away rejoicing and testifying everywhere of what Christ had done for them. They had faith in Christ and His ability to handle impossible cases. Faith opens us up to possibilities. By faith we connect to and collect from God.

Jehoshaphat says to God's people, "BELIEVE in the LORD your God, so shall ye be ESTABLISHED; BELIEVE his prophets, so shall ye PROSPER" (2Chron.20:20). Jesus Christ says to His disciples, "Ye believe in God, believe ALSO in me" (Jh.14:1). These two scriptures reveal a principle: that we should have faith, not only in God, but also in the minister of God. The anointing of God flows through an instrument. God uses human instruments to advance His purpose. The virtue of Christ will work for those who value it. How can the anointing we have no respect for, work for us?

My friend who is a surgeon told me of a patient who was brought to him for surgery. Those who brought him said to my friend, 'We are coming to you from a long distance because we believe in you. We have great confidence that you will get it right. We have known you for 22 years and believe in your ability.' Long story cut short, my surgeon friend performed the surgery, and it was successful. The guys who brought the patient had been told by different medical reports that he was not going to survive. There was no ray of hope from anywhere. But he survived, and he's doing well today. Medically, psychologically, and spiritually, we see the reality and impact of faith.

I, therefore, urge you to have faith in God and also in the person God is using to minister to you. God works according to your faith. In Matthew 9, Jesus Christ healed a man suffering from paralysis by seeing the faith of those who brought him. God works where He sees faith. The power of Christ flows through the channel of faith. By the key of faith we are able to unlock the door for the flow of divine virtue into our lives.

Believe in God; believe also in His ministers. You have the key to your miracle.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter