Faith that Moves Mountains: The Principles of Faith

Word of Life Study Series

Welcome to Word of Life Study Series- Faith that moves mountains! Here’s a simple definition for the word “Principle.” It’s a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behaviors. In the context of this episode, we are talking about Biblical principles that compliment, direct and govern the law of faith. Operating in faith by itself will fail, unless we also embrace and appropriate the accompanying principles of Love, Hope and Grace that serve as guard rails to keep us from getting into excess.

1. Faith Works by Love

Without the love of God operating in my life, I would not have a prayer to operate in the Law of Faith. Love is so essential and critical for the successful operation of faith according to Biblical principles. God’s laws always work in conjunction to the whole counsel of God’s Word. If I am trying to operate in faith, and yet am violating other Biblical laws, my faith will be undermined and short-circuited from working. When I put the principles of the Love of God first place in my life, then I can rest assured that my faith will flow without a hitch.

2. Hope, the Anchor for the Soul

Hope provides the vision, goals and objectives- target values and mission statement. It’s the purpose for what we do, the plans, and blueprints for God’s dreams. Faith brings to reality what hope imagines, while being supervised by love. Faith is the worker, laborer, producer of things hoped for. Faith makes things happen, the production or manufacturing department. Hope is called the helmet of our salvation, because the spiritual force of hope guards our minds from doubts. Hope, keeps us from losing our heads, and going off into the deep end- Ephesians 6:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8.

3. By Grace Through Faith

There is a God-ward side and man-ward side to every spiritual transaction or encounter that we will ever have with God. God’s side or responsibility is to supply His grace- Grace: God’s power and ability in us to perform on our behalf, that which we are unable to do for ourselves. Our side or responsibility is to respond to God’s provision of Grace by releasing faith in God- Faith: Acting on what we believe in our heart in regards to God’s promises, and provisions of grace. Grace is God’s gift to us, but it is through faith, that one receives the gift- God’s grace gives, and our faith in God receives these gifts from His hand.

4. According to Your Faith

It is totally conceivable for a Christian who loves God and is dearly loved by God, to go through life never experiencing the first fruits of his/her inheritance. Tragically, this situation is quite common in the body of Christ. The reasons for this distressing state that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ find themselves in are many. I would like to suggest three general categories that we all find ourselves in that may be hindering us from receiving God’s best for our lives: Lack of Knowledge, Disobedience, or a Lack of Faith.
That may sound harsh and insensitive; however, I do not discount acts of mercy that God will spontaneously grant on occasion, but when we study the life and ministry of Jesus, if people received their need met it was because of their faith in the Son of God, and not the severity of their need. Some people believe if they can just get pitiful enough, God will be benevolent, and feel sorry for them. Yes, on occasion God will do that, but remember Hebrews 11:6, states that faith pleases God, not whining, pleading, and begging.

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