Ephesian 4:17-18 (NKJV) This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
As believers, our faith journeys start when we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour. Faith arises in our hearts after we have heard the gospel presented to us. Every one of us is given a measure of faith. Instead of allowing our faith to stagnate, God expects us to grow our faith in Him by reading, meditating, and hearing the preaching and teaching of the Word. The extent will depend on whether we allow the seed of the Word of God that has been sown in our hearts to grow from the measure of faith to strong faith.
Since Jesus is the Lord of our lives, when we walk by faith in God, we must have faith in God in every aspect of our lives: career, health, finances, childbearing, family, business, and more. The Christian faith in God is not a passive but an aggressive faith that enables us to take hold of what belongs to us because there is a demonic realm that wants to kill, steal, and destroy us. Instead of believing in fate, we need to actively have faith in God.
We need to know God’s view to anchor our faith in it. God did not call us to be so heavenly-minded that we are not of earthly good because He expresses His love to people through our good works. Therefore, we must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance due to the blindness of their hearts.
The first three chapters of Ephesians teach us the difference between our old lifestyle and our new life in Christ. The Apostle Paul asks us to live differently from before because we have a destiny in heaven. While we used to live for ourselves, we now live to glorify God. The last two chapters of Ephesians teach us how to live out our new life in Christ through the new man.
Faith in God requires an intentional approach to life. We anchor our lives in His Word, exercise our faith in His promises, and apply these truths in every area of our lives. Through this walk of faith, we reflect the nature of Christ, glorify God in all that we do, and stand firm against the schemes of the enemy.
Faith touches every area of our lives, from the most mundane decisions to the life-changing moments where we depend fully on God. With Christ as the cornerstone of our lives, our faith transforms us and equips us to live victoriously.
Sermon Series: Growing our Faith in God (Part 3)
信心是我们行事的基础
以弗所书 4:17-18 所以我说，且在主里确实地说：你们行事不要再像外邦人，存虚妄的心行事。 18 他们心地昏昧，与神所赐的生命隔绝了，都因自己无知，心里刚硬；
作为信徒，当我们接受基督为我们的主和救主时，我们的信心之旅就启程了。当我们听到传给我们的福音后，信心在我们心中升起。我们每个人都被赐予了大大小小的信心。为了不让我们的信心凝滞，神希望我们通过读经、默想和听道来在祂里面培养信心。信心成长的程度将取决于我们是否让那颗已经播种在我们心里的信心的种子从领受时的体量茁壮成长乃至强大。
既然耶稣是我们生命的主，就要在生命的方方面面都对神有信心，这包括：职业、健康、财务、生育、家庭、商业等领域。基督徒对神的信心不是被动的，而是一种积极的信心，使我们能够抓住我们所拥有的，因为那里还有一个想要杀死、偷窃和毁灭我们的魔界。与其相信命运，我们需要积极地相信神。
我们需要知道神的观点，才能锚定我们的信心。神没有呼召我们如此有属天的思想以至于我们于世界是无益的，因为祂也会通过我们的善行向人们表达祂的爱！因此，我们行事不要再像外邦人，存虚妄的心行事。 他们心地昏昧，与神所赐的生命隔绝了，都因自己无知，心里刚硬。
以弗所教会书信的前三章教导我们，我们的旧生活方式与在基督里的新生命之间的区别。使徒保罗要求我们以不同于过去的方式生活，因为我们的目的地在天国。虽然我们曾经为自己而活，但如今我们为荣耀神而活。以弗所书的最后两章教导我们如何通过新人活出基督里的新生命。
对神有信心要求的是一种刻意的生活。我们把生命锚定于祂的话语，操练对祂的应许的信心，并将这些真理应用于我们生命的每一个领域。通过这信心的行事，我们折射出基督的性情，在一切所行的事上荣耀上帝，并坚定抵挡仇敌的诡计。信心涉及我们生命的每一个领域，从最寻常的决定到完全倚靠上帝的那些改变生命的时刻。当基督成为我们生命的房角石，我们的信心就改变我们、装备我们，活出得胜的生命。
讲章系列：在神里面让信心生发成长（第三部份）
Image Source：pixabay.com