The path we tread is one of justification by faith, where faith stands as the bedrock of belief in Jesus Christ. Abraham, the father of faith, became a blessing to all nations and peoples through his faith in God. What, then, is faith? After reading this, I trust you will choose the path of faith.

Reflect on these questions:

From the reply of Eliphaz the Temanite, what kind of God can we discern that he perceives?

Do you agree with the words of Bildad the Shuhite? What logical system can we deduce from his statements?

Are you a person of faith? What do you believe faith to be?

Standing in Grace Through Faith

You receive according to what you believe! If you believe that God can heal you, and then pray for a long time, your illness will be healed. If you believe that God is a God of abundance, you will experience a great turnaround in your finances; if you do not believe, you will not receive. God has abundant grace, and we stand in this grace through faith. Without faith, you cannot receive such grace. God's most wondrous creation is that you receive according to what you believe! Today, I want to tell my brothers and sisters, if you do not have faith, you simply cannot turn things around. No matter what, strive to be a person of faith! So, what is faith?

Conscience Is Faith

Those Not Condemned by Their Conscience Can Be Fearless Before God

For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. (1 John 3:20-21)

Conscience is one of God’s most wondrous creations. Do not think that our conscience is useless. Once, a person who had killed seven people could not face his conscience and eventually turned himself in. So, the human heart will condemn a person. If your conscience reproaches you, telling you not to do this or that, you must not do it, for if you do, you will certainly offend God. You may not understand many things, but if even your heart condemns you, do not think that God will not condemn you! God is greater than your heart. If you cannot meet the standards of your own heart, you certainly cannot meet God's standards. In truth, God's requirements for us are not that high. God places that requirement in our conscience. If we are true to our conscience, and our heart does not condemn us, we can be fearless before God, as the Bible says:

The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach) (Romans 10:8).

God’s law is written on the hearts of men, and the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16). Do you believe you are a child of God? If you believe, you are. If you do not believe, you are not. If you believe you are an illegitimate child, you are an illegitimate child; if you believe you are an orphan, you are an orphan. If you do not believe in God, you cannot walk the path of faith. So, today I tell you, faith is our inner conscience.

Those Not Condemned by Their Conscience Are Remembered by God

Job knew how the conscience works. Job was a person not condemned by his conscience, and he lived his whole life according to his conscience. Why do people live so hard? Because their conscience is at work, and their fleshly desires are also at work. The two forces contend, like two people fighting, one with a conscience and one with an evil conscience. And whether a person obeys good or evil determines what kind of person they are. If we have God within us throughout our lives, and we continue to walk the path that our heart does not condemn, it will surely be wonderful.

Are there people in the world who have lost all conscience? Indeed, there are. Having lost all conscience, they give themselves over to sensuality to indulge in every kind of impurity (Ephesians 4:19). But we as Christians must hold on to our conscience and not discard it.

keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck concerning the faith (1 Timothy 1:19).

To satisfy their desires, people discard their conscience, acting against their conscience. At first, they will suffer because of the condemnation of their conscience, but to indulge their fleshly desires, they eventually reject even the voice of condemnation. These people are like a wrecked ship. We Christians, however, put to death the deeds of the flesh, so that our conscience may be comforted. Job was a person whose conscience did not condemn him. Such a person will be remembered before God.

You Receive According to What You Believe God To Be

God Is a God Who Responds to Seekers

I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me. Would He contend with me in His great power? No, surely He would pay attention to me. (Job 23:5-6)

Job believed that God is a just and reasonable God, who, though having great power, would not use His authority to oppress us. Job lived his whole life according to his conscience, following the way of God, so he believed that what he was experiencing today had God's good intentions, and he believed that God would respond to his words! This is the law of faith, the most wondrous law established by God: you receive according to what you believe! Just as God responded to Abraham: After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” (Genesis 15:1). God will respond to our seeking.

God Is a God Who Answers Prayer

Today, many people have very false faith. They give up before their prayers are answered, which is very bad conduct! A person of faith firmly believes that they will be healed and will not give up, praying until the day they are healed. It is extremely sad to live a life without faith. I often teach my brothers and sisters to set their hearts on seeking God. God is a God who hears our prayers, God will respond to our words, God will certainly reveal Himself to us, and let us understand.

Job had such insight more than four thousand years ago, and it can truly be compared to Abraham. Job believed that God would pay attention to him, that no matter how small he was, God created him, would care for him, would love him, and would pay attention to him. Today, we must all have such faith. Many brothers and sisters in our church have experienced the lessons of faith. They collapse and weep for days. Now I share this faith with you. We believe by faith that God will accomplish everything before us.

Many times, do not think that God does everything according to His own will. God can indeed do all things, and God's will cannot be hindered. But God also pays attention to us. How are Moses and Samuel described in the Bible?

And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground (1 Samuel 3:19).

God also fulfilled the words spoken by Moses for him. I long to be such a person, that some of the things we ask for in prayer are not what God originally planned to do, but because of what you ask, God responds to your prayer and fulfills what you ask for. How wonderful is that! If we were all puppets, swaying according to God's sway, God would feel that there is no meaning in that. God created people who can freely choose. You can choose to obey God, or you can choose not to obey God; you can choose to believe in God, or you can choose not to believe in God. The choice rests with you and me.

You receive according to what you believe. Job's friends believed that God is a God who is high above, a cold-blooded God who does not care about us at all, only caring about His own feelings and His own righteousness. In fact, God cares very much about your and my prayers! Why do we build a praying church? Whatever we ask for in prayer on earth, He will hear us. What grace and honor this is! The God who created all things in the universe does what He does on this earth because of the prayers and cries of His people. Our office is very noble and honorable. Do not despise your own office. What God does on earth is through prayers from the earth. We are a group of interceding brothers and sisters, and we will surely receive favor! This is amazing grace!

Faith Is Not Believing After Seeing or Feeling; Faith Is a Choice

Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. (Job 23:8-9)

Today I tell you, we live by faith, not by feelings. Reading the entire Bible, you will find no mention of feelings. When you have no feelings during prayer, still choose to believe. How wonderful! I am a person who is slow to feel, but I have faith. This faith is that even when there are no feelings, I still choose to believe, choose to persist, and there will surely be a turnaround! Believing in God is not because we feel something, nor is it because we see something, but because we experience after we believe.

Even if there is no feeling, so what? If you do not see a vision when you pray, and you do not receive a revelation, what does it matter? It does not matter. Some brothers and sisters have never seen a vision. I tell you, you should thank God, you have faith! Having faith is enough! Not having feelings is the best feeling, which is proof that you have faith inside. Never pursue feelings, just have faith. Paul was a person with rich emotions and keen senses, but in all of Paul's letters, he never wrote about feelings, he only wrote about faith. Paul simply lived by faith.

Phenomena are not the essence. Grasping the essence will give you the phenomena. Job's friends grasped the phenomena to see the essence. Today, we must grasp the essence to see the phenomena. Phenomena change in a myriad of ways and can be dazzling. If today you see a person who is extremely down and out, do not infer all the reasons for their misfortune based on what you see. If you do infer, may God lead you to help them reject all the curses of the past and release them from the curses through the precious blood of Jesus. This is the key. So, although God's requirements for us are very high, He has lowered that requirement to simply having a conscience, and God can work in you. You must live by faith and a pure conscience. If your conscience condemns you, you must repent.

Job's Perseverance in Faith

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)

Often, we will experience trials, but after the trials, we shall come forth as gold. We shall all become refined gold in God's temple, living stones in His temple. This is the wondrous work of God! The Spirit of God fills the temple of God. When the churches on earth are lifted into the air, they become a New Jerusalem in heaven. That Jerusalem is not made of earthly materials, but of your spirit and mine. Each of us is a living stone, composing a glorious New Jerusalem. This is certainly difficult for us to comprehend with today's wisdom, but we believe that in the future, we will be an organic part of that holy city. Though we are still ourselves, with the freedom to choose, we are a perfectly unified part of that holy city, all refined gold.

Job's friends grasped the essence by looking at the phenomenon. Today, I tell you, we must grasp the essence and look at the phenomenon. Job was a man who lived by faith, one who grasped the essence.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith is God's most wondrous creation. After you enter through the door of faith, you will see an extremely vast and wondrous world. Persevering in faith is because we have faith in God, and therefore things will happen. The key to victory does not depend on what you and I have done, but on whether you and I have faith in God within us! If you have faith in God within you, God has already destined you to win. Having faith is the foundation of victory!

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Before things are seen, believe that things will turn out this way, believe that God will surely make us refined gold. God does not intend to harm me, nor does He intend to harm you. Although we go through fire and water, we will surely live out glory. A life without tribulations is a life without brilliance.

If we often experience tribulations in our lives, the death of Jesus is often upon us, and we often experience the life of Jesus! The power of resurrection from the dead is often upon us. O God! You are so wondrous, beyond my comprehension and understanding. But I still believe that after You have tested me, I shall come forth as gold. I was created to be a gemstone in the temple, and this is God's plan!

The Choice of Faith Rests Entirely on Your Decision

My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. (Job 23:11-12)

Is this scripture difficult to practice? Not difficult! It is only a decision in your heart. If you decide in your heart, it is not difficult to constantly persevere. Because you receive what you believe. Today, we believe that God will make us refined gold, and we value God above all else.

Today, let us make a choice of faith, completely trusting in God, choosing to walk in God's way. A person who often chooses to doubt can henceforth choose not to doubt. It is not praying with doubt, and then not doubting after praying. It is not like that. Faith is the foundation! It is first choosing to believe. I decide not to be a doubting person. Prayer allows doubt to recede. Prayers of faith are very powerful. Prayers without faith have no effect. So today, you must choose faith! Not just choosing to move your lips, but believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth. This is the mystery in the Bible. Believing in your heart and declaring with your mouth, you will surely receive it! What is the use of declaring with your mouth if you do not believe in your heart? That is just a pack of lies. To choose to walk in God's way, you must know: God is a good God, and His promises will be fulfilled.

Have Reverence for God

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face. (Job 23:16-17)

We must have a heart of reverence for God, because He is so wondrous! In us, God has wondrous works and wondrous plans, so we must revere Him. With a heart of reverence for God, one will live a life free from a guilty conscience.

Practice Faith, Bring Down God's Power

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24)

Whatever you ask for in prayer, do not disbelieve. Believe that you have received it, and you will receive it. Faith is a choice within us. Before you pray, choose that you will surely receive it. All the prayers I have seen answered are those where I first chose to believe, and then I saw things come to pass. We must have absolute faith in God. Lay hands on the sick and pray, and they will surely be healed. These things that you and I do by faith will give glory to God's name.

Today, I encourage you, there are many desperate people in the world who greatly need your faith to serve this generation, to serve these people. The hardship of being a pastor is that there are not many people with faith. God in heaven also feels the same way. How many people with faith are there really? Can there be more people with faith? I hope everyone will stir up the fire of faith, and everyone can become a practitioner of faith. If every brother and sister becomes a practitioner of faith, God's power will be manifested even more through your faith and mine!

Scripture:

Job 23:1 Then Job replied:
Job 23:2 Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy on me in spite of my groaning.
Job 23:3 If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling!
Job 23:4 I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.
Job 23:5 I would find out what he would say to me and understand what he would reply.
Job 23:6 Would he oppose me with great power? No; he would not press charges against me.
Job 23:7 There an upright man could present his case before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge.
Job 23:8 But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him.
Job 23:9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.
Job 23:10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Job 23:11 My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.
Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
Job 23:13 But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases.
Job 23:14 He carries out his decree against me, and many such things he has in mind.
Job 23:15 That is why I am terrified before him; when I think about all this, I fear him.
Job 23:16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.
Job 23:17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.