4 Tests of Faith
In Warren Wiersbe’s book “The Strategy of Satan”, he follows his discussion on the strategies Satan uses with a practical look at how we can live by faith.
“Everybody in this world lives by faith”; but not everyone has the same “object of faith”. As followers of Christ, our object of faith is God the Father; He is the One in whom we put our trust. This is why Satan does his best to attack “the believer’s faith.” (p. 89)
Hebrews 11 gives us a long list of those who lived by faith. We may wonder how we too can know that we are living by faith. Wiersbe writes, “It is so easy for us to be fooled by our own feelings (“But it seemed right to do it!”) or by the circumstances around us, or by Satan and his demonic powers.” (p. 91)
Warren Weirsbe gives us four “tests” we can apply to our “decisions and actions to determine whether or not (we) are walking by faith.” (p. 91)
The first thing to ask ourselves is “Am I doing this for the glory of God, or just to please myself?” (p. 91) “Faith always gives glory to God, for faith confesses that man is unable to accomplish anything and that only God can do it.” Weirsbe reminds us that whenever we have a decision to make, we need to ask ourselves if we are doing it for God’s glory alone. If we find any hint of self-glory in our hearts, then we need to stop and wait for the Lord’s direction. “True faith is motivated only by the desire to glorify God”. (p. 92)
The second test is to ask ourselves if we are rushing ahead or are willing to wait. “The Christian who waits for God’s leading, and waits on God’s working, will not be disappointed or ashamed. True faith is not in a hurry until God opens the way.” (pp. 92-93)
The third way we can check ourselves is to see if we can defend what we are going to do with God’s Word. “True faith is always grounded in the Word of God.” (p. 93) Any action that contradicts God’s Word cannot be done by faith. “The Bible gives us precepts to obey, promises to claim, and principles to follow; but if we violate any of these, we are acting in unbelief, and not faith.” (p. 93) Even though others may advise us or doors may seem open, if we are disobeying the Bible, we are not acting in faith. If we are not acting in faith, then “God cannot bless us or use us to bring glory to His name.” (p. 93)
The final thing to consider is whether we have inner joy and peace. “Where there is true faith, the Holy Spirit is at work; and where the Spirit is at work, He will produce the fruit of hope, joy and peace.” (p. 93) Peace is evidence that we are in the will of God. If we find ourselves lacking this fruit of the Spirit, then we can know that we have detoured from God’s plan.
Satan will try to get us to act without faith. We must be diligent to use the defenses God has provided for us. By seeking God’s glory and not our own; by being patient; by following God’s Word; and by experiencing God’s joy and peace, then we will know that we are living by faith and opposing Satan.
“Everybody in this world lives by faith”; but not everyone has the same “object of faith”. As followers of Christ, our object of faith is God the Father; He is the One in whom we put our trust. This is why Satan does his best to attack “the believer’s faith.” (p. 89)
Hebrews 11 gives us a long list of those who lived by faith. We may wonder how we too can know that we are living by faith. Wiersbe writes, “It is so easy for us to be fooled by our own feelings (“But it seemed right to do it!”) or by the circumstances around us, or by Satan and his demonic powers.” (p. 91)
Warren Weirsbe gives us four “tests” we can apply to our “decisions and actions to determine whether or not (we) are walking by faith.” (p. 91)
The first thing to ask ourselves is “Am I doing this for the glory of God, or just to please myself?” (p. 91) “Faith always gives glory to God, for faith confesses that man is unable to accomplish anything and that only God can do it.” Weirsbe reminds us that whenever we have a decision to make, we need to ask ourselves if we are doing it for God’s glory alone. If we find any hint of self-glory in our hearts, then we need to stop and wait for the Lord’s direction. “True faith is motivated only by the desire to glorify God”. (p. 92)
The second test is to ask ourselves if we are rushing ahead or are willing to wait. “The Christian who waits for God’s leading, and waits on God’s working, will not be disappointed or ashamed. True faith is not in a hurry until God opens the way.” (pp. 92-93)
The third way we can check ourselves is to see if we can defend what we are going to do with God’s Word. “True faith is always grounded in the Word of God.” (p. 93) Any action that contradicts God’s Word cannot be done by faith. “The Bible gives us precepts to obey, promises to claim, and principles to follow; but if we violate any of these, we are acting in unbelief, and not faith.” (p. 93) Even though others may advise us or doors may seem open, if we are disobeying the Bible, we are not acting in faith. If we are not acting in faith, then “God cannot bless us or use us to bring glory to His name.” (p. 93)
The final thing to consider is whether we have inner joy and peace. “Where there is true faith, the Holy Spirit is at work; and where the Spirit is at work, He will produce the fruit of hope, joy and peace.” (p. 93) Peace is evidence that we are in the will of God. If we find ourselves lacking this fruit of the Spirit, then we can know that we have detoured from God’s plan.
Satan will try to get us to act without faith. We must be diligent to use the defenses God has provided for us. By seeking God’s glory and not our own; by being patient; by following God’s Word; and by experiencing God’s joy and peace, then we will know that we are living by faith and opposing Satan.
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