An article from Inside Hope...

Faith rises from a crucified life

truly live a life of faith, we have to live a crucified life. Just as Jesus pointed out in the parable of the sower (Matt 13:18-23), the quality of the plant produced is dependent on the quality of the soil. Just as the Word of God does not change in its quality nor its effectualness, yet the outcome is dependent on the quality of the heart of the recipient.

The Apostle Paul clearly sees the life of faith as linked to the crucified life. Gal 2:20 (NIV) "20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Unless we are crucified with our desires in Christ, the life we live will be tarnished with our selfish desires. We cannot expect to be fully released into a life of faith because soil of our heart is not fully receptive to the intents and purposes of God. Unless we have been set free from self by the power of God, there is a constant conflict between our agenda and God's.

God may release His rhema Word to us, but we may easily distort it due to the filter of our inner desires and selfish wants. The parable of the sower refers to the seed whose life is choked by the concerns for this world and the deceitfulness of wealth (Matt 13:22). Faith is hindered. Such distortions may cause us to miss what God is actually saying to us.

When we crucify our lives in Christ, we discover freedom to live for God. Our prayers become unselfish, outward-looking and God-focussed. We listen to God, not for our sakes, but for God's glory. Paul's prayer was written in Gal 6:14 (NIV) "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Then we become more attuned to God's desires than to our own. The more attuned we are, the more faith will arise and the more God can work through us.

We must realise that faith is the outcome first of all of a relationship. Not formula. It is about hearing and obeying a Person. Faith is not based on techniques and mechanics, even though there are principles involved. Some seem to make God out like a coin-operated dispensing faith machine. Some heavenly Santa Claus that responds, regardless of how we maintain our relationship with God, according to our cues. We have sadly missed it, if we go down this route. God is a Person and is Personal. To treat God in an impersonal way is surely a great insult to Him.

Let us relate to God deeply, flowing out from a crucified life that seeks to live for Him. Out of such a relationship, true faith will abound.

Pastor Wilson