I think the Apostle Paul does an excellent exposition on what it takes to walk in the faith.
2 Corinthians 4:1-7
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
This chapter really shines the light on that which is considered true ministry. Paul starts out with a disclaimer, “we do not walk in dishonesty, craftiness, or deceitfulness. But we are able to be judged by every man’s conscience, who is born of God. Our lives are a manifestation of the truth.”
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Now this is a powerful statement: “If our gospel is hidden from any of you who hear and entertain us, it is because you are lost. You are not able to discern Christ. Satan has blinded your minds so that you are not able to believe the truth you are hearing.” This is so sad. There are many in the Body of Christ, who have forsaken the truth because of the blindness of their hearts. The iniquity of their heart will not allow them to receive and believe the truth they witness with their own eyes. It is filtered through their own iniquities: aspirations, ways, judgmentalism, meanness, pride, etc.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
Our message and our lives preach Jesus, who has made us servants. Every real minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ must consider himself a servant of the people of God, commanded to do so by our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the position he places us in. Therefore, we are charged to do nothing to hurt the flock of the Lord, but to serve up the gospel by word and deed. Our life must bear witness of the truth we bring.
Now those of you who have failed in this walk should not despair. God is allowing you to hear the truth now which in itself gives you space to repent of your past failures and continue in the truth from this point. I have been there. I know the pain and self disappointment of failure. But, I found the courage and humility to repent and God was just to forgive me. You can do the same. So take a moment, even right now, and ask the Lord for mercy and forgiveness. If your heart is pure, he will grant you the mercy you seek. As I was writing this, I heard someone’s heart: “How do I know that I am forgiven.” When the sons of God offer true repentance to the Father, the power of your relationship with God is manifested. You allow Jesus to live through your flesh. You don’t withhold love and affection for the people of God,nor those of the world. Love is manifested and you truly become a witness of the truth.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Once the light of the gospel is allowed to shine in your heart, the enemy is not able to blind you to the truth. You will be able to see the truth and know it as truth. You will be able to embrace all the people of God with love and affection, without suspicion. You will be able to feel the emotions of the Spirit of the Lord.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
The body has no power. Instead it is powered by the indwelling of Christ.
John 17:1-2
1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
2 Corinthians 4:8-13
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in
despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
Yes we will suffer much trouble in this faith, those of us who are truly walking in the faith will not be distressed (suffer extreme anxiety). We will not allow ourselves to worry or become nervous or suffer panic attacks because we do not know what will be the outcome of an event. The walk in the faith, trusts the outcome of any event to be the will of God for our life. Whether it be good or bad. We know that all things are in His control and for our good. So we do not despair.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Now if you are not walking in the above scriptures, how is it that we will work the ministry of Christ? To suffer trouble, persecution, being cast down and humiliated, manifest the sufferings of Christ in our flesh. These are the latter day stripes we now bear for Christ’s sake. These stripes make the flesh weak, so that the life of Jesus might be manifest in our body. To allow suffering in the flesh is to show yourself approved of God and worthy of the privilege to glorify the Father through the ministry of Jesus Christ.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
Therefore, through suffering in the flesh, we the true servants of Christ, are able to produce the life of Christ in others.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
If you are truly walking in the faith, then the same spirit of faith that was in Jesus will manifest itself in you. Paul quotes Jesus as he spoke regarding His soul going into the pit of hell.
Psalms 116:8-10
8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10 I believed, therefore have I spoken:
We also believe and therefore speak. This spirit of faith in Christ Jesus, raised Him from the dead. He believed God, who promised not to leave His soul in hell. But the thing that is often missed here is that Jesus’ faith was based on the eternal purpose of God. He was here to be used by God to beget a people, a holy habitation for the Father. He had lived and would die in a manner that would allow the desire of the Father to come to pass. He knew that God would raise Him up again because He never deviated from the purpose of God in His walk here on earth. He suffered all things for the sake of others.
Yes beloved, He suffered and died so that the life the Father gave Him, could be given to those that would come after Him. The next verses confirms that we must have the same mindset if we are to truly be in the faith.
2 Corinthians 4:14-18
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many rebound to the glory of God.
Those who walk in the faith and seek to work ministry, must do so by Jesus Christ. You must walk in the mind of Christ in order to effect the purpose of God in your life. All you do is for the sake of others coming to the knowledge and life of Christ. You must know that there is no other reason for you to exist. When others give thanks to God for the work Jesus has done in their lives through your flesh, then the Father is glorified through the Son. This is your offering. This is how you present your body as a living sacrifice. Your faith must be rooted and grounded in your desire to see Christ formed in others.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
You cannot live unto yourself and please the Father. His will is for us to procure more sons. He has given each of us a measure in the gathering and education of souls. But we can only fulfill the expectation of the Father by giving our will completely over to Him. To make our own decisions and do the things we deem as necessary is a direct assault on the faith, and makes you a rebel in the kingdom. Yes, we are afflicted, persecuted, humiliated, cast down, even killed. But the reconciliation of others to the Father is a far more eternal weight of glory. We are grateful to be counted worthy to serve the Master.
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
May the Lord strengthen you in this mind of Christ, that you might be able to walk worthy of your calling. Take heed to this mind of Christ and examine it closely to see if you are indeed, “In the faith.”
