What Is Faith? Supernatural vs Earthly

It may surprise you to learn that EVERYONE has faith; however, God’s enemies have done much to confuse humanity about the meaning of faith in God. My friend, there is a HUGE difference between EARTHLY faith and SUPERNATURAL faith.

When I use the term “earthly” I mean “related to the earth or human life on earth.” So, let’s first talk about faith in general. If you search the internet for a definition of “faith” it produces a myriad of interesting answers. For example, one of Webster’s definitions of faith is the “firm belief in something for which there is no proof.” Many Christians are characterized as having “blind faith” as if—we have lost our minds and are just following the crowd. This seems true to those who are spiritually blind. But to grasp the most basic meaning of faith…

…we must acknowledge that everyone HAS faith in something or someone. 

The most accurate definition of earthly faith I found was in the Free Dictionary:

“Confident or unquestioning belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.”

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/faith

This definition implicitly acknowledges that we ALL have faith in something or someone—even if it is only ourselves. Why do I say EVERYONE has faith? It’s simple. Each day we make decisions based upon faith because—none of us know what the future holds. In fact, we ALL exercise faith about both the FUTURE (beyond this moment) and the past (before we were born) because we haven’t experienced either. Thus, the “faith” which motivates us to act or believe is based upon what we observe, what we are told, or what we experience. We can sit in our favorite chair with confidence because our experience gives us faith that it will continue to hold our weight. This faith enables us to trust in things or people even though we can’t see the FUTURE (like the possibility that the chair might break.) Faith also enables us to believe the PAST based upon what we are told. We shape how we live around the people or beliefs we think represent truth. The more we act upon this faith and encounter anticipated results, the more our faith in that object, idea, or person grows. 

Simply put, “faith” (a noun) is something we possess which motivates us to “believe” (a verb) or to take action. You could say “faith” is the intel; while “believing” is acting on the intel. Everyone who is physically alive has physical senses and thus, everyone has faith. 

Earthly faith is based upon information gathered from our five senses which causes us to think and take a particular course of action. 

So what, then, is supernatural faith? Well, the Bible says:

“Faith” is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. ‬‬

Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭3‬

If the source of our EARTHLY faith is information gleaned from our PHYSICAL senses, it makes sense that the source of SUPERNATURAL faith comes through our SPIRITUAL senses. But before we are born again, we are spiritually dead; so how does that work? Well, the Bible says the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16) and when we HEAR God’s Word, He gives us the gift of supernatural faith. 

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.‬‬

Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬

When we hear God’s Word before we are saved, it is like receiving a pair of night vision goggles which enables us to SEE our great NEED for salvation through Jesus Christ; and thus, triggers our ability to BELIEVE in Him. This faith isn’t something we perceive with our physical senses. It is a supernatural gift from God. But it gets even better. AFTER we receive the gift of salvation, our soul and spirit are made ALIVE. Our spiritual senses are brought to life. We are ALIVE IN CHRIST—who is omniscient and omnipresent—and we can now have the amazing mind of Christ!!!

When we are born again, our faith is no longer limited to the perceptions of our physical senses because our soul and spirit are made alive and God gives us spiritual perception!

God, by His Spirit and His Word, enlightens the eyes and ears of our soul and spirit. We see everything more like He does. His presence is our greatest reality. We have a HUGE advantage over those who are still spiritually dead and are limited to living by earthly faith. Our spiritual senses enable us to understand the things of God that don’t make sense to those with only earthly faith. The Bible explains:

…the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV

My dear friend, if you are born again, don’t allow your enemies to hoodwink you into living by mere earthly faith.  

Supernatural faith allows us to SEE that it totally makes sense for GOD to be our GREATEST source of faith instead of—the people or things He created. This gift of supernatural faith enables us to carry out the mission God has given us. Jesus said that even the smallest amount of faith in HIM means NOTHING will be IMPOSSIBLE for us:

…if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. ‭‭

Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬ ‬‬

Supernatural faith is a gift from God. If our faith is in anything LESS than God, it creates real danger for us because there is no one who can be trusted like our loving and omniscient Father! My friend, if you have been born again, the next question should be: “What does the EVIDENCE of this supernatural faith look like in our life?” That question will be answered in tomorrow’s devotional. 

We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.

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