Faith (Ekklesia Part 4)
Faith That Moves: Walking by What He Says, Not by What We See
God is calling His people to be marked by a faith that moves—faith that hears His word, believes it deeply, and steps out in obedience, no matter the circumstances. As we continue to explore the biblical vision for the Ecclesia—the called-out, gathered people of God—we arrive at two vital, interconnected pillars: faith and obedience.
What Is the Ecclesia?
The word Ecclesia is the Greek term Jesus used when He declared, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18, ESV). This word doesn’t refer to a building, but to a people—a public assembly of those who have been called out of darkness into the light of God's kingdom. Church is not just somewhere we go; it’s something we are part of.
Over the past weeks, we’ve explored the metaphors Scripture gives us: the church as the household of God, the pillar of truth, and the body of Christ. We’ve also introduced a seven-pillar blueprint that shapes our vision for a healthy Ecclesia. So far, we've unpacked the pillars of service and encounter in prayer. Now we focus on faith and obedience—pillars that ignite movement, transformation, and endurance.
Faith That Leads to Movement
Mark 5 tells the story of a woman who had suffered for twelve years with a bleeding condition. No doctor could heal her. But when she heard about Jesus, hope stirred in her. She said to herself, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well” (Mark 5:28, ESV). She acted on what she believed—pressed through the crowd and touched His robe—and was immediately healed.
Matthew’s Gospel adds a detail that deepens our understanding. She “said to herself” (Matthew 9:21, ESV), a simple phrase that reveals where faith often begins: in our thoughts. Faith starts as a conviction about the unseen but reveals itself in visible action. True belief always leads to movement.
As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (ESV). And Hebrews 11:1 reminds us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (ESV). Faith isn’t passive; it activates obedience and results in transformation.
The Spark Plug and the Fuel: Faith and Obedience
Think of your spiritual life like a car engine. Obedience is the fuel, but faith is the spark plug that ignites it. Without faith, obedience remains dormant. But when faith is alive, it sparks movement—action that leads to breakthrough.
That’s what we see in the lives of biblical heroes:
Noah believed God about unseen events and built an ark (Hebrews 11:7).
Abraham obeyed God’s call, even when he didn’t know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8).
Sarah received power to conceive because she considered God faithful to His promise (Hebrews 11:11).
Each story reveals how faith, partnered with obedience, leads to tangible transformation. Whether building, moving, or receiving—faith ignites the journey.
Faith Justifies and Transforms
Scripture is clear: we are justified by faith alone. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8, ESV). Romans 4:5 says it plainly: “To the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” (ESV).
But faith doesn’t stop at salvation. Genuine faith always transforms how we live. Convictions lead to action. One testimony shared illustrates this beautifully—a young man, once caught in cycles of immorality, began to walk in purity through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, confession to others, and consistent obedience. His belief in God’s word changed how he lived.
Faith doesn’t only help us resist sin—it also empowers us to step into God’s purpose. Just as Abraham followed God’s call into the unknown, we too are invited into a life of daily trust and action.
Faith Fuels Endurance
The heroes of faith didn’t receive God’s promises overnight. Building an ark took time. Abraham waited decades for his promised son. Sarah grew old before Isaac was born. Yet they endured. Why? Because their faith was anchored in God’s faithfulness.
Hebrews 12 reminds us that faith fuels endurance. “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2, ESV). When our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we find strength to keep going.
Overcoming the Enemy of Faith: Fear
In Mark 5, right after the woman is healed, messengers arrive with heartbreaking news: Jairus’s daughter had died. But Jesus looks at Jairus and says, “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5:36, ESV). Fear is the enemy of faith. It keeps us from stepping out, believing for more, or enduring through difficulty.
Paul encourages Timothy with similar words in 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (ESV). Fear makes us powerless. Faith strengthens, emboldens, and clarifies.
Will You Let Faith Ignite Obedience?
Faith doesn't rest on our ability to muster something up. It rests on the faithfulness of a God who cannot lie. If He spoke it, He will do it.
It’s time to believe again. Time to build again. Time to receive again. There is breakthrough on the other side of faith and obedience.
Reflection Questions:
What area of your life is God asking you to take a step of obedience, even if it doesn’t make sense yet?
Have you allowed fear or unbelief to hold you back from what God has spoken? What would it look like to repent and trust Him again?
Are you anchoring your daily life in God’s presence through prayer and His word, allowing faith to fuel endurance?