What does faith actually look like when it leaves the pew? Min. Mrs. Catherine Nikoi defines faith as revelation in God's word expressed through three things — our conviction, our declaration, and our action — producing a result that may be yes, no, or wait. Anchored in Mark 11:22 ("Have faith in God"), the message moves from the foundation of the word to David's catapult, a church that was evicted and grew, and the prayer every believer needs: Father, build my faith in You.
The seven movements
- Faith starts with the word. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God; the quality of your faith is connected to the revelation you have of God. You cannot have faith in a God you do not know — and God reveals Himself through His word, as He did to Samuel at Shiloh (Romans 10:17; 1 Samuel 3:21).
- Expressed through conviction. Whoever comes to God must believe that He is — sovereign, unchanging, the I AM — regardless of what He does for us. Trust His wisdom in confusion, His goodness in pain, His faithfulness in delay, His power in the impossible (Hebrews 11:6; Job 13:15; Daniel 3:16-18).
- Expressed through declaration. "I believed, therefore I spoke" — words reveal the heart. The soldiers saw Goliath's height, weapons, and experience; David saw differently, because faith changes perspective, and he spoke victory while Goliath was still standing (2 Corinthians 4:13; 1 Samuel 17:45-46).
- God still gets the praise. The woman who cried "God, I'm hungry" until an irritated neighbor brought groceries — "Lord, You did it again; this time You routed it through my enemy." Conviction credits God no matter the channel.
- Expressed through action. Faith without works is dead: declaration without obedience is incomplete. Peter had toiled all night, but "nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net" — and the catch broke the nets. When God is speaking, it's not about your skill (James 2:17; Luke 5:5-6).
- When God says move, move. Her own testimony: a church evicted from its venue, meeting in a tent on the family compound, busing members in — "he thought he had buried us, but we were a seed." The church germinated into a bigger congregation and its own permanent land. Noah built before the rain; Abraham moved not knowing where (Hebrews 11:7-8).
- Yes, no, or wait — and the overtaking anointing. God's answers come in all three, and His starting point is anytime: the latecomers in the vineyard were paid the same. Like the sea pulling back before taking more shore, your setback may be the setup for overtaking. The closing prayer: Father, build my faith in You — and may I promptly obey (Matthew 20:1-16).
Walk away with this
Bury yourself in the word — that is where conviction is built, declarations are armed, and obedience finds its courage. Then when God says move, move.