Topical Bible: Faith: Conquests By

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Faith, as depicted in the Bible, is a powerful force that enables believers to achieve victories and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The concept of "Conquests by Faith" is vividly illustrated through various narratives and teachings in the Scriptures, where faith in God leads to triumph over enemies, challenges, and trials.

Old Testament Examples

1. Joshua and the Battle of Jericho: One of the most iconic examples of conquest by faith is the fall of Jericho. In Joshua 6, the Israelites, led by Joshua, conquer the fortified city of Jericho not through conventional warfare but through obedience to God's unusual instructions. The Israelites marched around the city for seven days, and on the seventh day, they circled it seven times. At Joshua's command, the priests blew their trumpets, and the people shouted, causing the walls to collapse. This victory was achieved through faith in God's promise and His power. As Hebrews 11:30 states, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days."

2. Gideon and the Midianites: In Judges 7, Gideon, a judge of Israel, leads a small army of 300 men against the vast Midianite forces. God instructs Gideon to reduce his army to ensure that the victory would be attributed to divine intervention rather than human strength. Armed with faith, Gideon and his men defeat the Midianites, demonstrating that faith in God's guidance can lead to victory against overwhelming odds.

3. David and Goliath: The account of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 is another profound example of conquest by faith. David, a young shepherd, faces the giant Philistine warrior Goliath with nothing but a sling and five smooth stones. His faith in the Lord's deliverance empowers him to defeat Goliath, showcasing that faith can conquer even the mightiest of foes. David declares in 1 Samuel 17:45 , "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."

New Testament Teachings

1. Faith as a Shield: In Ephesians 6:16 , the Apostle Paul describes faith as a shield in the armor of God, "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." This metaphor illustrates that faith is not only a means of achieving physical conquests but also spiritual victories over the forces of evil.

2. Overcoming the World: The Apostle John emphasizes the conquering power of faith in 1 John 5:4-5 , "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." Here, faith is portrayed as the key to overcoming worldly challenges and temptations, affirming the believer's victory through Christ.

3. Faith and the Apostles: The Acts of the Apostles provides numerous accounts of the early church's conquests by faith. The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, spread the Gospel despite persecution and opposition. Their unwavering faith in Jesus Christ enabled them to perform miracles, convert thousands, and establish the church across diverse regions.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, faith is depicted as a dynamic and transformative force that leads to both physical and spiritual conquests. Whether through the miraculous victories of the Old Testament or the spiritual triumphs of the New Testament, faith remains central to the believer's journey, empowering them to overcome challenges and fulfill God's purposes.

Nave's Topical Index

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Prudence and Faith
... THE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES PRUDENCE AND FAITH. ... he came to the throne, in the buoyancy
and insolence of youth, he immediately began to aim at conquests in the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/prudence and faith.htm

The Inroads of Mahometanism
... extending their conquests any farther in Western Europe. [Sidenote: Present extent
of Mahometanism.]. At the present day Mahometanism is the professed faith of ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter viii the inroads of.htm

Epistle xvii. To all the Bishops of Italy.
... you possess seize on them, and bring them to a right faith; preach to ... had been king
of the Lombards for six years, having effected extensive conquests in Italy ...
/.../gregory/the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xvii to all the.htm

A Battle Without a Sword
... And did it not need some faith, too, not only in Gideon but in God, on ... enlist in
the army of our Captain, and to become partakers of His conquests by letting ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a battle without a sword.htm

The Birth of a Movement.
... and an opportunity was found for the expression of the new faith in the ... the land
proclaiming salvation for sinners, and not content with conquests won in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclean/william black/i the birth of a.htm

Introduction.
... Perhaps thus they are nearer to a true faith"except indeed they prefer the ... the hands
of the Father are the mighty motions and progresses and conquests of life ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/miracles of our lord/i introduction.htm

Naaman Cured.
... and conscious dependence on God; or, in other words, to produce humility and faith. ...
It was an early instance of the Conquests which the God of Israel was to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/dods/how to become like christ/naaman cured.htm

Achan's Sin, Israel's Defeat
... coming from Moses; but, for all that, it has the ring of faith in it ... Its conquests
are the conquests of an indwelling God, and He cannot share His temples with ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/achans sin israels defeat.htm

Essential Character of the Work of Jesus.
... had passed through many revolutions; since Jesus, it has made great conquests: but
no ... All confessions of faith are travesties of the idea of Jesus, just as the ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter xxviii essential character of.htm

Hope for the Heathen
... surrounding the throne of God, "The whole earth is full of His glory." Isaiah
6:3. And his faith was strengthened by visions of glorious conquests by the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 31 hope for the.htm