"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."   Hebrews 11:6 

Before exploring the culture of faith, it's important to understand that there are two distinct realms, an invisible and visible.  Two different worlds co-existing at the same time both created and governed by God.  Colossians 1:16-17 says "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."  Invisible means unseen or imperceptible, but it does not mean imaginary or unreal.  If I became invisible it doesn't mean I don't exist, it just means you can't see me or I've become undetectable by the physical eye.  Invisibility does not speak of my existence; it speaks of the ability to perceive my existence.  God says there is another world around us that our natural eyes cannot see, although it is an invisible world,  it's real.  The invisible world is superior to the visible world.  Paul said, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Cor. 4:18.  The reality of the invisible realm dominates the visible or natural world we live in.  It actually affects the cultures of societies depending on whether the society is anchored in faith in God which lives within the reveal will of God or anchored in religious beliefs and misconceptions of who God is and how to approach Him.  The nature of the principality (governing demonic control) in a culture help form tolerances of what is accepted, especially religious.  Just as a side note, true apostolic strategy is devised to drive out the demonic influence from culture.  Jesus and his apostles worked to undo or drive out the works of the devil.  The preaching and teaching was to drive out demonic influence in the mindset of that culture, the healings and miracles were to establish the proper lifestyle of a culture submitted to the Will of God.  Walking in faith under the authority of His Word produces a life in the miraculous.  Anything less is not submission to Gods purpose which is a life of faith.
 
A culture is made up of human or natural likes and dislikes but is also made up of the influences the spirit world has on man. Cultures are developed through the interaction of the natural realm and the spirit realm or the invisible with the visible; and the mindset that is eventually built.  It is either holy or demonic influences that cause attitudes and conducts.  In order to be a Kingdom minded people we must live a culture of faith.  Faith lives from the unseen realm towards the visible. Faith actualizes what it realizes.  Hebrew 11:1 says "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Confidence and assurance is produced from hearing what God is saying.  "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  (Romans 10:17).  As we spend time in fellowship with the Word, it opens our capacity to hear and perceive a right now Word from God. Faith is produced by a Word that speaks today.
 
The atmosphere of the Kingdom of God is generated by faith in His Word.  The natural realm is generated by what is visible or reasonable. It puts its confidence in what can be seen. To walk by what you see is not a walk of faith.  2 Corinthians 5:7 says "we walk by faith and not by sight."  To be a Kingdom minded culture is more than catchy clichés and using the right terminology, it is a lifestyle that lives by the superior realities of the realm of God regardless of what the visible things speak. The Kingdom of God is established upon the power of His Word.  It's not mind power or fantasy.  Those who walk in faith dare to believe God for what is impossible for man.  If it's within your ability it is not faith.
 
The culture of faith is not living in denial of what the natural realm says.  Faith tackles the realities of natural realm when it opposes the will of God with the superior realities of the spirit realm established on the authority and dominion of the Word of God.  Faith believes with the heart what God has spoken.  It's not an intellectual (or sometimes anti-intellectual) knowledge. It is a life in the spirit, which walks in the power of God, always ready to bring the realities of God to what the natural calls unrealistic and impractical.  When the natural realm speaks impossibilities and defeat, the superior realm of faith has the burning conviction that God has the answers to all impossibilities.
 
The centrality of faith is so important in the life of the believer that God said it is impossible to please Him without it. Everything we do in the kingdom is by faith.  Praise and worship is by faith, our lifestyle of holiness and fellowship is by faith.  Heaven is moved by faith. I must say it again; the life of faith says there is a superior reality to all that the seen realm calls impossible.

To be continued.

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