Virtue 2:

Faith

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

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ! en you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11-14
Faith is when you trust God and His purpose in your circumstances more than the resources that appear to be available to fit them as you understand them. As Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Faith is critical to the knight, so I encourage the reader to slow down and take some time to fully digest this section. Faith is so critical to God that He has gone so far to tell that it is impossible to even please Him without faith: “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). And remember, a true knight’s first mission and calling is to please the King.

Before taking a biblical and historical look into how knights of old applied their faith, let’s first take a look at how faith can be practically applied in your life. Zechariah 4:6 states, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” This verse shows that faith is what we rely on to get through difficult times in our lives. Faith—our belief in Christ and in His power—is how to pull through challenging times in our lives. Not by our ingenuity, strength, own power, or anything else within us.

Zerubbabel was the civic leader of Jerusalem who was charged with the responsibility of finishing the work of rebuilding the temple. The work had already started but then was met with opposition and stalled. Zerubbabel needed encouragement to carry on the work. ! is simple (single) verse in the Bible explains just how Zerubbabel was to accomplish the work and the process given to him by God: he was to do so by the Spirit of God. The word that was given to him by the Lord was not “buck up” or “saddle up”—it was “rely on the Lord.”
The term might means a collective strength (e.g., the strength of an army).

The term power deals with an individual’s strength. So God was saying to Zerubbabel: “Not by the resources of many or one, but by My Spirit. It will not be by your cleverness, your ability, or your physical strength that the temple will be rebuilt, but by the Spirit of God.”13 Consider these Scripture passages that encourage our reliance on God alone, and not our own might, power, or ingenuity: Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but Knights of Christ of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last, you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:10-13).

Remain in me, and I will remain with you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me? I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain with me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you (John 15:4-7).
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord (Proverbs 21:31).

Next, let’s take a quick tour through the Bible to see how a few warriors applied their faith in God in life, in battle, and in the victory.