Faith Principles
“How Does Faith Come?”
Foundational Text: Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Review: We are teaching on the ABC’s of faith. We are finding out what faith is, how it comes, and then we will be seeing how we release it, or put it to work for us. We spent three weeks teaching on what faith is. Faith is a firm persuasion, a conviction based upon what was heard. It is simply what you believe. We said that Jesus did not redefine faith when He was here. He taught in terms that were understood by the people of that generation. There are three scriptures to show us that “faith”, and “believe” are the same word. Mat 9:28-29 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. (29) Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Rom 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. Rom 4:19-25 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: (20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (22) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Question: If you don’t know what faith is, how can you know when you have it? You must know what faith is before you find out how it comes. Otherwise, it may come and you might not even know you have it.
I. How Does Faith Come?
A. How it doesn’t come?
1. You can’t pray for faith.
2. Doesn’t come from fasting
3. Doesn’t come by praying in the Holy Ghost
4. Doesn’t just come from hearing, although hearing is a very vital part of it.
B. Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1. Translations:
a. (ALT) So, consequently, faith [is] by hearing, but hearing through [the] word of God.
b. (Darby) So faith then is by a report, but the report by God’s word.
c. (YLT) so then the faith is by a report, and the report through a saying of God,
2. Examples in Scripture:
a. Mar 5:34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. Mar 5:27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
b. Luk 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Luk 7:3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
C. Faith Does not come just because you hear!
1. Remember Thomas? Joh 20:24-29 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. (25) The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. (26) And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. (27) Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. (28) And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (29) Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
2. Question: Did Thomas hear about Jesus? Why didn’t faith just automatically come? “I will not believe”. He rejected as truth what he heard.
3. Look again to Hebrews 4
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
4. Rejecting truth: Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
D. Three Reasons why people do not have faith
1. Have never heard
2. Reject what they have heard.
3. Forget what they heard.
