Faith
1. WHAT IS FAITH?
A. Faith is a belief in the unseen:
2Cor.4:18 – We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…which are eternal
2Cor.5:7 – We walk by faith, not by sight
Heb.11:27 – By faith he…endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible
(See also Rom.8:24)
B. Faith is a substantial & real thing:
Heb.11:1 – Faith is the substance (title deed) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen
2. THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH:
Gal.5:6 – [Nothing] availeth any thing, (except) faith which worketh by love
A. We are saved by faith:
Jn.3:16 – Whosoever believeth in Him (Jesus) should…have everlasting life
Jn.3:36 – He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life
Lk.7:47-50 – Thy sins are forgiven. Thy faith hath saved thee
Acts 10:43b – Whoever believeth in Him…receive remission of sins
Acts 16:31 – Believe on…Jesus Christ, & thou shalt be saved
Rom.5:1 – Being justified by faith, we have peace with God
Gal.3:26 – Ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus
Eph.2:8,9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith
Eph.3:17a – That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith
(See also 1Pet.1:9)
B. We must live by faith:
Gal.2:20 – Life which I live, I live by the faith of (Jesus)
Heb.10:38a – The just shall live by faith (See also Rom.1:17b)
1Jn.5:4b – This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith
C. We cannot please God without faith:
Heb.11:6 – Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)
Rom.14:23b – Whatsoever is not of faith is sin
D. Faith gives us the strength to keep going:
Psa.27:13 – I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living
Rom.11:20a – Thou standest by faith
2Cor.4:16-18 – We faint not…while we look not at things which are seen, but at things which are not seen
3. THE WORD TELLS US TO HAVE FAITH:
A. In God & Jesus:
2Chr.20:20 – Believe in the Lord your God
Mk.11:22 – Jesus saith unto them, Have faith in God
Jn.6:28,29 – Believe on Him (Jesus) Whom He (God) hath sent
Jn.14:1 – Ye believe in God, believe also in Me
1Jn.3:23 – His commandment, that we should believe on Jesus
(See also Acts 20:21)
B. We are also to trust the Lord day by day:
Psa.37:5 – Commit way unto the Lord; trust also in Him
Prov.3:5,6 – Trust in the Lord with all thine heart
Jer.17:7 – Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, & whose hope the Lord is
C. Have faith in the Word, God’s promises to us:
Mk.1:15b – Repent ye, & believe the gospel
2Pet.1:19 – We have a…sure Word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed (See also 2Pet.3:2)
(See also Acts 15:7)
4. HOW TO OBTAIN FAITH:
A. Faith is a gift from God:
Heb.12:2a – Jesus, the author & finisher of our faith
Rom.12:3b – God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith
1Cor.12:7,9a – To another (is given) faith by the same Spirit
Gal.5:22 – The fruit of the Spirit is…faith
Eph.6:23 – Peace be to brethren…& love with faith, from God
B. Pray for it:
Mk.9:24 – Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief
Lk.17:5 – [They] said unto the Lord, Increase our faith
C. Read the Word:
Rom.10:17 – Faith cometh by hearing…the Word of God
Jn.20:30,31 – These are written that ye might believe
Acts 15:7b – Hear the word of the gospel & believe
Rom.15:4b – Written…that we through…Scriptures might have hope
D. The Word nourishes & builds up our faith:
Acts 20:32 – The Word of His grace, which is able to build you up
1Tim.4:6b – Thou shalt be…nourished up in the words of faith
E. Read the Word in a receptive, believing spirit:
Lk.8:15 – They…which in an honest & good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, & bring forth fruit
Heb.4:2 – The Word…did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it
Heb.11:13 – [Past saints died in faith believing & embracing the promises of the Word]
F. Listen to testimonies of faith:
2Ki.5:1-5 – [The Hebrew maid's witness inspires Naaman's faith]
Jn.4:28-30,39 – Many of the Samaritans…believed on Him (Jesus) for the saying of the woman, which testified
Jn.17:20 – Them which believe on Me through their word
(See also 2Pet.1:16,19)
G. Miracles glorify God’s power & often inspire faith:
Acts 3:1-13,16; 4:4 – [After the lame man was miraculously healed], many of them which heard the Word believed…5,000 men
Acts 8:5,6,14 – [Samaritans believed Philip & received the Word] seeing the miracles which he did
Acts 9:36-42 – Many believed in the Lord [when Peter raised the dead]
(See also 1Ki.18:30-39; 2Ki.5:9-17.)
H. Faith grows:
2Thes.1:3 – We thank God for you…your faith groweth exceedingly
I. Becoming strengthened & steadfast in the faith:
Acts 14:22 – Confirming the souls of the disciples, & exhorting them to continue in the faith
1Cor.16:13 – Watch ye, stand fast in the faith…be strong
Col.1:23a – Continue in the faith, grounded & settled, & be not moved away from the hope of the gospel
Col.2:6,7 – Rooted & built up in Him, stablished in the faith
J. We should have faith when we pray:
Mat.21:21,22 – Have faith, & doubt not…whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
Mk.11:24 – What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them
Rom.4:21 – Being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform
Heb.10:22 – Let us draw near…in full assurance of faith
Jam.1:5,6 – Ask of God…ask in faith, nothing wavering
5. THE REWARDS (BLESSINGS OR FRUITS) OF FAITH:
Heb.11:6 – He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him
A. Access to God:
Rom.5:2 – We have access by faith into this grace
Eph.3:11,12 – We have access…by the faith of Him
B. God’s love:
Psa.32:10 – He that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him
Jn.16:27 – The Father loveth you, because ye…have believed
C. Righteousness & purity:
Gen.15:6 – He (Abraham) believed in the Lord; & He counted it to him for righteousness (See also Rom.4:1-5)
Acts 15:9 – Purifying their hearts by faith
Rom.4:8,9 – Faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness
Rom.9:30b – The righteousness which is of faith
Phi.3:9 – That which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith
D. The Holy Spirit:
Jn.7:38,39 – He that believeth on Me (Jesus)…out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water…the Spirit
Gal.3:14 – We…receive the promise of the Spirit through faith
E. Protection against the devil’s attacks & lies:
Eph.6:16 – Shield of faith…quench all the fiery darts [doubts]
1Thes.5:8 – Putting on the breastplate of faith & love
F. Rewards in Heaven:
Jn.14:1-3 – Believe in Me…I go to prepare a (mansion) for you
Heb.11:13,16 – These all died in faith…He (God) hath prepared for them a city
G. Conviction to witness our faith:
2Cor.4:13 – Having spirit of faith…we believe, & therefore speak
H. Spiritual strength:
Psa.27:13 – I had fainted, unless I had believed to see
Psa.31:24 – He shall strengthen your heart, ye that hope in Lord
Isa.26:4 – Trust ye in the Lord…for in the Lord is… strength
Isa.30:15b – In confidence (faith) shall be your strength
1Jn.5:4b – This is the victory that overcometh the world…faith
I. Stability:
2Chr.20:20b – Believe in the Lord…so shall ye be established
Psa.125:1 – They that trust in the Lord…cannot be removed
J. Joy:
Psa.33:21 – Our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name
Psa.146:5 – Happy is he…whose hope is in the Lord his God
Pro.16:20b – Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he
Acts 16:34 – He…rejoiced, believing in God
1Pet.1:8 – Ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy
K. Understanding:
Heb.11:3 – Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God
L. Protection:
Psa.5:11 – [They] put their trust in Thee…Thou defendest them
Psa.115:1 – Trust in the Lord: He is their help & their shield
Pro.29:25 – Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe
Pro.30:5 – (God) is a shield unto them that put trust in Him
Jer.39:17,18 – I will surely deliver thee…because thou hast put thy trust in Me
Heb.11:31 – By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not (See Josh.2:1-22; 6:17,22-25.)
M. Provision:
Psa.33:18,19 – Them that hope in His mercy…keep alive in famine
Psa.37:3 – Trust in the Lord…so shalt thou dwell in the land, & verily thou shalt be fed
Jer.17:7,8 – Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord…he shall not (worry) in drought, [nor] cease from yielding fruit
Mal.3:10 – Prove Me herewith, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, & pour you out a blessing
N. Healing:
Psa.42:11 – Hope thou in God…Who is the health of my countenance
Mk.5:25-29,34 – If I…touch His (Jesus’) clothes, I shall be whole. [Jesus said:] Thy faith hath made thee whole
Mk.10:51,52 – Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole
Lk.8:49,50 – Fear not: believe only, & she shall be made whole
Jam.5:14,15 – Prayer of faith shall save the sick…Lord shall raise him
O. Desires of your heart:
Psa.37:4,5 – Trust in Lord…& He shall give desires of thine heart
P. Resurrection from the dead:
Job 19:25-27 – [Job declared that though his flesh was utterly consumed & destroyed, he would have a new body]
Jn.11:25,26 – He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (See also 1Cor.15:12-20)
6. TRUSTING IN THE LORD’S PROMISES:
A. You trust in God’s promises because you trust Him:
Mat.8:5-10 – The centurion said, Lord…speak the word only
Lk.5:4,5 – We have toiled all the night, & taken nothing: Nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net
2Tim.1:12b – I know Whom I believed, & am persuaded He is able
Heb.10:23 – Hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised
Heb.11:11b – [Childless Sara] judged Him faithful Who had promised
(See also 2Chr.6:14,15)
B. You trust He is able to fulfil His promises:
Rom.4:20-24 – Being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform
2Cor.1:20 – All the promises of God in Him (Jesus) are yea, & Amen
Eph.3:20 – He is able to do exceeding… above all that we ask
C. God is able to do anything:
Jer.32:27 – I am the Lord…is there anything too hard for Me?
Jer.32:17 – Ah Lord God! There is nothing too hard for Thee
Mat.19:26 – With God all things are possible
Lk.1:37 – With God nothing shall be impossible
Rom.4:17 – God…calleth those things which be not as though they were
D. You trust Him because He has not failed in the past:
1Ki.8:56 – There hath not failed one word of His good promise
(See also 2Chr.6:15)
E. You know He will not go back on His Word:
Num.23:19 – Hath He said, & shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, & shall He not make it good?
Psa.119:49 – Remember the Word…upon which Thou hath caused me to hope
Heb.6:18a – It (is) impossible for God to lie
7. FAITH VS. NATURAL REASONING:
1Sam.16:7 – The Lord seeth not as man seeth; man looketh on the outward appearance…Lord looketh on the heart
Psa.118:8 – It is better to trust in the Lord than…in man
Pro.3:5,6 – Trust in Lord; & lean not unto thine own understanding
Isa.11:3 – He shall not judge (according to) the sight of his eyes
Isa.55:8,9 – Neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord
Jer.17:5 – Cursed be the man that trusteth in man [& not in God]
Jn.20:29b – Blessed are they that have not seen, & yet…believed
1Cor.1:21 – The world by wisdom knew not God
1Cor.2:5 – Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God
1Cor.2:14a – The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit
2Cor.5:7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight
8. THE POWER OF FAITH:
A. Genuine believing faith has tremendous power:
Mk.9:23 – If thou canst believe, all things are possible
Lk.7:50 – Thy faith hath saved thee [woman who touched His hem]
Lk.18:42 – Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee
Jn.14:12 – He that believeth on Me…greater works…shall he do
Acts 6:8 – Stephen, full of faith…did great wonders & miracles
Jam.5:15 – The prayer of faith shall save the sick
B. “Faith as a grain of mustard seed”:
Mat.17:20b – Say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place
Mat.21:21,22 – Ye shall not only do this which is done to fig tree
Mk.11:22,23 – Have faith in God…say unto mountain, Be removed
Lk.17:6 – Say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up
C. Faith trusts God to do outright miracles:
Num.13:26-30 – [Caleb had faith to conquer the promised land]
Josh.14:6,12 – [Caleb had the faith to drive out the giants]
1Sam.17:37 – [David said:] The Lord will deliver me (from Goliath)
Lk.18:27 – Things…impossible with men are possible with God
Heb.11:11 – Through faith, Sarah received strength to conceive…when she was past age
Heb.11:29 – By faith they passed through the Red Sea
Heb.11:30 – By faith the walls of Jericho fell down
Heb.11:33-35 – Through faith…stopped the mouths of lions…women received their dead raised to life again [etc.]
D. Answer to prayer depends on our faith; the Lord can do anything, but we need to believe:
Mat.9:27-30 – Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said, Yea. [Jesus said:] According to your faith be it unto you
Mat.8:13 – As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee
Mat.17:19,20 – Why could not we cast him out? Because of unbelief
Mat.21:21,22 – If ye have faith, & doubt not…ye shall receive
E. Believing, expectant faith will be rewarded:
Mat.15:28 – Great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt
Mk.5:22,23 – [Jairus said:] Come…that she may be healed. [And she was See vs. 35,36,41,42.]
Mk.9:23 – All things are possible to him that believeth
Mk.11:23 – Whosoever…shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe…he shall have whatsoever he saith
Lk.1:45 – Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her
Jn.11:40 – If thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God
F. Persevering faith:
Mat.15:22-28 – A woman…cried to Him, Have mercy on me…He answered not a word [She continued insisting until He did]
Mk.10:46-52 – [Blind Bartimaeus continued crying out to Jesus until Jesus granted his request for healing]
G. Faith & patience:
Rom.8:25 – If we hope (have faith) for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it
Heb.6:12b – Who through faith & patience inherit the promises
Heb.6:15 – After he patiently endured, he obtained the promise
Heb.10:35,36 – Cast not away your confidence (faith)…After ye have done the will of God…receive the promise
Jam.1:3 – The trying of your faith worketh patience
9. THE TESTING OF OUR FAITH:
1Pet.1:6,7 – Trial of your faith…more precious than gold
Job 23:10 – When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold
A. God tests our faith:
Gen.22:1-18 – [God tested Abraham to see if he was willing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice] (See also Heb.11:17-19)
Josh.6:2-5 – [He had Israelites merely walk around walls of Jericho]
Judg.7:2-7 – [He had Gideon drastically reduce the size of his army]
Jn.11:23,39-40 – Take ye away the stone. Lord, by this time he stinketh
Acts 5:17-20 – [Just released from prison, the apostles are commanded to go preach publicly again]
(See also Deut.8:2)
B. He allows the devil & wicked men to test saints’ faith:
Dan.3:14-27 – [Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego:] God…will deliver us…but if not…we will not serve thy gods
Mat.4:1-11 – [The devil tempted Jesus:] If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down
Heb.11:35-38 – [Saints were] stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain
10. IF YOU HAVE TRUE FAITH:
A. You will continue to trust God, even when things look hopeless:
Job 13:15 – [Job, having lost his wealth, family & health, said:] Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him
Dan.3:16-18 – Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace…& out of thine hand, O king
Mat.8:24,26 – There arose a great tempest…the ship was covered with waves, [but Jesus chided His disciples for fearing]
Jn.11:21,22 – [Four days after Lazarus died, Mary said:] I know, that even now, whatsoever Thou wilt ask…God will give it
Acts 27:18-25 – All hope…was taken away. (But Paul said:) I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me
Acts 28:3-6 – [Paul calmly shook off a poisonous snake that had just bitten him]
Rom.4:18 – Who against hope believed in hope, that he (Abraham) might [re ceive the promise]
Rom.4:20 – He staggered not at promise of God through unbelief
(See also 2Chr.32:7,8; Isa.26:3; Jon.2:1-9; Acts 9:36-38.)
B. You will not be shaken or alarmed at bad news:
Psa.112:7 – He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed (established), trusting in the Lord
C. You will not fret or run around anxiously:
Isa.28:16b – He that believeth shall not make haste
Pro.19:2b – He that hasteth with his feet sinneth
D. If you trust, you will obey & put your faith into action. Your deeds & words will show your faith:
Psa.116:10 – I believed, therefore have I spoken
Mat.8:5-8,13 – [The centurion believed Jesus' word, returned home] & his servant was healed in the selfsame hour
Mat.12:10a,13 – [Jesus tells man with withered hand:] stretch forth thine hand. And he (did); & it was restored whole
Mk.7:25-30 – [Syrophenician woman believed Jesus, went to her home & found her daughter well]
Lk.17:11-19 – [Ten lepers:] As they went, they were cleansed (healed)
Jn.4:46-53 – Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word…& he went his way
Jn.11:39-41 – Take ye away the stone. They took away the stone [& Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead]
Heb.11:7 – By faith Noah, moved…prepared an ark
Jam.2:21-26 – As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also
(See also Josh.6:1-16,20; Judg.7:7,16-22; 1Ki.17:9-16; 2Ki.3:9-11,16-20; 4:1-6; Heb.11:8,17,23.)
E. Declarations of faith, followed by victorious action:
1Sam.14:6-16 – There is no restraint to Lord to save by many or few
1Sam.17:32-50 – The Lord…will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine
Judg.7:15-22 – Arise; for Lord hath delivered [them] into your hand
11. LACK OF FAITH:
A. Warnings not to doubt or lose faith:
Mat.14:31 – O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Jn.20:27 – Be not faithless, but believing
Lk.12:29,30 – Neither be ye of doubtful mind
Heb.3:12 – Take heed…lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God
Heb.4:11 – Lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief
Heb.10:35 – Cast not away therefore your confidence (faith)
B. The consequences of not having faith:
Deut.32:20 – I will hide My face from…children in whom is no faith
Isa.7:9b – If ye will not believe, ye shall not be established
Mat.13:58 – Did not many mighty works because of their unbelief
Jn.3:36b – He that believeth not the Son shall not see life
Rom.14:23b – For whatsoever is not of faith is sin
1Tim.1:19 – Faith…which some having put away, made shipwreck
Heb.3:18,19 – They should not enter in [& receive God's promises] because of unbelief
Heb.11:6 – Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)
Jam.1:6,7 – Ask in faith, nothing wavering…he that wavereth…shall receive (nothing) of the Lord
Jude 5 – The Lord…destroyed them that believed not
C. Weak or doubting faith seeks miracles & signs:
Mat.16:1,4 – A wicked…generation seeketh after a sign
Jn.20:24-29 – Jesus saith, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed
1Cor.1:22a – The Jews require a sign
D. Faith or doubt? To do or not to do:
Mat.9:29 – According to your faith be it unto you
Rom.14:5b – Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind
Rom.14:22 – Hast thou faith? Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth
Rom.14:23 – He that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: Whatsoever is not of faith is sin
Special chapter:
Hebrews 11 – “The Faith Chapter” or “Faith’s Hall of Fame”
6. Faith, Copyright © 1998-2012, The Family International