By Collin Lynch
Why do we need to know about faith, and why do we need to have faith, well Hebrews 11:6 state ‘But without faith it is impossible to please God; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a re-warder of them that diligently seek him. It is IMPOSSIBLE to please God WITHOUT faith. You need to have faith to receive salvation. “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach” (Romans 10:8).
God does not do anything without faith. God is a faith God. God created the worlds through faith. “By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the Word of GOD, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible (Hebrews 11:3 Amplified bible). And he that doubts is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23).
What is faith
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is NOW, not yesterday, not tomorrow, not next week but NOW. I like how the amplified state it NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Jesus said when you pray believe that you receive and you shall have it.
“And Jesus answered and saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily (truly) I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall gave whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” Mark 11:22-24.
How to get faith
We see that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). To receive anything from God, you must hear the Word on it. You had to have heard the Word on salvation for you to have the faith to believe. When Jesus said, If you abide in me and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you. He was saying if you let the Word of God become apart of you, you will have faith to receive what you ask. So if you are not hearing the Word, guess what? You are not going to receive., because that’s the only way you are going to have faith, by hearing the Word.
Grow your faith
We are all in the same boat, at first. Romans chapter three state very clearly that faith is required of everyone . Take some time to read that. There is is no difference between the Jew and the gentile The third chapter of Galatians state that we were all under sin. Verse 28 state that there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye (you) are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:22-29). He is talking about faith here. Paul said in Romans chapter one “He is not ashamed to preach the gospel of Christ because it is the power of God to every one that believe, to the Jews first and also the Greek (v16). After Paul explain the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men in the rest of chapter one of Romans, he reprimand those that judge. He reprimand because they do the same, they have not open up themselves to believe. Then he states in Romans chapter two verse 9 to 11 “Tribulation and and anguish upon every soul of man that do evil, of the Jew first and also of the gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God. God the Father treat everyone the same, why, because faith is require to please Him (Hebrews 11:6), not works, or your own righteousness. For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Lets talk more about why our unbelief keep us from the promises of God. “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise BY FAITH of Jesus Christ might be given to them that BELIEVE. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed” (Galatians 3:22-23). The law keep us from faith. Paul through the Holy Spirit clearly state that the Word of God is written in our hearts, not on stone as in the days of Moses (2nd Corinthians 3:3, 7-18). We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; (2nd Corinthians 4:13).
We as Christians can be blinded by unbelief. We say I don’t believe in that healing business or speaking in tongues or laying on of hands. We are robbing ourselves of the blessings of God. Did you hear what Jesus said? He said, “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58). Start believing!!!
The Doorway
Open the door. BELIEVE!!! Yes we open the door of faith by believing. I have heard it said “I won’t believe it until I see it”. I say you won’t see it until you believe it. You won’t see heaven, salvation, peace, joy, prosperity until you start believing it. If you are a christian, you didn’t believe in Christ until you heard the Word on salvation. So is everything else that you receive from God. You must hear the Word on whatever you are believing for so that faith comes. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 1:17). Remember, “…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin”
