Faith 4

We have established a solid foundation for living by faith. How, though, are we able to maintain our faith? How are we able to strengthen our faith? Is it possible to have stronger faith? Let us see what the scripture has to say.

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (Romans 4:20 KJV)

Here is a wonderful key for strengthening our faith. Giving glory to God. As we glorify God and praise Him for His promises our faith can be increased and strengthened.

As we spend more time worshipping and glorifying Him, we may find it unnecessary to lay out the usual lengthy personal grocery list of requests. Just a short petition will be all it takes for our faith to lay ahold of His promises. When we magnify our God, our problems become smaller. The opposite, of course, is true.

Negativity and complaining are enemies to our faith. Feeding on too much News can also be detrimental to our confidence in God and His Word.

To maintain strong faith, we must feed upon God’s Word, not only be reading it, but meditating on it day and night (Psalms 1, Joshua 1:8-9). This is the only way it will become alive in our hearts. One word from God can ignite faith in our hearts as we learn to quiet our minds and emotions to hear what He is saying.

As we have already mentioned, “faith comes by ‘hearing’ and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Hearing is an ongoing experience. We must continue to hear what God is saying in our hearts and then apply it to our lives. This requires action (not fleshly works) on our part. The Bible says faith without works is dead (James 2:17), so there will always be something required of us to activate and walk out our faith.

Obedience to God’s instructions is faith in action. It may not ‘feel’ spiritual at the time, but it is counted as faith by Him. Most likely, Noah did not ‘feel’ spiritual goose bumps or chills up and down his spine when he spent over 100 years building the ark, yet the Bible credits his obedience to God as an act of faith (Hebrews 11:7).

People who say they believe in God, but never pray, walk in His ways, or surrender their lives to Him, are only believing from their heads and not their hearts. They only have mental assent, not biblical faith.

According to the Bible, believing means action. This is shown again and again in the “Hall of Faith” examples found in the 11th chapter of Hebrews. Each example described in this passage of scripture illustrated action on the part of the “faith” hero highlighted.

Abel “offered” an acceptable sacrifice. Enoch “walked with God” and was translated. Noah “built an ark” and saved his household. Abraham “obeyed” God and “went” out from his country to a strange land. Sarah “conceived” and bore a son. Moses “forsook” Egypt and later became a deliverer for the people of Israel.

The “Hall of Faith” list goes on, but each one of these individuals did something to walk out their faith. They put what they believed God said into corresponding action. This is bible faith.

When someone says they believe God answers prayer, but never or seldom prays, it is an indication their belief is only head knowledge and not experiential heart knowledge. They may have read a passage or two about prayer, but those words have not truly become transformative and alive in them. It has not become a rhema word that produces faith with corresponding actions.

So, now we know God gives each of us a measure of faith at the New Birth. We have learned faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and it is up to us to grow our faith, by spending time in His presence, and meditating upon His Word.

Paul the apostle challenged believers in Corinth to examine themselves to see if they were in the faith.

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves…. 2 Corinthians 13:5

God wants us to know what we believe, and why we believe. He wants us to know whether our faith is genuine, or we are just going through the motions. Crisis and difficulties will test our faith. We will either trust in God or ourselves. We’ll either trust His Word or our circumstances.

“that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ….” 1 Peter 1:7

None of us have arrived but we should all be growing in our faith and keeping it vibrant. Living in fear snuffs out faith. Bold action based upon God’s Word allows our faith to grow stronger. Without faith we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6) for we walk by faith and not by sight.

New subject next time. Until then, may God our Heavenly Father richly bless and keep you.

James Brown CST 08/15/2023