Faith XXIX
08/05/09 02:26
Romans 10:17 “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
Faith comes from hearing the message or the word. Paul says in Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” The preaching of the gospel is essential for faith to come. There is power in the words for this is not empty philosophy of man but the words of God. God’s word contains power. It does not go out from Him and return void that is without having an effect. Mark 16 says the disciples went everywhere preaching the word of God and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Preaching the word is essential to the release of faith. There are many attempts to sanitize the process, for example, by your good deeds and your life style you are preaching the word. But in actuality you are really only exhibiting righteous living which is attractive to people and opens their hearts to receiving what you have to say. But at some point you have to say something, specifically the good news. You aren’t doing anyone any favors by simply living your life faithfully but never saying anything. They need to understand what enables you to live such a life. They won’t get it by osmosis; they need some explanation.
Paul continues in Romans to say in verse 17 that the righteous will live by faith. Faith is the power behind righteous living. As we abide in Him we abide in faith. Faith then grows as we grow in the knowledge of Him. And as faith comes from hearing the word, faith will continue to grow as you continue to hear the word. Hearing and seeing are how we acquire knowledge and understanding. When I met my wife, I was attracted to her physically but needed to know her more before I could commit to her. As we talked and I listened carefully to her I got to know her and understand her values and priorities. I learned about the person within the attractive package. So it is with God. We can find Him attractive through the lifestyle of his disciples but you still need to spend time hearing from Him to fully understand Him.
Faith comes from hearing and hearing is based on the word of God. As you spend time reading and listening to the word you will find your understanding of the character and heart of God will increase. With that increase you will find your faith grows for you know in whom you are putting your trust. If you don’t attend to or listen to the word, you have set a limit on your understanding and your faith will not go past that limitation. The enemy will come to test our hearing as he did in the garden with Eve. Did God really say? If you haven’t been listening to the word of God, the enemy’s questions will shake your faith and your confidence, maybe even causing you to move away from faith to leaning on your own understanding. When we take matters into our own hands we are no longer in faith nor are we activating the power of God in our life. For faith to grow exercise it by listening to and meditation on the word of God. As you do your understanding of the character and veracity of God will grow releasing your faith to expand more and more.
Faith comes from hearing the message or the word. Paul says in Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” The preaching of the gospel is essential for faith to come. There is power in the words for this is not empty philosophy of man but the words of God. God’s word contains power. It does not go out from Him and return void that is without having an effect. Mark 16 says the disciples went everywhere preaching the word of God and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Preaching the word is essential to the release of faith. There are many attempts to sanitize the process, for example, by your good deeds and your life style you are preaching the word. But in actuality you are really only exhibiting righteous living which is attractive to people and opens their hearts to receiving what you have to say. But at some point you have to say something, specifically the good news. You aren’t doing anyone any favors by simply living your life faithfully but never saying anything. They need to understand what enables you to live such a life. They won’t get it by osmosis; they need some explanation.
Paul continues in Romans to say in verse 17 that the righteous will live by faith. Faith is the power behind righteous living. As we abide in Him we abide in faith. Faith then grows as we grow in the knowledge of Him. And as faith comes from hearing the word, faith will continue to grow as you continue to hear the word. Hearing and seeing are how we acquire knowledge and understanding. When I met my wife, I was attracted to her physically but needed to know her more before I could commit to her. As we talked and I listened carefully to her I got to know her and understand her values and priorities. I learned about the person within the attractive package. So it is with God. We can find Him attractive through the lifestyle of his disciples but you still need to spend time hearing from Him to fully understand Him.
Faith comes from hearing and hearing is based on the word of God. As you spend time reading and listening to the word you will find your understanding of the character and heart of God will increase. With that increase you will find your faith grows for you know in whom you are putting your trust. If you don’t attend to or listen to the word, you have set a limit on your understanding and your faith will not go past that limitation. The enemy will come to test our hearing as he did in the garden with Eve. Did God really say? If you haven’t been listening to the word of God, the enemy’s questions will shake your faith and your confidence, maybe even causing you to move away from faith to leaning on your own understanding. When we take matters into our own hands we are no longer in faith nor are we activating the power of God in our life. For faith to grow exercise it by listening to and meditation on the word of God. As you do your understanding of the character and veracity of God will grow releasing your faith to expand more and more.