Strong Faith

Romans 4:19-20

Romans 4:19-20 KJV - 19 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;

Our text is about faith.

If there is one thing God likes in us it is our faith. In fact the Bible says, “without faith it is impossible to please him [God]” (Hebrews 11:6).

So if we want to please God we better have faith in Him and His Word. Abraham excelled in this.

THE MAN OF FAITH-Abraham

Vs. 19 “Being not weak in faith, he considered not.”

The text is about Abraham. Two excellent things are said of his faith in our text.

I. The Power of his Faith

“Being not weak in the faith.” vs. 19

“strong in faith” vs. 20

Abraham had his faults, but he was very strong in the faith.

There were times when his faith seemed to disappear but like a cork on a fishing line, it soon popped up and dominated his walk.

His faith was strong!

Vs. 20 He staggered not.

ILL: About being strong or weak

“Lord I believe, help though my unbelief.”

Application

Is your faith strong, unwavering?

Mark 11:22 KJV - 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

When God’s Word says something, believe Him

II. The Priority of his Faith

“Considered not.”

We will get to what he did not consider in our next point.

But the lesson here is that he gave priority to the promises and precepts of God over the circumstances and difficulties of life.

If we are going to live by faith we must do likewise.

Circumstances will not encourage your faith and many difficulties will oppose your faith but faith must survive these attacks if it is to exist.

Abraham had his priorities right and so his faith was excellent.

His priority was God and his Word

Application

Don’t focus on the circumstances. Focus on God!

ILL: Easy to focus on politics. What a waste of time!

III. The Opposition to his Faith

A. Faith will always be opposed

His faith was opposed by his age

Abraham was not capable of producing a child. His body was dead in that category. There were no medicines he could take to help his problem like there are today. Abraham simply was not able to produce a child. But his faith was so strong he believed God anyway.

His faith was opposed by Sarah’s age

“Deadness of Sarah’s womb.” The third circumstance that would give faith difficulty was Sarah’s womb. Though ten years younger than Abraham, Sarah was long past child bearing ability. Abraham, however, did not let this difficulty hinder his faith. He believed God would provide a son through Sarah, and God did. Circumstances were certainly against Abraham but faith does not need conducive circumstances. All faith needs is God’s Word

“Considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb.”

He didn’t even consider that the circumstances opposed his faith.

Your faith will be opposed at times.

ILL: my boss, John Wickman, asking me if I really believed in God and creation

B. Faith will always be tested.

ILL: Genesis 22:2 KJV - 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

A faith that is never tested cannot be trusted.

There will be times where your faith is tested.

Times where you will be tempted to ask, does God really care?

Be reminded, that as sure as the sun rises, your faith will be tested.

ILL: anyone else hate taking tests? I do! Testing to become a marine.... What is the purpose of a test? The purpose is to see if you really have what it takes?

ILL: got to go to the Navy Seal training ground

Sometimes tests will come to try your faith: Do you really have what it takes?

The might of Abraham’s faith is illustrated in the coming of Isaac.

God promised Abraham a son, but circumstances opposed the promise.

Three problem circumstances are noted here.

IV. The Reason for His Faith

vs. 20: “The promise of God”

God had promised Abraham a seed.

Abraham’s faith did not fail.

Application

“Do not doubt in the night what God has given in the light!”

We can trust God!

We can trust his Word!

Our faith isn’t just a pie in the sky, shot in the dark, anti-science kind of blind-faith.

We have a more sure word than the prophets of old! We have the Bible!

How do you know Jesus lives? Like the song say, …

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today I know that He is living, whatever men may say I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer And just the time I need Him He's always near

… He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today He walks with me and talks with me Along life's narrow way He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart

We have a reason for our faith! The promises of God!

Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Conclusion

Romans 4:19-20 KJV - 19 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;

How is your faith?

Is your faith strong, unwavering?

Your faith will be opposed: don’t waver

Your faith will be tried: don’t stagger.

Stand firm on your faith.