Faith ABC (part 4)
All right, we’re going to continue on the subject of Living by faith.
I. Last week we looked at (HEB 10:38) which says, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” KJV
A. (2 Corinthians 5:7) says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” KJV
1. A better Translation to that V is “For we LIVE by faith, not by sight.”
a. Just from these 2 Vs alone we can see that we need to live by Faith.
2. But as we get into (HEB 11:1) we receive more light of the meaning of Faith.
a. Turn to Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” KJV
b. Notice the word “SUBSTANCE.” Faith is a Substance.
B. Let me give you the definition according to the Greek for the word “Substance.”
1. 1st it means a “Substructure, or a Foundation.”
a. Faith is really the foundation of Christianity. Of course, Jesus being the chief corner stone.
i. But we have to put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation and all of the promises of God.
2. 2nd “Substance” means “Firm,”
a. There is something FIRM about Faith, it doesn’t waver.
b. 3rd it’s that which has “Actual existence, a Substance.”
i. Faith is a real substance. It’s not a natural substance, it’s Spiritual substance, it’s a spiritual POWER.
ii. Wind is the closest natural thing that I can compare with FAITH.
iii. You can’t see wind, you really can’t touch it, but has power to it. It can be a very small force, or it can be very strong to where it blows down buildings.
iv. Faith is very much the same way, Some have only developed their faith to a small level, and they get small results, but there are other that have really developed their faith, and they get major results.
c. At different times Jesus spoke of people having different levels of faith.
i. Jesus said to the woman with the issue of blood in (Matthew 15:28) “O woman, great is thy faith.” KJV
ii. When Peter came to Jesus walking on the water, after be got his eyes off Jesus he sank. When Jesus saved him, Jesus said to him in (Matthew 14:31) “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” KJV
iii. We have references to doubting faith, mustard seed faith, a man full of faith, saving Faith, Faith to be healed, Weak in faith, Strong in faith, No faith, and so on.
3. The word “Substance” also means “The Steadfastness of Mind.”
a. Meaning, “Your mind is not going to be moved by anything.”
i. Not by circumstances, not by situations, not by people or their words.
ii. This steadfastness of mind means that the only thing that is going to change your believing is the WORD OF GOD.
b. Faith is the Substance. The word “Substance” also means, “Firmness, and Courage.”
i. You know there is a courage about Faith.
ii. When Faith is truly based on the Word of God, then it is bold. It’s not going to back down.
iii. Faith needs to be bold against the enemy, if it’s not bold in doing what the Word says to do then it’s wavering.
c. The definition to the word “Substance” also adds that it’s a “Confidence, Firm Trust, Assurance.”
i. Faith is a “Confidence, a Firm Trust and an Assurance that the promises of God belong to you.”
II. Last week and this week I briefly made reference to “Being a doer of the Word.”
A. Turn with me to James 2:17; 20; 26 (Read from the Message Bible)
1. In the believers life, Faith without action is dead faith. Faith without action is not going to produce anything.
2. LUKE 8:21
3. You remember the woman with the issue of blood in (MARK 5) She put action with her faith. (Heard about Jesus {faith came} she ran to Him.)
a. Jesus replied to her, “Daughter thy faith hath made thee whole.”
4. ACTS 19:6
a. They had faith to receive the H.S. with tongues.
b. Now in this case they had a corresponding action to their faith. But what was the corresponding action?
c. “They spake”
i. The corresponding action can be as simple as confession the Word. It doesn’t always have to be a corresponding action but if you believe God then you’re going to have actions to your faith.
ii. Weather a person has faith or not is easy to see if you’re around them enough.
a. You’ll be able to hear the words that come out of their mouth. That’s usually a big give away.
b. And 2nd, are they doing anything for the Lord. Faith without works is dead.
iii. But if you have faith in the Word, then you’re going to act like it’s so.
iv. If you refuse to act on it, your doubting the Word.
B. (MARK 11:23) Says, “Shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe.”
1. Too often we’re ruled by our physical senses (what we see or feel) and that causes doubt.
2. JOHN 20:25-29
a. Thomas’ faith was NOT based on the WORD of God. It was based on his PHYSICAL senses. (saw or didn’t see) (touch)
b. Thomas wouldn’t believe unless he could see Jesus and touch His wounds.
i. That’s natural human faith, that’s not the God kind of faith.
ii. Natural human faith (which even non-Christians have) Says, I’ll believe it when I see it.
iii. But the God kind of faith says, “I believe it before I see it, because God said it’s so.”
C. ROM 4:17-21
1. Can you see the differences between Abraham’s faith and Thomas’ faith.
2. Abraham was fully persuaded that, what God had promised, He was able to perform.
3. We need to have faith like Abraham’s faith.
a. 1st Abraham had God’s Word for it.
b. 2nd Abraham believed God’s Word.
c. 3rd Abraham didn’t consider his physical senses. (What he saw or felt)
d. 4th Abraham gave praise and worshipped God.
i. In (V 20) it says that Abraham “gave glory to God.”
ii. The word “Glory” means “praise and worship.”
iii. Never forget about praise and worship, Abraham did it before he ever saw the manifestation.
4. The God kind of faith says, “If God said it, than it’s true.”
a. Too often our faith is based on what we see, feel, think, circumstances, or what we hear others say.
b. Let your faith be based on God’s Word ALONE.
c. The world says, “Seeing is believing, but the Bible teaches that “Believing is seeing.”
WOLCC 11/17/91 SUN AM and WOLCC 9/1/96 Sun AM