Full of Faith

Acts 11:24 (ESV) - for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

What Is Faith?

The Man with Palsy in Mark 2:5 (ESV)

The example of the Roman Centurion in Matthew 8:5-13 (ESV)

The Woman with the Issue of Blood Matthew 9:20–22, Mark 5:25–34, Luke 8:43–48. Jesus said to her “your faith has healed you.”

Modern day Christianity teaches you that you can believe without having faith.

Baptism and the infilling of the Holy Ghost is so important because it requires faith.

I can tell you about the faith of the demonized Canaanite woman found in Matthew 15:27 (ESV) who famously said that “even the crumbs fall from the master’s table.” Jesus said to her that her faith was great. I can go on and on and on, but what is the common denominator here? Faith!

Quote Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

Faith - Pistis (Greek) is persuasion, conviction and consistency.

Most translations present this verse as describing the subjective experience of faith as “assurance” and “conviction.

The Greek terms chosen by our author focus instead on the objective realities of faith and could perhaps be translated, “Faith is the reality [substance] of things hoped for, the evidence that proves things unseen” (cf. KJV, NKJV).

Continue Reading Hebrews 11:2-6 (ESV)

Hebrews Exposition

The Greek word means not only seek Him, but “seek Him out”—that is, seek Him until they find Him, and seek Him above all others. It is a very strong word; we hardly know how to transfer its meaning into English, for though it does not say “diligently,” it implies it. We must seek, and seek out, that is, seek until we really find. Those who with their hearts follow after God shall not be losers if they believe that He will reward them. You have to believe God so as to seek His glory.

It’s not enough just to believe you have to demonstrate it.

-James 2:18–19 (ESV)

[18] But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

[19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Faith comes by hearing the message of Christ.

-Romans 10:17 (ESV) - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

The term for hearing in the greek is the same term as report.

The term word in the greek is rhema. Meaning message, command, order, or direction, that is, the preaching of Christ. People are able to have faith in Christ only if they have heard the preaching of Christ.

Apostolic Study Bible: King James Version: Notes (Notes)

Lastly, our only hope of salvation is by faith in Christ, but without the preaching of the gospel no one can have faith in Him.

* Faith always starts little (mustard seed) and has the capability to grow exponentially.

Matthew 17:20 (ESV) - He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

-Moving a mountain was a common metaphor in Jewish literature for doing what was seemingly impossible

“Faith untried may be true faith, but it is sure to be little faith, and it is likely to remain dwarfish so long as it is without trials.” - Charles H. Spurgeon

Salvation is obtained through faith - Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)

- “Saved by Grace Through Faith” Grace is something only God can give, whereas Faith is something only we can demonstrate.

Break down some key elements of Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11:7-32 (ESV), lists the heroes of faith and their extraordinary acts.

List of the Heroes of Faith:

Abel

Enoch

Noah

Abraham

Sarah

Isaac

Jacob

Joseph

Moses

Rahab

Gideon

Barak

Samson

Jephitah

David

Samuel

Read Hebrews 11:33-40 (ESV)

Conclude with Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)