Part 7 - Faith Will Change Your Life

Introduction

Tonight, we continue our Bible study series on Truths that Transform. Tonight we will look at another very common Scripture that is of utmost importance in our lives, and when we grasp the truth of the verse, it will absolutely transform your life!

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

There is no nothing in this world more important than faith.

It is written, ‘the just shall live by faith’, and those who have this faith in Christ ‘believe to the saving of the soul’. Faith is not our Saviour; but there is no salvation without faith (Hebrews 10:38–39).

The substance, the ground, the foundation of our confident hope of eternal salvation is our faith in Christ.

That faith is the evidence of our eternal justification and everlasting salvation.

Faith understands what the most learned scientists cannot figure out.

Faith understands that ‘the worlds were framed by the Word of God’, because faith simply believes God. Faith does not come by understanding. Understanding comes by faith!

Look at:

Hebrews 11:4 KJV 1900

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Abel understood that the only way a guilty man can approach the holy Lord God is by blood atonement. His brother, Cain, did not. Cain thought that a man can please God and win his favour by works. Abel believed God. Cain believed not.

Look at:

Hebrews 11:5 KJV 1900

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Enoch understood that the only way a man can please God and be accepted of him is by faith. So Enoch walked with God by faith. And when he left this world, he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

The only way fallen, guilty sinners can ever be saved, the only way we can find acceptance with God, the only way to walk with God, the only way to please God is by faith, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If we would be saved, we must personally believe God, we must personally trust the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s look first of all at:

I. THE MEANING OF FAITH.

1. What is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV 1900)

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Now, this really isn’t so much a definition of faith as it is a description of what faith does...

True Bible faith is not blind optimism or a manufactured “hope-so” feeling. Neither is it an intellectual agreements to a doctrine. It is certainly not believing in spite of evidence! That would be superstition.

True Bible faith is confident obedience to God’s Word in spite of circumstances and consequences.

2. Faith is taking God at His Word...

John 5:24 (KJV 1900)

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

3. Faith is believing and trusting in God...

Acts 27:25 (KJV 1900)

25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Psalm 9:10 (KJV 1900)

10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: For thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Biblical faith operates quite simply. God speaks and we hear His Word. We trust His Word and act on it no matter what the circumstances are or what the consequences may be. The circumstances may be impossible, and the consequences frightening and unknown; but we obey God’s Word just the same and believe Him to do what is right and what is best.

II. THE NEED OF FAITH.

1. It is necessary to please God...

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2. It is necessary to obtain salvation...

Ephesians 2:8 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

3. It is necessary to obtain assurance...

1 John 5:13 KJV 1900

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

III. THE SOURCE OF FAITH.

1. It comes from the Word of God...

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

In order to believe, you must hear the Word, for it is the Word that creates faith in the heart of the hearer!

I was listening to some preaching the other day, and this is what was said:

Do you wish to be a more consistently obedient, steadily persevering Christian? A stronger Christian? A more courageous and outspoken Christian? Then you need to strengthen your faith! Your faith instinctively strengthens in direct proportion to the expansion of the object of your faith! You expand your understanding of the object of your faith and faith itself will obediently follow The object of your faith-if indeed you are a Christian-is Jesus Christ and all of his promises Is your faith weak? It is owing to the fact that you don't know the object of your faith well enough But when Jesus Christ becomes progressively bigger, or better yet, your understanding of who he is progressively conforms to reality, your faith will become increasingly stronger But how does that happen? By immersing yourself in the faith-arousing Word of God Read of Jesus Christ! The same powerful Word that long ago brought the universe to life is the same Word that can bring you to life and furnish you with a faith that is truly and authentically Christian

IV. THE TRAGEDY OF NOT HAVING FAITH.

1. Unbelievers will die in their sins...

John 8:24 KJV 1900

24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

2. Unbelievers will spend eternity in Hell...

Revelation 21:8 KJV 1900

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

V. THE HINDRANCES TO FAITH.

1. Seeking man’s glory hinders faith...

John 5:44 KJV 1900

44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

2. An erring heart hinders faith...

Hebrews 3:10–11 KJV 1900

10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

3. Satan hinders faith…

Luke 8:12 KJV 1900

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Luke 8:18 KJV 1900

18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

VI. THE TIME WHEN FAITH OCCURS.

1. Noah had faith when God warned him...

Hebrews 11:7 KJV 1900

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Genesis 6:22 KJV 1900

22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Noah is just living his life, trying to do and lead his family right in the midst of a wicked nation.

God speaks to Noah: 1. The world will be destroyed with rain.

What’s rain?

2. You need to build an ark.

What’s an ark?

3. Bring 2 of every animal inside of it.

This is post-Garden-of-Eden… those animals were not tamed.

And while Noah certainly obeyed and didn’t question as far as we know in Scripture, that does not mean it made sense to him, it doesn’t mean he understood, but it does mean Noah trusted...

2. Jairus had faith when his daughter was sick...

Mark 5:22–23 KJV 1900

22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

VII. THE CONSEQUENCE OF HAVING FAITH.

1. It produces a victorious life...

Ephesians 6:16 KJV 1900

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

1 John 5:4 KJV 1900

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

2. It produces the fearlessness of death...

John 11:25–27 KJV 1900

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Conclusion

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

How were the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 able to do what they did?

Faith will change your life!

Vance Havner wrote: “… Because Moses was a man of faith, he was able to see the invisible, choose the imperishable, and do the impossible.”

“ Christians are either overcome because of their unbelief or overcomers because of their faith.”

The question is, do we truly believe?