INTRODUCTION
Definition: According to the Bible, "faith is the 'substance ... and evidence' of things not seen". "... without faith it is impossible to please God for he that cometh to God must believe that He is (Hebrews 11:1, 6).
Everyone who follows Jesus Christ is known as a believer. Everything is possible to everyone who believes " (Mark 9:23).
Therefore, total dependence, trust and confidence on God is faith. Unbelief simply means, "not acceptance of truth about God". Lack of trust, confidence on God is unbelief - direct opposite of faith.
That is why God placed such a high priority on faith. Faith serves as a way back into relationship with God. Faith means "dependence on God". Faith takes above your five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and touching. Faith takes you above your limited capacities. With faith, nothing is impossible as the Bible says in Matthew 17:20.
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WHAT ACTUALLY IS FAITH?
Obedience to God's instructions is faith.
God's instructions demand Obedience and Action. The obedience based on what you hear. Faith is the assurance of what you hope for, and the certainty of what you have not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
Faith means your trust, assurance or confidence in someone or that person's words. Therefore, faith in God involves an exchange of self-trust for God-trust.
TWO TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE
"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on MEN'S WISDOM, but on God's power.
"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
"No, we speak of God's SECRET WISDOM, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began" (I Cor 2 : 4 - 7, 8 - 16).
Sense Knowledge
Every knowledge that comes to normal person comes through the five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and touching. This is called "limited knowledge," and this is regarded as 'man's wisdom.
Knowledge Through Revelation
This type of knowledge is not derived from the five senses, or on natural reasoning, but from another source: the TRUTH of the Bible, the Word of God (2 Corinthian's 5:7).
THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH
The basis of having faith in God is divided into some realities:
God's Nature
"When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater than Him to swear by, He swore by Himself" (Heb 6:13).
God Cannot Change
He said in Malachi 3: 6, "I the Lord, do not change.. " (James 1:17 remarked it).
God Cannot Fail
Job said about God, "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2; I Chronicles 28:20).
God Cannot Lie
The Bible, God's own word, declares: "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change His mind (Num 23:19; Titus 1:2).
The Work of Redemption By the Son of God
Focusing on Jesus Christ grants us right relationship with God Almighty.(Heb 12:2).
Therefore, Christ is the rightful source of our faith. The truth of His death and resurrection grants us a strong base for our belief.
".. Christ Jesus ... has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption" (I Cor 1:30). See also Romans 5:1,2.
THE WAY FAITH WORKS
Faith works (Romans 3:27) in our lives continually, no matter what the condition.
God Grants Us Faith
In the ministry of the gospel righteousness from God is revealed, this righteousness is by faith from first to last, just as it is written in Romans 1:17 and Habakkuk 2:4. The righteous live by faith, that faith is given by God Almighty as a gift.
For by grace are ye saved through faith, it [the faith] is the gift of God...(Ephesians 2:8.9)".
Faith Comes From Hearing The Word of God**
Obedience to The Bible
For faith to operate in our situation, we must obey the word of God. Faith is not passive rather ACTIVE. Most of God's promises in the Bible are conditional. God Almighty, will do His part, if we do our own part. When faith is not activated by action is a dead faith (James 2:17; 1:22-25; Genesis 15:6; Matthew 7:24-27.
The Trials of Faith
There is a period of testing, and trials in our lives.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed" (l Pet 1:6,7). See also Romans 4:16-21; Psalms 105:17-19.
By faith we submit ourselves on God own Faithfulness. In the times of doubt and struggle, God is faithful and does not abandon us (2 Tim 2:13).
The Outcome of Faith
The result is always victory, not defeat and that brings glory to God (see also James 1:2-4, 12; Genesis 21:1-3; Psalms 105:19-22; Acts 3:16; Hebrews 6:13-15).
MY DECLARATION
I decide, by the grace of God Almighty to live by faith and trust God in all things.
