DEVELOPING IN FAITH

WHAT IS FAITH

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

MSG:  The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.

NIV:  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

ANOTHER DEFINITION OF FAITH:

Faith is being fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He had promised.  Being fully persuaded of what God says!  It is our heart and mind being in agreement with heaven, our hearts being fully persuaded, confident and at rest.  Or being in agreement with heaven not just mentally but fully persuaded, our hearts settled and convinced totally of what God has said, in spite of the natural realm indicating something else.

Hebrews 11:6NLT  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

MSG:  It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

This is the first HIGHLIGHT for this lesson:

WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD

These verses tell us two things:
First, God requires faith from us.   And I know you want to please God.  So right now, make a decision and say this out loud.  I AM A FAITH PERSON; WHATEVER THAT MEANS AND WHATEVER I HAVE TO DO, I WILL DO!”  That decision is life-changing.  We are on our way.
 
Secondly, There are two starting steps in the walk of faith.

Step 1.  Believe that God exists.   I know that you believe that, but without step 2 you can’t walk in faith.

Step 2.  God rewards those who earnestly seek him.

If all you know about God is that He exists, then you may not know how much He loves and cares for you, or that He wants to answer your prayers.  God rewards those who look for Him with their whole heart.  He is not a God who is far away, but One Who is always there for anyone who looks for Him.  Knowing this is the beginning of faith. 

If we dig more, we find the real key to understanding faith.  Look at some of the faith heroes.  Noah obeyed what God SAID;  Abraham obeyed when God CALLED; Isaac, Jacob and Sarah believed His PROMISE.  They all believed what God SAID.  If you say, “I have faith in God,” then that means you know God loves you and that He wants to answer your prayers.  You trust Him to do what He says He will do for you.  Look at:
Numbers 23:19  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 

The Second HIGHLIGHT for this lesson:

GOD CAN NOT LIE

God is always there for those who look for Him with their whole heart.
It is this simple:  God makes you a promise in His Word, then you BELIEVE what He SAID, then you ASK in FAITH.  What happens then? 

​You RECEIVE!