Faith means total dependence on God. When Adam sinned, he stepped out of God-dependence into in-dependence (which is unbelief). This is the reason why God has placed such a high priority on faith.
Hebr. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Through faith we come into a relationship with God, and through faith, we develop our relationship with God. (God-dependence) Matt. 17:20 "Nothing is impossible".
A. WHAT IS FAITH?
Faith is obedient action in response to what God has said.
1. HEARING GOD'S WORD (VOICE)
2. OBEDIENCE
3. ACTION
Hebr. 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith means having trust, assurance, or confidence in another person or that person's words. Having faith involves an exchange of self-trust for God-trust. We stop trusting in ourselves and trust Him.
B. TWO KINDS OF KNOWLEDGE (1Cor. 2:4-7 Men's wisdom and God's secret wisdom)
1. SENSE KNOWLEDGE
All knowledge that comes to the natural man comes through him through the five senses - seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, and touching. This is limited knowledge, described as "man's wisdom".
2. REVELATION KNOWLEDGE
This knowledge is not based on the five senses or natural sources. It is based on the TRUTH, the WORD OF GOD which we can receive through our spirit.
C. THE BASIS OF FAITH
1. THE NATURE OF GOD
Hebr. 6:13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,
a. HE CAN NOT CHANGE
Mal. 3:6 "For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Hebr. 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
b. HE CAN NOT FAIL
Job 42:2 "I know that You can do everything And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
1Chron. 28:20 And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God--my God--will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
c. HE CAN NOT LIE
Num. 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good
Ps. 33:9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
2. THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF THE SON OF GOD
"Let fix our eyes on Jesus" (Hebr. 12:2) Christ has become the source of our faith in God. The fact of His death and resurrection provides ground for our belief.
1Cor. 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--
Rom. 5:1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3. The Word of God
We put our faith in the Word of God! "But My words will never pass away" Matt. 24:35,
Isa. 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever."
Jer. 1:12 Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word."
D. HOW FAITH WORKS
1. GOD GIVES US FAITH
Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Rom. 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
THE RIGHTEOUS LIVE BY HIS FAITH, THAT IS THE FAITH HE GIVES AS A GIFT TO US
Rom. 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Hab. 2:4 "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.
2. FAITH COMES BY A WORD FROM GOD
Rom. 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
3. OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD
When we hear God’s Word we should obey it to let it manifest.
James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Matt. 7:24-27 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
4. THE CRISIS OR “TRAIL OF OUR FAITH”
1Pet. 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
5. THE RESULT
The result is always victory on the part of the believer, bringing Glory to God.
Acts 3:16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
