F A I T H
WHAT IS IT?Inspiration from GOD as I listened to Adrian Rogers’ sermon on 01/03/2010.

GRACE – What is it? God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense !

FAITH – What is it? Forsaking All - I Took Him !

What is faith? ‘Faith is NOW.’ ‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ …Hebrews 11:1. John 3:16…He gave that we might receive of Him!
We should put an effort into ‘knowing’ Him, to be able to receive God’s riches. Grace is God’s riches at Christ’s Expense. Faith comes from knowing Him…Faith comes from hearing (Romans 10:17).
1. KNOW HIM!

What is the ‘object’ of faith? What are we to have faith in? The object of faith is GOD. Mark 11:22…Jesus said to us, ‘Have faith in GOD.”
If we have faith in GOD, we HEAR Him. It is not the size of our faith…weak or strong…but it is the object of faith that counts. GOD says, when our faith is weak, then we are strong because we allow Him to live in us and guide us! Weak faith works because GOD is the object of that faith! Don’t put your faith in faith; put your faith in GOD!
We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip…Hebrews 2:1.
2. HEAR HIM!

What is the ‘origin’ of faith? Jesus is the Author and the Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Look to the Author and Finisher - the Origin of our Faith. Look to Him. Look to His Word! Look away from all other things…circumstances, doubt, etc. Look to HIM…THE Origin of our Faith. ‘Consider HIM that endured such contradiction of sinners (the opposite of what HE was…‘FAITH’ opposed by doubting sinners) against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds’…Hebrews 12:3. ‘Look unto Jesus.’ He is the Head of all the long train of faith heroes found in Hebrews 11, and the Head of your faith. He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Consider HIM. Observe and analyze every part of His life and conduct, His courage in sufferings. The joy that He looked at ‘by faith’ was the ‘redemption of creation’ through doing the Father’s will (Psalm 40:6, Hebrews 12:2).
Consider Him. GOD will not give His faith to rebels that are against Him. He gives every man a measure of faith (Romans 12:3), but it is our choice whether we allow Him to grow our faith! We must choose to yield to Him and be transformed in our thinking by the acknowledging of every good thing in Christ Jesus (Philemon v6). The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38; Habakkuk 2:4).
3. YIELD TO HIM.

What is the ‘operation of faith?’ How do we operate in our faith? God has given the ‘measure of faith’ to every man, but the believer must ‘know, hear, yield, and obey Him. God gives us faith to believe, but we are responsible to OBEY what we hear Him say. Philemon (v6) tells us ‘Let the communication of your faith become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus! And the communication of our faith will not work effectively if we do not operate in LOVE, for faith works by love (Galatians 5:6). We can only operate in faith as we obey His voice…His Word.
4. OBEY HIM.

What is the result of our faith? Is faith the gift of God? Yes. Will I believe automatically? No. God gives His Word and His Spirit to you that you may learn to trust in him. He is our Hope and our Faith. When a person believes in GOD…in Jesus Christ, His Son, that person has a confidence that no one else can have. A believer has an eternal hope in Christ Jesus, Who gives a believer hope as an anchor of the soul, which is both sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:19). As we know Him, we hear His Word and yield to His will. Yielding and then obeying His will, His voice gives us a steadfastness that is an anchor to our thinking and to our very existence because we know Christ lives in us. A believer can endure ‘all things’ that might come against him because GOD is with him to help him through all things. Jesus said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” This is something I can never do. Never will I leave you. Enduring faith brings the result of obtaining the benefits of the promises (Genesis 22:16-17; Romans 4:17-21; James 2:20-26). ‘Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need’…Hebrews 4:16.
5. TRUST & RECEIVE GRACE –GOD’S RICHES AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE!
By: Iris Lynn Russell