Abc's Of Faith

The A – B- C’s, of Faith

John Hamby - True faith is confident obedience to God’s word in spite of circumstances or consequences. Faith is described in a two-fold way. It is the “substance of things hoped for,” and “the evidence of things not seen.”

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

PNTC - Faith is the substance - to be a foundation. Faith is the foundation on which all our hopes for the future are built.

1. A-sking of Faith

2. B-elieving of Faith

3. C-onfessing of Faith

4. D-oing of Faith

1. A-sking of Faith

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

” [Paul Lee Tan. - “When Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary, first went to China, it was in a sailing vessel. Very close to the shore of cannibal islands the ship was caught in a calm., and it was slowly drifting toward the shore …and the savages were eagerly anticipating a feast.

The captain came to Mr. Taylor and sought him to pray for the help of God. ‘I will,’ said Taylor, ‘provided you set your sails to catch the breeze.’ The Captain declined to make himself a laughing stock by unfurling the sails in a dead calm. Taylor said, ‘I will not undertake to pray for the vessel unless you will prepare the sails.’ And it was done.

While engaged in prayer, there was a knock at the door of his stateroom. “Who is there?” The captains voice responded, ‘Are your still praying for wind?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Well,’ said the captain ‘you better stop praying for we have more wind than we can manage.’

a. Many fail to receive from God simply because they do not ask.

i. Mt 7:7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

b. We are to ask in childlike faith. Just as earthly parents want to give good gifts to their children, so our Heavenly Father desires to do the same for His children

i. Mt 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

c. Children are persistent. With a child’s persistence we must keep on asking our heavenly Father

i. Mt 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

2. B-elieving of Faith

You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death. It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn’t you then first discover how much you really trusted it?

C.S. Lewis,

Mark 11:24 “…believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

J. McDowell - People refuse to believe that which they don’t want to believe, in spite of evidence. When explorers first went to Australia they found a mammal which laid eggs; spent some time in water, some on land; had a broad, flat tail, webbed feet, and a bill similar to a duck. Upon their return to England, they told the populace of this, and all felt it was a hoax. They returned to Australia and found a pelt from this animal and took it back to England, but the people still felt it was a hoax. In spite of the evidence, they disbelieved because they didn’t want to believe.

d. Some have difficulty believing. Their doubts carse them to live a defeated life.

e. Everyone is tempted to doubt at times, but we must keep on believing in spite of doubts. We defeat Satan by believing that we believe.

f. Everything is possible for those who believe.

i. Matt 9:28 Jesus touching of the blind man….Believe ye that I am able to do this?

g. Faith pleases God and brings His blessings

i. Heb 11:6 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.

3. C-onfessing of Faith

Today in the Word, December 4, 1992. Prussian king Frederick the Great was once touring a Berlin prison. The prisoners fell on their knees before him to proclaim their innocence -- except for one man, who remained silent. Frederick called to him, "Why are you here?" "Armed robbery, Your Majesty," was the reply. "And are you guilty?" "Yes indeed, Your Majesty, I deserve my punishment." Frederick then summoned the jailer and ordered him, "Release this guilty wretch at once. I will not have him kept in this prison where he will corrupt all the fine innocent people who occupy it."