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."
This illustrates very well what happens when we verbally confess our faith.
Ro 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:11 …Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
h. Some people are ashamed to be called Christians. They are fearful of scorn and persecution.
i. We must be courageous about confessing our faith in Jesus Christ. If we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us also
i. Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
j. Salvation depends upon the confession of our faith. We must be willing to share Christ with others.
i. Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
4. D-oing of Faith
Augustine. - Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that thou mayest believe, but believe that thou mayest understand.
James 2:20 …that faith without works is dead.
k. Doing is the “plus” of faith. Many falter in the Christian life because they fail to act upon or work their faith.
l. We must let the Holy Spirit work through us. We are His channel, the instrument through which He works.
The Presbyterian Advance.
Faith in God makes great optimists. Over in Burma, Judson was lying in a foul jail with 32 lbs. of chains on his ankles, his feet bound to a bamboo pole. A fellow prisoner said, "Dr. Judson, what about the prospect of the conversion of the heathen?", with a sneer on his face. His instant reply was, "The prospects are just as bright as the promises of God."
m. We must believe that the Holy Spirit is directing and guiding our steps. He speaks through us as we witness to the unsaved
i. John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Stanley C. Brown. - A young boy, on an errand for his mother, had just bought a dozen eggs. Walking out of the store, he tripped and dropped the sack. All the eggs broke, and the sidewalk was a mess. The boy tried not to cry. A few people gathered to see if he was OK and to tell him how sorry they were. In the midst of the works of pity, one man handed the boy a quarter. Then he turned to the group and said, "I care 25 cents worth. How much do the rest of you care?" James 2:16 points out that words don’t mean much if we have the ability to do more.
C. Swindoll, writes about Patrick Morley In his book “I Surrender,” the church’s integrity problem is in the misconception "that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior." He goes on to say, "It is revival without reformation, without repentance."
I believe we should take on the motto that Nike made popular several years ago. “Just Do It” Don’t let your faith waver, and just go out and confess your faith to those around you. If we Ask, believe, confess and do our faith, our Christian experience will not only be infilling, but we will be fulfilling the call to Go tell the world about a savior who died for their sins.
