A. INTRODUCTION: FAITH THE SOURCE
1. Jerry Falwell, a freshman at Baptist Bible College, 1956. “You will never build a class …” Prayed from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm daily. Built his Sunday school class from 1 to 53, had over 100 on a big attendance days. Faith and works.
2. Jerry Falwell – “I don’t have great faith … I have a great God!”
3. First meeting, Falwell, and Towns, set a goal of 100,000 students at Liberty. Visionary faith.
4. In 1978 … needed 5 million dollars for 7 dorms. “God, You have got a lot of money and I need some.” Five months later, occupied dorms.
5. In 1992 … faced bankruptcy needing 104 million dollars. Fasted 40 days – twice. “I don’t mind dying … you have to die spiritually to get God’s life and die to self to get God’s answer.” A.L. Williams sent 52 million dollars by courier. Today, 1 billion, 200 million.
B. FAITH HAS MANY SIZES
1. Mountain moving faith. “Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea, and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart’” (Mark 11:22-23, NLT).
2. Little faith. “Why do you have so little faith?” (Matthew 6:30, NKJV).
3. Great faith. “Jesus … marveled … I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Matthew 8:10).
4. Weak faith. “Abraham … who against hope … weak faith” (Romans 4:16, 18-19).
5. Strong in faith. “Did not waver at the promise of God … but was strengthened in faith” (Romans 4:20).
6. Faith can grow. “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5).
7. Faith can be great. “Then Jesus answered … ‘Oh woman, great is your faith!’” (Matthew 15:28).
8. Faith can fail. “I have prayed … faith fail not” (Luke 22:32).
9. Abundant faith. “Rich in faith” (James 2:5).
10. Healing faith. “Faith hath made thee whole” (Mark 5:2).
11. Small faith. “Faith as a grain of mustard seed” (Matthew 17:20).
12. No faith. “You have not faith” (Mark 4:40).
C. DEFINITION OF FAITH
1. Faith is pistis in the Greek perfect tense and is a non-verb hybrid, “to have belief.” The verb pisteuo is action, i.e., belief, trust, reliance, act on, receiving, accepting, or resting on. The object of your faith must motivate you to respond/act, either outwardly or inwardly.
2. Faith is validated by the authenticity of its object, i.e., the thing, action, or person into which/where you have faith.
3. Therefore, it is not faith that heals, it is God. It is not faith that sends millions of dollars, it is God.
4. Faith is a road God uses to get you there, Faith is a tool God uses to fix your problem. Faith is the medicine God uses to heal.
5. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, KJV). “Faith is the title deed that gives us access to things we hope for, it is the conviction that they exist” (Hebrews 11:1, ELT).
6. Your prayer for this series, “Lord increase our faith” (Luke 17:5).
7. Your assignment: look up and study the word faith.
8. Your application, ask God to lead you to take a step/leap of faith, then do it.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
Video presentations of the PBC are available online at trbc.org/pbc
Go to hopenow.tv for the current program schedule
