Turn to Habakkuk 2:4. We will get there in a moment. Over the years I have heard countless sermons and teachings on faith – and that is a good thing. A person cannot be a Christian and not live by faith. The truth that a Christian must live by faith is found in both the Old and New Testaments.
Let's look at the Old Testament passage in Habakkuk 2:4. I'm going to read it from the Amplified Bible. "Look at the proud: his soul is not straight or right within him, but the [rigidly] just and the [uncompromisingly] righteous man shall live by his faith and to his faithfulness."
Now turn to the first New Testament passage, Romans 1:17. It says, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
Now turn to Galatians 3:11. "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."
And finally, Hebrews 10:38. "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."
The JUST, the person who has been made righteous by accepting Jesus’ gift of salvation, SHALL live by faith. Ladies and gentlemen, this is an instruction, a commandment. It is not optional.
Why is this so important? Turn to Hebrews 11:6. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him (to please whom? to please God): for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
What is it that God rewards? He rewards our faith. And how do we diligently seek Him? We diligently seek Him with our faith.
Faith, and only faith, pleases God.
We're going to answer two questions today. First, how does a Christian obtain faith? And second, what will we see in the person that tells us he is “wearing his faith” on his sleeves?
How does a person obtain faith?
Turn to Romans chapter 10. We're going to begin reading at verse 13.
(13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
(14( How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
(15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
(16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
(17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:13-17)
The words REPORT in verse 16 and HEARING in verse 17 are the same Greek word, akoe. One of its meanings is “the thing heard, an instruction, namely oral; the preaching of the gospel.” In the context of this passage, verse 17 could be rendered “So then faith comes when the gospel message is heard and the report of that message is believed.”
We are going to see two examples of how this passage can play out in a person's life.
Do you remember the story of the man with palsy who couldn’t get to Jesus because of the crowd? The record is found in Mark 2:1-5. Remember, faith comes by hearing the report of the gospel message and believing it.
Mark 2:1 says, “And again He (Jesus) entered into Capernaum after some days, and it was noised that he was in the house.” Sometimes I find scripture humorous. "Jesus was in the house!" :-) The man had heard the “report” of Jesus healing the man with leprosy (Mark 1:40-45) and when word spread that Jesus was in a local man’s house preaching, his friends helped him get to Jesus despite the crowd.
Now, the second example is one that I would be surprised if you have not heard about. It's the woman with the issue of blood that Jesus healed. The record is found in Mark 5:25-34. Remember, faith comes by hearing the report of the gospel message and believing it.
The first part of Mark 5:27 says, “When she had heard of Jesus …”
What was the “report” of Jesus that she heard? Earlier in the chapter, Jesus had cast a demon out of a man. After doing so, He tells the man to go home and share the good news with his friends. Now look at verse 20. “And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.”
The woman with the issue of blood lived in Decapolis, a region of 10 cities, and that’s how she heard the “report” of the healing power of Jesus.
Now the second question: How we can know when we are “wearing our faith?”
Faith that is “worn” is seen in what we say and in what we do. James makes this point in chapter two of his epistle.
(14) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
(15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
(16) and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
(17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
When we see a brother or sister without sufficient clothing or food, James asks why we say we have faith if we don’t help them? This sounds like what Paul writes in Galatians 6:10: “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
After asking the question, James concludes in verse 17: “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” The Amplified Bible renders the verse this way: “So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).”
When we “wear our faith” it will be seen in what we say and in what we do.
Let’s revisit the story of the paralyzed man in Mark 2. How did he and his friends “wear their faith” to get to Jesus?
(1) And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
(2) And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
(3) And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
(4) And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
(5) When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
The men couldn’t find a way to Jesus, so they climbed up the stairway on the side of the house, or used a ladder, dug a hole in the roof, and lowered their friend to Jesus. Then scripture records this powerful truth: When Jesus saw their faith – the men “wore their faith” as evidenced by the things they did to get their friend to Jesus.
Now, let’s revisit the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5. How did she “wear her faith” to get to Jesus?
(25) And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
(26) And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
(27) When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
(28) For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
(29) And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. (Mark 5:25-29)
After 12 years of defeat at every turn, the woman decides to do the unthinkable. According to the Law, she was unclean, but she knew that Jesus was her last hope. She tells herself, "if she can just touch His clothes she will be healed." And she was right!
But how do we know that she was “wearing her faith”? Jesus tells us in verse 34 – “And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
“Wearing our faith” = knowing the Word + believing the Word + and acting on the Word.
We must know the Word BEFORE our faith can wear it.
We must believe the Word BEFORE our faith can wear it.
We must act on the Word FOR our faith to wear it!
Going back to James. When we know a brother or sister needs clothes or food, we “wear our faith” by helping them get what they need.
Here’s to “wearing our faith” for Jesus!
