The Faith Factor Series

The Faith Factor

Part 3: "Getting Faith"

As we continue on our journey into the world of faith . . . let’s take a brief look at what we have already gone over.

THE FIRST AND FOREMOST important fact that we saw was that faith will ALWAYS tell you that JESUS is alive today!

As many of you know, the world is full of skeptics. They tend to study it all and still question everything there is to know about it.

This is what makes Christians different from every one else. Do you know what the Bible calls Christians?

In 1st Peter 2:9, it says:

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

The words that really stand out to me in that verse of scripture is where we are referred to as "a peculiar people" . . . And I am really willing to say that some of us are more peculiar than others . . . . know what I mean? ( lol )

Well, we also learned that JESUS has always, and will keep on extending HIS love . . . HIS grace . . . and HIS mercy to the sinners that call upon HIS name.

A strong emphasis was put on the fact that ALL CHRISTIANS need to be out there in the world and showing the lost, all those things that make JESUS such a wonderful and loving SAVIOUR.

How else are the lost to learn and know about JESUS, if the ones that supposedly know HIM the best, aren’t telling them about HIM?

A key note here was a principle witness that so many Christians tend to overlook . . . their actions . . .

After you accepted CHRIST into your heart, you know that there was a difference with inside your heart . . . the next step was to be what the JESUS says in Matthew 12:34:

" . . . for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

That Spirit of joy and love needs to be shown to all those around you! And with the grace GOD showed you, showing in your actions . . . who is to say others won’t also get saved because of your excitement?

The wrap up came when we learned that faith is that which can carry you through those rough times.

In today’s message . . . we are going to look at another aspect of faith, and that is "Getting Faith".

How does a Christian get faith?

Open your Bibles to Romans 10:17:

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WORD OF FAITH!

With it . . . you can accomplish all things through CHRIST whom strengthens you . . .

Without it . . . you are a sinking battleship with absolutely no way to fight the enemy!

Faith comes by hearing the Word of GOD.

Some people see this and think it is silly . . .

IF IT WERE SILLY, WOULD GOD NOT HAVE OMITTED IT IN HIS WORD?

GOD PUT THOSE WORDS . . .

GOD PUT THAT SCRIPTURE THERE WITH YOU AND I IN MIND!

IS IT SILLY?

NO . . . IT’S FACT!

So why is it so many "professed" Christians have such a hard time accepting this verse of scripture?

I think it is partly because it puts those that are not in church, into a very strong conviction status . . .

WHY IS IT SO MANY OF THE CHRISTIANS JUST DON’T ATTEND CHURCH LIKE THEY SHOULD?

Well . . . maybe I have a few answers for this . . . see if you agree with any of them. These are some of the excuses people give to explain their auto accidents:

"A pedestrian hit me and went under my car! The guy was all over the place! I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him!"

"The accident occurred when I was attempting to bring my car out of a skid by steering into the other vehicle!"

"As I approached the intersection, a stop sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before! I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident!"

"The telephone pole was approaching fast! I was attempting to swerve out of it’s path, when it struck the front end of my car!"

"To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in from of me, I struck the pedestrian!"

"An invisible are came out of nowhere! It struck my vehicle and vanished just like that!"