Faith, Knowing God and His Word

Faith and Knowing God

1. The Christian life is lived by Faith (Hebrews 10:23);

Faith is to believe that God is what His word says and trust that he is faithful to do what he promised. Everything God does for humanity is out of Grace or unmerited favor.   Faith is man’s hand to receive God’s grace.  

• Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)
• You face only one barrier – your capacity to believe (Mark 9:23);

• Anything not of faith is sin or of the flesh. (Romans 14:23; Heb.10:38; 2 Cor. 5:7)
• Our fight is a fight to grow and keep our faith. (1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7)
• Faith is vital for answered prayer. (Mathew 21:22; Mark 11:22, 24)
• Repent and believe. Mark 1:15. There is no real faith without real repentance.
• Faith comes by hearing God’s word. (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 12:3 Joshua 1:8)

Walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Walking by sight includes making decisions based on just feelings, senses, sight, reasoning,  own understanding, people’s opinions, nature, circumstances, consequences, etc

2. Faith comes from Knowing God

Faith comes from knowing God.  The word of God brings the revelation knowledge of God for your situation (Rhema- Romans 10:17). The word of God gives faith, which is the substance/basis for hope (Hebrews 11:1; Jeremiah 9:23, 24; Daniel 11:32b

Faith is also a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 12:3).  You can ask from God the gift of faith.

a) God’s Attributes

God is trustworthy. Faith is as good as its object. God is able, willing, loving and does not change. These are some of His attributes.

• God is all knowing (Psalm 139:1-6; Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 4:13).
• God is every where (Hebrews 13:5; Psalms 139: 7-13)
• God is all powerful (Jeremiah 32:27; Luke 1:37; Psalms 121:2.)  ‘That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.’ 1 Cor. 2:5
• God owns everything. (Psalms 24:1; Haggai 2:8; Deut 8:18)
• God is good. (Jeremiah 29:11; Psalms 25:8)
• God does not lie. He is truth. (Number 23:19; Titus 1:2, 2 Cor 1:20; Rom 3:4)
• God is love. (John 3:16; 1 John 4:16)
• God is gracious and merciful. (Joel 2:13; Romans 5:8)
• God is faithful. Malachi 3:6. ‘Faithful is he that called you, who will also do it.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:24; Philippians 1:6; James 1:17; Hebrews 10:23)
• God keeps his covenant. ‘For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my loving kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, says Jehovah that hath mercy on thee.’ (Isaiah 54:10)
• God gave his son. ‘He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?’  (Romans 8:32)

b) God’s names and titles

Study on your own and share with someone else.

Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Tsidkenu, Jehovah Raah, Jehovah Shamaah, Jeshua, El Shaddai, El Roi, Elohim

3. Faith Must Grow

You can grow your faith.

-          By filling your heart with God’s word. Faith grows (1 Thessalonians 1:3) by monitoring what you watch, hear, say, read, surround ourselves with, and expose ourselves to deliberately ensure you avoid what does not encourage faith. Meditate on God’s word (Joshua 1:8)

-          By focusing on God and always be thankful and full of praise (Acts 16:25-26)

-          By focusing on the things God has done for you in the past

-          By listening to testimonies of what God is doing for others. What God has done for others he will do for you.  Maintain interaction and fellowship with other believers..

-          By exercising it. Use it by thinking, confessing, obeying and acting on God’s word. Sow seeds of faith – actions, words, thoughts, giving, etc. Its not faith until its acted on.

-          Through testing (1 Peter 1:7). What has not been tested cannot be trusted.

-          By overcoming the enemies of faith - disobedience, fear, worry, doubt and anxiety ((Hebrews 4:2; Psalm 78:41).

4. Being Filled with God’s Word (Colossians 3:16)

God’s word is Spirit and life. John 6:63  It has power to transform lives to Christlikeness.  Hebrews 4:12 

It is able to build you up and give you the inheritance in Christ. Acts 20:32  It is spiritual food for your faith.( Mathew 4:4   1 Peter 2:2   Romans 10:17)

The following are ways to respond to God’s word that encourage faith.

a) Obey it.

• Following Jesus is obeying Him. John 15:4, 10-12. we abide in Christ by doing what he says. Luke 6:46 John 14:15 1 John 2:3
• Following Him is making Him first in our lives. Luke 14:26; Acts 5:29
• Following Him is surrendering all to Him in order for you to gain everything from Him. Luke 14:33; 14:27; 18:22
• You can not say you love him without obeying him John 14:21. Obedience comes from fully accepting the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This means accepting his right to direct and lead your life to accomplish God’s purpose. He is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. He is the King.
• The heart of the Great commission is ‘teaching believers to obey Jesus’ (Mathew 28:20).
• Not obeying God’s word leads to lack of fruit. (Mathew 13:3-23. Mathew 7:24)

b) Know and meditate on it.

• Meditate on it day and night (Joshua 1:8. Psalm 1:2, 3.  Colossians 3:16)
• You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free (John 8:32. Psalm 119:11.  Proverbs 4:23 2 Corinthians 10:4; Philippians 4:8).

c) Speak and sing it.

• The tongue has the power to determine outcomes in your life (Proverbs 18:21). Instead of saying I cant. I don’t have. I don’t have enough.  I don’t know. Etc talk about what the Bible says you have, you are, you can do, etc. About what you know. (Romans 4:17).
• You prosper by not letting the word depart from your mouth (Joshua 1:8).
• They overcame him by the blood and the word of their testimony. Our testimony is what God has done for us (Revelation 12:11)
• Speak the word to your situations they have ears (Zechariah 4:7  James 3:3-6).

d)  Share it. (2 Timothy 2:2.)

e) Pray it.

Thank God for his promises and for who the word says he is. Say God’s word in your prayers e.g. Nehemiah 1:8, 9

Exercise:

Read on your own Psalm 119 and 19:7-14

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa