Chapter 9 F aith

Faith has always been the mark of a disciple of Jesus. The early disciples ' were known as BELIEVERS.
Jesus said: . ”...Everything is possible for him who believes ” (Mark 9:23).

(MI l h n unhellcn This In lhe mutm (ind tnmhing This is limited knowledge, dc

hAs planed «uch a high pnunly nn lmlh scnhed u ‘nmn‘swixdum.'

} h n the vmv we come hmlt mlu mln2. Revelation Knowledge

In mhm “nth Und ((ind dependence) l‘hie knowledge is not based an the five “1“ dependence on ( ind m
culled luith. senses, nor on natural reasoning but on uh

huh ud\ Inces you hevund your live altemauve source the TRUTH of the

rum ot arcing. hcnnng. usnng. smelling Word of God. ll is received through man':

and touching. 1:th releases you from spirit, and isdescribed as 'God‘swisdnm'

\nur hmm-d cupncmcs. By futth you move " [me by FAITH. not by ugh!" hum In-ahillly to ”N nblllty. (
(2Cor 527)) Tms is the walk ot'faith to which all of . ASlS OF FAITH us an: called -where “nothing is
imposThe basis of having faith in God is in vthle "(Matt 17:20). three important realities: A. vt HAT IS
FAITH? 2 Wit. 7 1. The Nature Of God /Fmth is obedient action in response to "When God made
hispromise taAbrawhat God has said. True faith is expressed ham, since there was no one greater for m
l)0bcdicgce and 2) Action,inresponse him to swear by, he swore by himself" to 3) maxing God’s w'ard
(voice). (Heb 6:13).

'WIWE hemg’ sure of what we a. He Cannot Change. "Ithe Lord do hope [hr and certain of what we do
not not change... ” (Mal 3:6). See also James 59 "(Heblltl . 1:17.

aith means having trust, assurance or b. He Cannot Fail. “1 know that you confidence in another person
or that percan do all things; no plan of your: can son’s words. Having faith in God involves be thwarted
"(Job 42:2). See also 1 Chronan exchange of sclf-trust for God-trust. icles 28:20.

We stop trusting in ourself and trust Him. c. He Cannot Lie. "God is not a man. We abandon reliance on
our limited that he should lie, nor a son of man. that source of knowledge and start ceiving he should
change his mind Doeshespeak fi-om His unlimimisource. and then not act? Does he promm and not ‘5.
TWO KINDS OF KNOWLEDGE fitlfill? ”(Num 23:19)‘ See also Titus 122. “My message and my preaching
were 2. The Redemptive Work not with wise and persuasive words, but 0! The Son Of God with a
demonstration of the Spirit ’5 “Let usfix our eyes anJem. the author power, so that your faith might not
rest on and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy MEN '5' WISDOM, but on God ’5 power. set before
him endured the cross. seaming "We do, however, speak a message of its shame, and sat down at the
right hand wisdom among the mature, but not the of the throne of God"(Heb 12:2). wisdom of this age
or of the rulers of this Christ has become the source of our age, who are coming to nothing. faith in God.
The fact of His death and “No, we speak ofGod’s SECRET WISresurrection provides ground for our
bcDOM. a wisdom that has been hidden and lieving.
that God destined for our glory before time “...Christ Jesus .has become for It! began "( I Cor 214-7). See
also verses 8-16. wisdom from God that is. our rightI. Sense Knowledge eousness, holtness and
redempttun "

All knowledge that comes to natural (lCor 1:30). See also Romans 5:12. man comes to him through the
flVC senses 3. The Word Of God seeing, hearing, tasting. smelling and "Heaven and earth will pass away.

.... .-. . u u u.

[ml MI mn-lt urll mwr pun mnu" (Matt 1’4 15) 'u c nlw lsnluh 4t) 8

' I hr I «ml uml In mr. ' I um mu. hing In .u'c mm "W u on] u IuI/lllc :I ' " (Jet 1 12)

line Word stamk trlu: lnrcvcr l mth comcx when (ind hnngs u upculu wmd .out ol‘nll llc him ever ’llllti
tlm-Ltly to us In our nrcumstnnws. Spoken m thm way. the ward nl‘Uod comee lIIIVC to us.

releasing our fnith D. HOW FAITH WORKS

The principle 01' lnilh (Rom 3:27) ix to operate in our lives wntmunlly. no matter what the circumstances
(see 2 Corinthians 5:7. James 1:5.6). It works in the following way:

1. God Gives Us Faith

"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteous new (hat is by

faith from first to last, just as i! is written:

"'The righteous will live $1 1118] faith'" (compare Romans 1:17 and Habakkuk 2:4 niv).

The righteous live by HIS faith, that is the faith HE gives us as a gift.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith, it [the faith] is the gift of God " (Eph 228.9). “...according as
God has deal! to every man ...jbilh " (Rom 12:3). 2. Faith Comes By A Word From God
Firstly, God encourages us by speaking a “word” relevant to our circumstances.

This may come as you read the Bible or by hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit inside your spirit.

"...failh comes from hearing the word, and is heard through the word of Christ ”

(Rom 10:17). See also Genesis 1523-5; 7:15-21; Joshua 1:8. 3. Obedience To The Word

For faith to operate in our situation, we must obey that word. Faith is ACTIVE, not passive. Most of God’s
promises are

conditional He will do His part. if we do our part. “...failh by itself (fit is not accompa

mul Ivy H: mm II III ml (I c I 1/} St: [7' )‘qucm ta l‘vh Mutlluw 7 )4 ll 4. 'I In( rlnll. Ur "I lhll UfUur l'nllh”

HIM M n pl "ml ul Ii 1mm I V“ ytluuu lmmx mny .tmuml u «mu um umlt Iry tn wlml ‘llit' ltl'l ml. mut Ilu
nvruvs II: he nu nntttml CVMIl me lm um hnln vmy Al 11m pmm, mu lmtli runs Ullllplrlt 1y «m (iml \s
wmd (whul Ht. h-N wmlu n In us)

"In Ilm you yreullyre/lm r, Ilmugh unw [or u Illllt" while you may haw hudln m//« r gru'l In all Imuls u/
Irmlv

"Ihi'w have « mmm that your lallh u/grmm'r wnrlh Ihun gull], win: it [Ierlthm even though rr/mml by [ire
may be proved gramme and may n'mlt m prune, glory and hmmr when Jews ( ‘hrm Iv re vealed" ( ll’ct
116,7). Sec elm Romans 4:16 21;Psalm3105:17-|9.

1n faith we cast ourselves on 1119 FAl llll‘Ul.N1:hS. In our times of doubt and struggle, (ind is faithful
and does nut abandon us:

”(I we believe not, he almlelh Iaith/ul. He cannot deny himself" (2'1 tm 2:13).
He was faithful to Thomas and Peter when their faith was tested. Jesus didn’t abandon them. "Ile will ne
ver leave us nor formlre us " (l leb 13:5).

5. The Result

The end result is always victory on the part of the believer, bringing glory to God (see also James 122-4,
12; Genesis 2 l : 1-3; Psalms 105219-22; Acts 3:16; Hebrews 6:13-15).

"... for everyone born of God has overcome the world. 7his is the victory that has overcame the world,
even our faith "(lJn 5:4).

MY COMMITMENT

Today I decide to live by faith and trust God in all areas of my life. I ncknowledge my need to be totally
dependent on God which is faith in action. In problems, challenges and dif

l'Iculties 1 will rely on H'u faithfulness.

God‘s response will be His grace -His