Living Faith

Introduction

Faith is the very foundation of the Christian creed and conduct after salvation (Ephesians 2:8). Faith is the confidence in God that leads us to believe His word. It is by faith that we receive the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and confess Him as Lord.

The Syrophenician woman demonstrated a persevering faith and got what she wanted (Mark 7:26); the Centurion manifested a humble faith and was rewarded for it (Matthew 8:8–10). In Mark 10:51, the blind man showed an earnest faith and received his sight. Jesus Christ, in His dealings with people, looked out for their faith.

1. What is Faith?

In Hebrews 11:1, the Bible defines faith as:

• The substance of things hoped for.
• The evidence of things not seen.

There are two essential ingredients of faith:

• Substance
• Evidence — facts or signs that prove the confidence or truth of something.

Faith is trust in God and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 12:13). The faith that saves is a personal trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. You sit on a new chair because faith says you will not fall down. Likewise, faith says Jesus is the Saviour — and if you surrender your life to Him, He will save your soul unfailingly.

2. Why is Faith Necessary?

• Without faith you cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).
• If without faith you cannot please God, then you are a displeasure to Him (Psalm 2:5).
• Faith is crucial for salvation (Acts 16:31).
• Faith is crucial for healing, sanctification and the baptism (Luke 8:22–25; 8:45–48; 9:37–41; Acts 13:47–48).

3. The Sources of Faith

Faith comes from two sources: Divine and Human.

i. Divine Faith

• God the Father — Romans 12:3
• God the Son — Hebrews 12:2
• God the Holy Spirit — Galatians 5:22

ii. Human Faith

By hearing (Romans 10:17) — listening to sermons, studying the Scriptures, listening to the testimonies of others, listening to anointed messages, and attending Digging Deep, Faith Clinic, Holy Ghost Services, Mount Zion Hour, and similar programmes.