Faith
How do we acquire faith
Faith is initiated and increased by hearing the word of God; Romans 10:17, which leads to one obeying the word of God. Without obedience to God, your faith becomes vain.
Faith must be backed up by works
We must back up our faith with obedience to God. Faith alone without works is useless.
“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. “ James 2:20-23
God desires us to be strong in faith
Romans 4:20 speaks of the type of faith Abraham had in God – which is the level of faith God expects from us. He wants us to trust him in a childlike way, ie. We must simply obey and leave the consequences to him.
“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness“. (Romans 4:20-22)
Showing a lack of faith
When we lack faith we show we don’t trust God as he desires us to. We show that we are not fully persuaded that he is able to perform his promises. We show doubt in God, and this is highly displeasing to him. Lack of faith causes us to focus less on God and more on our cares and worries, which seriously affects us in our spiritual life.
… But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:4-8
Those who lack faith miss out on God’s blessings
A lack of faith will seriously hinder you in your Christian life. The Bible warns us of the consequences faced by those who lacked faith:
Hebrews 3:19 tells of the Israelites who didn’t enter into because they lacked faith.
How do we increase our faith?
God will give you a measure of faith pertaining to what portion of faith/trust you give him. If you draw nearer (in faith) to God, he will draw nearer (invest more faith) in you. James 4:8 The greatest hindrance of your faith in God can be you.
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.
..Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebrews 12:1-3