The Importance of Faith - Faith they say is the Trademark of Christianity. The word faith is used only 2 times in the Old Testament and 243 times in the New Testament - Deuteronomy 32:20, Habakkuk 2:4 Paul tells us in Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him"
So, faith, being so important, what is it and where does it come from? Paul tells us in Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. These two descriptions of faith, substance and evidence, denote the essence of tangible goods. Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The evidence and substance of faith then, is the Word of God.
If, without faith, it is impossible to please God, it would be a desperate panic to live a lifetime waiting for the promise of salvation after death and at the last moment to doubt, having never seen the word of faith in action during our lifetime.
One of the easiest promises to believe God for is a return on our tithes and offerings: Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat on mine table, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room to receive it. This is the only verse where God tells his people to prove Him. This is a great place for the new believer to start exercising faith. We must have enough faith in the Word of God to act on it.
In Luke 17:5 the apostles asked the Lord to increase their faith. In verse 6: And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. The profound part of this statement is the size of the faith needed to make it come to pass. The mustard seed, being the smallest of all seed is the analogy that told them that if they had even a small faith they would command whatever they would and it would be done. I had read these two verses several times before I realized the magnitude of Jesus' answer to the disciples request for more faith. After all, If they had faith in His word that they could ask and it shall be given then their ears would be open to the simplicity of his answer.
We can have the entire bible memorized but if we regard it only as a story it is no good to us except, as good reading. Faith in the Word of God is life and health.
One thing is worth nothing down - that is, "Christianity is a walk of Faith"
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