Hebrews 2:1 TPT This is why it is so crucial that we be all the more engaged and attentive to the truths that we have heard so that we do not drift off course.
The Basics of Faith
How does faith come?
- We do not pray for more faith.
You cannot pray beyond your faith, and you cannot have faith beyond the Word that you know and have in your heart.
Romans 10:17 NKJV So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
“The Word of God” in this verse is the Greek word “Rhema” as compared to another word in the Greek for the “Word of God” is “Logos”.
In my research I came across a quote from a commentary by Bill Hammon which defines these two words well:
“The logos is the general word of God that communicates his ability to do something, or his general will on a matter while a rhema is the word the Holy Spirit quickens to a specific person for a specific situation. The logos and rhema are always in alignment with one another.”
- Faith arises in our hearts as God’s Word becomes revelation to us as it is revealed to our spirits by the Holy Spirit.
- Faith is in your heart and not in your head.
Romans 10:9-10 NAS95 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; (10) for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Eight Steps to Develop Strong Faith
- Realize your faith potential.
Romans 12:3 KJV (3) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
In the context here, Paul is speaking to Born Again people and says God has dealt to every man (believer) the measure of faith.
So, all believers have the same faith potential. This is how God can deal with all mankind equally and fairly. We all start with the same raw material, and it is up to us whether it grows and becomes stronger.
- How far we go is totally up to us.
- We all have an unlimited faith capacity.
- Receive Jesus as the Developer of Your Faith
Hebrews 12:2 NKJV 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus will become our “Faith Trainer” when we decide to live by faith. He will develop our faith the same way a trainer develops our body. Expect Him to develop our faith every time we put our faith on the line.
- Give the Word first place and make it final authority.
Proverbs 4:20-22 NKJV My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. (21) Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; (22) For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
- We must build our busy schedule around the Word instead of trying to fit the Word into our busy schedules.
- We don’t make the Word fit our lifestyle, we adjust our lifestyle to fit the Word of God.
- Continually feed on the Word.
Matthew 4:4 NKJV But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ “
John Osteen – “If you will put the Word in your heart when you don’t need it, it will be there when you do need it.”
- Meditate on the Word.
Joshua 1:8 NKJV This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
- Meditation is fixing your mind on the Word of God.
Isaiah 26:3 NLT You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!
The Word you meditate on will become the reality you desire!
- Act on the Word
James 2:26 GNB So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.
- “Let the redeemed say so…” (Ps. 107:2)—whether or not you feel like it.
- “Let the weak say, I am strong…” (Joel 3:10)
- Act as though the Word is absolutely true!
- Spend time praying in other tongues.
Jude 1:20 AMPC But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;
1 Corinthians 14:4 NKJV He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Edify (GK) = Enlarging of a house; to augment, enhance and improve (To charge your faith like a battery; faith boost)
- Continually give God praise.
(Psalms 34:1 NKJV) I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
If you want to enlarge your faith, cultivate a lifestyle of thanksgiving. Praise and thanksgiving are mighty affirmations of faith.
What we do between the time we pray and see the manifestation is crucial. After the “amen” of our prayer, we continue to thank God for the manifestation of the desired result.
(Psalms 67:5-7 NKJV) Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. (6) Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. (7) God shall bless us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
Jerry Savelle – “The depth of your praise will determine the magnitude of your harvest.”