Matt 17:20 (NIV)

A certain village had suffered drought for a very long time. Being so fed up with their depreciating condition, they decided to take a stride to redeem their situation. They agreed that everyone would gather at the village market square on the next market day and pray fervently and vigorously to G.o.d for a down pour. They all concurred. On that set date, they all a.s.sembled. Then they saw a little boy holding an umbrella; they were all startled, some were confused in fact. They asked him what he was doing with an umbrella during the drought; he told them that he had also come to the market square to pray for the down pour, since he had the faith and believed that by the time they were done praying, it would start raining so much so that he'd need a s.h.i.+eld, he took an umbrella. #wide smile#

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Amazingly, almost every one of us exhibits an iota of faith every night-sleeping peacefully with the hope of waking up the next day… #wide smile# yep yep! Let's examine what the Bible says about faith and see the kind of faith G.o.d wants us to have (as told by Chris Reeves):

Object of faith. Who or what is believed in is G.o.d and His Son Jesus Christ. "Let not your heart be troubled: believe in G.o.d, believe also in me" (John 14:1)

Subject of faith. The Bible teaches that the subject of faith (who or what has faith ) is man himself. Man is the only creature of all of G.o.d's creation who can believe.

Substance of faith. What faith is is belief; a complete trust, a.s.surance or confidence. There is no fear (Mark 5:36; Luke 8:50) or doubt (Mark 11:23-24) in faith.

Proof of Faith. What faith is based on is evidence. Faith is based upon strong, clear, logical, true, historical evidence. Faith is not guesswork. Faith is not a blind leap in the dark. Faith is not grounded in subjective feelings. G.o.d provides the objective, rational evidence for belief; man provides the belief based on that evidence. The Bible does not teach that G.o.d gives man his faith.

Fruit of Faith. What faith produces is active obedience to G.o.d's word. The Bible does not teach that man is saved by faith only. Faith is not just a mental thought; it is a mental thought that leads a person to act, to work, to obey. The outward acts of faith can be seen (Matthew 9:2). Faith takes steps in obedience to G.o.d's word.

Consequences of Faith. What faith leads to are enormous. Faith leads to unity. Luke records: "And all that believed were together, and had all things common" (Acts 2:44). Second, faith leads to proclaiming the gospel. Paul said: "But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak" (2 Corinthians 4:13). Third, faith leads to persecution.

Reward of Faith. What faith accomplishes is eternal life. Our faith results in eternal life (salvation) given to us by G.o.d

"Do you now believe?" Jesus asks (John 16:31). Now that you know more of what the Bible says about faith what do you plan to do? Will you begin to put more faith in G.o.d and His Son Jesus Christ? Will you put away any fear or doubt that would keep you from serving G.o.d with a sincere faith? Will you spend more time with the Bible evidence that G.o.d has provided in order to build a stronger faith? Will you begin to produce more fruits of faith in your life by your obedience to G.o.d's word? Will you be ready to accept the enormous consequences of your faith, difficult as they may be? If the answer to these questions is yes, then the Lord has promised you a great reward for your faith, eternal life.

Biblical Admonition about Faith

Faith is a gift of G.o.d. "...according as G.o.d hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).

Without faith we cannot please G.o.d. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to G.o.d must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6)."For whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).

The just shall live by faith. "For therein [in the Gospel] is the righteousness of G.o.d revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17).

We are made righteous by faith, not by keeping the Law. "Even the righteousness of G.o.d which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe" (Romans 3:22). "And be found in him [Jesus], not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of G.o.d by faith" (Philippians 3:9).

We are justified (declared righteous) by faith, not by works. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with G.o.d through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ ...

for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" (Galatians 2:16).

We are sanctified (made holy) by faith. "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto G.o.d, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me"

(Acts 26:18).

We become the children of G.o.d by faith. "For ye are all the children of G.o.d by faith in Christ Jesus"

(Galatians 3:26).

Jesus Christ dwells in our hearts by faith. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love" (Ephesians 3:17). "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe" (Galatians 3:22).

The Holy Spirit is received by faith. "Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:2). "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:14).

G.o.d's grace is received by faith. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of G.o.d" (Ephesians 2:8).

We increase our faith by hearing the Word of G.o.d. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of G.o.d" (Romans 10:17). "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (II Timothy 3:15).

Hearing the Word does not profit without faith. "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (Hebrews 4:2).

Faith works with G.o.d's love (agape). "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great mult.i.tude, and was moved with compa.s.sion toward them, and he healed their sick" (Matthew 14:14). "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" (I Timothy 1:5). "And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing" (I Corinthians 13:2; also see Galatians 5:6).

Faith is our s.h.i.+eld against the lies and attacks of evil. "Above all, taking the s.h.i.+eld of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Ephesians 6:16).

Faith is what makes us overcomers. (Revelation chapters 2-3 and 21:7 lists the rewards promised to those who overcome.) "For whatsoever is born of G.o.d overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of G.o.d?" (I John 5:4-5).

Faith must be held fast to the end. "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you [act] like men, be strong"

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(I Corinthians 16:13). "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses" (I Timothy 6:12).

It takes faith to believe the Scriptures; it takes faith to believe that G.o.d exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him; and it takes faith to seek a heavenly Kingdom when the world tells you to store up treasures on earth and seek the comforts of life now. "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (II Corinthians 4:18).

A day is coming when "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10). The Bible says that those who have done good will rise to the resurrection of eternal life, and those who have done evil will rise to the resurrection of condemnation in the lake of fire (see John 5:28-29). Without some evidence that our faith in Christ was real and genuine, we shall only rise again to be condemned.

(Written by David Holt Boshart, Jr. and his wife Shari Boshart. By Chris Reeves From Expository Files 2.5; May, 1995)