FAITH

Why Should I Have Faith In God?

JOHN 3:16     God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

JOHN 5:24    Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life."

According to the Bible God's own words, faith in God means believing that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to save you from eternal death. Believing that Jesus died for your sins and rose again from the dead is the only way to receive the gift of eternal life in heaven. The One who created heaven has told you clearly how to get there.

HEBREW 11:1     Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

Faith gives you hope. When the world seems to be a crazy, mixed-up place, you can be absolutely confident that one day Jesus will come and make it right again. Your faith in his promise to do that someday will allow you to keep going today.

Faith seems so complicated; how can I ever "get it"?

MARK 5:36    Jesus...said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith."

Too often we make faith too complicated. It simply means trusting Jesus to do what he promised and he promised to give you life forever in heaven if you just believe he is who he said he is, the Son of God.

How much faith must I have?

MATTHEW 17:20    Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move Nothing would be impossible."

The mustard seed was often used to illustrate the smallest seed known to people. Jesus said that it is not the size of your faith but the size of the One in whom you believe that makes the difference. You do not have to have great faith in God: rather you have faith in a great God.

How can I strengthen my faith?

GENESIS 12:1,4    The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your native country...and go to the land that I will show you...So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed.

Like a muscle, faith gets stronger the move you exercise it. When you do what God asks you do what God asks you to do and then see him bless you as a result of your obedience, your faith grows.

PSALM 119:48    I honor and love your commands. I meditate on your decrees. 

ROMANS 10:17   Faith comes from hearing...the Good News about Christ.

Fath is grounded in God's word. Your faith will grow stronger as you study the Bible and reflect on the truths about who God is, his guidelines for your life, and how he wants to do his work on earth through you.

2 KINGS 6:17     Elisa prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!" The LORD opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

JOHN 20:27-29    Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe! My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me."

2 CORINTHIANS 3:14    The people's minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.

The strongest faith is not one based on physical senses but on the spiritual conviction. There is a spiritual element to this world that you cannot see, but it is very real. Your faith will become stronger the move you allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen your "spiritual vision"; then you will sense and see the results of God working in your life and in the lives of those around you.

Promise from God   ACTS 16:31    Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.