Faith

What is Faith? 

Belief and trust and loyalty to God.

Why is faith so important with Jesus?

Does our faith grow? Yes.

Strong faith grows with sanctification and righteousness  which includes love, works, trust, obedience, grace, hope and humility.

Faith is something not seen.

Some Christians have doubt with little faith. They question “why”.

The enemy is so subtle working on Christians with his favorite word "doubt".

The Lord gives me light and hope, his strength makes me shine. 

I endure with faith, trust and

am enslaved to God.

He's always at our side waiting for us to turn to him and open our  eyes and see.

Sometimes in turmoil, I forget my flesh thinks I can solve a burden. We must have hope, faith and trust in the Lord always.

When things are troublesome, we must first turn to Jesus, not after a time of us leaning on our reasoning and understanding. 

The flesh tells us we can figure things out on our own.

Our faith and trust in Jesus is the key, all we have to do is ask.

Faith heals people! How many times did Jesus say; “your faith has healed you”?

Sins are forgiven.

Without faith, it’s impossible to please God!

Dictionary - faith

complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

We must have works with faith.

Faith without works is dead.

James 2;14

[ Faith and Works Together ] What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?

James 2;16
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?

James 2;17

So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.

Faith and Works

James 2;14-26

14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Psalm 85:10-13 

10 Loyal love and faithfulness meet;
deliverance and peace greet each other with a kiss.
11 Faithfulness grows from the ground,
and deliverance looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, the Lord will bestow his good blessings,
and our land will yield its crops.
13 Deliverance goes before him,
and prepares a pathway for him.

Romans 5;1-5

Results of Justification

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Hebrews 11

The Triumphs of Faith

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. 4 By Faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Hebrews 2;1 

Warning Against Drifting Away

1 Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

Matthew 6;30

And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith?

Matthew 9;2

Just then some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.”

Matthew 9;22

But when Jesus turned and saw her he said, “Have courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed from that hour.

Matthew 9;29

Then he touched their eyes saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.”

Matthew 14;31

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 15;28

Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith is great! Let what you want be done for you.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Matthew 16;8

When Jesus learned of this, he said, “You who have such little faith! Why are you arguing among yourselves about having no bread?

Matthew 17;20

He told them, “It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.”

Mark 2;5

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Mark 4;40

And he said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?”

Mark 5;34

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Mark 10;52

Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has healed you.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the road.

Luke 5;20

When Jesus saw their faith he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Acts 11;24

because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a significant number of people were brought to the Lord.

Acts 20;21

testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

Acts 26;18

To open their eyes so that they turn

from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

Romans 3;3-4

What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.”

Romans 3;22

namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction.

Romans 3;26

This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.

Romans 3;28

For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.

Romans 3;31

Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.

Romans 4;20

He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God

Romans 5;1-5

[ The Expectation of Justification ]

1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance, character, and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 11;20

Granted! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear!

Romans 12;3

[ Conduct in Humility ] For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a 
measure of faith.

Romans 14;23

But the man who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and whatever is not from faith is sin.

Romans 16;26

but now is disclosed, and through the prophetic scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith.

Tim Skon, Chaplain, Prayer Minister

dedicated to serving others in Jesus name

guided by the Holy Spirit

10/23/15

updates; 2016,2017