LESSON: 102: FAITH

  LOGOS BIBLE STUDY

LESSON 102 FAITH - The Basis Of Christianity

Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship that is based on faith; faith in who you trust enough to believe and follow in obedience. Christian faith is more than a system of beliefs but is evidenced by practice showing forth a way of life; a living faith that is easily recognized by others.

I. WHAT IS FAITH? - Hebrews 11:1

FAITH DEFINED: means assurance; confidence; trust and fidelity. In the Old Testament the word trust is used much the same way faith is used in the New Testament.

   A. The word "faith" is translated from the New Testament Greek word "PISTIS" meaning: confidence in; assurance of; persuasion about; active belief; faith and fidelity.

        1. When you read "faith" in scripture, substitute one of the above meanings
            such as TRUST.

a. In many places in the New Testament fidelity should be used

   B. Faith is a substance; something real and tangible that shows that one is actually trusting for that which he believes in - it's the evidence.

         1. Trusting in God's provision (grace) which is Christ who has provided us all things - Romans 8:32.

a. Accepting what has already been provided

i. Focus on what His word says about an issue.

b. Faith focuses on the solution, (His provision), not on the problem, (your physical experience).

i. Your natural habit is to focus on the problem.

c. Faith is seeing your situation as God sees it.

i. From His perspective of having already been provided for by His love to meet your specific need.

aa. Faith is what allows you to move, step out, act or do things for which there is no visible means to do.

    C. Expectation is an integral part of faith (trust).

         1. Compare TRUST to a wish (a vainly hoped for desire)

a. A wish has NO expectation, only a "want".

         2. Expectation is confident anticipation of receiving.

a. Expectation is evidence of faith (trust).

b. It allows you to act and think confidently and boldly in that for which you are trusting to receive.

    D. Faith is a substance that pleases God - Hebrews 11:6.

1. He enjoys your trust and confidence in Him, His Word, His provision, and His promises.

a. You are confident that He is True to His Word - 2 Corinthians 1:20 and Romans 4:21.

    E. Faith honors God; He is blessed when you put trust in Him.

         1. Honoring God puts you in position to receive His blessings.

         2. God's blessings and promises are because He loves us.

a. All things are from His loving grace toward us.

         3. Because a parent loves his teenage child, he offers wise council and things that are needed to benefit the child.

a. If the teen does not trust or have faith in his father, he will not accept the loving advice or care that is freely given.

i. The teen is not in a position (attitude) to receive.

b. The same principle applies to God, our Father, and each of His beloved children.

i. If we do not trust Him, we do not honor Him.

ii. If we do not trust and honor Him, we are not in a position or attitude to accept or receive what is freely offered us by His loving grace (provision).

iii. To trust Him is to honor Him which enables us to receive from Him what we trust Him for.

F. Righteousness comes by faith - Romans 10:3-6.

a. God used the Law to prove that man cannot attain righteousness by any effort of his own - Romans 10:10.

                   a. Righteousness comes from God, provided by His grace (gift) that we receive by faith, trusting in what He provided through Jesus Christ.

II. FAITH IS THE STARTING PLACE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

   A. Faith is the first building block to maturity - 2 Peter 1:5-9.

      1. Spiritual life (ZOE) begins with faith - Ephesians 2:8.

      2. Maturing in that life requires a good foundation - Hebrews 6:1 and Colossians 1:21-23.

       a. Perfecting and maintaining faith is vital - Colossians 2:6-7.

b. Maturing enables one to be discerning and reject religious traditions and wrong doctrines of man - Colossians 2:8 and Galatians 2:16.

   B. Faith is the basis for receiving all that God has promised and what Christ has provided - Hebrews 11:6 and Mark 11:23-24.

       1. Accepting that what God says in His Word is true and putting your trust in it - Romans 10:17.

C. Fidelity means faithfulness, (which appears to be a missing ingredient in most teaching about faith); fidelity is being faithful to Him in whom you trust.

        1. Faithfulness is how faith is evident and proven.

        2. In many places in the New Testament where the word faith appears it actually refers to being faithful, (fidelity).

III. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAITH, (noun), AND BELIEVE,(verb).

    A. Faith is a substance (noun) and is a thing, a quality of your spirit - Hebrews 11:1.

         1. It comes with regeneration, when your spirit is re-born and made alive to a God awareness that produces a trusting relationship with Him.

            a. Even the faith that you respond with is a gift of God, it is imparted the moment you decide to accept the message of the gospel (good news) - Ephesians 2:8.

i. It is a choice you make to accept.

         2. Faith operates in the spirit realm, out of your reborn spirit - 1 Corinthians 2:11-13.

a. Man's spirit responds to and is made alive by Christ's imparted spirit - Galatians 4:6.

             b. The result of this experience is that confidence (faith) and peace, that natural (unregenerate) man cannot comprehend, begins to operate.

         3. Faith accesses the supernatural (beyond nature), the things of the Kingdom of God - Ephesians 3:20.

a. Called "power that works in us" (in our spirit).

    B. Belief, (a verb) which regulates your actions,(what you do).

         1. It is a function of the natural mind - 1 Corinthians 2:14.

           a. Differs from faith which is a noun, a quality of spirit.

         2. Belief is based on limited knowledge, human reasoning and understanding.

a. What we BELIEVE is what we have learned by experience and education.

i. From parents, school, church, peers, TV, experience,

         3. Beliefs may be right or wrong, true or false.

a. With faith there is no right or wrong about faith.

         4. Faith, is a spiritual quality, a noun, (a thing) that can only be present or lacking.

             a. You either have or you don't.

IV. WE LIVE IN TWO SPHERES OF EXPERIENCE AND OPERATE IN TWO REALMS OF REALITY - both are in conflict with one another.

     - Two Realms (or kingdoms): Natural & Supernatural.
     - Two Spheres (of activity, knowledge & influence): Sensual & Spiritual

    A. We live in both the natural (physical) and in the spiritual (supernatural) realms simultaneously.

         1. The natural realm is governed by the sensual or sense knowledge sphere.

         2. The supernatural realm is governed by the spiritual sphere.

    B. Human knowledge, with its input from the five senses, helps us live in the natural (physical) realm.

         1. This is where human nature and all its limited faculties function and dominate.

    C. Faith, with its input from the Word of God and leading of the Holy Spirit, helps us live in the supernatural realm.

         1. It is only by faith that we can appropriate the things of the Kingdom of God that are of the supernatural realm.

            a. Supernatural means "beyond nature or natural".

                i. It is the kingdom realm where God is and operates from - John 4:24.

aa. Which is a spiritual sphere to us.

                ii. He manifests things in the natural realm at the invitation of prayers of faith.

    D. The physical senses do not respond to or perceive the things in the supernatural or spiritual areas.

         1. Human understanding is useless there.

         2. Only by faith does one move in the supernatural or spiritual areas.

    E. One realm is normal to God; the other is normal to man.

        1. God's provisions and promises await us in His realm - His Kingdom.

a. This is why Jesus proclaimed, "The kingdom of God/Heaven is at hand" when he performed supernatural acts of healing and casting out devils, here in this physical realm.

         2. However, we have access to His realm now by FAITH (trust).

         3. Both realms are real, but one is eternal.

             a. Only one is changeless, secure - 2 Corinthians. 4:18.

        4. There is power in both realms, but one has far more power.

         5. We can determine which realm will dominate our affairs by our level of faith or lack of it.

a. The supernatural realm of the spirit dominates the physical when
appropriated by faith.

    F. Faith in God, in His promises and provisions, can change events in this physical realm.

        1. Salvation from the penalty of sin.

        2. Complete change of life from darkness to light.

        3. Deliverance from demonic oppression - Matt 17:19-20

        4. Physical healing - Acts 3:16.

        5. All manner of supernatural things as promised - Matthew 21:22.

    G. The Christian must make up his mind which realm he is going to operate in - he has a choice.

         1. The limited sphere of human sense knowledge which surrounds us and always exerts its influence on us.

         2. The unlimited sphere of the spirit which determines outcomes in the natural sense realm - Mark 19:27 and Matthew 17:20.

         3. You can accept your physical experiences or call on and trust God to supernaturally change them.

              a. To order your pathways - Proverbs 3:5-6.

              b. It requires a definite effort and discipline to operate in the spirit realm and to exercise faith.

                  i. It does not come naturally or automatically. You have to purposefully make it work.

    H. Christians can have a lot of belief, but not much faith (confidence in God and His promises as recorded in his Word).

1. They do not trust God enough to act on His promises.

a. Nor do they really believe all of His Word.

2. Faith and faithfulness (obedience) is what gets answers to prayers - Matthew 17:20.

a. Prayers of petition are asking God to do what can not be done in the natural.

b. Prayer is asking God for a miracle, something supernatural, beyond your
ability.

i. Don't ask God to do what you can do and or should do. That's nothing to pray about.

ii. It brings God down to your level.

iii. Such prayer is a sign of irresponsibility and should be repented of.

    I. What are you going to put your faith in ?

        1. In what is physical, or in what is supernatural ?

            a. Do you trust your own senses more than God's Word?

        2. The spirit realm overpowers the sensual realm when faith is applied to it.

            a. Many Christians trust their senses only, and come up short of what God can provide - Ephesians 3:20.

V. HOW IS FAITH ACQUIRED, BUILT AND DEVELOPED?

     A. Faith is confidence in God; in Who He is, What He says and promises; and What He does.

1. Confidence in Him develops as you get to know Him.

a. The Bible contains good news that reveals Him - Romans 10:17.

i. Get to know it and accept it.

2. You get to know Him by reading His Word and fellowshipping with Him
in prayer over His Word.

a. It reveals His love, nature, power, concern and provision for you.

b. It shows how He operates on our behalf.

3. As you read what God has done for others in the past, it builds your confidence in what He is willing to do for you.

     B. How to build FAITH regarding a need.

         1. Find what God says about that need in His Word.

             a. Find applicable promises and verses.

         2. Read how God helped other overcome their circumstances.

a. In addition to scriptures use books of personal testimonies.

         3. Trust in the scriptural promises for yourself.

             a. You are just as much a rightful child as the Bible character that you read about.

             b. What God's grace provided and Christ's work accomplished IS for you too.

i. Or do you think you are someone special to whom God has to provide by some other means than Christ's sufferings to help you.

         4. Once you accept the "fact" of God's grace, love and provision for you by trusting His word:

a. Do not focus on circumstances contrary to the Word, no matter how strong they are.

i. This introduces doubt - Mark 11:22-24 and James 1:6.

b. Then praise Him for the promised solution, give thanks for His grace/provision, knowing it is coming -
1 John 5:14-15.

c. Do not let feelings govern your response to His Word - 1 Corinthians 2:14.

i. Feelings are a product of the natural senses and circumstances and may conflict with faith.

ii. Faith will change circumstances.

aa. Circumstances can defeat faith.

bb. It depends on where you put your focus.

    C. Faith must be put to work, to test and prove it - James 1:17-22, (covered in part VIII).

         1. What you read and have trust in can now be applied.

a. Then you will see it work.

         2. Faith that cannot be put to work is not faith but only belief.

a. It has no substance; it is not a force.

VI. WARNING - PRESUMPTION IS NOT FAITH, IT IS FALSE BELIEF.

    A. Errors in applying faith can cause disappointments and problems - Mark 11:22.

         1. Have faith "in" God, not "of" God, as some teach.

             a. Let Him have the responsibility of fulfilling His Word and promises to you.

             b. We do not make His Word work - He does.

i. We give Him the place for it to happen by trusting Him.

         2. Some people claim things of God presumptively thinking they are  exercising faith.

a. You do not chart your own destiny by claims and positive confessions.

i. Your claims and the exercise of your "will" by faith means you are in control.

ii. When you are in control - God isn't!

b. He has a plan for your life - Romans 8:28-29.

i. Your trust in Him allows this plan to be fulfilled - Proverbs 3:5-6.

3. Christian HUMANISM is where believers exert faith and positive thinking in their own ideas and desires.

a. They are playing god by trying to fulfill His sovereign role.

i. Such self exertion denies the sovereignty and Lordship of God.

Note: Building "self" esteem or setting your own goals means you are taking your life out of His hands and taking control in your hands. Trusting "self" rather than God to direct your path - Jeremiah 10:23, and Proverbs 20:24.

    B. Believers are heirs to the Kingdom and all that belongs to Christ as His joint heirs - Romans 8:17.

1. Thus they make claims to many things that are reserved for the future and are not to be in their possession yet.

2. An heir is a "rightful, future possessor".

a. Christ is heir to the throne and the world - Hebrews 1:2 and Romans 4:13-14.

i. It is His now, He has title; but He does not yet have possession of it - Galatians 4:1-2.

             b. We are heirs with Him and all these things are ours also - James 2:5.

i. But, like Christ, we do not yet have possession, only title.

c. Although heirs are rightful possessors, the time of actual possession is future, or they would not be called an heir.

i. Jesus is heir to the earthly throne of David but is not yet in possession of it.

d. The things of the world are still in Satan's hands until Christ returns and takes final possession from Him - Matthew 4:8-9.

i. Satan is god of this world; this is his sphere of influence at present - 2 Corinthians 4:4.

ii. Jesus defeated Satan at Calvary and stripped authority from Satan to dominate influence in this sphere.

aa. Jesus defeated Satan, but did not eliminate him.

bb. Upon His return, Jesus will take possession.

      3. It is dangerous for an heir to get his inheritance before his "rightful" time - Luke 15:11-16.

Note: It is those things promised by God and provided by grace that we can make claim on by faith, not those things that are part of the inheritance. Notice the son demanding (claiming) his portion or inheritance and what happened to him.

VII. FAITH REQUIRES PATIENCE - James 1:6-8

    A. True faith will wait patiently, faithfully and unwavering to receive the promise.

1. Weak faith wants to see it now; it can't hold on to just a promise from God.

2. Abraham waited 25 years to receive his promise.

a. How long will you hold faith in what God promises; even if you don't see the answer for many years?

i. It appears that duration and endurance is the measure of quality faith.

    B. Faith is a spiritual force; it does not depend on physical or material manifestations.

1. God responds to faith; so trust Him!

2. At the proper time He brings about what you have trusted Him for.

a. God's timing is not our timing.

b. A good thing received at the wrong time can cause serious trouble.

    C. Some things are for now, the things God promised and knows that we need - John 14:13.

1. Some things claimed or demanded are not proper because they are wants and lusts - James 4:3.

2. Claiming castles and Cadillacs may offend God when others are asking and believing for bread, etc.

a. What does God promise to supply? NEEDS, not LUSTS - Matthew 6:24-33.

    D. Do not be arrogant or presumptive with faith and claim things to satisfy fleshly lusts.

         1. Let your faith and asking be in harmony with His will (word) - 1 John 5:14-15.

    E. Claiming and confessing for "things" can bring the confessor into bondage.

1. Their faith is placed IN "their confession" rather than in God.

a. They are placing their faith in themselves to bring to pass what they claim.

2. This is the process of exerting "self" will, and is all part of New Age theology.

a. This is also a temptation of the enemy through pride.

i. Brings about bondage to the world and material "things".

    F. "We" don't make things happen by faith and confessing.

1. God makes things happen in response to our trust and dependence on Him; even if He wants us to wait - Hebrews 10:23.

VIII. FAITH WILL BE TESTED - 1 Peter 1:5-9

    A. Since faith comes by the Word (Romans 10:17), then it is your confidence in that Word that is tested -
Psalm 18:30.

         1. In school you are taught, then you are tested to see if you learned - Psalm 26:2.

             a. Then you are promoted to learn at a higher level.

         2. This is the process of building faith.

    B. Tests (trials) are not meant to hurt you.

         1. They are opportunities to prove the Word which you have placed faith in - 1 Peter 4:12-13.

             a. A test of faith is actually a joyous occasion - James 1:2-3.

             b. You have been found ready for exam time which is followed by a promotion in the spirit (faith) realm.

    C. An example of testing the Word of God that is received is found in the story of Joseph - Genesis 37 to 47.

         1. God made him a promise; showed him he would be a ruler, even over his own family.

         2. He was rejected, made a slave and later a prisoner; just the opposite of what was promised.

         3. Years later, (about 20 to 22 yrs), the Word of God to him was fulfilled when he became second to Pharaoh.

         4. What happened during those 20 - 22 years is told in 2 Samuel 22:31 and Psalm 105:17-19.

         5. That Word which he had faith in was put to the test in him.

             a. It was not really Joseph that was tested, but the Word of God that he received.

         6. To Joseph's credit, he remained FAITHFUL to God during dire circumstances.

a. This was the test of faith; he remained faithful till the Word is fulfilled because of his confidence in what God had promised.

    D. In a test (trial) of faith, continue to trust God regardless of what circumstances you find yourself in -
Proverbs 3:5-6.

         1. Do not fret about it; FAITH IT ! - Psalm 37:5-9.

             a. Philippians 1:6.

         2. Consider Abraham, the father of faith, concerning God's promise of a son to him.

a. He continued to get older for 25 more years but still had trust in what God told him - Romans 4:20-21.

IX. FAITH REQUIRES FAITHFULNESS - Rev 2:10

    A. Faithfulness is continuance, steadfastness and obedience.

         1. Particularly in the face of persecution or opposition to what you have faith in.

            a. Faith (Pistos in Greek) also means FIDELITY.

                i. And should have been translated FIDELITY in several places; particularly in Hebrews 11.

         2. Significant promises are given to those who are faithful those who endure to the end and overcome - Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26 and 3:5, 12, & 21.

             a. You cannot be a conqueror unless you have had something to conquer - Romans 8:35-37.

             b. A conqueror or overcomer is one who has fallen or been knocked down but gets back up and continues undaunted.

                 i. One who has had something to conquer or overcome.

    3. Faith is a battle - 1 Timothy 6:12.

          a. Fight between flesh and spirit, natural and supernatural.

    B. Faith has enemies to fight - 2 Timothy 4:7.

         1. Failing to fully see and understand the new creation - 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Ephesians 2:10.

         2. Failing to know what/who we are in Him; recognizing what was accomplished for and in us by Him -
Ephesians. 3:19-20; 1 Corinthians 1:30 & Colossians 2:10.

       3. Not understanding "our" newly acquired position of being righteous - 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Romans 3:21- 26.

       4. Not having trust in the authority of Jesus name - John 14:13 and 16:23-24, and Mark 16:15-17.

       5. Not acting confidently on His Word - James 1:22 and James 2:20-24.

       6. Failing to maintain confidence and boldness by speaking out the Word - Hebrews 4:14 and 10:23.

           a. Many will speak out their problems which goes crosswise to God's provision and Word.

       7. Doubt - resulting from wrong confession and focus of attention - Matthew 14:22-31.

       8. Unforgiveness - which places us contrary to the Will of God by disobedience - Colossians 3:10-13.

            a. Forgiving others is tied in with faith (fidelity, faithfulness) - Luke 17:3-5.

        9. Faith will be challenged.

a. By dire circumstances - Luke 22:31-34.

i. Political conditions - Matt. 10:34-39.

aa. Which life will you try to preserve, the carnal life or the right life.

b. By subtle deterioration - lack of focusing on the Word of Life - Matthew 13:18-23.

            c. By delays, as in the case of Abraham & Isaac.

    C. Faithfulness is holding fast in opposition, adversity and delay.

         1. Do you trust God, no matter what?

         2. Suppose you don't get your answer to prayer when you think you should?

             a. Will you still trust Him and be faithful - 2 Thessalonians 1:3-7.

         3. Will you still be obedient to Him and faithfully serve Him without receiving the blessings or promises as Joseph did for 22 years?

a. This is what Abraham did for 25 years.

b. Or is your relationship to Him contingent upon His immediate blessings or answers to your requests?

    D. Obedience is one of the conditions to receive the blessings and promises of God - 1 John 3:22-23, (Ref. John 15:7-17).

          1. Loving is being faithful (obedient); not loving is disobedience.

    E. Patience is another condition of receiving - Romans 8:24-25.

         1. It is during this time of patience that tests occur - Romans 5:1-4.

             a. You are already convinced of the Word, now comes the test while you wait for its fulfillment - James 1:2-4 and Hebrews 10:36.


XI. WHY IS STRONG FAITH SO IMPORTANT?

    A. We receive all things (promises) from God by faith, by trusting Him and His Word for:

         1. Salvation
         2. The Holy Spirit endowment of power (Baptism).
         3. Healing
         4. Deliverance from demonic oppression - Luke 10:19
         5. Answers to prayer
         6. To resist Satan - 1 Peter 5:8-9 & James 4:7.
         7. To live this life - Romans 1:17 & 14:23, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38-39

             a. This is a command, not an option.

    B. Faith must be built up because there are things that can happen to weak faith; Faith can be:

         1. Put away and shipwrecked - 1 Timothy 1:19
         2. Cast off (held to or let go) - 1 Timothy 5:12
         3. Departed from - 1 Timothy 4:1
         4. Overthrown (subverted) - 2 Timothy 2:18
               a. This occurs by giving heed to false doctrines and false preachers.

    C. The things God provides are conditional; "IF" we believe! - Matthew 21:22.

         1. Many Christians do not believe all of what God provided for us.

             a. So they do not have those things freely provided by His grace.

         2. "IF" is a conditional word that applies to whatever we trust God for - Colossians 1:22-23; Acts 14:22 and Hebrews 10:22-23, 39.

         3. Even our salvation is based on our continual state of believing - John 3:16.

a. Salvation is not a "once" believed, but a continual walking in an active faith or belief.

             b. How can a person be a Christian if he is not a "believer"; being in a state of active faith and believing?

    D. Why must we hold on in faith to what God promised?

1. Believers have an archenemy - 1 Peter 5:8-9.

              a. He is liar, a thief, and a destroyer - John 10:10.

2. There are forces working against our faith; doubt, ignorance, disobedience and backsliding into sinful behavior.

i. Doubt is a form of fear and challenges your faith – James 1:6.

aa. Fear is a favorite tool of the enemy – it makes you back away from your position of faith and the ground you have conquered.

bb. Ignorance, or lack of knowledge of God’s loving kindness means you don’t know that you can trust what God said or promised.

ii. Do you doubt God’s ability – Ephesians 3:20.

aa. Do you doubt God will do it for you, in this modern today?

iii. Do you doubt God’s LOVE for you?

iv. Disobedience produces backsliding.

aa. The result of drawing back from God; a reduced level of fellowship and intimacy with Him.

bb. The end result is increased sin in ones life.

         3. We possess the promises and things of the kingdom by faith until we  actually see the fulfillment or what it is that was promised.

              a. Even our salvation is by faith until it is fulfilled on that day.

                  i. Until then, we have it by FAITH and not by a literal experience,  (more on this topic in the lesson in 105 - Salvation).

             b. For this reason we must "hold fast" - Hebrews 3:6; 10:22-23.

             c. We are warned not to depart (backslide) - Hebrews 3:12-14.

                  i. Some fall away - Hebrews 6:4-6

                  ii. Some cast off their faith - Hebrews 10:35-36

                  iii. Some draw back - Hebrews 10:38-39

4. The warning regarding unbelief as given in the Hebrews also apply to the gentiles - Romans 11:19-22.

XIV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION TO FAITH, (Trust, Confidence, Persuasion and Faithfulness).

    A. Faith is personal - Romans 14:22

         1. You function by your own faith, not by the faith of someone else.

              a. Not by your parents, spouse, pastor, friend or children.

    B. Faith is essential:

         1.   To secure your salvation - Ephesians 2:8
         2.   To obtain eternal life - John 6:47
         3.   To remove problems and obstacles - Mark 11:23
         4.   For answers to prayer - James 1:6-7
         5.   For healing - James 5:15
         6.   For power and authority over demons - Matt. 17:19-20
         7.   For guidance - Hebrews 11:8
         8.   For miracles - Mark 9:23
         9.   To please God and receive rewards - Hebrews 11:6
         10. To walk in this life as a child of God - Romans 1:17
         11. For righteousness - Romans 4:3-5
         12. For signs and wonders - Mark 16:17-18.

    C. Twenty-two Facts concerning your faith - faith can be:

         1.   Put away & shipwrecked - 1 Timothy 1:19
         2.   Departed from - 1 Timothy 4:1
         3.   Cast off (rejected after having received it) 1 Timothy 5:12
         4.   Erred from - 1 Timothy 6:10
         5.    Denied - 1 Timothy 5:8
         6.   Overthrown - 2 Timothy 2:18
         7.   Allowed to fail - Luke 22:32
         8.   Kept (or lost) - 2 Timothy 4:7
         9.   Dead (or alive) - James 2:17, 20, 16
         10. Obeyed (or disobeyed) - Acts 6:7
         11. Built up (or left languishing) - Jude 20 and 1 Thessalonians 3:10
         12. Continued in (or not continued in) - Acts 14:22
         13. In vain - 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
         14. Made reprobate (reject, not approved) - 2 Tim. 3:8
         15. Missing or lacking - Mark 4:40
         16. Little (being mixed with doubt) - Matthew 14:31
         17. Great - Matthew 8:10
         18. Full (over flowing for others to see) - Acts 6:8
         19. Growing - 2 Thessalonians 1:3
         20. Strong (as opposed to weak) - Romans 4:19-20
         21. Maintained (on-going & sustained) - John 11:26
         22. Opposed by doubt - Mark 11:23, James 1::6-8

    D. Faith must be maintained and not be a once in a lifetime occurrence - John 11:26.

         1. Notice the present, on-going tense of this passage.

    E. Faith has enemies - Mark 11:23, James 1:6-8.

         1. The adversary who tries to cause doubt in what God said or promised - Genesis 3:1.

    F. If one has faith in God and His Word, it will be seen by the things he does and  the way he lives -
James 2:14-18.

         1. Faith is the evidence of the new and Spiritual life - Hebrews 11:1 and 1 John 3:16-18.

         2. If the evidence is not there, then he only has religion, a counterfeit.

             a. His life and actions deny Christ while his words may profess Christ; this is not faith - Matthew 10:33 and Mark 7:5-6.

               i. Faith is in the heart - Romans 10:9-10.

    G. Faith is the first step in the building process toward spiritual maturity - 2 Peter 1:5-9.

         1. Add to your faith so that you are not lacking in what God has purposed in your life.

         2. Qualities that identify you as a true child of God.

    H. Every one experiences momentary setbacks, failures or lapses in their faith due to adverse situations and circumstances that cause faith (confidence in Christ and His Word) to waiver.

1. Peter faced such an issue – Luke 22:34.

a. Notice what Jesus said and did about it – Luke 22:32.

i.  He prayed that his faith would not totally give up but be restored.

2. This is the challenge we will all face at one time or another.

a. Our task is to hold fast that which we have received of Him and His Word – 1 John 5:4-5.

I. Our faith is to grow to the point that we are able to overcome all the adverse situations and circumstances that may occur – Hebrews 10:22-23.