What Is Faith?

Neil Thielke, July, 2006

The commonly used definition from Hebrews 11:1 is only part of what the whole Bible has to say about faith:

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This verse speaks to the certainty of the outcome of faith but does not cover many of the other components.  (Hebrews 11:1, NIV)

Faith in Greek is pistis from Strong’s Concordance:

4102 pistis, pis'-tis; from Greek 3982 (peitho); persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstract constancy in such profession; by extensive the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself :- assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

Notice “reliance” is part of the definition.

How do we get faith?

By hearing

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17, NIV)

By knowing God’s ways

He made known his ways to Moses,
          his deeds to the people of Israel : (Psalm 103:7, NIV)

9"I have seen these people," the Lord said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. 10Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."
    11But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. "O Lord," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.' " 14Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. (Exodus 32:9-14, NIV)

How important is faith?

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6, NIV)

What is the test of our faith?

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:17, NIV)   (see also Eph. 2:8-10)

The “action” here is different from works unto salvation:

31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." 33As it is written:
    "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble
        and a rock that makes them fall,
    and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

  10  1Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Romans 9:31-10:4 , NIV)

Actions that Accompany God’s Way of Life

There is a difference between trying to work off our sin load and the actions that accompany God’s way of life.  The scripture in Romans denounces the former (“works unto salvation”) and the verses in James encourage the latter (faith accompanied by action or actions that flow out of a faith relationship with God). Another way to put it is, we do not work to get to heaven, rather we work because we are going to heaven.  And actually there is a work (response or accompanying action) that is required to get into heaven: We must give our lives to Jesus and put our trust in what he did rather than in what we have done.

4 components of Faith

·         reliance,

·         importance

·         ascertainment

·         response

Practical Definition of Faith:

Faith is seeing or perceiving a matter or situation the way God sees or perceives a matter or situation, putting our trust in His analysis/command, and responding  accordingly.

Examples of Faith in Action

·         Noah understood that God was going to flood the world, put his trust in God even though it did not make sense with history and the current popular beliefs/culture, and he acted accordingly for over 100 years by building a boat.

·         Abel understood the kind of attitude and sacrifice God required and put his trust in that by being obedient in the kind of sacrifice he offered while his brother did not.

·         We are saved when we see that Jesus provided the sacrifice/payment for our sins, put our trust in Him, and respond by giving our lives to him and his lordship.

·         Jonah finally responded in obedience after God disciplined him and put his trust in God in the bottom of the sea and responded by going and preaching in Ninevah, after which the whole city repented (changed)

In which area is God calling you to trust Him?

How can we increase our faith?

Increasing our faith is about practice, relationship, and exercise at a realistic level. The same is appropriate for someone training in a team sport with a leader such as trapeze where we start at small do-able tasks and then increase the level of complexity and performance. We have to develop a trust (faith) at a base level in order to achieve higher levels of performance. A good example of that was Gideon who was a novice and God related to him at his entry level of experience.

9During that night the Lord said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp." So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. 12The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
    13Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed."
    14His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands."
    15When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands." (Judges 7:9-15, NIV)

Josiah  --  An example of God expecting more from a mature man of faith.

Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their fathers. (2 Chronicles 34:33, NIV)

20After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. 21But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, "What quarrel is there between you and me, O king of Judah? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you."
    22Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Neco had said at God's command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo.
    23Archers shot King Josiah, and he told his officers, "Take me away; I am badly wounded." 24So they took him out of his chariot, put him in the other chariot he had and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him. (2 Chronicles 35:20-24, NIV)

“Great faith” - two responses:

1.                  Great Perception

o                    the Canaanite woman

Her great perception was that there was more than enough on the Master’s table to overflow to those who were not seated there.

21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."
     23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."
     24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
     25The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.
     26He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
     27"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
    28Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew 15:21-28, NIV)

o                    Centurion perceived Jesus’ authority

1When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, 5because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." 6So Jesus went with them.
     He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
     9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." 10Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. (Luke 7:1-10, NIV)

2.         Great Investment

6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:6-7, NIV)

o                    Woman With Two Mites

41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
    43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44, NIV)

o                    Widow of Zarephath

7Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9"Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." 10So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" 11As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
    12"As surely as the Lord your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it--and die."
    13Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.' "
    15She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:7-16, NIV)

 

Difference Between Faith & Presumption

Faith&Fantasy

Presumption

Presumption opposes faith. Presumption is characterized by stepping out boldly without all the facts.

o                    Joshua & Gibeonites

3However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. 5The men put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. 6Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us."
      7The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "But perhaps you live near us. How then can we make a treaty with you?"
      8"We are your servants," they said to Joshua.
But Joshua asked, "Who are you and where do you come from?"
     9They answered: "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, 10and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan--Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. 11And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, 'Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, "We are your servants; make a treaty with us." '
12This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. 13And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey."
     14The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. 15Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.
      16Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. (Joshua 9:3-16, NIV)

o                    David’s first attempt to retrieve ark

1David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. 2He and all his men set out from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark. 3They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.
    6When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.
    8Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.
    9David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, "How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?" 10He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
(2 Samuel 6:1-10, NIV)

Faith

o                    David’s 2nd Attempt: Returns Ark in Faith

1After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2Then David said, "No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever."
    3David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it.  (1 Chron. 15:1-3, NIV)

 

Steiger

 

Faith & Investment

Faith and Financial investment have the same first principle- start today! Early investment reaps the greatest rewards.

Some examples of early investment in the scriptures:

 

·                                                                                                         Joseph

·                                                                                                         Samuel

·                                                                                                         David

·                                                                                                         Josiah

·                                                                                                         Joshua

·                                                                                                         Jesus

·                                                                                                         Timothy

·                                                                                                          Daniel

·          Shadrack

·          Mesech

·          Abindago

The time to develop faith

The time to develop faith is during the off-time--like football practice. When the squeeze (the game) comes it is too late to get what we should have apprehended during practice.

1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
    7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
    9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
    10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
    11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
    12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
    13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
(Matthew 25:1-13, NIV)

Desperation is Opportunity for Faith

The more desperate the circumstances the greater the opportunity for faith- ESPECIALLY IN OUR LIVES! Consider the crossing of the Red Sea, the lion’s den, the fiery furnace, and the threatened holocaust of Esther’s time.

What hard areas of your life are difficult to recognize as Jesus’ opportunities for building your faith?

When “faith” is not Faith

Things labeled “faith” today that are not “faith” in the Biblical sense.

 
    • a set of doctrines in a church group (as in the “Catholic faith”, or the “Lutheran faith”)
    • mental acknowledgement or belief (“I believe in God the Father almighty maker of heaven  and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son…”)
    • hope (“Have faith”)
    • a formula (having a series of steps to follow to get God to do what you want him to do)
    • presumption (covered above)
    • an elusive substance (“well you have faith…”)

 

Measure_of_Faith

Parable of Unfaithful Servant

14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
   19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
    21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
    23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
    24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
    26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
    28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (Matthew 25:14-30, NIV)

 

Faithful

The order of faith issues

How God perceives Himself

o                    God sees Himself as our provider

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. (Genesis 22:14, NIV)

Yehovah yireh, Hebrew 3070, yeh-ho-vaw' yir-eh'; from Hebrew 3068 (Yehovah) and Hebrew 7200 (ra'ah); Jehovah will see (to it); Jehovah-Jireh, a symbolical name for Mt. Moriah :- Jehovah-jireh.

o                    God sees Himself as the I AM

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14, NIV)

hayah, Hebrew 1961, Strong’s haw-yaw'; a primitive root [compare Hebrew 1933 (hava')]; to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary) :- beacon, × altogether, be (-come, accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, × have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, × use.

I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. (Exodus 6:3, NIV)

Yehovah, Hebrew 3068, Strong’s yeh-ho-vaw'; from Hebrew 1961 (hayah); (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God :- Jehovah, the Lord.  Compare Hebrew 3050 (Yahh), Hebrew 3069 (Yehovih).

hayah, Hebrew 1961, Strong’s haw-yaw'; a primitive root [compare Hebrew 1933 (hava')]; to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary) :- beacon, × altogether, be (-come, accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, × have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, × use.

o                    God sees Himself as our healer

He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." (Exodus 15:26, NIV)

rapha', Hebrew 7495, Strong’s raw-faw'; or raphah, raw-faw'; a primitive root; properly to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figurative) to cure :- cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, × thoroughly, make whole.

o                    God sees Himself as our banner

And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: (Exodus 17:15, NIV)

Yehovah nicciy, Hebrew 3071, Strong’s yeh-ho-vaw' nis-see'; from Hebrew 3068 (Yehovah) and Hebrew 5251 (nec) with pronoun suffix.; Jehovah (is) my banner; Jehovah-Nissi, a symbolical name of an altar in the Desert :- Jehovah-nissi.

o                    God sees Himself as the One who makes us holy

"Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. (Exodus 31:13, NIV)

qadash, Hebrew 6942, Strong’s  kaw-dash'; a primitive root; to be (causat. make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonial or moral) :- appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify (-ied one, self), × wholly.

o                    God sees Himself as our peace

Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. (Judges 6:24, NIV)

Yehovah shalowm, Hebrew 3073, Strong’s yeh-ho-vaw' shaw-lome'; from Hebrew 3068 (Yehovah) and Hebrew 7965 (shalowm); Jehovah (is) peace; Jehovah-Shalom, a symbolical name of an altar in Palestine :- Jehovah-shalom.

 

How God perceives us (much more than “only a sinner saved by grace”)

How God perceives others and situations

 

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