Faith

Introduction
In a world where everything must be handled or seen before it is appreciated, it is precarious that we be reminded of the virtue God holds uppermost in our confession. No matter the degree of “smartness” one exhibits, God is not pleased by our ingenuity but by faith alone-“for without faith, it is impossible to please God…” we shall seek to retrace our work with God to be sure we are living in line so as to give Him pleasure.
Definition
Using Heb. 11:1 provide vivid definitions of faith
Compare with Jude v 3 and Acts (Believers were persecuted because of the faith)
1.            What faith is not:
-Mental assent-agreeing with a statement is not faith
-assumptions
-Natural laws-eg people say that to sit down on a chair and believe that they will not fall is by faith
2.            How is faith developed?
We are given a measure when we became born again-Rom 12:3
Comes by hearing God’s words, not mental pictures or positive thinking-Rom 10:17
Built by praying in the Holy Spirit-
Jude 20
When you practise this consistently, you become so full of faith that your speech is altered and you say what you want to see happen and God ensures they do! Cf Mk 11:23
3.            Read, listen, and then speak the words.
 Ps.1:1-3; James 1:22-25
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Spoken word is evidence of faith (God created things out of nothing by faith)
—Can we share some experiences at this point?
We need to speak out what we believe (though this is against the culture of many people)- it may get one into trouble only if the trouble is part of the pathway to the vision of God for one eg Joseph and Daniel.
 Cf Prov 18:21
We shall subsequently study how to nurture Faith by knowing God as a rewarder. God bless you all.

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