A MONTHLY FEATURE HIGHLIGHTING THE CREATIVE GENIUS OF OUR MEMBERS & FRIENDS

Expressions of Faith

by Evangelist Rosetta Boyd

Sunday Worship was so powerful beginning with the 9am Sunday School lesson, “The Faith of Abraham.”

Continuing with the morning sermonic song, “I’m so glad Jesus Knows.”

Then the morning message, “Handling Life’s Detours.”

I have been meditating on them all since Sunday. 

So let’s discuss faith using the examples of Abraham and Sarah as told in Genesis 12:1-3 and Genesis 15:1-15 to answer the question:

“How do we build ourselves up in our most holy faith to overcome life challenges and detours?

 

Jude 1:20 But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.

What is FAITH?

Assurance, belief, trust, and fidelity (faithfulness to a person, cause or belief demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support).

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes through hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

 

What is Substance?

Substance: the most important part, a solid, stable base of which makes up a person or thing (the foundation upon which we must build).

Faith is the substance through which we receive from God, our salvation is from God.

Ephesians 2:8,9 For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

What do we receive from God?

Our faith, our salvation, our righteousness and our right standing or justification.

Abraham was the model of faithfully walking with God. Was he perfect? No. He was a human being just as we are, but he was called “The father of the faith” and is honored for his obedience. Paul in Galatians 3:6-9, “So Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

God’s Promises to Abraham:

  • I will make you a great nation

  • I will bless you

  • I will make your name great

  • You will be a blessing

  • I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you

As the years passed, Abraham and Sarah were well beyond child-bearing age, their faith in God’s promises was tested. Abraham and Sarah would have to continually prevail in faith.

WE have to read and meditate on God’s promises to us and to take God at His Word.

 

So the Questions are:

How can we build up our faith so that it can withstand life’s challenges?

How does one become strong in the faith?

What does it mean to prevail (be more powerful or victorious) in faith?

When our faith is being tested and tried, what are we fighting against? (ex: fear, doubt, anxiety, confusion, negative thoughts)

 

James 2:17,18 Faith without works is dead (or alone). You show your faith by your works.

Abraham showed he had faith in God by what he did.

- He obeyed God and left his home in UR to go to an unknown land.

- He believed God that he would have a child when he and Sarah were childless and past child-bearing years.

- He was willing to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice in obedience to God.

 

Summary:

Faith in God pays off. God honors faith. God moves in faith. God blesses according to our faith.

Without faith, it is as if we handcuff God. We can pray all we want but it is what we do after we pray by putting our faith in action that God honors and will move in our behalf. Our prayer should be “Lord, increase our faith to believe YOU that much the more.”

Let us “build up our most holy faith” as we grow in the knowledge of God through life’s journey.