14/01/2024
Here are three ways you can build faith.
1. Build faith by asking for faith.
Were the first-century apostles of Jesus Christ a special breed of people who, from the moment they were born, radiated perfect faith 24/7?
Not at all. During His ministry, Jesus rebuked many of His followers, including the often rash and hasty apostle Peter, for their lack of faith (Matthew 14:31; 8:26; 16:8). Not even the apostles, men we think of as spiritual giants, were let off the hook in the matter of faith.
Notice Luke 17:5: âAnd the apostles said to the Lord, âIncrease our faith.ââ
2. Build faith by studying the Word of God.
The second way to build faith is to diligently study the Word of God.
âBut that just increases head knowledge, not actual faith,â someone might argue.
On the contrary, Romans 10:17 shows the effect the Bible can have on those who really study it: âSo then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.â
The Bible is a historical account replete with instance after instance in which the God of heaven and earth intervenes dramatically to show His existence and power.
Hearing the Word of God comes in one of two ways:
1.You can hear the Word of God spoken by a preacher or with a Bible audio app.
2.You can âhearâ the Word of God as you yourself read the Bible.
3. Build faith by obeying God.
After we ask for faith and study the Bible, we need to do what God says.
Obedience is crucial for faith building because it is, in one way, a testâdo we really want to continue to build faith? Are we willing to step out and do what God reveals to us in His Word?
The reality is that faith only increases so much by praying and reading exclusively.
If we refuse to obey God, even after we recognize His authority to tell us what to do, then our faith will stagnate. On the other hand, if we act on the faith that God has already given to us, we will develop even greater faith.
Letâs consider an example of how this works.
God expects us to put what we learn in His Word into practice, and if we do so faithfully and obediently, we can expect our faith to increase.Say, for instance, you find yourself in Exodus 20 and come across the passage that says, âRemember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no workâ (verses 8-10).
You also know from previous study that God says, âIf you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God . . . all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake youâ (Deuteronomy 28:1-2).
Conclusion:
When you ask for faith, study the Bible and obey God, you are seeking Godâand you will build faith over time as you begin to understand how real He is.
True Christians are going to need to build that kind of faithâreal faithâto stay spiritually strong in the ever-growing faithless wasteland that Jesus predicted. As the apostle Paul said, âWatch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strongâ (1 Corinthians 16:13).
So, apply these three steps in your life.
Believe God and build faith.God bless.