Basing Your Faith On God's Word

God Always Keeps a Promise

Dr. Steve D. Coyle

Text: Romans 4:17-21

Introduction:

Do you consider yourself as a man or woman of faith? If we were to examine your life today, would your lifestyle show us that you live by faith?

So often we think only a certain few are to be known as "Men of Faith" and that the average Christian is not on their level. Yet, in reality, every Christian's life is to be characterized by faith. According to II Corinthians 5:7, we are to understand that "we walk by faith and not by sight." Also, in Romans 1:17 we learn that "...the just shall live by faith."

Christians are called "believers" for a reason. Is that just a term void of meaning or is it truly descriptive of who you are? In this mini-LOGOS we are going to examine several truths concerning the believer's faith and how it is directly related to God's Word.

Abraham Was Known As a Man of Faith

Why was Abraham known as a man of faith? The answer is obvious, isn't it? It's because we see him exercising his faith in trusting God to keep His promise. God had told Abraham that he would have a child. Now, for most married couples that would not require much faith. But for Abraham and Sarah this promise posed a formidable challenge. Yet, Abraham did not consider the circumstances as they were, but rather believed God (vs. 20). And what were these circumstances? They were Abraham's old age and the deadness of Sarah's womb (vs. 19).

There was a twofold reason why Abraham could believe God and grow strong in faith (vs. 21). First, Abraham was fully assured that God would keep His promise. Secondly, Abraham was confident that God was able to perform it. It is on these two principle truths that the exercising of our own faith hinges. We must first really believe that God is faithful and will actually keep His Word to us. If we think He is a liar or will probably back out later, we can't even begin to trust Him. Then, we must also honestly believe that God has the ability and power to do what He has promised. Again, if we think God has limitations on His ability to carry out the supernatural work He claimed to do for us, our doubt will keep us from giving Him a chance to prove Himself.

From this passage we see that faith is very important. It is the exercising of faith that is the key for Abraham seeing the fulfillment of God's promise in his life.

It is by faith and through faith that we likewise obtain the promises of God in our life. When we have active faith we can overcome any obstacle in our path and cannot be defeated by any circumstance.

Where does this faith come from? Faith comes from God. Romans 12:3 tells us "...God has allotted to each a measure of faith." When a person receives Jesus as his Savior, it is an expression of this very faith that is within each of us. We do have faith. It is important that we use the faith that we have.

Abraham is a good example of what we are to do. We are not to "waver in unbelief, but grow strong in faith" (vs. 20). To be strong in faith requires that we first apply our faith and then continue to apply our faith without wavering in unbelief. We are to stand firm by placing our full trust in God.

Faith Has To Be Based On Something

Abraham based his faith solely on the promise that God gave him. It was only the Word of God that he had to go on. What was this promise that God made Abraham? God's promise was that Abraham would be the father of many nations (vs. 17; Gen. 12:1-3). Now, I don't know if Abraham had any aspirations of being the father of many nations, but if he did, it was certainly beyond his ability to make it happen. It is my feeling that the thought never actually crossed his mind. Yet, here is Abraham listening to God promise him something that is truly remarkable. Abraham then does exactly what he is supposed to do. He believed that God would keep His Word, and that God was able to do what He said.

Our faith, likewise, is to be based on the Word of God. We are told in Romans 10:17 that faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ. It is our attitude toward God's Word that determines our walk of faith. How do you perceive God's Word? What do you understand the Scriptures to be? What place does the Bible hold in your thinking?

The Authority of God's Word

The Word of God speaks to us just as Jesus would if He were visibly among us. It has the same authority as He would have if He were to appear before us right now. The Word is always now! It has been, it is, and it will be the voice of God. It is never old. It is always fresh, new, and applicable. The Word is a present-tense, living voice from heaven. How can that be?

The two Greek words, LOGOS and RHEMA, are used in the New Testament to describe the Word of God. LOGOS is the written Word of God, the Bible. RHEMA is the spoken Word of God, revelation. While reading the Bible, suddenly by the power of the Holy Spirit, our spirit receives special insight. The scripture we are reading is no longer the written Word only. It becomes God speaking to us directly and personally concerning our life.

What has authority in your life right now? Is it your emotions? Some people are ruled by the way they feel. It may be anger, fear, anxiety, hate or depression. For them, their emotions have greater say concerning their life than God's Word. How do you view the Bible? Is it just ancient history to you? Is it for another time and culture, which makes it irrelevant for today?

The Word of God is like its Author. It is eternal, unchanging and living. The Word is the outbreathings of God, the thoughts of God, and the will of God. It is God speaking to us. Jesus was the Word, He lives in the believer, and the Word lives in the believer. When we want more of Him, feed on His Word. If we want to know more of Him, learn more of His Word. Faith in God's Word is faith in God.

How much time in the day do you spend in reading the Scriptures as compared to watching T.V., sports, entertainment and reading fiction. It may be that we are putting our faith in other words, institutions, or people.

Having the Right Attitude

Our attitude concerning God's Word will determine our walk of faith. God's Word must leave the written page and move down into our spirit. We must KNOW, not just think about it, but KNOW the reality of the Word of God. Many Christians say they believe the Bible is the Word of God, but they don't apply it to their life. It is nothing more than a Holy Book that gathers dust on the shelf.

We all know that having our daily supply of vitamins is important to our health and well-being. Just in case our diet does not provide us with the necessary vitamins we purchase multivitamins in pill form. We all know that vitamins will not do our body any good staying in the bottle. What must we do? We must take the vitamins in order for them to help us.

God's Word has to get out from between the two leather covers and into our spirit. What many Christians do is educate their minds first and then let their minds educate their spirit. That's not the way God likes to work. God works through man's spirit. When our spirit is brought into right relationship with God, our mind and life change. When our spirit feeds properly on God's Word, we find our spirit educating our mind, and our body being brought into subjection to the will of God. (I Cor. 2:12-15)

They Are Words of Life

Jesus makes an important statement concerning His words in John 6:63. "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." What did Jesus mean by His words being spirit and life? He is telling us that if we will receive His Word, that is believe His Word, it will cause or create spiritual life inside of us. The words of Jesus are creative utterances. They bring life, not death. Jesus said that His words "are spirit and are life". They are not axioms, postulates, theories or mere data. They are life spoken to the spirit of man.

The Word Brings Results

When God's Word comes alive in our spirit we begin to see results. The world says, "seeing is believing." The thinking is, "I've got to see it before I believe it." The contradiction of that philosophy is that if you can see it, no faith is necessary. On the other hand, God says, "believing is seeing." "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). The thinking is, "I've only to believe and I will see it." Here are several examples of that truth.

God's Word will make you free. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31,32). Are you free? If you have an addiction, you are not free. If you have fear, loneliness, lust or anger, you are not free. The truth will make you free. The opposite of that statement is also true. Error puts you in bondage. The truth makes you free and lies put you in bondage. If you are living according to error, you are in bondage. When God's Word comes alive in your spirit, truth exposes the error. You can then begin to see God breaking the bondage. You see yourself free. Faith builds. You become free.

God's Word will bring healing. "...for I, the Lord, am your healer." (Exodus 15:26). One of God's seven redemptive names is Jehovah Rapha: "the Lord your healer." Are you sick? Many people suffer from physical hurt and pain. For some, doctors have said they have done all they can do. There is no hope. If that is you, when God's Word comes alive in your spirit, you will see God as Jehovah Rapha, your healer. You see yourself healthy, not hurting. Your faith begins to build. Healing comes.

God's Word will bring provision. "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19). God is also known as Jehovah Jireh: "the Lord is provider." Are you in need? Many have material, financial, and personal needs. When God's Word comes alive in your spirit, you see God as Jehovah Jireh. You see Him as your source. You begin to see your need being met. Your faith builds, and the need is met.

Would You Do It?

In John 5:1-9, we read where one day as Jesus walked by the pool at Bethesda he met a man who had been sick for 38 years. Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be healed. The man began to talk about not having someone to put him in the water when it was stirred up. Jesus ignored what he said, and told him to get up and walk. The man obeyed Jesus and was healed.

If Jesus came in the room where you are right now, and He told you to do something you haven't been able to do for years. Would you do what He said? For example: You have an allergy that causes you to have an allergic reaction to pollen in flowers. If Jesus told you to go smell the roses, would you? Or, you have a fear of dogs. If Jesus told you to pet the first dog that you come to, would you? If you were to have a sprained ankle and Jesus told you to stand up and run around the room, would you? If you wear glasses and Jesus told you to take them off and never put them back on, would you?

What would you do? Would you obey Him? Or not? The Bible tells us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus still speaks today through the Bible. You may not have been crippled for 38 years, but you have another crippling need in your life. Listen to the Word of God. Let it become alive in you. Apply your faith and see God work.

Therefore every one who hears these words of Mine,

and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man,

who built his house upon the rock.

And the rain descended, and the floods came,

and the winds blew, and burst against that house,

and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.

And everyone who hears these words of mine, and does not act upon them,

will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand.

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,

and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall."

Matthew 7:24-27