Introduction

We have been studying the definitions of faith during our past Bible studies with so much insight into the meaning of Faith. Heb. 11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Martin L. King Jnr. defines Faith as taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase

     This week, we shall be examining how to acquire the faith needed to please God in our relationship with Him. If faith is needed to please Him, then God must have made provisions for everyone to be able to get the faith necessary to please Him. Heb.11:6: "But without faith it is impossible to please him...."

1)      Faith Comes by Hearing the Word: Rom. 10:17

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”

If faith is a physical material or substance, then the material needed to produce this substance of faith is the word of God according to Rom. 10:17. Every time I need faith, I simply go to the word of God to receive the amount of faith needed. God is not responsible for my lack of faith.

2)      Faith for salvation: Ephesians 2:8:

 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

Salvation is a free gift from God but faith is required to have access to this ultimate gift from God.

We already know that faith comes by hearing the word of God, but how are we to get faith to get saved? Romans chapter 10 tells us. ROMANS 10:8-10,13,14

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, THE WORD OF FAITH, WHICH WE PREACH; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation ...13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and HOWSHALL THEY BELIEVE IN HIM OF WHOM THEY HAVE NOT HEARD? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Faith for salvation comes when we hear the word of God. The Holy Spirit will bring conviction to our hearts when the seed of the word of God is sown. The word of God is necessary for us to believe and have faith for salvation.

     2a) The case of Cornelius and his household. Act 10:1-48

The angel instructed Cornelius to call for Peter: "And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do" (Acts 10:5,6). Acts11:14 reports that the angel said that Peter would preach the gospel to Cornelius: "Who shall tell thee WORDS, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved." This verse also shows us that men are saved by hearing words - God's Word: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). You can't believe without hearing. So many are trying to believe without hearing.

Jesus said, ". . .Go YE into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Angels can’t preach the gospel, but the angel could tell Cornelius where to go to get someone who could preach the gospel to him. His household was saved when they believed the gospel that Peter  preached (Acts 11:13). We are to the preach the gospel for people to believe and be saved.

3)      Faith For Healing: Luke. 5:17

“And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them”.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”(Rom.10:17) . Faith for salvation came by hearing the preaching of  the gospel so also faith for healing comes by the same preaching of the gospel of healing. Jesus was teaching and the power of the Lord to heal anyone that will believe was present to heal. I believe he must have been preaching about the  ability of God to heal

   3a)  The case of the impotent man at Lystra: ACTS 14:7-107

“And there they [Paul and Barnabas] PREACHED the GOSPEL.8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:9 The same HEARD Paul SPEAK: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked”.

This man was not healed because Paul was an apostle, but notice what had to take place before this man was healed: "And there they [Paul and Barnabas] PREACHED the GOSPEL" (Acts 14:7).

So Paul did three things:

1. He preached the gospel to the man.

2. He perceived that the man had faith to be healed.

3. He told the man to rise up and walk.

 The man also did three things:

1. He heard Paul preach the gospel.

2. He had faith to be healed.

3. He leaped up and walked.

The man was not healed by some special power that Paul had. The man had faith to be healed. Where and how did he get faith to be healed? He got it from what he heard! Remember Acts 14:9 says, "The same [man] heard Paul SPEAK. . . ." What did Paul speak? Verse 7 says, "And there they PREACHED the GOSPEL." If Paul preached what we call the gospel of salvation, how did the man get faith to be healed? The man got faith to be healed because Paul preached what the Bible calls the gospel, which also includes healing.

Countless people are waiting to be saved, healed, delivered from all forms of satanic oppressions but they need us to preach the gospel to them to be able to believe. It is our responsibility to preach while it is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to use the preaching of the gospel, which is the  power of God,  to bring salvation, healing and deliverance to people all over the world.

“And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:20

Conclusion: The study of faith is a very wide subject that will require extensive search for deeper understanding and revelation. We thank God for His generals like Kenneth E. Hagin who did extensive studies on the subject of Faith in his life time. This study was extracted from his book; Faith Bible Study Guide.

Contributor: Alex Alajiki