The Subject of Faith: Part 2 (How do We Get Faith?)

Romans 10:17 says, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God", where the word "comes" is not actually in the text, but the scripture literally says that faith is (ek), "out of", hearing and hearing is (dia), "through", or "by" what is (rhema) "spoken", by God. It is evident then, that the content, or the message, or what is spoken, from God, contains "faith". If this is true, the implication would be that any message, preached, or taught, that doesn't produce, or contain "faith", is not of God, because what is spoken by God, or God's words, contain faith.

Paul said, by the Spirit of God, that "...when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received (it), not as the word of men but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe [or, have faith]" (1 Thes.2:13).

Again, Romans 10:8 says, "...the [spoken] word (rhema) is near you, in your mouth and in your heart; that is, the [spoken] word (rhema) of faith, which we preach (kerysso), 2784, [announce, proclaim, or, declare, to you]"

Faith is out of hearing words of God that contain, or carry "faith", and they are announced by God's messengers [us] (Rm.10:13-17).

Galatians 3:2,5, says, "...did you receive the Spirit by doing what the law commands, or by faith from hearing (the message).." and "...when He supplies you with the Spirit and performs His wonder-works among you, does He do it because you do what the law commands, or by faith from hearing (the message)..." (Williams)

Wuest says, "...the message which proclaims faith.."

Weymouth says, "...because you heard and believed.."

Rotherham says, "...by works of law received ye the Spirit, or out of a report of faith?" (3:2), "He who was supplying unto you the Spirit, and energizing mighty works among you, by works of law, or out of a report of faith?"

It is the "...message which has faith as its content" (DNTT, Vol.2, p.175)

What is being stated is that the message itself is a container of "faith" or what is preached or announced contains "faith", and it is from God. If the message doesn't produce, carry, or contain "faith", it is not from God.

In other words, if it doesn't strengthen your awareness and ability to live and act according to spiritual reality, not the limitations, or strengthening our attachment and awareness of our physical senses, but developing our spiritual senses, it is probably not God's word, or not from God.

We are spirit, soul, body people, even as the scripture says, "...the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thes.5:23). Again, Ephesians generally refers to the same "composition", but in reverse order, stating that "...we all had our manner of life in times past in the lusts or our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh [body] and of the mind [soul], and were by nature [spirit] the children of wrath..." (Eph.2:3).

Often, we can live our lives "unconscious" of the very spiritual reality that is more real than this physical world that we touch, taste, smell, hear, and see.

Jesus said, "It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The WORDS that I speak to you are spirit, and life" (John 6:63).

When Peter is recounting the order of events that led to him going to Cornelius' house (Acts 10:1-48), he says, "...he [Cornelius] showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter, who shall tell you WORDS, by which you and all your house shall be saved and as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them..." (Acts 11:13-15).

 Again, "...many of them who heard the WORD believed [had faith]; and the number of the men was about five thousand" (Acts 4:4).

Similarly, "...the WORD of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem..." (Acts 6:7) and "...the WORD of God grew and multiplied" (Acts 12:24) and "...mightily grew the WORD of God, and prevailed" (Acts 19:20).

The disciples prayed, "...grant to your servants, that with all boldness they may speak your WORD" (Acts 4:29). Paul asks Believers to pray for him "...that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds; that in this I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak" (Eph.6:19-20), because when the WORD of God is announced, or proclaimed, faith is present, or heightened spiritual awareness, and spiritual manifestations happen, because God's WORDS contain faith that produces, or brings into manifestation, spiritual reality.

"They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the WORD. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them and the people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did; for unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many that were possessed; and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed and there was great joy in that city." (Acts 8:4-8).

"...and there they preached the gospel and there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from birth, who never had walked. The same heard Paul speak; who, steadfastly beholding him, and [Paul] perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, 'Stand upright on your feet', and he leaped and walked" (Acts 14:7-10).

"...they [the disciples] went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the WORD with signs following" (Mk.16:20).

Paul, by the Spirit of God said, "...my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Cor.2:4-5).

Again, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard, God also bearing witness, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will" (Heb.2:3-4).

Because, "...the [spoken] word (rhema) is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart; that is, the [spoken] word (rhema) of faith, which we preach" (Rm.10:7).

God's words announced contain faith that produces spiritual manifestations in those that receive those words.

You Are God's Best and God's Best is Yours