Hebrews 11: 1 says faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Jesus also said of faith in Matthew 17: 20; Luke 17: 6 that if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you. Faith manifests in several forms shades or characters as the bible describes as follows:
- Barren faith – James 2: 20, 22
- Belief – Matthew 8: 13; Mark 5: 36; 9: 23-24; 11: 24; Luke 8: 50; John 20: 27
- Confident faith – 1Timothy 3: 13
- Counterfeit faith – 2 Timothy 3: 8
- Dead faith – James 2: 26
- Dormant faith – James 2: 14, 17-18
- Faith in man’s wisdom – 1 Corinthians 2: 5; 12: 9
- Faithless – Matthew 17: 17; Mark 4: 40; 9: 9; Romans 1: 31; 2 Timothy 2: 13; Revelation 21: 8
- Futile faith – 1 Corinthians 15: 17
- Genuine faith – 1 Peter 1: 7
- Greater faith – Matthew 8: 10; 9: 22; Luke 7: 9, 50; 2 Corinthians 5: 7
- Growing faith – Luke 17: 5; 2 Corinthians 10: 15; 2 Thessalonians 1:3
- Holy faith – Jude 1: 20
- Little faith – Matthew 6: 30; 8: 26; 14: 31
- Preserved faith – 2 Timothy 4: 7
- Sincere faith – 1Timothy 1: 5; 2 Timothy 1: 5
- Supplemental faith – 2 Peter 1: 5
- Weak faith – Romans 14: 1; 1 Corinthians 16: 13
Like a seed, faith takes its roots and grows in a good soil. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus did not explain what a good soil is but can be gleaned from what it produces. This was because his audiences were already familiar with the nature, types or characteristics of soils as a farming community. What are the soils in which the seed of faith to thrive?
The word of God
Faith is rooted in the word of God therefore without the word of God there is no faith in God. Romans 10: 17 says so faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ. So faith must be grounded on the word of God which is permanent and shall not pass away, Matthew 5: 18; 24: 35; Mark 13: 31 and Luke 21: 33. We must therefore believe in the gospel as the bible says in Mark 1: 15 the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.
So Christian faith and the gospel are inseparable but intertwined. Romans 3: 4 says let God be true though every man be false, as it is written, that thou may be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged. God’s word is the truth and in this we must build our faith. This is confirmed in 2 Samuel 7: 28 saying O Lord, thou art God, and thy words are true, and thou hast promised this good thing to thy servants. Is our faith truly rooted in the word of God?
Knowledge of God
In order to have faith in God, we must know scripture without which our faith would be empty or in vain. Knowledge of scripture makes us know about the where or in whom our faith must rest and why. We must be able to distill human precepts from God’s doctrine. In Genesis 17: 1 God said to Abraham, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. On this basis God made a covenant with him to multiply him exceedingly. Genesis 18: 14 says is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, in spring and Sarah shall have a son. Sarah was ninety years and Abraham a hundred years when Isaac was born, Genesis 17: 17; 21: 5.
Doubt weakens faith. God’s name in Exodus 3: 14 is I AM WHO I AM. This exclusive name tells who God is. God repeats his capacity in Jeremiah 32: 27 saying behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me? If Psalms 119: 160 says the sum of thy word is truth; and every one of thy righteous ordinance endures for ever, then we have no cause to doubt God by his word. Jesus in referring to the impossibilities in this world said in Matthew 19: 26; Mark 10: 27; Luke 1: 37 saying with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Luke 18: 27 says what is impossible with men is possible with God. Do we know God as we should to ground our faith?
Relationship with God
Faith warrants that we have a relationship with God. We cannot have and maintain faith with a stranger. Faith is born out of a worthy relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. John 14: 13-14 says whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it. Without the relationship, faith is dead so Hebrews 11: 6 says and without faith it is impossible to please God. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
No wonder James 2: 17 says faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. Verse 26 also says for as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead. The relationship is the body of faith which we need before God and his Son Christ Jesus. So John 15: 7 says if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. Verse 10 says if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. What is the nature of our relationship with Christ Jesus to ground our faith in God?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we have always deceived ourselves by human wisdom and logic so failed to experience and taste your miracles as the Lord. Today, we shun our human intelligence and submit to your divine wisdom. Ground our faith in your resurrection power and make us be examples of faith to others. We affirm our faith in you as the Lord and Saviour of truth, love and grace sent from God to redeem us and in whom all things are possible. Thank you Jesus for hearing us in your name, Amen!!
