Faith Comes by Hearing: How God’s Word Builds Our Faith
FAITH SERIES • STUDY 3 OF 10
Strengthening Faith by Reading, Hearing, Meditating, and Obeying Scripture
Key Scriptures: Romans 10:17; Joshua 1:8; James 1:22
Other Scriptures: Hebrews 11; Numbers 13; Matthew 4: 1-10; James 1:22-24, Psalms 107:2, 2 Corinthians 4:8, Isaiah 41:10, Ephesians 6:10, Proverbs 18:21, Mark 11:23, Psalms 35:27, Jeremiah 17:7, Ephesians 1:3, Hebrews 4:12
Introduction
Faith is not something we manufacture through positive thinking.
Biblical faith has an object: God Himself—His character, His promises, and His Word.
When circumstances become difficult, we often discover what has been feeding our thinking. Have we been continually listening to fear, worry, bad reports, and our own anxious thoughts? Or have we been filling our hearts with what God has said?
Romans 10:17 gives us an important principle: faith comes through hearing the message of Christ.
1. The Word of God gives us a solid foundation of witnesses
Read Hebrews 11. This chapter gives remarkable examples of people who acted by faith, but biblical faith was never merely believing that something good would happen. Their confidence was rooted in God and His Character.
- Abel had faith, he offered a better sacrifice than Cain. His faith still speaks for him.
- God was so pleased with Enoch’s faith and did not die; God took him directly to heaven.
- God spoke to Abraham, and he moved to a different land.
- God spoke to Sarah, and she had a son when she was old.
- God warned Noah, and he built the Ark.
- God called Moses and Moses went to Egypt to free his people; he trusted God more than his fear of going up against pharaoh.
Faith does not say, “I believe strongly enough, so this must happen.”
Biblical faith says, “God has spoken, and I will trust Him.”
2. God’s Word Influences What We Believe
What We Continually Hear Influences What We Believe; so, we must continually read and study the written word of God. We must never feed upon negativity, constant bad reports, and fear. Romans 10:17 …Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God should cause us to consider what we repeatedly allow into our minds. Difficult facts sometimes need to be heard, but there is a difference between acknowledging a fact and continually feeding upon fear.
In Numbers 13, all twelve spies saw the same land and the same obstacles. Moses had sent twelve leaders to explore the land of Canaan. The twelve who reported back to Israel’s camp:
“Look at this beautiful large fruit! The land we explored is rich in milk and honey. But there are giants in the land. The Anakim, Amalekites, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, and Canaanites live there in large walled cities. In fact, we saw the Nephilim who are the ancestors of the Anakim. They were so big that we felt as small as grasshoppers.”
Out of the twelve men, ten focused primarily on the danger and didn’t believe they could take the land. Two leaders, Joshua and Caleb, saw the obstacles also, but interpreted them through what they knew about God-through faith in what they had seen God do before. They said, “Let’s go take the land. We can do it. God is with us.”
Notice that all twelve reported the circumstances as being the same; however, the difference was what they believed about God in those circumstances.
3. God’s Word Gives Us Something Stronger Than Our Feelings
Feelings can change quickly. One morning we may feel confident, and by afternoon one unexpected problem may leave us discouraged. If faith depends upon how strong we “feel,” our spiritual life will constantly rise and fall with our emotions.
God’s Word gives us something stable. When feelings tell us God has forgotten us, Scripture reminds us of His faithfulness. When fear tells us we are alone, Scripture reminds us of His presence.
We do not deny our feelings; but, we bring them under the authority of God’s truth.
4. With the written Word [the Logos] Jesus Answered Temptation
Matthew 4 gives us a powerful example, and notice the paraphrasing of the 3 temptations of Jesus.
Jesus had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came and said, If you’re the Son of God — command these stones to become loaves.
Jesus answered, “It is written, man does not live by bread alone, but upon every word coming from the mouth of God.”
Then the Devil set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If Son thou art of God — cast thyself down, for it is written, that, His angels will shall bear you up, and you won’t trip on a stone.
Jesus said to him again, “It is written, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’
Again, the Devil took him to a very high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world and saith to him, “All these I will give to you, if you’ll fall down and bow to me.”
Jesus said, “It is written, The Lord thy God thou shalt bow to, and Him only you shalt serve.”
Notice, the devil used the written Word of God, but he took it out of context. Don’t think your enemy doesn’t know the Logos Word of God. He will take every opportunity to twist the scripture, taking it out of context, and turning it into a lie. If he did it to Jesus, he’ll also do it to you.
Jesus also repeatedly answered with Scripture: “It is written.”
We need more than simply knowing a verse exists somewhere in the Bible. We need God’s Word planted deeply within us so that we can call it to mind when fear, temptation, doubt, or discouragement arrives. Regular and consistent Bible reading stores truth before the battle comes.
5. The Word of God can be Meditated, and Meditation Moves the Word from the Page into Our Minds and our Thinking
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8 KJV
Joshua 1:8 instructed Joshua to meditate on God’s instruction day and night.
Biblical meditation is not emptying the mind.
Biblical meditation is filling the mind with God’s truth and thinking deeply about it.
Ask yourself: What does this passage teach me about God?
Is there a promise to believe, an instruction to obey, a warning to heed, or a truth I need to remember?
Reading gives us the Word; meditation helps it take root.
6. When the Word of God is Spoken Aloud, it Redirects Our Attention and Confuses the Enemy
There is great value in speaking Scripture aloud! Speaking God’s truth redirects our focus from our problems and circumstances and makes us focus our attention toward Jesus and His power. There is great power in our speech!
You want your heart, your mind, and your nervous system to hear and receive the spoken Word of the Lord. You want your enemy to hear you say the Word out loud into the atmosphere. Why? Because of what the Word of God is…
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Spiritual Declarations to Speak Every Day.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:“ Ephesians 1:3
- I AM BLESSED WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST!
“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” Jeremiah 17:7
- I AM BLESSED BECAUSE I TRUST IN THE LORD, AND HE IS MY HOPE AND MY CONFIDENCE!
“Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” PSA 35:27
- GREAT IS THE LORD WHO DELIGHTS IN THE WELFARE AND PROSPERITY OF HIS SERVANT!
As a child of God, we should be very careful to never speak anything bad into existence. Never make statements of hopelessness.
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.“ Mark 10:27
- WITH MY GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!
“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” MARK 11:23
- WITH MY GOD, I CAN SAY TO ANY MOUNTAIN “BE REMOVED AND BE THROWN INTO THE SEA,” AND I WILL HAVE WHATEVER I SAY!
Folks, the rhema Word of God spoke to me very clearly one day as I was praying in the Spirit, “It will be as YOU SAY!”
In other words, if you say, “I’m sick and in despair,” you will be sick and in despair. If you say, “I am healed by His stripes in Jesus’ name,” you are healed.
You want to know why the enemy fights us so hard about this—why he tries to keep us from speaking the Word aloud? Why He tries to keep our mouths shut?
Because he knows if he can keep us from speaking and declaring God’s Word, he can keep us down and more easily under his control. I’ve watched my roosters bully other chickens and roosters. He would literally hold them down with his claw and only let them up when they became very still and submissive to him. That’s what the enemy tries to do to us if we let him. But, there is a great freedom that comes when we declare God’s word, out loud, and in the presence of the enemy.
The Spirit of God is emphasizing this into our spirits today, “It will be as you say.” Remember God’s law, “Life and Death are in the power of the tongue…” Pro 18:21. You will eat the fruit of what you say! If you say bad things, you’ll get bad things. If you say powerful things from the Logos or Rhema Word of God, you’ll get great and powerful things of God.
Remember: It will be as YOU Say!
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Ephesians 6:10
- I AM STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.
The enemy will try to convince you God has forgotten you. But, God’s delay doesn’t mean denial.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.“ Isaiah 41:10
- I WILL NOT FEAR FOR MY GOD IS WITH ME. I WILL NOT BE DISMAYED/ DISCOURAGED/DISTRAUGHT/ OR SADDENED BECAUSE HE IS MY GOD. HE WILL STRENGTHEN ME. HE WILL HELP ME. HE WILL UPHOLD ME WITH HIS RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND.
God is always working on your behalf!
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ” 2 Corinthians 4:8
- I MAY HAVE TROUBLES ON EVERY SIDE, BUT I AM NOT DISTRESSED; I MAY BE PERPLEXED, BUT I AM NOT IN DESPAIR.
“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;“ Psalms 107:2
- I AM REDEEMED OF THE LORD! HE HAS REDEEMED ME FROM THE HAND OF THE ENEMY!
When fear comes, remind yourself that God is with you.
When uncertainty comes, remember to trust Him with all your heart.
When you cannot see the outcome, remember that you walk by faith, not by what you see.
We are choosing which voice will have the greatest influence over our heart and mind.
7. The Word of God brings growth to our Faith Through Hearing—and Then Acting or Obeying
James warns us not to become hearers of the Word only. God’s Word builds our faith, but we must understand, faith eventually produces action.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. James 1:22-24
If Scripture tells us to forgive, faith forgives.
If God tells us to wait, faith waits.
If Scripture tells us to pray, faith prays.
If God directs us to move, faith takes the next step.
If Scripture tells us to bridle our tongue, faith bridles the tongue.
The more we experience God’s faithfulness through obedience, the more we learn that He can be trusted.
Bringing It Together
When your faith feels weak, do not condemn yourself. Return to the source: read the Word, hear the Word, meditate on the Word, speak the Word, and obey the Word.
Faith does not grow by continually staring at our faith. Faith grows as we continually turn our attention toward the God in whom our faith rests.
Reflection Questions
- What voices have been receiving most of my attention lately?
- Is my faith rooted primarily in God’s Word or in the outcome I want?
- What Scripture speaks directly to the situation I am facing?
- What truth about God’s character do I need to remember?
- Is there something God has already shown me in His Word that I need to obey?
Prayer
Father, thank You for giving me Your Word. Help me build my faith upon who You are rather than upon my feelings or circumstances. Teach me to read, meditate on, remember, and obey Your truth. When my faith feels weak, draw my attention back to You. In Jesus’ name, amen