29/09/07

Formula for Building Faith.

Romans 10:17 [KJV] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

This is a favorite scripture of many preachers and evangelist to build faith. They always recommend, keep hearing the Word of God again and again to build faith. Some go to the extent of asking you to read the Word of God loud so that your ears could hear and your faith builds.

As I grew in the Lord I could see that this formula had no strength in it. In the start it did help but I could see many, who were regulars at prayer services, at bible sharing, even ministering to others, but people of little faith. There were also others who literally lived in churches but were hard hearted. So I looked at the scripture minutely for scripture are true and do not fail. And I saw two things first a comma after the first hearing and second the words 'hearing by the word'. So I asked to my self what does it mean 'hearing by the word'? Then I investigated further by opening the Greek Interlinear and looked at the original Greek sentence and its word to word translation. Although I do not know Greek I noticed the script of the first hearing and the script of the second hearing they did not match perfectly. Now I asked the Lord what was the different? And the Lord gave me the understanding.

To make it simple to you: In English we have two words 'to hear' and 'to listen' which mean similar but yet are different.

The Oxford Dictionary defines: -
Hear: 1 perceive (a sound) with the ear. 2 be told or informed of.
Listen: 1 give one's attention to a sound. 2 make an effort to hear something.

The difference between 'hearing' and 'listening' is 'the effort'. If a person just hears he will never understand but if he listens, he may understand. The scripture 'hearing by the word' means; when the understanding comes.

Understanding comes, when wisdom works on knowledge. When we read or hear the Word of God it is just knowledge for us. As for wisdom there are two types; one that comes from experience and other from God (wisdom of God).

Experience comes with practice, so when we apply the Word of God in our lives we experience it and we understand it and our faith builds. Just do not hear the Word again and again for it will not help, put efforts to it, apply it, follow it and experience it, and let your faith build.

Since there are two wisdoms, there are two faiths: the faith that we build and the faith which comes from God. The faith which comes from God is given to us for the moment to get a job done, it does not remain for long. But the faith which we build remains in us and we can grow it. Grow your faith from a mustard seed to a tree that shelters others.

[ Prayer for Today ]

Lord, help me as I make efforts to live Your Word in my life, so that I can grow in faith. For only by faith can I live in You and You in me. If I stumble You are there to help me, You are there to help me grow in faith. Do not let the fear of this world keep me from following Your Word, protect me at all times. I ask this prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

[ Reference Scriptures ]

Romans 10:16-17 [NIV]
¹⁶ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" ¹⁷ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. ¹⁸ But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:   "Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
   their words to the ends of the world." ¹⁹ Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
  "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
   I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." ²⁰ And Isaiah boldly says,
  "I was found by those who did not seek me;
   I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me." ²¹ But concerning Israel he says,
  "All day long I have held out my hands
   to a disobedient and obstinate people."

Matthew 13:31-32
³¹ He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. ³² Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)