HAVE FAITH IN GOD

MARK 11:2

A. "AND JESUS ANSWERING SAITH UNTO THEM, HAVE FAITH IN GOD."
  1. Association with Jesus Christ was a period of training for the disciples:
    1. They learned the art of prayer by watching the Master in prayer - Luke 11:1-13
    2. They learned to use the scriptures from the Saviour - Luke 4:32
  2. They were in need of knowing the secret of fruit- bearing faith:
    1. This, too, could come to them in the school of experience.
    2. Our text is a typical example of the training they received from the Master of the divine art.
B. ASPECTS OF LIVING FAITH
  1. Faith defined:
    1. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Heb. 11:1
    2. Faith in God is a living, dominant conviction concerning God, His Being, His character, and government.
    3. It is that act and habit of the mind by which the truth concerning God is drawn in from the study of the Word of God - Rom. 10:17
  2. For faith to be sound:
    1. It must be based upon the Word of God - John 7:37, 38; Rom. 10:14-17
    2. It must be exercised if it is to be sound and active - Jas. 2:26
      1. Living faith is as much of our being as any other organ of the body.
      2. That is one of the several reasons why the Lord allows us to go through various experiences - Heb. 12:1-11
      3. It is the daily bread for which we pray - Heb. 11:8; Jer. 15:16; Matt. 6:11; Prov. 30:8; 2 Pet. 1:19, 20
  3. Living faith in God our greatest need:
    1. We need not think of ourselves as unbelievers when we sense our need for a more active and living faith -
      1. Of some it must be said that, "They have cast off their first faith" - 1 Tim. 5:12
      2. Of others, Paul writes, "they have suffered shipwreck of their faith" - 1 Tim. 1:19
      3. Others have departed from the faith - 1 Tim. 4:1
      4. But to depart from the faith means to forsake the Lord - Jer. 2:13, 14
    2. We need a living faith in God -
      1. To please Him - Heb. 11:6
      2. We need this faith to carry us through this present life - Rom. 1:16, 17
      3. To live a victorious life - 1 John 5:4, 5
C. LET US HOLD FAST THE PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH
  1. The profession of our faith:
    1. We profess to believe and we teach Present Truth - 2 Pet. 1:12
    2. That indicates and includes the Three Angels' Message - Rev. 14:6-12
    3. It includes the Sabbath Reform Message - Isa. 56:1-7; 58:1, 12-14; Acts 3:19-21; 15:16
    4. It has reference to our faith in the soon coming of Jesus Christ - Tit. 2:11-14
  2. To hold fast the profession of our faith indicates:
    1. Danger to losing it -- this danger is very serious in the closing days of earth's history - Luke 18:8; Matt. 24:12, 13
    2. The sifting time is upon us and many will lose their experience and fall by the wayside.
    3. There is but one way to hold fast the profession of our faith; and that is to live it day by day; practice what we profess to believe - Jas. 1:22, 23; Rom. 2:13; Matt. 7:21-26


Design © John Bryant 2011