THE PRINCIPLES OF FAITH

Lesson 1

What Is Faith?

As Christians we are called to live by faith, “but the just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). We are to live by faith just as we live by air, water, and food. We cannot live without air, and we cannot live without faith. Faith is the only thing that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). So what is faith?

Faith-pistis: Conviction of the truth of anything, trust and holy fervor. This is just a definition, but faith is defined by its actions. So how does faith act and how does it manifest? How does faith grow? How does faith increase? How does faith please God? Faith is an action. How does it act?

FAITH SPEAKS

We must first realize faith begins manifesting when we open our mouths. Faith is what we are saying.

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; – 2 Corinthians 4:13

The spirit of faith speaks. You will speak what you believe. The more you believe something, the more you’ll talk about it.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. – Hebrews 11:13-14
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 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 11:5-6

Notice in this passage Jesus teaches that faith in God means you speak to things. In this case, you speak to the mountain. Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and it obeyed him. The tree withered and died.

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. – Luke 17:5-6

Here, the apostles, like all of us, wanted more faith. Instead of praying for them, Jesus told them even small faith can speak to a tree and it will obey.

FAITH: BIRTHED IN OUR HEART, RELEASED BY OUR MOUTH

Faith is of the heart, for with the heart we believe. We must take the Word of God that we have heard and meditate upon it in our hearts. It will become our faith.

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; . . . For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. – Romans 10:8, 10

Once we believe in our hearts, then words begin to proceed out of our mouths.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. – Luke 6:45

What comes out of your mouth originated in your heart. You must give diligence to make sure there are no evil treasures in your heart. If there are, they will eventually come out of your mouth.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) – Hebrews 10:23

This verse challenges us as believers to cling to the confession of the Word of God. This is what we refer to as “faith confessions.” These are the promises of God’s Word that you confess because you believe them, not necessarily because you see them. To vacillate between the Word and the world would be called “wavering.” James 1:6-7 tells us this makes us unstable in all our ways.

THE TONGUE: A POWERFUL WEAPON

Faith speaks, and your faith is what you are speaking: good, bad, or indifferent.

Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. – Isaiah 41:15
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. – Proverbs 18:21

Because faith is a powerful force, we must be ever mindful of the words that come out of our mouths.

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell . . . Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. – James 3:6, 10

Our tongues can set things on fire and burn them to the ground. We can even set our own lives on fire and watch them burn. Our tongues have the power to both bless and curse. These are powerful actions and should not be taken lightly.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified (acquitted), and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (sentenced). – Matthew 12:36-37

An account will be given for every idle word spoken, and our words either acquit us or they sentence and condemn us. We are who we are based upon the words of our mouths. Other scriptures about the power of the faith-filled tongue:

The mouth is a well of life (Proverbs 10:11).
Your mouth can destroy your neighbor (Proverbs 11:9).
Your mouth can overthrow or exalt an entire city (Proverbs 11:11).
An upright mouth can deliver you from harm (Proverbs 12:6).
The mouth produces fruit that can satisfy you (Proverbs 12:14).
The wise tongue is healing and health (Proverbs 12:18).
A man eats good by the fruit of his mouth (Proverbs 13:2).
The tongue can bring healing, and it is a tree of life (Proverbs 15:4).
You can declare a thing and it will be established (Job 22:28).

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THE PRINCIPLES OF FAITH

Lesson 1

What Is Faith?

Faith-pistis: Conviction of the truth of anything, trust and holy fervor. This is just a definition, but faith is defined by its actions. So how does faith act and how does it manifest? How does faith grow? How does faith increase? How does faith please God? Faith is an action. How does it act?

FAITH SPEAKS

We must first realize faith begins manifesting when we open our mouths. Faith is what we are saying.

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; – 2 Corinthians 4:13

The spirit of faith speaks. You will speak what you believe. The more you believe something, the more you’ll talk about it.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. – Hebrews 11:13-14

Notice in this passage Jesus teaches that faith in God means you speak to things. In this case, you speak to the mountain. Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and it obeyed him. The tree withered and died.

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. – Luke 17:5-6

Here, the apostles, like all of us, wanted more faith. Instead of praying for them, Jesus told them even small faith can speak to a tree and it will obey.

FAITH: BIRTHED IN OUR HEART, RELEASED BY OUR MOUTH

Faith is of the heart, for with the heart we believe. We must take the Word of God that we have heard and meditate upon it in our hearts. It will become our faith.

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; . . . For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. – Romans 10:8, 10

Once we believe in our hearts, then words begin to proceed out of our mouths.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. – Luke 6:45

What comes out of your mouth originated in your heart. You must give diligence to make sure there are no evil treasures in your heart. If there are, they will eventually come out of your mouth.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) – Hebrews 10:23

THE TONGUE: A POWERFUL WEAPON

Faith speaks, and your faith is what you are speaking: good, bad, or indifferent.

Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. – Isaiah 41:15

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. – Proverbs 18:21

Because faith is a powerful force, we must be ever mindful of the words that come out of our mouths.

Our tongues can set things on fire and burn them to the ground. We can even set our own lives on fire and watch them burn. Our tongues have the power to both bless and curse. These are powerful actions and should not be taken lightly.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified (acquitted), and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (sentenced). – Matthew 12:36-37

An account will be given for every idle word spoken, and our words either acquit us or they sentence and condemn us. We are who we are based upon the words of our mouths. Other scriptures about the power of the faith-filled tongue:

The mouth is a well of life (Proverbs 10:11).

Your mouth can destroy your neighbor (Proverbs 11:9).

Your mouth can overthrow or exalt an entire city (Proverbs 11:11).

An upright mouth can deliver you from harm (Proverbs 12:6).

The mouth produces fruit that can satisfy you (Proverbs 12:14).

The wise tongue is healing and health (Proverbs 12:18).

A man eats good by the fruit of his mouth (Proverbs 13:2).

The tongue can bring healing, and it is a tree of life (Proverbs 15:4).

You can declare a thing and it will be established (Job 22:28).

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