Romans 12:3 KJV
(3) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
- Every person has the capacity to believe. Without faith the world would come to a grinding halt. Everyone would be afraid to get on an airplane, or drive a car through fear of death.
- Without faith a person wouldn't work two weeks without getting paid. They work, by faith, believing the word of the employer that in two weeks they will get a pay check.
- People who believe in evolution do it by faith. They hear the words of those who "supposed to know" and apply what someone else has said to their belief system. They have no way of verifying what somebody else has said. Actually the fossil record points to creation. There is no evidence in the fossil record of slow evolving creatures. If evolution were true the ground would be full of evidence but it simply doesn't exist.
- The same holds true for those who believe in the "Big Bang Theory". People take the word of scientist who themselves are simply making "educated guesses
- The atheist believes there isn't a God, although they can't prove it. Creation rather points to the fact that there is a God. There is way too much complexity and intricate workings for all of this to have just happened. Their is intelligent thought and design in our entire existence.
- We are controlled too much by our senses.
- Faith is a spiritual force not a natural force.
- Our spirits produce faith, not our minds.
- Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
- Obedience takes us to a higher level of faith.
- Faith is an action word, when we believe something there is always a corresponding action.
- When we spend our days catering to life and it's issues we are actually eroding our faith.
- Sin is disobedience:
1. There are sins of commission, that is doing things we shouldn't do.
2. There are sins of omission, that is not doing things that we should do.
Both types of sin are bad.
We Are Under Too Much Control By Our Senses.
2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV
(7) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
For we walk by faith, not by what we hear.
For we walk by faith, not by what we fell.
For we walk by faith, not by what we smell.
For we walk by faith, not by what we taste.
For we walk by faith, not by what we see.
For we walk by faith, by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
God has given us our five senses to detect and gather information that can be used by the body to make it in this world. Our senses should not be telling us what to do as it relates to spiritual things. The word of God is the only thing that should be directing our lives.
Luke 8:49-56 KJV
(49) While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
(50) But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
(51) And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
(52) And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
(53) And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
(54) And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
(55) And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
(56) And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
- The maidens parents heard the servant SAY, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the master.
But when Jesus HEARD it, he answered him, saying, FEAR NOT:BELIEVE ONLY, AND SHE SHALL BE MADE WHOLE. - How we believe determines the outcome.
- We have another example of senses taking in information. It is possible for our faith to be negated if we walk by our senses.
Peter Walks On Water:
Matthew 14:22-33 KJV
(22) And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
(23) And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
(24) But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
(25) And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
(26) And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
(27) But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
(28) And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
(29) And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
(30) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
(31) And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
(32) And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
(33) Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
- When Peter first got out of the boat he wasn't looking at the roaring sea around him, he simply focused on the words that Jesus had spoken to him. He was doing well until he shifted his focus to the boisterous winds blowing against him. FEAR TOOK OVER AND HE BEGAN TO SINK. Faith and fear cannot abide in the same space.
- We must constantly rebuke the spirit of fear and work on overcoming our fears at all costs.
- How we believe determines the outcome.
Our senses will feed us information, but we must not look at what our senses are telling us. We should only look at what the Word of God says.