Faith

Faith 

The assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen
The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen
 is a gift from God but if we don't exercise it, God is not pleased. Hide faith under a bushel?

Oh my God!! Am I missing the true meaning of FAITH!  I truly don't have faith. I'm a weak-minded sinner... so arrogant thinking that I have faith.  Talking the big talk.  Oh God forgive me!!

Help me Lord to turn my life around and not squander the gift you have given.
EPIPHANY - Relying and trusting God in His promise.  Just like Abraham, Noah, Enoch, Abel.  
FOR THEIR FAITH THEY WERE REWARDED  (GOD'S FAITHFULNESS TO HIS COVENANT WITH THEM.) 
Hebrews 11 - the heroes of the faith.  KR says that these OT saints had faith in the object, Jesus Christ.
They had faith that their sins will be forgiven because of Christ.
Still working through it.

Faith is trusting God

God gives us faith, a gift.

But we squander it, or we don't exercise it or we pick and choose  what to trust.

We limit God and His power.

"I believe He can handle this, so I'll have faith in this area."

"I think this is too hard for Him so, I won't fully trust that He can do this, or we don't expect that He will do it"

Or we trust or trust less so we dismiss that God can't do this.

Abraham trusted fully, nothing was too hard or impossible.

Noah trusted, Abel trusted, Enoch trusted.

And they were greatly rewarded.

What is God's covenant promise to me?

If we trust, will we be blessed?  What does it matter?  Do we trust in God's will.  Is it in line with His decretive will.

Is there a covenant answered if we trust God, or when we trust God?  

Leon Morrisey "It is not necessary to have great faith; even a small faith is enough as long as it is  faith in a Great God.

Who is the object of our faith! Who is the object of MY  faith!

Dear God, you are the God of the impossible.  I am so weak and frail, but you are all powerful. Thank you that my hope doesn't rest in the strength of my own faith, but in you strength.  However small it is, keep my faith focused on you alone.  Convince and comfort me with your character and promises.  Help me align my will with yours.  Keep me in your word so that my faith is rooted in a firm foundation.  In Jesus name, Amen!   (author unknown)

From The Grace of Godliness (Canons of Dort)

In other words, the Arminian defines faith in such a way that it is a gift but only in the sense that it is offered so that whether or not it becomes actual is man's choice, not God's.  To the contrary, faith is a gift that God wills to implant within the dead, lifeless sinner so that upon granting the dead sinner new life he believes necessarily. As Dort states, God produces "in man both the will to believe and the belief itself. Peter Toon correctly concludes that , on the basis of article 14, Dort taught "that regeneration precedes faith and is the cause of faith."

True faith, by Christ's definition, always involves surrender to the will of God - John MacArthur.

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We are given a measure of faith but faith is a gift from God.  If God has given us faith, why do we walk by faith and not by sight.  If God gives faith, why are there passages that says you must have faith?

And whatever you ask in prayer you will receive if you have faith (God's gift)

Because you know the testing of your faith (God's gift) produces perseverance.  God gave us enough faith to be saved but when it gets tested and our faith becomes more solid, so we don't fall into apostasy.  When we are new Christians, our faith is like clouds. we believe but it is the belief of the heart or emotion.  Once we mature in Christ, our faith is in the mind (the object), a more solid faith.

Saving faith is first and foremost faith that is in Jesus Christ. - Westminster Shorter Cat

Growing in faith requires both time and effort.  God ultimately cause the growth, yet He expects us to follow His ways and seek to grow, becoming mature followers of Jesus who can help make disciples of others.  (Matt 28:19-20, 2Tim 2:2)

How God creates and sustains faith

Faith (God's gift) comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. (Rom 10:17)

Old testament believers didn't have the Word, they had God's audible voice.

Regeneration preceded faith

We can't even see faith or touch or smell faith until the Holy Spirit quickens us and makes us receptive to accept faith.