April 19: Faith Comes by Hearing
I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, “go throw yourself into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart but believe that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11: 23-24). The Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing” (Romans 10:17 KJV). Faith doesn’t just come the first time we hear. It continues to come with continual hearing. If you listen to one hour of solid teaching followed by two hours of negative talk, you will have faith for the negative.
Faith comes from the word that is near you; that is why I’m careful about the company I keep and I’m careful what I say to people. I want to be around people who speak words that produce the faith of God, because this is the kind of faith we are to have. Be aware that other kinds of faith surround you, not just the God-kind of faith.
I encourage you to check the company you keep, the books you read, the music you listen to, the movies and videos you watch, even the church organization you belong to and attend their teaching sessions – you will become what you listen to and speak what you hear. What you hear creates faith for what you are hearing. The more you hear it, the more you believe it. You speak it, and it happens to you. That is why Jesus said that if we want to operate as He does, we have to have the God-kind of faith.
The God-kind of faith is His Word. His word is near us and is in our hearts. The more we speak out His Word the more we invoke God’s power and will in our experiences, spiritually and physically. Faith continues to come with continual hearing. Note: God will help you have His kind of faith and to use it all the time. Let’s pray: Father, I desire to guard my ears and heart. Help me to listen to your Word and to those who believe your Word so I may be encouraged in my faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Today’s reading: 2 Samuel 6-8: Luke 15: 1-10
Proper Intake of God's Word Increases Faith.