Faith comes by hearing.

 

Romans

 

Text: Romans 10:17.                           Theme: Faith comes by hearing.

Introduction:                                       Reading: John 8:32.

 

“So, then FAITH comes by HEARING, and HEARING by the WORD of GOD.”

 

Revelation 1:1 says, “Blessed is he (or she) who READS and those that HEAR the WORDS of this prophecy.” This not only includes the book of Revelation but the “whole” of the Bible. Why? See appendix “The Word of God.”

          My wife has treasured those odd times I have put pen to paper because of my love too her. How much more should we treasure the WORDS of the Lord, which tell of His great love and grace towards us.

 

1.    WHY WE READ THE WORD OF GOD.

 

A. BECAUSE WE KNOW GOD THROUGH HIS WORD.

          “The people who know their God shall be strong,” Daniel 11:32.

          We need a personal knowledge of God. For the knowledge of God is desperate, since to know God personally is to be saved and have eternal life, “This is eternal life, that they may know You the only true God.” John 17:3. This is why God has spoken to us in His Word, revealing Himself to us that we may know Him.

          Since our knowledge of God is incomplete, we must increase our knowledge of Him through spiritual growth by the READING and studying of His Word. For the Scriptures are like a teacher that brings the wisdom that leads to salvation and grace in the knowledge of God.

 

B. BECAUSE WE KNOW GOD'S WILL THROUGH HIS WORD.

          “I delight to do Your will, O my God,” Psalm 40:8.

 

1. Firstly, and most important of all, is to know the will of God in believing in Christ Jesus as our personal Saviour, John 6:40 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life.”

 

2. Secondly, there are clear statements in Scripture which teach that God's will for every Christian includes sanctification, 1 Thess. 4:13. Giving thanks to God, 1 Thess. 5:18. Doing good, 1 Peter 2:15. And other guidelines.

 

3. Thirdly, the Bible is God's will and must be applied to our lives, “Those things which are revealed belong to us,” Deuteronomy 29:29. The Word of God reveals that commands are to be obeyed, principles are to be followed, disallowances are to be avoided, and living examples are to be followed.

 

C. BECAUSE GOD'S WORD EQUIPS US.

          “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” 2 Timothy 3:16.

 

1. It equips us for evangelism. Philip used Isaiah 53 to point the eunuch to Christ in Acts 8:26-35.

 

2. It equips us for counselling others, 1 Timothy 1:3, 18; 4:1315; 2 Timothy 2:1-2.

 

3. It equips us in the use of spiritual gifts, Ephesians 1:1719; 4:7, 11-14. Paul says knowledge of God's Word will provide us with the maturity we need to use our gifts in the most effective ways.

 

4. It equips us for doing battle with the Devil, Ephesians 6:10-17. The in the full armour of God, and our main weapon is the “sword” of the Word of God, Eph. 6:17.

 

2.    WHY WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD.

 

          “You will keep him (or her) in perfect peace, whose MIND is stayed on You, because he trusts in You,” Isaiah 26:3.

 

          Christianity is a supernatural experience, but we are not to “turn off our heads” and go with the experiences only. For the Lord addresses the mind, appeals to the conscience through His Word and the Holy Spirit that the Gospel truly makes good sense. It is the TRUTH of the Word of God that transforms the minds, hearts, and lives of men. “You shall know the TRUTH and the TRUTH shall set you free,” John 8:32.

          The Lord God wants to address our “minds” the following are but a few of the many passages of Scripture on this subject:

“To love God with ALL our MIND” Matthew 22:37.

“With the MIND I myself serve the law of God” Romans 7:25.

“They received the Word with all readiness of MIND and searching the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” Acts 17:11.

          Why does the Lord tell us to open our minds to His Word? Because a strong Christian is an informed Christian, but how are we to be informed if we know not the Word of God? “The Son of God has come and given us an understanding” 1 John 5:20. Like most pastors I have a concern that believers will go after experiences only, yet experience is no substitute for sound doctrine.

          Why should we be informed by sound doctrines from the Word of God? Because:

“For the time will come when they will not endure “sound doctrine” - they shall turn away their ears from the TRUTH” 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables” 2 Peter 1:16.

          How will you know sound doctrine from devised fables if you read not, know not, the Word of God? The Word of the Lord are “pure words” Psalm 12:6. So we need to READ and HEAR the Word of God.

 

CONCLUSION:

 

          God's Word confirms to establish a truth.

1. It confirms our salvation. For often young Christians are troubled with doubts about their conversion experience. Yet a number of Bible verses may be used to confirm our salvation, Romans 8:1.

2. It confirms that the hand of the Lord is with us in all of life's bitter disappointments, Romans 8:28.

3. It confirms our forgiveness when we sin. Repeatedly the Bible assure us that all confessed sin is instantly and eternally forgiven, 1 John 1:9.

          So, we need to READ and HEAR the WORD of GOD. This is our motivation to LISTEN to, study and learn the Bible. The best way to know the Lord is to READ and HEAR the Word of God.

          Will YOU today come on board with us to READ and HEAR the Word of the Lord on tape from Easter for 40 days till Pentecost?