In today’s message Bro. Leo continues our study on the ascension of Jesus Christ by looking further at the gift of faith that comes from above.  The scriptures are clear that “saving faith” is the beginning and end of our salvation.  What Bro. Leo is teaching, in this series, is what the scriptures tell us about “faith” after we are saved and before we go home to be with Jesus, the here and now everyday life of a Christian.

Faith is a spiritual faculty or sense given to every one of us (Rom. 12:3) by God which enables us to understand, believe in and experience God.  There are four levels of faith: 1) believe about God, 2) believe in God, 3) entrust our soul to God, 4) commit ourselves to God.  These four levels of faith are not obtained through the physical realm that we exist in via our five senses of sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing, they are obtained only from faith via the spiritual realm (Heb. 11:1-3).  These four levels, when combined, are saving faith or believing to the point of salvation (Heb. 10:38-39).

We are to carry out our day to day lives by “faith” (Heb. 10.38).  This is the “experiencing God” portion of the definition of faith.  “Living by faith” is believing in the ability of God to perform a specific action in and/or for us, such as believing God will take care of a specific circumstance in our life today when we ask Him.    “Living by faith” is also a confident expectation that God can and will perform this action for us (Rom. 4:21, Matt.9:27-30).

The opposite of “Living by faith”(but if any man draw back, Heb. 10:38) is self reliance.  Any time we do anything under our own power, knowledge or guidance, we are not “Living by faith”.  Self reliance, in a Christian, signifies pride, haughtiness of heart and confidence in our own righteousness.  Rom. 14:23 calls this sin.

“Living by faith” is personal and specific with expectation of results (Rom. 4:19-21, Heb. 11:17,19,  Matt. 9:20-22).  In every decision that we make and action that we take, we should be asking ourselves the question that Jesus asked in Luke 18:8 Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Scriptures used in today’s message:

Rom 12:3 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.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Luk 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Luk 17:6 And 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.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Mat 9:27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
Mat 9:28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
Mat 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Mat 9:30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Rom 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Mat 9:20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
Mat 9:21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
Mat 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Luk 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?