ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF FAITH

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1.
“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:29.
Thomas, one of the twelve disciples, had remarked to the other disciples that he would not believe they had seen Jesus alive again unless he saw “ . . . . in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1.
“All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:3.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.
“ . . .think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3b.
God has dealt to every man a measure of faith. We have only to look about us at the trees, grass, animals, and people in order to know that there has to be a creator. Then, we know that there was a creator in the beginning—trees come from trees, grass comes from grass, animals give birth to animals, and children are born into the world. BUT THERE HAD TO BE A BEGINNING OF ALL THESE THINGS, and it isn’t difficult for us to believe that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). It isn’t difficult to believe that all things were made by God (John 1:3), and we believe the Word was made flesh and dwelt on earth as a man (John 1:14). These things we readily believe, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE OUR FAITH INCREASED!
“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5.

As Christians, our faith should keep increasing. As we keep our feet under the Father’s table, eating the food He sets before us, listening to what He says to us, and keep obeying Him, HE WILL GIVE US HIS FAITH IN AN EVER INCREASING AMOUNT!
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17.
“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: . . . these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:30,31.
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” John 17:20.
“And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” Acts 15:7.
We are told in Romans 10:17 that faith cometh by hearing the word of God. Our faith is increased as we read the written testimonies of Christ’s disciples. Jesus said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their (disciples’) word;” John 17:20. In Acts 15:7 we are told that our faith is increased by hearing the gospel.
“ . . . thy faith hath made thee whole; . . .” Mark 5:34.
“ . . . According to your faith be it unto you.” Matthew 9:29b.
“ . . . as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. . . .” Matthew 8:13.
“ . . . let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. . . . let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” James 1:6, 7.
A certain woman (Mark 5:25-34) had an issue of blood twelve years. This woman had suffered many things of many physicians, had spent all she had, but instead of getting better, she grew worse. When she heard of Jesus, she felt if she could only touch his clothes she would be made whole. She pressed through the
throng of people around Jesus and managed just to touch His garment, and was immediately made whole. HER FAITH HAD MADE HER WHOLE! Jesus said, “ . . . Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” Mark 5:34.
At another time (Matthew 9:27), two blind men came to Jesus for healing. He touched their eyes and they were opened. As Jesus touched their eyes He said, “ . . . According to your faith be it unto you.” Matthew 9:29b. Their faith, in cooperation with the power of God through Jesus Christ, brought their healing.
In Capernaum, a centurion came to Jesus beseeching Him to heal his servant who was sick with palsy and tormented. Jesus offered to go with the centurion and heal the servant, but the centurion said, “ . . . Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8. Jesus marvelled at this man’s faith, and said, “ . . .I have not found so great faith, . . . in Israel.” Matthew 8:10. He told the centurion that as he believed it would be done unto him. The servant was healed in the same hour.
All the promises of God are conditioned upon faith. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM GOD! James states this fact in the plainest possible language. “Let him ASK IN FAITH, NOTHING WAVERING. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed . . . let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” James 1:6, 7.
Faith is an absolute necessity before one can receive anything from the Lord.
Many have a mistaken idea today, that since many are exercising the gifts of healing and miracles, all that is needed is to get into one of these meetings where the gifts are being exercised, and that they will be healed, without necessity of faith on their part. They think that the gift of healing will take the place of their own faith in God. This is unscriptural! The gift of healing WILL NOT take the place of your own faith in God.
There is no doubt that Christ exercised ALL the gifts of the Spirit, including healings and miracles. Yet, when He went to Nazareth, “ . . . he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. . . . he marvelled because of their unbelief. . . . he went round about the villages, teaching.” Mark 6:5,6.
Paul met a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet. Steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that the man had faith to be healed, Paul said with a loud voice,

“ . . . Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.” Acts 14:10.
When Jesus healed the woman of Mark 5:25-34, he said, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” To the blind men who came to Him for healing in Matthew 9:29b, He said, “According to your faith so be it done unto you.” Paul perceived that the impotent man had faith for his healing, and he spoke the word and the man was healed.
Student, pay the price to have God’s faith — be sure your faith is increasing. How marvelous a privilege it is today to be able to attend meetings where God’s anointed preachers are bringing deliverance in the name of Jesus, BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO BRING DELIVERANCE TO THE PEOPLE? ARE YOU PAYING THE PRICE TO BE A DELIVERANCE PREACHER?
If Jesus conducted deliverance meetings today, He would no doubt say to people as in the days of old, “THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE !“ Many confess that they do not have much faith and wonder if it isn’t possible for them to be healed through the faith of some other person. I have had many people tell me they have no faith and want to know if they can be healed through my faith.
The Scripture states that, “ . . . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” James 5:16b, but GOD’S GUARANTEE is to those who themselves have faith! If a person received healing without having faith himself, it would certainly be an exception and not the rule laid down in God’s Word.
A person might be healed through another’s faith, BUT HOW WOULD THAT PERSON KEEP HIS HEALING? Faith is necessary, not only to receive healing, but to retain that healing, for Satan is not easily defeated. Almost without exception, when a person is healed, he will immediately be attacked by Satan, in an attempt to snatch from him the gift God has given. Student, learn this well — IF A PERSON DEPENDED UPON YOUR FAITH FOR HEALING, SATAN WOULD ONLY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE NOT PRESENT TO FIND THAT FAITHLESS PERSON UTTERLY DEFENSELESS, AND TAKE THAT HEALING FROM HIM! This is the reason many are suffering from diseases from which they had once been healed.
Whether you are a pastor or an evangelist, REMEMBER IT IS IMPORTANT TO TEACH THE PEOPLE HOW TO KEEP THEIR HEALING. If they lose it, they become discouraged and even doubt that they were healed. This might even cause YOU to doubt their healing.
(ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF FAITH, is a chapter taken from my book, GOD’S GUARANTEE TO HEAL YOU.)

Student, pay the price God requires you to pay to have His faith, and you WILL have the miracle-working power of God in your life and ministry. If you will pay the price God WILL give you His faith — WITH GOD’S FAITH GOD’S POWER WILL FLOW THROUGH YOUR LIFE TO BRING DELIVERANCE TO THE PEOPLE AND TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE — GOD CAN AND WILL USE YOU TO DO THE MIRACULOUS.
REMEMBER — GOD IS NOT ONLY THE AUTHOR OF YOUR FAITH, BUT HE IS THE FINISHER OF YOUR FAITH AS WELL. THERE IS NO PLACE TO STOP IN THIS RACE WHICH HAS BEEN SET BEFORE YOU. THE PRIZE IS AT THE END OF THE RACE — KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS FOR HE HOLDS THE PRIZE. IN JESUS WE LIVE, AND MOVE, AND HAVE OUR BEING. SATAN WILL ALWAYS BE ON HAND TO WEIGHT YOU DOWN WITH SIN, BUT THROW THESE WEIGHTS OFF AND KEEP RUNNING FOR JESUS.
RECOMMENDED MEMORY WORK FOR THIS LESSON
Hebrews 12:1, 2 1 John 4:18 John 20:29 John 9:4 Hebrews 12:14 Romans 10:17 Isaiah 35:8 Hebrews 11:1 James 1:6, 7 1 Samuel 15:22

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