Hebrews 6:1 (NKJV) Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.
Our walk of faith and learning about faith will continue for as long as we are on earth. While other people can stand in faith with us, our faith in God and the fight of faith are personal, as it depends on whether we give in to unbelief or have the dogged determination to stand firm on the promise God has given us. Our faith needs to be established on the Word of God because we all live by faith based on our theological conviction, which determines the kind of life we live on earth.
Although faith in God is the most foundational teaching of the Bible, many people struggle with living by faith because there is a vast difference between mental assent faith and heart faith. Mental assent faith believes and agrees with everything theologically correct about faith but struggles to walk it out and completely trust God. It means when the rubble meets the road, the person fails in the walk of faith. In contrast, heart faith comes with a deep conviction about God’s faithfulness and the tenacity to walk on that conviction in complex and challenging times. Heart faith is not affected by the senses but sees in the spirit the result of faith.
Growing from little faith to solid faith will always involve some struggles because we are moving to a different level of faith. However, our faith in God will become more substantial as we apply the truths to our lives after listening to God’s Word.
We need to bear different fruits in our lives. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus described the Word of God as the seed. Once sown, it will produce faith in our hearts. However, our hearts, representing different kinds of soil, will determine whether the seed will be productive or unproductive. In other words, we are the ones who decide how much faith is developed after hearing God’s Word.
We all need to build our faith to face the various challenges, tribulations and needs in our lives. Therefore, let’s get used to walking by faith so that it becomes as natural as breathing daily. Scripture says in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God. Therefore, we must not allow doubt and faith in God to coexist because we will either be in faith or unbelief. One way to defeat doubts and unbelief in our lives so that we can stay in faith between the “amen” and the manifestation of the answered prayer is by meditating and listening to God’s Word and promises.
Romans 10:17 (NJKV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Sermon Series: Faith cannot coexist with Doubt
信心与怀疑不能共存
希伯来书 6:1 所以我们应当离开基督道理的开端,竭力进到完全的地步。不必再立根基,就如那懊悔死行,信靠神。
只要我们还在这世上存活,就 不会停下信心的脚步,不会止息对信心的学习。虽然其他人可以与我们一同凭着信心站立,但我们对神的的信心和信心的争战却是个人的,这取决于我们是屈服于怀疑和不信,还是坚定不移地站立在神所赐的应许之上。我们的信心需要建立在上帝的话语之上,因为我们都是凭着建立在神学信仰之上的信心而活着,这信心决定了我们在世上过怎样的日子.
虽然对上帝的信心是《圣经》中最基础的教义,很多人却难以凭信心而活,因为理性所认同的信仰与内心的信念之间存在巨大差异。理性所认同的信仰相信并同意关于信心的一切神学正确之处,但却难以将其践行出来,无法完全信靠上帝。这意味着当理论付诸实践时,此人无法凭信而行。相比之下,内心的信念则对神的信实深信不疑,并且具备在复杂和充满挑战的时代践行这一信念的坚韧。内心的信念不受感官的影响,而是在灵里看到信心的结果。
从小信成长到坚定的信心,总是伴随着一些挣扎,因为我们正迈向一个不同层级的信心。然而,当我们聆听上帝的话语后,将真理应用到生活中,我们对上帝的信心会变得更加坚定。
我们需要在生命中结出各种各样的果实,耶稣在播种者的比喻中将神的话语比作种子。一但栽种,它将在我们心中产生信心,但代表着不同种类的土壤的我们的心,决定着种子在我们的生命中是多产的还是少产。换言之,在听到神的话语后,我们是那个决定信心的发展程度的人。
我们都需要建立起信心去面对生命中的各种挑战、磨难和需求。因此,让我们习惯于凭信心而行,使之成为如日常呼吸般自然。在希伯来书11章6节的经文中说,若没有信心就无法讨神喜悦。所以,我们绝不允许怀疑与对神的信心共存,因为我们要么是信,要么是不信。克服生活中怀疑和不信的一个方法是通过默想和聆听神的话语与应许,从而在“阿门”与祷告蒙应允期间保持信心,
罗马书10:17 可见,信道是从听道来的,听道是从基督的话来的。
讲章系列:信心不能与怀疑共存
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