“Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Romans 10:17.

We will discuss the source, ingredients, object and the outcome of faith.

Our insight says hearing the message, the word of Christ is the source of faith. It says “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Your listening to the messages springs forth faith inside you. Your faith and increase of faith are directly proportional to the hearing of the word of God. This alludes to why people are not growing in faith- the absence of the opportunities to listen to the messages of Jesus Christ.

Now let us define faith. Bible defines faith in Hebrews 11:1. It says faith is the assurance of things we hope for. Not only it is the assurance of our hope, but also faith is the conviction of things not seen. 2 Corinthian s 4:7 says, “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” The three ingredients of faith are ‘assurance’, ‘conviction’ and “walk with no sight”. 

Verse 3 of Hebrews 11 reveals the object of faith. The true object of faith is God. It says, by faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of visible things. Faith becomes true faith when the object of your faith is none other than God. Bible repeatedly admonishes us to place our faith and trust in God.

How does it all work? How does faith with assurance, conviction and yet with no sight works? You see Hebrews chapter 11 shows how faith works. First, you hear the message from God- it portrays a mental image inside you. It creates a vision or idea in you. Abel when he heard from his parents how God took care of their sin issue, got an idea or vision about what God wants. Therefore he brought God a better offering than Cain- an animal sacrifice. He understood an animal sacrifice is what God wanted based on the message he heard.  

Enoch walked with God. He got an idea or vision of God that created a thirst for him to walk with God. This idea of thirst to be with God resulted in God taking him to his presence one day. He walked with God and God took him to His presence.

Noah heard a very strange message from God, about things he has never seen or ever imagine. However, he believed in God’s word. In his assurance and conviction of the word of God, he started working on an ark to save his family. When Abraham got the word of God, he obeyed and left, even though he did not know where he was going.

You see, you listen to the message of Christ and it moves you. It creates a mental picture, idea, a strong desire, or vision inside you. As a result, you take action by placing your assurance and conviction on God and His word, who talked to you through the messages.

Beloved, it all starts with hearing/listening to the word of God. Now you are listening to the word of God. This is the beginning point or source of faith. God divinely bring forth seeds of faith inside you. As a result, you put your faith in whom who sent the message to you- God, the object of faith. The essential ingredients are assurance, conviction and journey with no sight to see, but leaning on the Word of God. 

Finally, Genuine faith in God always results in action. Everyone’s response or action may not be the same. Each of the faith warriors described in Hebrews 11 had a different course of action. Abel brought a better offering, Enoch walked with God continuously, Noah built an ark, Abraham left his familiar people and location, Sarah although past childbearing age considered God faithful who made the promise, In faith, Isaac blessed all his children, Joseph gave instruction about the burial of his bones, Moses parents hid and kept him for three months not fearing the king, Moses, by faith, when he was grown made up his mind to get mistreated with the people of God than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin, and the list goes on.

Faith in God causes you to move and take certain actions. I do not know what action you should take. However, as you listen to God’s word on an ongoing basis, you would sense it inside you. You see, although it was an embarrassment for Naomi to go back to Bethlehem, the same place she and her deceased husband left after she suffered the big loss in Moab. However, her faith moved her to take that long walk back to Bethlehem with Ruth, both being widows by this time. They both came back to the city empty-handed. However, God already pre-arranged all for them when they took those steps of faith to Bethlehem. This is what faith does. God filled their desires and even fulfilled His seed promise (He made to Abraham) in that step of faith. Jesus Christ comes through the genealogy Obed, the son of Ruth and Boaz. God gives faith by hearing the word of God. Then the faith moves to take some action in whom who sent the message having assurance, confidence in God although nothing to see.

 God takes all the glory and you become an agent for His glory.