Faith Comes!

“Another principle that relates to hearing is stated in Romans 10:17: ‘So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’” (NKJV)

That is a tremendously important truth: “ faith comes.” You do not need to be without faith. I remember a time when I was without faith. I was sick in a hospital for one year, and doctors could not heal me. I was hopeless. But one day the Holy Spirit quickened that statement to me, “Faith comes.” If you do not have faith, you can get it. How do you get it? By hearing. Hearing what? The Word of God. I began to hear God’s Word, and through it faith came, until eventually I was released from the hospital. I was healed, not by medical means, but by the supernatural power of God, because I received faith through hearing the Word of God.

The important thing that I want to emphasize is this: not only does faith come by hearing, but unbelief comes by hearing, too. Paul says this in 2 Timothy 2:16–18, where he is advising Timothy about how to lead a successful Christian life.

“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene [or cancer; the word in the original text means both]. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.” (2 Timothy 2:16–18)

Paul is saying that if you want to keep your faith, you should not listen to godless chatter or the likes of Hymenaeus and Philetus, who were spreading false teaching. If you go on hearing it, it will enter into your heart and mind and will eat away your faith just like a cancer eats away sound flesh. Cultivate, instead, the practice of right hearing, in both what you hear and how you hear. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

As a logical safeguard, choose your friends and associates with care, because they will be the people to whom you will listen the most. You will want to listen to people who have something good to say, not something that destroys your faith.

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.” (Ephesians 5:11–12)

Do not associate with people whose speech and conduct are evil. It will poison you spiritually. On the positive side, Paul says this to Timothy:

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

In other words, if you are going to pursue the good things, you must pursue them in the right company, with people who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Holy Spirit, please guide me in the contacts and conversations I have with other people. Help me to not waste my time with unholy and empty talk, and teach me to pursue loyalty, love and peace, together with others are calling on the Lord from a pure heart.